Legal Counsel

Vacancy ID: VN4093

#### Business Unit:

#### Job Location: Abbeydorney Head Office

#### Description

The Legal Counsel will provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice across TLI Group, supporting the full lifecycle of construction, engineering, utilities and commercial contracts. The role will strengthen legal governance, enterprise risk management and decision-making while partnering closely with operational, commercial, finance, procurement, HSQE and HR teams.

The post holder will identify and manage legal, contractual, regulatory related risks; lead contract drafting and negotiation; support dispute avoidance and resolution; and establish proportionate processes, templates and escalation pathways. The role requires sound judgement, independence and the ability to balance legal protection with practical business delivery.

Package

• Competitive rates of pay.
• 23 Days annual leave.
• Sick pay after completion of probation.
• Take part in our “Career Pathway Programme”, where there is an emphasis on training & career development.
• Opportunity to progress your career within a growing company..
• Voluntary Pension available on completion of probation.
• Employee membership for our LAYA EAP Programme – 24/7 Mental Wellbeing Support & Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health Insurance Discount.
• Life Assurance Payment.
• Standard industry training provided.
• #### Key Responsibilities

Contracts and commercial legal support

Lead the review, drafting and negotiation of construction, engineering and commercial contracts, including EPC, design-and-build, frameworks, main contracts, subcontracts, consultancy appointments, collateral warranties, bonds, guarantees, novations, confidentiality agreements and other project documentation.

Advise on standard and bespoke forms of contract, including FIDIC, NEC and Irish public works contracts, where applicable.

Provide clear advice on liability, indemnities, warranties, insurance, payment, security, termination, intellectual property, change control, delay, relief events and dispute mechanisms.

Lead legal input to tenders, pre-contract reviews, contract approvals and negotiations, ensuring material departures and residual risks are visible to decision-makers.

Support contract administration, variations, claims, extensions of time, project delivery issues and dispute prevention or resolution.

Risk management, governance and assurance

• Own and continuously improve the legal risk framework, including contract review thresholds, delegated authorities, approval standards, escalation routes and minimum contracting positions.
• Maintain a legal risk register and reporting process for material contractual, litigation, regulatory, employment and corporate matters, with clear owners, mitigations, target dates and escalation criteria.
• Provide independent advice on high-risk proposals and transactions, translating legal exposure into practical commercial and operational consequences.
• Monitor emerging legal and regulatory developments relevant to TLI Group and coordinate proportionate business responses with accountable functions.
• Support insurance notifications, claims strategy and lessons learned, working with Finance, Commercial, HSQE, insurers and external advisers.
• Design and deliver legal controls, templates, playbooks, guidance and training that improve consistency without creating unnecessary delay.
• Report periodically to senior management on risk themes, contract deviations, disputes, external legal spend and the effectiveness of legal controls.

Other legal advisory support

• Partner with and advise HR on material employment matters, including employment contracts, grievances, and investigations.
• Provide legal support on company law, corporate governance, delegated authorities, board or shareholder matters and strategic projects as required.
• Advise on acquisitions by TLI Group and relevant changes in control, working with senior management and external advisers.
• Coordinate specialist external advice for employment, corporate and occasional acquisition matters.

Disputes and external advisers

Lead or coordinate claims and disputes from early assessment through negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration or litigation, as appropriate.

Develop commercially focused case strategy, preserve evidence and privilege, and keep relevant stakeholders informed of exposure and options.

Select and manage external legal advisers, agreeing scope, budgets, service standards and proportionate use of specialist expertise.

Leadership, capability and continuous improvement

• Build trusted relationships across the organisation and act as an accessible, solutions-focused adviser while maintaining professional independence.
• Develop legal and contractual capability through targeted training, practical guidance and coaching for commercial, operational and people managers.
• Use data and recurring issues to identify root causes, improve controls and reduce avoidable disputes, delay and external legal cost.
• Promote TLI Group values, particularly safety, customer focus, delivery, flexibility, people and teamwork.
• #### Qualifications & Skills
• Essential
• Qualified solicitor or barrister entitled to practice in Ireland, or equivalent common-law qualification with relevant Irish experience.
• Approximately 5+ years’ post-qualification experience, with strong construction, engineering, infrastructure, utilities or complex commercial contracting experience.
• Demonstrable experience drafting and negotiating complex customer, supplier, subcontractor and consultancy agreements.
• Experience advising on contract administration, variations, delay, payment, claims and dispute prevention or resolution.
• Ability to assess and explain material legal and commercial risk, establish proportionate controls and recognise when specialist advice is required.
• Excellent judgement, drafting, communication, prioritisation and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work independently in a fast-moving environment.
• Desirable
• Experience with FIDIC, NEC, Irish public works, EPC or design-and-build contracts.
• Experience in power, renewables, utilities, telecoms, engineering or regulated infrastructure.
• Experience establishing in-house legal processes and managing external advisers, disputes or legal budgets.