Director of Department for Business and Trade Legal Advisers

 Government Legal Department

Director of Department for Business and Trade Legal Advisers

Salary: Senior Civil Service (SCS) Pay Band 2; salary c. £100,000 - £105,000

Location: London

Life changing law

When it comes to nation-changing purpose, few organisations can match the Goernment Legal Department. Our work touches almost every aspect of UK life. It has a lasting, positive impact on millions of people. And we’re immensely proud of what we do. Government lawyers help the government to govern well, within the rule of law, and the diversity and quality of the legal work available within government is unparalleled. We provide the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of law and politics on legal solutions that affect almost every aspect of today's society.

The Government Legal Department employs nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals and has offices across the UK. As the largest provider of legal services across government, we work on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our teams advise most Government Departments on policy development, prepare and draft legislation, handle high profile public and private law litigation, support our new trade relationships and provide commercial transactional, litigation and property services – and more.

As Director of Business and Trade Legal Advisers, you will lead teams providing international trade law advice to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), supporting DBT’s role at the heart of the UK’s economic recovery and how the UK relates to and does business with the rest of the world. This includes supporting trade negotiations, including free trade agreements, bilateral investment treaties, MoUs and initiatives in the World Trade Organisation, advising on the development and implementation of the UK’s international trade and investment strategy and policy, international trade disputes and all aspects of international trade and investment law, from trade in goods and services to government procurement, intellectual property, trade remedies, investment and sustainable development.

To be successful in this role, you will need to bring a track record of experience that enables you to provide and oversee the provision of authoritative, risk based public law and international trade law advice, along with recent experience of advising on significant international trade matters. You will also need to bring a record of leadership and be confident leading, motivating and inspiring a large team that delivers legal services across a large and complex portfolio, often under scrutiny and with demanding timelines. You will also need to be an excellent communicator with a high level of personal credibility based on first class judgement and integrity, a collaborative style and professional excellence.

If the thought of being right at the heart of delivering truly life changing law and making a substantial contribution to the UK’s global trading position, excites you, please consider applying.

Applications should be received by 23.55 on Monday 4 December 2023.

For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact our advising consultants at GatenbySanderson;

Duncan Ewart:  duncan.ewart@gatenbysanderson.com

Julie Myers: julie.myers@gatenbysanderson.com

Government Legal Department welcome applications from individuals representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds as we have in UK society. Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, modern Civil Service that delivers policies and services for all of our citizens.