Senior Property Lawyer
- Hiring from
- United Kingdom
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Posted
- Sep 24, 2026
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: Senior Property Lawyer
Join our Legal division as a Senior Property Lawyer.
Working Hours & Travel
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
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the Trust’s lead legal adviser on all aspects of property law.
- Work with the senior lawyer team to embed client-centred legal service across all internal teams.
- Provide strategic legal and risk management advice on all property matters, including specialist property law advice across the Trust’s operational and commercial property activities.
- Provide advice to the Trust in relation to infrastructure projects and development proposals with potential impact on the canal network, to ensure the protection of the network and to help maximise any commercial opportunities arising from such proposals.
- Provide legal advice on commercial property transactional matters, including landlord and tenant, development, utilities and infrastructure matters.
- Draft, review and negotiate commercial property documentation including contracts, transfers, agreements for lease, leases, overage provisions, options, and utilities agreements.
- Provide advice on compliance with the requirements of charity law and the Trust Settlement with DEFRA in the context of disposals of interest in land by the Trust, including making applications to the Charity
- Commission and the Secretary of State for consent to certain types of transactions.
- Supervision and regular review of the provision of legal services from the Trust’s panel of external property law firms.
About You
- Qualified lawyer (10+ years PQE) or equivalent experience in property law gained in private practice, public sector or in-house environments.
- Substantial expertise in real estate law including landlord & tenant, acquisitions, development, easements, and infrastructure.
- Knowledge of charity law as it applies to the management and disposal of real property.
- Ability to provide pragmatic, commercial, risk-based advice and resolve complex property issues in an operational and commercial environment.
- Ability to work autonomously, manage a wide and varied caseload and meet tight deadlines.
- Strong experience supporting legal team leadership, including planning, financial tracking and performance reporting.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels and disciplines within the Trust and with external legal advisers and to participate effectively in meetings at a senior level within a complex organisation.
- Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task. Consider your own and others’ behaviour.
- Be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practices that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times.
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
In addition to your annual base salary of £75,000. We also offer 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 and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us