Principal Property Litigation Lawyer

About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.


Join Our Team: Principal Property Litigation Lawyer
We’re excited to welcome a new Principal Property Litigation Lawyer to join our Legal team.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Working Hours & Location
This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required.
Role Overview
The Principal Property Litigation Lawyer leads the provision of legal advice and management of property-related disputes arising from the Trust’s operational and investment property portfolio.
Key Accountabilities:
• Main conduct of property law disputes across the Trust’s operational estate (e.g. title, trespass, boundary disputes, rights and easements, restrictive covenants, rights of support and claims for nuisance) with adjoining landowners, tenants and other stakeholders.
• Contributing to the management of legal risk on property law disputes arising in the context of the Trust’s engineering, estates, utilities and business boating activity.
• Assisting Senior Lawyers in providing strategic advice to Senior Managers and the Executive regarding litigation risk to the Trust’s estate and assets in the context of the wider estate and asset management strategy and programme.
• Taking forward high value disputes (both as claimant and defendant) in relation to Trust asset and infrastructure responsibility, with other public and third sector infrastructure owners, in the context of retaining wall and embankments, bridges, harbour, flood defence, water resources, highways and reservoir responsibility.
• Supervision of Property Litigation Lawyer and Paralegal, close working with Trust Claims Manager and coordination of external legal support, including Counsel.
• Working with the Senior Litigation Lawyer on property litigation matters involving boating and mooring disputes.
About you
You are a qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with property litigation experience, able to lead complex, high-value disputes independently. Strong track record in managing legal risk, advising senior stakeholders, and collaborating with internal teams and external advisers, with a pragmatic approach and commitment to health and safety.
Skills & Qualifications
• Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with a minimum of 10 years‘ property litigation law experience gained in private practice or in-house.
• Proven ability to take a lead on conducting a heavy caseload of major property litigation with minimal oversight.
• Experience of leading strategic discussions on legal risk at a senior level.
• Experience of supervision and coordination of legal and expert teams, including Counsel.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels and disciplines within the Trust and with external legal advisers and to participate effectively in meetings.
• Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess the risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
We offer an annual salary of £55,000. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits

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Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of