Commercial Solicitor

Where commercial strategy meets exceptional legal expertise.

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives?

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Our Legal team provides comprehensive advice and support across both contentious and non‑contentious matters, helping to ensure lawful, robust, and high‑quality decision‑making across the organisation. The team covers a broad portfolio of specialist areas, including Commercial and Regulatory Law, Litigation, and Property, Planning and Highways. The team plays a vital role in enabling effective service delivery and protecting Gateshead Council's interests.

This is a dynamic, solutions‑focused team supporting colleagues at every level.

The Commercial Lawyer role is central to the delivery of Gateshead Council’s ambitions to make Gateshead a place where everyone can thrive. This role supports the Council in delivering its priorities by providing clear, expert legal advice on commercial contracts and public sector procurement. You’ll work on a broad mix of matters, from construction and IT contracts to grants, joint ventures and subsidy control, ensuring compliance with legislation and the Council’s governance framework.

You’ll manage your own procurement and contracting work, build strong relationships with services and stakeholders, and provide concise advice to senior officers on complex issues. This is a key role helping to secure lawful, effective and value‑driven commercial activity across the organisation.

• Provide legal advice and support in relation to commercial contracts and public sector procurement law matters, including (but not limited to) construction contracts, IT contracts, grant funding agreements, joint ventures and subsidy control.
• Be up to date with the relevant legislation, including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Procurement Act 2023, Subsidy Control Act 2022, case law, guidance, procedure and policy in respect of commercial contracts and public procurement law to ensure accurate and effective advice is provided.
• Advise on and apply the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, scheme of delegations and other governance procedures.
• Take responsibility for the preparation and effective management of a range of public procurement tenders and commercial contracts.
• Build relationships with internal and external clients and key stakeholders.
• Instruct external specialists as and when required.
• Maintain close contact with the Service Manager on all issues.
• Providing concise advice on complex legal issues to senior council officers / directors at board and committee meetings
• Respond cooperatively with reasonable requests to undertake other responsibilities allocated that are appropriate to the grade of the post.

• Legally qualified professional
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