Associate & Real Estate Non-Contentious Construction

Mishcon de Reya; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in the UK is seeking a construction lawyer with 2-5 years' PQE to assist clients in preparing and negotiating construction documentation. Ideal candidates should possess strong academic records and excellent drafting skills, along with a proactive approach to managing workloads and developing business. The role involves working on high-value transactions and offers opportunities for personal and professional growth in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Opportunities for personal development

Diverse and inclusive workplace

Qualifications

• Experience with construction documentation, including contracts and warranties.
• Familiarity with JCT and NEC construction contracts.
• Experience advising on agreements for lease and facility agreements.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients with preparation and negotiation of construction documentation.
• Manage construction aspects of commercial and high-value residential transactions.
• Engage in business development activities.

Skills

Strong academic record

Excellent attention to detail

Good drafting and negotiating skills

Ability to communicate effectively

Good teamwork skills

Education

Trained and qualified with a reputable City law firm or large national firm

2-5 years' PQE

Job description

Responsibilities

• Acting for a range of clients including developers, landlords and funders.
• Assisting with the preparation and negotiation of construction documentation, including consultants' appointments, building contracts (based on standard forms), letters of intent, collateral warranties, third party rights notices, parent company guarantees and performance bonds.
• Assisting in relation to the construction aspects of real estate transactions (commercial and high‑value residential), property finance and corporate transactions, including due diligence and the preparation of due diligence reports, raising and replying to enquiries.

  A good foundation in non‑contentious construction law.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years' PQE.
• Trained and qualified with a reputable City law firm or large national firm equivalent.
• Strong academic record.
• Exposure to working for developers, investors and lenders, in any of the following sectors: commercial offices, housing (including prime/super‑prime central London and the branded private‑rental sector), retail and student accommodation.
• Familiar with the various methods of construction procurement and good knowledge of the standard forms of construction contract, including JCT and NEC.
• Some experience advising on the construction aspects of agreements for lease, facility agreements and forward funding agreements would be an advantage.
• Good drafting and negotiating skills. Experience assisting in drafting and negotiating amendments to the standard building contracts and working on bespoke agreements, including assisting with preparation of precedent documents.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively manage own workload.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Personable and confident, able to build relationships with partners/ key stakeholders.
• Resilient and calm under pressure.
• Adaptable and flexible approach.
• Pro‑active and takes initiative.
• Assertive, focused with strong interpersonal skills to be able to present themselves in a confident manner to clients.
• Organisational and prioritising skills are also essential to meet the demands of challenging, commercial clients, both internal and external.
• Good teamwork skills.
• Takes responsibility for and attends to self‑development.

Business Development

• Interest in undertaking business development activities both internally and externally.

Company Overview

We have built a Real Estate department to meet the needs of ambitious deal makers. The result is one of London's largest, most diverse and most complete property teams.

We drive opportunities for our clients through our understanding of the complex policy landscape, through the leading role we play in shaping industry discussion on regulation and technological change, and by harnessing the power of technology.

The department's core practice areas include construction, development and urban regeneration, retail, investment, planning and environment, residential, dispute resolution, finance and taxation.

Our use of proptech, from automation and visualisation tools to AI and structured databases, allows us to work faster and more efficiently and we draw on expertise from the firm's other specialist departments and our global network of connections in search of the best ways to bring people, capital and opportunities together.

Everything is geared to finding practical, commercial solutions that get deals done.

Construction Group

The Group Our Construction Group is one of the fastest growing in the UK and acts for a variety of clients ranging from developers and property investors to funders and occupiers.

We specialise in complex, high‑profile developments, in particular acting for institutions and developers.

We have assembled a highly experienced team which includes partners seen as leaders in the field. Many have been involved in some of the most high‑profile projects of the last 25 years.

Our approach is commercial and focused on delivering the best outcome, whatever any client's construction needs.

Our team works closely with our construction litigation, health and safety, property, finance, planning, corporate and real estate taxation teams to provide a complete service.

Our services include: drafting and negotiating all relevant construction project documentation, including building contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties, development agreements, and agreements for lease and forward funding agreements; advising on construction aspects of corporate, real estate and finance transactions; and advising on the pre‑dispute stages of litigation, arbitration, adjudication, mediation, early neutral evaluation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Sustainability is now a key consideration in all construction projects. This is why alongside Savills and Argent, we are partnering with Property Week and UKGBC on an industry‑wide Climate Crisis Challenge to raise awareness of industry‑specific sustainability issues and to look at technological solutions and behavioural change. Our aim is an industry‑wide adoption of the World GBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm, which now employs over 1400 people with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone. With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Hong Kong and UAE, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work the firm undertakes is cross‑border, multi‑jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate.

The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution. We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.