Introduction

Who are we?

Mer is a European EV charging company, backed by Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy generator. By bringing together its extensive expertise in renewable energy and electric mobility, Mer is on a mission to make EV charging simple, sustainable, and accessible to everyone.

In the UK, Mer delivers complete EV charging solutions to businesses, commercial landowners and local authorities, helping power the shift to purer transportation across Europe. We do this in two ways:

the direct sale and installation of charging infrastructure for use by customers on their own sites; and

the installation and operation of charging infrastructure on customer sites for use by the public.

For more information, please visit https://uk.mer.eco.

Our Legal Team

With a business which spans several jurisdictions, the Mer legal team has seven lawyers across Europe and a legal student in Germany. Even though we work across different jurisdictions, we actively collaborate, sharing our knowledge and experience.

The Mer UK legal team is currently made up of Sara Banks (Head of Group Legal, Compliance and Data Protection), Oliver Lovett (Senior Legal Counsel), Kate Salvage (Trainee Solicitor), and an additional Legal Counsel.

Mer Legal believes in developing its staff and so we are looking to recruit a replacement for our UK Legal Counsel who is leaving to pursue the next step in his career.

Our legal team advises on a wide range of issues covering commercial, corporate and property law. A large amount of our work includes contract reviews and negotiation as well as some compliance matters.

Our team is committed to providing timely and professional legal advice. We are responsible for assessing the complexity and significance of legal matters referred to us and either: dealing with that matter internally; or instructing external legal counsel where required.

Overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and commercially minded solicitor to join our in-house legal team.

As Legal Counsel, you will be expected to provide high-quality legal support to our internal stakeholders on a wide range of legal issues. This will require you to collaborate closely with other areas of the business, understand their commercial objectives and provide solutions that balance legal requirements with business goals. As a result, a successful candidate will need to demonstrate an ability to assess legal risk and propose practical and commercial solutions to mitigate that risk.

Most of our work involves the negotiation of commercial contracts, the review of terms and conditions in public and private sector tenders and the acquisition of land rights (via lease/licence). We are seeking a solicitor with experience in the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts to assist with the volume of work we have in this area. The successful candidate will also be expected to assist with the negotiation of land rights/deal with land law issues however, training can be provided in this area where required.

This is a full-time role based in our Consett Office (County Durham) but occasional travel to our London Office may be required. We are open to hybrid working but the successful candidate will be required to spend the majority of their time in the office.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a wide range of commercial contracts (including framework agreements, service level agreements, sub-contracts and TPI Agreements), aiming to secure favourable terms whilst maintaining positive relationships with customers.
• Review and (where possible) negotiate terms and conditions issued as part of public and private sector tender packs and provide advice and analysis on the legal risks of proceeding with those terms and conditions.
• Advise internal stakeholders on the risks and potential legal implications of matters which arise as part of the day-to-day running of the business (ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations and company policies).
• Stay updated on changes in relevant laws and regulations impacting the business and proactively advise the business on those changes.
• Support the development and maintenance of contract templates, guidelines, and best practices to streamline contract processes.
• Work with external legal counsel to ensure matters are progressed efficiently and brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Provide support and supervision to more junior members of the Legal team.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of legal training programs to enhance the legal awareness of internal stakeholders.

Requirements

• Qualified solicitor in the UK with a valid practicing certificate.
• Preferably 2-4 years post-qualification experience (with a focus on negotiating commercial contracts) gained either in-house or within a reputable law firm, but we are willing to consider all levels of experience.
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to provide clear and practical legal advice to non-legal stakeholders.
• Proven track record of managing multiple tasks and priorities effectively, delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to align legal strategies with business objectives.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and assess risks and propose creative solutions.
• Proficiency in using legal research tools and technology, Microsoft Office and other relevant software.
• Adaptable, proactive and able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.

Benefits

• Salary - £45,000 - £55,000 (depending on experience)
• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 29 days, 1 additional day after 2,3,4,5 years)
• 1 day off for birthday/celebration day
• Option to purchase up to 5 days additional leave
• 2 CSR days per year
• 1 wellbeing hour per week (for mindfulness/exercise)
• Pension
• Private medical and medical cash plan
• Death in Service benefit
• Salary sacrifice EV scheme
• Cycle to work scheme