Contentious Construction Partner - Newcastle - Progresion Opportunity - Leading North East Firm

QED Legal LLP; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading commercial law firm in the North East is seeking a Construction Partner to lead the contentious construction practice. The role offers the chance to shape the strategy for the team and provides freedom to grow without unrealistic targets. Strong focus on work-life balance, with benefits including 27 days’ holiday, wellbeing days, and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

27 days’ holiday

Wellbeing days

Paid community hours

Flexible working arrangements

Parking or travel-pass support

Qualifications

• Proven experience in contentious construction or engineering disputes.
• Comfortable leading or building a team to achieve objectives.
• Excellent client skills with the ability to establish a network.

Responsibilities

• Lead and build the contentious side of the Construction & Engineering team.
• Handle existing contentious construction matters and shape future strategy.
• Develop a strategy for the contentious construction practice.

Skills

Contentious construction experience

Team leadership

Client management

Strategic planning

Job description

Construction Partner – Contentious Construction

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Exciting opportunity for a Construction Partner to join a highly regarded commercial law firm in the North East.

The Role

• You will lead and build the contentious side of the Construction & Engineering team
• You will have the autonomy to grow the specialist contentious team as you see fit.
• The role offers freedom: you’re not expected to bring a full book from day one, but you’ll have a network to grow the practice over an bedding in period.
• You’ll handle existing steady incoming contentious construction matters (developers, contractors, housebuilders, some public-sector work) and will be encouraged to shape the future strategy
• The firm has a relaxed but ambitious culture: not obsessed with endless hours, you won’t find “stuck at your desk at 10pm” as the norm.
• Pathway: starting as salaried Partner with bonus/profit?share scheme.
• Location: Newcastle base with strong North East foothold; the firm is committed to regional growth, not a redundant outpost.

Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience in contentious construction / engineering disputes (adjudications, contractor/developer claims, large value matters).
• Comfortable leading or building a team, able to supervise juniors and set direction.
• Ambitious but pragmatic: you’ll have autonomy and support to grow the practice rather than being forced into unrealistic targets immediately.
• Excellent client skills, some network in the construction/disputes market, but you’ll be given timeto establish your books.

Why This Role Is Attractive

• Genuine opportunity to build a contentious construction team from an excellent foundation — you’ll create the strategy rather than join something already rigid.
• Clear career trajectory:with the construction team identified as a key growth area for the firm.
• Strong benefits and culture:
• 27 days’ holiday plus additional long-service days, with option to buy/sell up to 5 days.
• Up to 2 wellbeing days per year.
• Paid community/volunteering hours (~14 hours/year) and strong ESG/community commitment
• Flexible and hybrid working models; supportive of work-life balance and quality of life.
• Parking or travel-pass support, bonus and profit-share scheme for partners.
• Location: based in Newcastle with regional influence and growth ambition.

Next Steps

Do you want to take the lead in shaping a contentious construction practice, with freedom, support and genuine potential to make a mark? Drop Beth Livings at QED Legala message for a confidential chat about this role.