Contentious Construction Associate

William James Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration + benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Collaborative culture

Job summary

William James Recruitment seeks an Associate to join its London-based contentious construction practice. Work on high-value disputes, with exposure to advisory work and dispute avoidance.

You’ll collaborate with partners and teams across a national platform, handling adjudication, arbitration and other dispute resolution steps. The role demands a solicitor qualified in England & Wales with 1–3 years’ PQE, strong drafting skills, commercial awareness and the ability to work in a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• England & Wales qualified solicitor with 1–3 years’ PQE.
• Experience in contentious construction, especially adjudication and/or litigation.
• Exposure to arbitration and ADR processes is advantageous.
• Familiarity with JCT, NEC and FIDIC contracts.
• Strong technical, analytical and drafting abilities.
• Confident communicator with a commercial, pragmatic approach.
• Ability to work independently and within a collaborative team.

Responsibilities

• Advise on a wide range of construction and engineering disputes.
• Handle complex disputes across adjudication, arbitration, litigation and mediation.
• Contribute to delay, disruption, defects and building safety matters.
• Provide procurement and contract-structuring advice.
• Draft and negotiate construction contracts and related documents.
• Support clients with risk management and strategic dispute avoidance.

Skills

Communication skills

Drafting skills

Analytical skills

Commercial awareness

Teamwork

Independent working

Education

England & Wales qualified solicitor

Job description

Contentious Construction Associate

The Firm

William James Recruitment is instructed by a leading international law firm ranked highly across its practice areas in legal directories. The firm has a strong reputation across Construction, Real estate and Corporate. With an established presence in the UK and internationally, the firm is recognised for advising on complex, high-value projects and Construction disputes for a diverse client base across both public and private sectors.

The firm’s Construction, Engineering & Projects team is a cornerstone of its practice and is widely regarded for its technical expertise and commercial approach. The team delivers a full-service offering, advising clients from project inception and procurement through to dispute avoidance and resolution.

Clients include major developers, contractors, consultants, investors and government bodies, with particular strength in real estate development, infrastructure and regeneration. The team is also at the forefront of advising on building safety and fire-related disputes, an area of continued growth.

The firm fosters a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture, with a strong emphasis on career development, knowledge sharing and sustainable growth. ESG principles are embedded at the core of the firm’s strategy and operations.

The Role

Due to continued growth, the firm is seeking an Associate to join its London-based contentious construction team. This is an excellent opportunity to work on a broad mix of high-quality disputes while also gaining exposure to advisory and dispute avoidance work.

You will work closely with experienced partners and colleagues across the firm’s national platform, benefiting from strong mentorship while taking on meaningful responsibility and client contact from an early stage. You will advise on a wide range of construction and engineering matters, including:

• Complex construction disputes across adjudication, arbitration, litigation and mediation
• Delay and disruption claims, final accounts, defects and quality issues
• Building safety and fire-related disputes, including cladding matters
• Professional negligence and insurance-related claims
• Strategic dispute avoidance and risk management
• Procurement and contract structuring advice
• Drafting and negotiating construction contracts and ancillary documentation

The Candidate

• England & Wales qualified solicitor with 1-3 years’ PQE
• Experience in contentious construction work, particularly adjudication and/or litigation
• Exposure to arbitration and other ADR processes is advantageous
• Familiarity with standard form contracts such as JCT, NEC and FIDIC
• Strong technical, analytical and drafting skills
• Confident communicator with a commercial and pragmatic approach
• Able to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team

Experience in fire safety or building defects disputes would be beneficial but is not essential.

Culture & Platform

• International firm with a strong reputation in construction and infrastructure
• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• High-quality work with leading clients across multiple sectors
• Clear focus on development, progression and mentoring
• Inclusive culture with a commitment to ESG and responsible business

Benefits

• Highly competitive remuneration + benefits
• Flexible working arrangements (50% office attendance)
• Sociable law firm and opportunity to be part of a growing, respected construction practice

Contact

Alice Winter (Retained Consultant)