Job Description

Legal Counsel

12 Months Fixed-Term Contract

Make your mark at BRE!

BRE aims to be the world’s leading innovation, science and data hub for the built environment. For more than a century, we have provided government and industry with cutting-edge research and testing. Join us to help deliver products, advice, services, standards and qualifications used around the globe to make buildings better for people and the environment. Through science-led solutions to urgent challenges, we will build a thriving and sustainable world.

Join BRE at a time of growth and transformation, where your legal expertise will directly support impactful work across research, certification and innovation. This is a varied, hands-on role where you’ll help the business move forward with confidence—balancing legal risk with commercial reality.

Your role at BRE

As Legal Counsel, you’ll play a key role in supporting BRE’s day-to-day commercial activity, working closely with teams across the organisation.

You will:

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including service agreements, consultancy contracts, NDAs, licensing and framework agreements

• Provide clear, practical legal advice on compliance and regulatory matters, including data protection and intellectual property

• Support procurement and supply chain activities with pragmatic legal input

• Advise internal stakeholders on legal risks and enable informed decision-making

• Contribute to governance activities, including policies, procedures and risk management frameworks

• Help develop legal templates, tools and internal training to improve consistency and efficiency

What we are looking for

We’re looking for a commercially minded legal professional who can provide pragmatic advice in a fast-paced environment.

You’ll bring:

• Qualification as a UK solicitor with a current practising certificate

• Experience drafting and negotiating a range of commercial contracts (in-house or private practice)

• A strong understanding of contract and commercial law

• Awareness of areas such as data protection, intellectual property and general compliance

• The ability to balance legal risk with practical business outcomes

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities

Why join BRE

At BRE, you’ll be part of an organisation with a clear purpose—advancing the built environment through research, testing, certification and innovation.

In this role, you’ll benefit from:

• A broad and varied legal remit across multiple business areas

• The opportunity to influence real commercial decisions

• A supportive and collaborative team environment

• Exposure to complex and evolving legal challenges

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched contribution

• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary

• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more

• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform

• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Location and working pattern

This role is based in Watford, with a hybrid working arrangement requiring 1–3 days per month on site, or as needed

Recruitment timeline

• Application closing date: Sunday, 12th July 2026

• AI interview stage (via Ryan): 13th July - 17th July 2026

• Final interview stage: W/C 27th July 2026

Our Recruitment Process

As part of our recruitment process we will be conducting 10-30 minute phone screening calls via an AI recruiter called Ryan with all shortlisted candidates. The information gathered from this screening will be used to help assess your suitability for the position.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.