Enforcement General Counsel

About DFT Operator

Join Our Team at DFTO

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately‑owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 – and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 23,000 employees, runs over 6,000 services a day and delivers over 450 million customer journeys across its networks every year. This accounts for 26 % of total UK passenger journeys and 30 % of passenger miles.

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership – these are LNER, Northern, Trans Pennine Express (TPE), southeastern, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c & Great Anglia.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to shape something new. DFTO is setting up a new Enforcement Team, an industry first, which will be responsible for all prosecution activity across the DFTO Group. As DFTO’s Enforcement General Counsel, you will play a pivotal role in influencing DFTO enforcement strategy and policy, and partnering closely with our leadership team to support confident, informed decision‑making.

You will establish and lead a new legal team – setting its vision, building capability, and creating a high‑performing, future‑focused legal function from the ground up. This role is ideal for a senior legal leader who thrives on impact, enjoys operating at a strategic level, and is motivated by building teams and shaping culture. A unique opportunity for a criminal law expert who wants to make a lasting difference as we head towards Great British Railways.

Such matters could include fraud, theft, fare evasion, disorderly conduct, trespassing and property damage and vandalism (“Railway Offences”).

• Set the strategy and vision for the Enforcement function across the DFTO Group, so there is a robust, consistent response to offences that protects the rail network’s reputation and recovers financial losses.
• Build, lead and motivate a high‑performing team of legal professionals and case managers, promoting professional developments, so the team consistently delivers high‑quality outcomes on complex criminal and civil litigation matters.
• Oversee all court proceedings relating to Railway Offences and, ensure that all DFTO TOCs are compliantly represented in court. Overseeing complex cases and ensuring appropriate management and successful outcomes. Where appropriate, lead or oversee settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolutions.
• Provide high quality, professional and strategic legal advice to the business through the leadership of the Enforcement function, having primary legal responsibility for complex and or/high value Railway Offences, achieving successful outcomes for the business.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with executive and senior leadership within DFTO and TOCs in order to advise and guide effectively. In addition, build and maintain relationships within external stakeholders, including DfT, Network Rail, law enforcement, and external counsel, to facilitate collaboration and alignment are achieved on enforcement priorities.
• Lead, or provide expert oversight of, the development and implementation of group‑wide policies and procedures relating to Railway Offences, so the railway is protected by clear, compliant, and enforceable frameworks.
• As part of the senior leadership team in the wider legal function, provide expert contributions to group‑level legal initiatives, projects and reporting to facilitate strategic development of the Group legal function so that services provided are efficient and evolve in a manner that aligns with organisational transitions.
• Oversee and direct continuous improvement initiatives within the team so effective, consistency and quality outcomes are achieved across the wider group.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of governance and reporting frameworks for all Railway Offence cases, to maintain compliance with statutory reporting obligations and so that transparency,…