Construction Solicitor - Tier 1 International Law Firm

CapeClarke; Greater London; On-site; GBP 135,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CapeClarke Ltd in London is seeking a Contentious Construction & Engineering Associate with 2+ PQE to join its market-leading team. You will advise on high-value, complex disputes across a broad sector range and contribute to business development and client relationship growth.

The successful candidate will work within a top-tier Construction & Engineering team, collaborating with non-contentious colleagues and projects teams on domestic and international mandates.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ PQE in contentious construction and engineering.
• Experience of both project advisory work and formal dispute resolution.
• Strong knowledge of construction contracts and the contractual, tortious, and statutory rights arising across the supply chain.
• Experience handling issues such as delay, extensions of time, liquidated damages, additional costs, and defects.
• Experience of adjudication and High Court litigation procedure.
• Arbitration and mediation experience advantageous but not essential.
• Experience managing large-scale document review and disclosure exercises, including familiarity with document management and bundling platforms.
• Exposure to preparing witness and expert evidence.
• Excellent organisational and diary management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide project advisory on live construction and engineering projects, helping clients manage risk and mitigate disputes.
• Lead and participate in formal dispute resolution including adjudication, High Court litigation, arbitration, and mediation.
• Supervise trainees and paralegals and contribute to mentoring.
• Assist with business development initiatives and client pitches to grow the practice.
• Develop and manage key client relationships and contribute to the expansion of the team.

Skills

PQE in construction & engineering

Project advisory experience

Dispute resolution experience

Contract knowledge

Adjudication & High Court procedure

Document review & disclosure

Witness & expert evidence exposure

Organisation & diary management

Job description

London | 2+ PQE | Leading City International Law Firm | £135k-180k

We are working with a highly regarded City law firm seeking a talented Contentious Construction & Engineering Associate (2+ PQE) to join its market-leading London team.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join one of the City’s preeminent specialist Construction & Engineering practices, advising on high-quality contentious matters across a diverse range of sectors.

The Role

Due to continued growth and an increasing volume of instructions, the team is looking to recruit a specialist contentious lawyer to advise on:

• Project advisory work on ‘live’ construction and engineering projects, assisting clients in managing risk and mitigating disputes
• Formal dispute resolution including adjudication, High Court litigation, arbitration, and mediation

You will play a central role in complex, high-value matters while developing strong client relationships and contributing to the continued expansion of the practice.

The Team

The Construction & Engineering team sits within the firm’s Real Estate Group and comprises both contentious and non-contentious specialists. It is a high-performing, cohesive and busy team with an excellent reputation for:

• Providing early responsibility
• Offering meaningful client exposure
• Supporting career progression within a collaborative and ambitious environment

You will work closely with non-contentious construction lawyers, transactional real estate colleagues, and projects teams on a broad range of domestic and international mandates.

The Work

The practice advises clients across the full supply chain and a variety of sectors, including:

• Living sector (with particular focus on building safety)
• Transport & infrastructure
• Energy & waste
• PFI projects

The work spans early-stage advisory support through to formal dispute resolution proceedings.

You will also:

• Supervise and mentor trainees and paralegals
• Assist with business development initiatives and pitches
• Take an active role in managing and developing key client relationships

Candidate Requirements

To be considered, you will have:

• 2+ years’ PQE in contentious construction and engineering
• Experience of both project advisory work and formal dispute resolution
• Strong knowledge of construction contracts and the contractual, tortious, and statutory rights arising across the supply chain
• Experience handling issues such as delay, extensions of time, liquidated damages, additional costs, and defects
• Experience of adjudication and High Court litigation procedure
• (Arbitration and mediation experience advantageous but not essential)
• Experience managing large-scale document review and disclosure exercises, including familiarity with document management, and bundling platforms
• Exposure to preparing witness and expert evidence
• Excellent organisational and diary management capabilities

The successful candidate will be commercially aware, inquisitive and motivated to understand clients’ businesses in order to deliver high-quality, strategic advice.

This is a superb opportunity to join a top-tier team offering genuine responsibility, high-quality work and excellent long-term career prospects in the London market.