Legal Counsel (Qualified Solicitor)

Role: Legal Counsel (Qualified Solicitor)
Department: Legal
Reporting to: CEO, working closely with the Executive team (COO & CFO)
Location: Grand Union Studios, 332 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5AD
Hours: Mon-Thu, 9 am-6 pm, Friday 9 am-5 pm
Working pattern: London/hybrid, with a minimum of 2-3 days a week in the office
Contract: Full-time, permanent (a 4-day work week will be considered for the right candidate)
Salary: £55,000 per annum + benefits

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Legal Counsel will lead and take responsibility for the entire legal function at Apex. As the business’s principal legal adviser, you will manage all possession, eviction, disrepair and landlord matters proactively from start to finish. You will give clear, commercial advice to the CEO and Executive team, lead the legal workstreams on future M&A projects, and own regulatory compliance while supporting Apex’s ESG commitments. You will use AI tools and efficient processes to handle legal admin and routine drafting, freeing your time for advice, case strategy and higher-value work.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Leading the legal function
- Own and lead the entire legal function, setting its priorities, processes, standards and budget
- Act as principal legal adviser across housing, property, commercial, corporate and regulatory matters
- Maintain a single legal case register and dashboard showing all live matters, key dates, and exposure and legal spend
- Instruct and manage external solicitors, counsel and agency advocates, controlling quality and cost

2. Proactive case management: possession and evictions
- Manage all evictions across TA, AST and other occupancy types, from case review and notice to possession and enforcement
- Anticipate issues, track every key date, escalate early and drive cases to resolution
- Ensure notices and court documents comply with current law, including the Renters’ Rights Act 2025
- Prepare for and attend hearings, and complete post-hearing steps through to possession

3. Disrepair, claims and litigation
- Respond to and resolve all landlord and disrepair claims within pre-action protocol deadlines
- Liaise with insurers, contractors, landlords, councils and other parties
- Lead litigation and dispute resolution, deciding commercially when to settle, defend or escalate
- Spot trends in claims and work with operational teams to reduce future exposure

4. AI and legal operations
- Use approved AI tools for legal admin and drafting: notices, court documents, contracts and amendments, letter-of-claim responses, correspondence and ad hoc tasks
- Build and maintain templates, checklists and AI workflows for consistent, efficient routine work
- Review and sign off on all AI-assisted work, and ensure AI use meets data protection and confidentiality requirements

5. Commercial and contracts
- Draft, review, and negotiate leases, council agreements, supplier contracts and other documentation
- Give pragmatic advice focused on commercial decision-making, achieving the best outcome within the law
- Reduce legal liability and legal costs, and provide case-by-case risk analysis for key decisions

6. Executive team, board and M&A
- Work closely with the CEO and Executive team as a trusted partner on strategy, risk and key decisions
- Prepare legal reporting for Executive meetings, board, and investor packs, to strict deadlines
- Lead legal workstreams on future M&A projects, including due diligence, transaction documents and external advisers
- Advise on new initiatives, including diversification into supported living and care services

7. Regulatory compliance
- Own the compliance framework and register, with clear owners, review dates and reporting to the Executive team
- Oversee compliance with housing and property standards (HHSRS, fitness for habitation, Decent Homes, Awaab’s Law) and property obligations (licensing, gas, electrical and fire safety, EPC/MEES)
with operational teams
- Ensure compliance with the Renters’ Rights Act, council framework and contract obligations, UK GDPR, equality, safeguarding, health and safety, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering
- Lead regulatory requirements for new service lines, including CQC (and, where relevant, Ofsted) registration
- Monitor legal and regulatory change and keep policies and processes up to date

 8. ESG, governance and risk
- Support the Executive team in delivering Apex’s ESG strategy, and track and report ESG performance
- Maintain ethics, whistleblowing, conflicts of interest and modern slavery policies, including supply chain due diligence
- Maintain a legal and regulatory risk register and support corporate governance and company secretarial matters
- Create legal policies and deliver staff training

9. Other
- Undertake CPD and maintain a current practising certificate
- Take on ad hoc strategic, operational and board-related projects, e.g. aged debt, IP and financing
- Adapt and take on further responsibilities as the business grows

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: CEO, Executive team, Chairman and board, sales, operations and property teams, and finance.
External: local authorities, private landlords, letting agents, insurers, external solicitors and counsel, courts, regulators and advisers on M&A projects.

HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED

- No missed legal deadlines
- Possession cases progressed to completion within target timescales
- Pre-action protocol responses made on time
- Legal spend and liability managed within budget
- Compliance register up to date, with issues reported and resolved
- Timely, accurate legal reporting to the Executive team and board

WHAT WE OFFER

- Competitive salary & benefits package
- Ownership of a legal function in a growing PE-backed business
- Direct access to, and influence with, the Executive team
- Exposure to M&A and new service lines
- Support for your CPD

PERKS & BENEFITS

- Monthly staff lunches
- Monthly team Drinks
- Quarterly social Events
- Staff wellbeing programme
- Sponsored ARLA training and qualification
- Regular Staff Incentives & Awards
- Casual (clothes) Fridays
- Staff Training, Development and Progression Programme (including regular feedback and 1-2-1 sessions)
- Staff referral Scheme (up to £1,000)
- Staff Pension Scheme

HOW TO APPLY

If you're looking to be part of a forward-thinking, growing business making a truly positive impact in the property industry and social housing sector, then please send your CV and a brief cover letter to: recruitment@apexhousingsolutions.co.uk

ABOUT US

Apex Housing Solutions is one of London’s leading providers of temporary accommodation (TA) and social housing. We are a preferred supplier to almost all of London’s 32 local authorities. We lease homes from private landlords on guaranteed rent agreements and provide them to councils to house families and individuals who need a safe place to live. Landlords get secure, reliable income without the cost and hassle of day-to-day management. Councils get a trusted partner that delivers high-quality homes and property management.

Founded in 2008 with a small, dedicated team, Apex has grown steadily as more landlords have chosen the security of guaranteed rent. In 2021, we received backing from BGF, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest and most experienced growth capital investors. We are ambitious and open to new ideas that make a positive difference to housing in London. As a strong promoter of diversity, we’re always looking for passionate people to join our team.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Apex Housing Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, regardless of background