Associate Legal Counsel

Laing O'Rourke; Worcester Park Estate; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Based London, Laing O'Rourke seeks a commercially minded solicitor to join its in-house legal team. You will support major construction and infrastructure projects, advise on contracts, and partner with commercial and operational leaders to balance risk and drive business value.

You will work across strategic programmes, technology and IP initiatives, helping shape project outcomes and business growth. A practical, collaborative approach and 2–5 years PQE in construction/commercial law are

Qualifications

• 2–5 years' PQE in construction or non-contentious commercial law.
• Experience advising on complex contractual arrangements, ideally NEC and JCT.
• Strong stakeholder management and collaborative approach to problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Act as a dedicated legal advisor on major construction and infrastructure projects.
• Advise on interpretation and application of project contracts and regulatory compliance.
• Negotiate and advise on client contracts, supply chain agreements and subcontracts.
• Work with commercial and operational teams to identify and manage legal risks/opportunities.
• Support governance, change management and project reporting processes.
• Provide legal support on strategic partnerships, manufacturing agreements and new ventures.
• Assist Technology & Innovation in IP protection and commercialization.
• Advise on a wide range of commercial, contractual, and business-critical matters.
• Support management of claims, disputes and contract administration.

Job description

Based London

This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing in-house legal team supporting the delivery of major construction and infrastructure projects, while also working across some of the most innovative and strategically important initiatives within the business.

Operating across both project delivery and Strategic Programmes, you'll work closely with project leadership teams, commercial stakeholders and senior executives, providing pragmatic legal advice that supports successful project outcomes and wider business growth.

Alongside supporting major projects, you'll have the opportunity to work on a broad range of strategic initiatives including advanced manufacturing, technology and innovation, intellectual property, strategic partnerships, advisory services and the commercialisation of new products and technologies across the UK and internationally.

This is a role for a lawyer who wants to move beyond purely transactional legal work and become a trusted business partner, influencing commercial decisions, managing risk and helping shape the future direction of the organisation.

What you'll be doing

• Acting as a dedicated legal advisor on major construction and infrastructure projects.
• Advising on the interpretation and application of project contracts and supporting compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Negotiating and advising on client contracts, supply chain agreements and subcontract arrangements.
• Working closely with commercial and operational teams to identify and manage legal risks and opportunities.
• Supporting governance, change management and project reporting processes.
• Providing legal support on strategic partnerships, manufacturing agreements and new business ventures.
• Supporting the Technology & Innovation team on the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property, including patents and trademarks.
• Advising on a diverse range of commercial, contractual and business-critical matters across Strategic Programmes.
• Supporting the management of claims, disputes and contract administration processes.
• Delivering legal training and sharing best practice across project and business teams.

We're looking for a commercially minded solicitor who enjoys partnering with the business and building trusted relationships at all levels.

You’ll likely have:

• 2-5 years' PQE.
• A background in construction, projects or non-contentious commercial law.
• Experience advising on complex contractual arrangements, ideally including NEC and JCT forms of contract.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A practical and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• An interest in understanding commercial drivers and balancing legal and business risk.
• The ability to operate confidently in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

What makes this opportunity different?

You’ll join a high-performing and highly respected in-house legal team and gain exposure to major projects, strategic business initiatives and industry-leading innovation programmes. Working across both project delivery and Strategic Programmes, you'll have the opportunity to broaden your legal expertise while helping shape the future of construction, manufacturing and technology.

Don’t match all thecriteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.

About us:

We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.