Construction Lawyer

Dandara; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

33 days' holiday (incl. BH)

Private Medical Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Health Hero digital GP

Health Assured Wisdom App

Cycle to Work

Employer-matched pension up to 5%

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Dandara is seeking a Construction Lawyer to join its growing Legal team in the UK. The role focuses on commercial, high-quality residential and build-to-rent developments with professional mentoring and real responsibility.

You will advise across land acquisition, construction and completion, collaborating with multiple teams to keep projects compliant and efficient.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales.
• Approximately 2 years PQE (varying levels welcomed).
• Experience in construction law within private practice or in-house.
• Experience drafting and negotiating construction documentation.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to explain complex issues.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercially focused legal advice across construction and development matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate construction documentation including building contracts and collateral warranties.
• Support land acquisitions and disposals by reviewing docs and responding to enquiries.
• Collaborate with external solicitors on specialist construction matters.
• Support affordable housing, infrastructure and development arrangements where issues arise.
• Help improve legal templates, processes and guidance across the business.
• Deliver practical legal guidance to progress projects while managing risk.
• Keep up to date with changes in construction law and building safety legislation.

Skills

Construction law

PQE 2 years

In-house experience

Drafting & negotiating contracts

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Organisational skills

JCT contracts knowledge

Residential development

Private practice experience

Education

Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales

Job description

• Consultant appointments
• Experience supporting residential development projects.

Join one of the UK's leading property developers

Are you a Construction Lawyer looking to move in-house or continue developing your career within a commercial, fast-paced environment?

At Dandara, we're looking for a talented solicitor with around two years' post-qualification experience to join our growing Legal team. This is an outstanding opportunity to work on a varied portfolio of residential and build to rent developments across the UK.

Working alongside an experienced Head of Legal and an established in-house legal team, you'll become a trusted legal adviser to the business, supporting projects from land acquisition through to construction and completion.

If you're looking for genuine responsibility, excellent mentoring and exposure to high-quality development work without the pressures of private practice billing targets, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll provide commercially focused legal advice across a wide range of construction and development matters, supporting colleagues across Construction, Commercial, Technical, Land, Sales and Operations.

Your Work Will Include

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction documentation including:
  • Building contracts
  • Consultant appointments
  • Collateral warranties
  • Parent company guarantees
  • Performance bonds
  • Novation agreements
  • Deeds of variation and assignment
  • Letters of reliance
  • Related construction and development documentation
• Advising project teams on legal and commercial risks associated with live developments.
• Supporting land acquisitions and disposals by reviewing construction documentation and responding to legal enquiries.
• Working closely with external solicitors on specialist construction matters.
• Assisting with affordable housing, infrastructure and wider development arrangements where construction issues arise.
• Helping to improve legal templates, processes and guidance across the business.
• Providing practical legal advice that enables projects to progress efficiently while managing risk.
• Keeping up to date with changes in construction law and building safety legislation.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who enjoys building relationships, solving problems and becoming part of the commercial decision-making process.

You'll Ideally Have

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales.
• Around 2 years' PQE (applications from those with slightly more or less experience are welcomed).
• Experience in construction law gained within private practice or an in-house legal team.
• Experience drafting and negotiating construction documentation.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to explain complex legal issues in a practical way.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

It would be great if you also have

• Experience acting for developers, housebuilders or contractors.
• Knowledge of JCT contracts and associated construction documentation.
• Experience supporting residential development projects.
• Exposure to construction due diligence on acquisitions and disposals.
• Previous in-house experience or a genuine desire to move in-house.
• An understanding of building safety legislation and development delivery.

Why Dandara?

Dandara is one of the UK's most respected independent property developers, delivering high-quality homes, Build to Rent communities and regeneration projects across the UK.

Joining Our Legal Team Means You'll

• Work on high-profile, complex residential developments.
• Enjoy genuine variety across construction, development and commercial legal work.
• Be supported by experienced in-house lawyers committed to your development.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across the business.
• Develop a long-term in-house legal career with excellent progression opportunities.
• Enjoy a collaborative culture where legal is seen as a valued commercial partner.

What We Offer

In return, we offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary per annum depending on experience
• Discretionary bonus
• 33 days' holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Health Hero digital GP and Health Assured Wisdom App
• Competitive parental leave
• 3x salary life assurance (option to increase to 4x)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employer-matched pension up to 5%
• Flexible benefits including shopping vouchers, airport parking, and reduced gym memberships

Founded in 1988 on the Isle of Man, Dandara is the Housebuilding division of Dandara Group. It has been creating beautiful homes for over 30 years, providing our customers with an exceptional level of service all the way through the process. It's part of the reason why we are one of the UK's most respected private housebuilders, with our portfolio now stretching across the nation.