Legal Director, Construction

JR United Kingdom; Oxford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm in Oxford District is looking for a Legal Director to join its distinguished Contentious Construction team. This role involves managing high-value construction and engineering claims, providing strategic leadership, and fostering client relationships. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in contentious matters and a collaborative leadership style that contributes to team success.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in contentious construction matters.
• Strong technical expertise in insurance-related construction disputes.
• Experience managing cases through litigation and arbitration.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex, multi-jurisdictional construction and engineering disputes.
• Advise insurers on first and third-party claims.
• Mentor and develop junior lawyers.

Skills

Client management

Communication

Leadership

Education

8+ PQE in law

Job description

Position: Legal Director

Location: Oxford District, United Kingdom

A leading international law firm is seeking a Legal Director to join its highly regarded Contentious Construction team in Oxford District. This is a key strategic hire, ideal for an experienced practitioner with deep knowledge of complex construction and engineering disputes.

The Role
As Legal Director, you will be at the forefront of handling high-value and technically sophisticated construction and engineering claims, both in the UK and internationally. You will lead on matters involving major infrastructure and energy projects, including renewables, across a broad range of policy types such as CAR/EAR, DSU, AICoW, and public liability. Your work will include advising on coverage, managing liability claims, and handling subrogated recovery actions.

You will also play a central role in client relationship development and team leadership, contributing to the continued growth and success of a forward-thinking and dynamic team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage complex, multi-jurisdictional construction and engineering disputes.
• Advise insurers and reinsurers on first and third-party claims, with a strong focus on policy coverage.
• Draft and review bespoke and standard form policy wordings.
• Handle litigation, arbitration (under all major international rules), and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Mentor and develop junior lawyers while contributing to the team's strategic objectives.

About You

• 8+ PQE with extensive experience in contentious construction matters.
• Strong technical expertise in insurance-related construction disputes, ideally including CAR/EAR, DSU, and related policies.
• Experience managing cases through litigation and arbitration, with a solid grasp of international legal processes.
• Excellent communication and client management skills.
• A collaborative leader with commercial awareness and a drive to grow a practice.

This is a rare opportunity to join a top-tier disputes team operating at the cutting edge of construction and engineering law. The position offers a clear route to partnership and the chance to work on some of the most significant and high-profile matters in the market.

To find out more, please apply, or reach out to Ben Shepherd at Henderson Scott directly.