Construction Senior Associate/Legal Director

JMC Legal Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment is seeking a Construction Senior Associate/Legal Director in the City of London for a leading practice. You will handle high‑quality contentious and non‑contentious construction matters and collaborate with Partners to shape the practice.

The role offers a clear progression pathway to Legal Director/Partnership, exposure to major projects and Building Safety Act work, and the chance to grow within a supportive, top-tier environment.

Qualifications

• Construction solicitor with 5+ years' PQE (England & Wales).
• Strong experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters.
• Excellent technical ability with commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate building contracts and professional appointments.
• Advise on construction disputes, adjudications, litigation, and arbitration.
• Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to practice growth.

Skills

Construction law

Client relationships

Mentoring junior lawyers

Commercial awareness

Job description

Construction Senior Associate/Legal Director (5+ PQE) | City of London | Leading Legal 500, Chambers & Spears Ranked Law Firm

Are you a Senior Construction Solicitor looking to take the next step in your career within one of London's leading specialist Construction teams? This is an excellent opportunity to work on a broad mix of high-quality contentious and non-contentious matters, advising on complex projects alongside recognised Partners, while playing an integral role in the continued growth of a highly regarded practice.

This prestigious central London law firm is seeking an ambitious Construction Senior Associate/Legal Director to join its growing Construction team, offering exposure to exceptional quality work, an impressive client base and a genuine pathway towards Legal Director / Partnership.

The Firm

A highly regarded Legal 500, Spears and Chambers ranked independent law firm based in the heart of London with an outstanding reputation across Private Client and Wealth Management, Property and Real Estate, Corporate and Commercial, and Litigation and Dispute Resolution.

With almost 200 Partners and Lawyers, the firm combines the sophistication and quality of a top-tier City practice with the accessibility and personal approach of a boutique. Lawyers benefit from significant client exposure, meaningful responsibility and close access to senior decision-makers, enabling them to build lasting client relationships and progress their careers more quickly than is often possible at larger City firms.

The firm is well known for its supportive and collaborative culture, where lawyers are encouraged to take ownership of their development whilst maintaining a genuine work-life balance.

You will find a prestigious working environment with approachable colleagues, where you will be trusted with high-quality work, play an active role in developing the practice and have every opportunity to build a long-term career within a thriving Construction team.

As a certified B Corporation, the firm is committed to its people and purpose. This means acting responsibly, building sustainable relationships and creating an environment where both its people and clients can thrive.

The Team

The Construction team has experienced sustained growth driven by increasing client demand and advises across both contentious and non-contentious construction matters.

Led by a Spears ranked Head of Department recognised as a leading specialist in development projects and Building Safety matters, the team is made up of highly regarded Partners, Senior Associates and Associates working across a broad range of complex construction instructions.

The team acts for an established client base including developers, contractors, funders, consultants, investors and other construction professionals. Its expertise covers the full lifecycle of construction projects, advising on procurement strategies, building contracts, consultant appointments, collateral warranties, guarantees, bonds, project delivery and construction disputes, with Building Safety Act matters forming an increasingly significant part of the practice.

The culture is genuinely collaborative, with Senior Associates working closely alongside Partners on strategic, high-profile matters whilst playing an important role in mentoring junior lawyers and contributing to the continued growth and success of the team.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a Construction Senior Associate/Legal Director with 5+ years' PQE to join a growing and forward-thinking team, working across both contentious and non-contentious Construction matters.

You will advise clients throughout the lifecycle of construction and development projects, handling a broad range of matters including the drafting and negotiation of building contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties, guarantees and associated project documentation, alongside advising on construction disputes, adjudications, litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

Building Safety Act work continues to be a significant area of growth for the team, and you will have the opportunity to advise on complex remediation projects and high-profile building safety matters alongside recognised specialists in this field.

Working closely with the Partners, you will take on significant responsibility for managing complex matters, developing client relationships and acting as a trusted adviser to an impressive client base. You will also collaborate with colleagues across the firm's Real Estate, Corporate and Dispute Resolution teams to deliver commercially focused advice on complex projects.

As a Senior Associate/Legal Director, you will play an active role in supervising and mentoring junior lawyers, supporting their technical development and helping to maintain the collaborative culture that the team is known for. You will also be encouraged to contribute to business development initiatives, strengthen existing client relationships and help drive the continued growth of the practice.

There is a genuine focus on long‑term progression, with a clearly defined pathway towards Legal Director and, ultimately, Partnership for the right individual.

Requirements

• Construction solicitor with 5+ years' PQE (England & Wales).
• Strong experience across both contentious and non-contentious Construction matters.
• Exposure to Building Safety Act matters would be advantageous but is not essential.
• Excellent technical ability with strong commercial awareness and sound judgment.
• Proven client relationship and communication skills, with the ability to manage a varied and complex caseload.
• Experience mentoring or supporting the development of junior lawyers.
• A collaborative, proactive approach and the ambition to contribute to the continued success of a growing Construction practice.
• Comfortable working within the firm's hybrid working model.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join one of London's leading Construction teams, offering exposure to high-value and technically challenging work, an exceptional client base, genuine responsibility from day one and a clear pathway towards Legal Director / Partnership within a highly respected City firm.