Construction Disputes Senior Associate

Osborne Clarke; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international legal practice in the UK is seeking a Senior Associate to join their dynamic Construction & Engineering Disputes and Risk team. The ideal candidate will possess a strong grounding in contentious construction matters and excellent technical skills. This role emphasizes proactive learning and business development, offering a structured career path within a collegiate culture. Opportunities available in London or Bristol, with a diverse client base focusing on key industry sectors including energy and infrastructure.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous benefits

Career development program

Qualifications

• Good grounding in contentious construction matters.
• Excellent technical skills and understanding of construction issues.
• Self-starter with experience managing a caseload.

Responsibilities

• Deliver practical solutions focused advice to clients.
• Supervise and delegate to junior team members.
• Maintain proactivity in keeping abreast of legal issues.

Skills

Contentious construction matters

Technical legal expertise

Business development

Proactive learning

Education

Qualified lawyer

Job description

Technical skills and experience - Delivering advice to our clients isn't just about explaining the law, it is about providing practical solutions focused advice that combines exceptional technical legal expertise with a thorough understanding of the client's business and industry, from pouring concrete and erecting steelwork to negotiating final accounts and understanding defects. We are looking for candidates with a good grounding in contentious construction matters across at least one of the areas mentioned above, with excellent technical skills and a good understanding of construction issues. We expect everyone in the team to apply their technical skills to more than just billable work, some track record of involvement in BD activities is preferable as well as a keen interest in developing BD skills. We have a structured programme to develop these skills and your involvement in wider BD activities.

Proactivity - As important as technical skills, we are looking for individuals with the drive and to make the most of every opportunity they are presented with. There is always something new to learn and we expect the team to proactively keep abreast of legal issues, client news, our key sectors and relevant technical issues. Although supervision and support is always available, the successful candidate will be a self‑starter who has some experience in managing their own caseload, with an understanding of the best time to escape issues when required.

Supervision - As part of the management of a caseload, our Associate Directors are comfortable supervising and delegating to more junior members of the team. We are therefore seeking a candidate with experience of supervising colleagues during an active project.

“Osborne Clarke has a wide range of team members with a variety of experiences and knowledge. We always receive excellent, first‑class service.” – Chambers & Partners 2024

Due to continued strategic growth and high client demand we are looking for a Senior Associate to join our highly regarded Construction & Engineering Disputes and Risk team. This is an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic practice that has enjoyed significant growth over recent years. Based in either our London or Bristol office, you will have the chance to work with and learn from every member of the cross‑office team, with exposure to the full spectrum of contentious construction and engineering matters handled by the service line. We encourage each member of the team to build client relationships from the outset with a structured career path, goals and objectives at every level. You will be joining a successful firm with a collegiate and supportive culture, which makes it a rewarding place to work.

The practice group is based across our offices in Bristol and London, working closely together on matters. The group has a first‑rate domestic client base and continues to develop an international reputation. We act for investors, developers and contractors with a keen focus and strategy based on our core industry sectors that link all of our service delivery together for our clients. In this team that is primarily through Energy & Utilities (with a focus on renewables), The Built Environment and Mobility & Infrastructure. We have traditionally acted for blue chip companies, Government entities, utilities, rail operators, property developers, contractors, professionals and private individuals. For example, we are on the Engie, NG Bailey and Siemens panels for construction work, with other key clients and relationships including NGED, M&G Real Estate, Balfour Beatty and Civitas Living, BDW, Octopus Renewables, Vistry, Innogy and UK Power Networks. Key areas of expertise include building safety, including fire and structural safety (having acted on the leading case in the Supreme Court), interlinked portfolio disputes in both residential and energy developments, handling disputes arising out of major projects (including PFI) both in the UK and internationally and managing project risk through the construction and operation phases of a wide variety of asset types.

Find more about our Construction & Engineering Disputes and Risk practice using this link: http://www.osborneclarke.com/services/infrastructure-services/construction-disputes/.

Team – Led by Rob Horne, Partner and also International Head of the Mobility and Infrastructure Sector, the team is made up of 30 fee earners. The team is also currently made up of 4 further Partners (Helen Waddell, Rupa Lakha, Robert Adjetey & Daniel Cashmore), 4 Associate Directors, 8 Senior Associates, 8 Associates, 3 Trainee Solicitors, a Paralegal and a Solicitor Apprentice. The team is close knit and collegiate. Being truly integrated, the office any individual is associated with is never a bar to being involved in any of the work undertaken. There are no specific reporting lines, everyone is encouraged and has the opportunity to work with as many people as possible, on as many different matters as possible.

• Our sector‑based approach enables us to help our clients tackle the issues they are facing today, and prepare for the ones that they will face tomorrow. Advising them both comprehensively and commercially. We love working closely with our clients on new deals, products and solutions which will transform their businesses, markets and even sectors. And our unique approachable culture is not an added extra, it’s fundamental to our success.
• At Osborne Clarke we value difference and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We want everyone to feel that OC is a place where you can be yourself and belong, and our range of interest groups and diversity networks - not to mention our great teams - are a part of making that a reality. We value the health and wellbeing of our people and our wide range of initiatives and benefits support this.
• Services in India are provided by a relationship firm. Like all our lawyers, you will benefit from our multi‑award winning career development programme. At each stage of your career this provides you with:
• Clear expectations of your role and what it takes to progress both on a firm‑wide basis and specifically within the team;
• High‑quality clients and work, with early responsibility and client exposure;
• Thorough assessment and individual feedback from a range of experienced colleagues;
• Robust technical training with early skill‑based development, increasingly tailored to you;
• Reward for your contribution, progression and potential, rather than PQE or tenure.
• We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits.

Osborne Clarke is an international legal practice with over 330 Partners and more than 1,260 talented lawyers in 26 locations.