Senior Legal Counsel

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel 

Location: London (international travel may be required)

🌍 About Verne 

We’re reinventing how the world uses data centres. Think flexible, optimised colocation services tailored for your requirements – all with the very best customer support you can imagine. And because our data centres are powered by sustainable energy, it doesn’t cost the Earth either. It’s the perfect environment where everyone thrives – you and the planet. 

Role Overview:

· This role requires a seasoned legal professional with extensive experience in construction, development and commercial law, capable of navigating complex international legal landscapes.

· Verne’s Senior Legal Counsel will lead the negotiation and execution of major EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) contracts, expertly handle FIDIC contract suites, and oversee procurement and subcontractor agreements, mainly in non-UK jurisdictions. Interfacing and effectively managing local outside counsel with therefore be necessary.

· Verne’s Senior Legal Counsel will also be responsible for developing risk management frameworks, training teams in contract administration best practices, and strengthening contractual governance across all project delivery functions.

· Specific goals for this goal include:

§ overseeing and managing the review of securities (including performance bonds and parent company guarantees) for high-value projects;

§ implementing comprehensive risk registers for project teams;

§ conducting training for project teams on best practices in contract management and administration, emphasizing FIDIC principles;

§ supporting project teams in claims and dispute management and developing a company-wide risk and claims management framework.

· Ideal PQE is 8-9 years; some in-house experience preferred, ideally at a construction company or a data centre developer.

· This role reports into the Chief Legal Officer, but internal clients will be mainly the Chief Development Officer and Project Directors in different locations.

What We Offer:

- The opportunity to help build a legal team and to make an immediate and high impact on the company’s growth.

- Opportunity to be part of a fast-growing, private equity-backed company.

- A dynamic, innovative, and inclusive working environment.

- Competitive compensation and benefits package.

- The chance to work with a talented and ambitious international team.