Non-Contentious Construction Legal Director

JMC Legal Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Top 50 law firm in London is seeking a Legal Director to lead a senior non-contentious construction practice. You will act as a trusted adviser and principal client contact on high-value projects spanning real estate, infrastructure, energy and development sectors.

The role offers genuine partnership progression, opportunities to leverage an established client following and to contribute to the growth of the London Construction team within a collaborative, hybrid working environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive non-contentious construction experience in a top law firm or in-house setting.
• Strong drafting and negotiation of JCT, NEC and FIDIC contracts.
• Established client relationships and ability to develop new business.

Responsibilities

• Lead senior non-contentious construction matters and act as principal client contact.
• Advise on procurement strategy, project structuring, risk allocation and development agreements.
• Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to leadership of the London team.

Skills

Non-Contentious Construction

Contract drafting

Client relationships

Business development

Leadership

Tools

JCT contracts

NEC contracts

FIDIC contracts

Job description

Non-Contentious Construction Legal Director | London | Top 50 Law Firm

Are you an established Non-Contentious Construction Lawyer looking for a platform to develop your practice and work towards partnership? Join a leading Construction & Engineering team advising on complex, high-value projects across real estate, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors.

With an established national practice and growing London presence, this Legal Director role offers significant client exposure, work-winning opportunities and the chance to play a key role in shaping the next stage of the London team.

The Firm

This Top 50 law firm is recognised for its excellent service, incisive thinking and commercial approach, with a strong presence across the UK and an increasingly international footprint.

The firm works with some of the world's most exciting and ambitious organisations across a wide range of sectors. Its culture is built around collaboration, innovation and mutual support, with lawyers encouraged to build strong client relationships and contribute to the firm's continued growth.

The firm has also achieved the Investors in People Platinum Standard, reflecting its continued investment in its people and their development.

The Team

The Construction & Engineering practice is a market-leading team advising on some of the UK's most significant regeneration, infrastructure, energy and development projects.

The team is led by a highly regarded partner recognised in both Chambers and Legal 500, who has been with the firm for well over a decade. During this time, they have played a significant role in the growth of the firm and Construction & Engineering practice, developing key client relationships and helping establish a strong national offering.

The team acts for developers, investors, funders, public sector bodies, contractors, consultants and occupiers across real estate development, infrastructure, energy, industrial, remediation and process plant projects.

The London practice works closely with colleagues across Real Estate, Corporate, Finance, Projects and Regulatory on complex multidisciplinary matters. As the London practice continues to grow, there is an opportunity for a senior lawyer to contribute meaningfully to its next stage of development.

The Role

You will take a senior lead on complex and strategically important non-contentious construction matters, acting as a trusted adviser and principal client contact.

Your work will span procurement strategy, project structuring, risk allocation and the negotiation and drafting of construction documentation, including JCT, NEC and FIDIC contracts, development agreements, forward funding arrangements and development finance transactions.

You will advise clients throughout the project lifecycle and work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver commercially focused solutions.

At Legal Director level, there is a strong emphasis on developing client relationships, identifying opportunities and contributing to business development and work-winning. You will have the opportunity to leverage your existing relationships alongside the firm's wider client base.

For the right individual, there is a genuine partnership progression track, providing a platform to develop an established practice and demonstrate the client following, work-winning capability and wider contribution expected of a future partner.

You will also mentor and develop junior lawyers and contribute to the leadership and development of the wider team.

The team operates a flexible hybrid model, with lawyers typically spending at least three days per week in the London office.

What makes this opportunity stand out

• Senior role within a highly regarded national Construction & Engineering practice
• Genuine partnership progression track for the right candidate
• Opportunity to build on an established client following and develop further work
• Lead on complex, high-value and strategically important projects
• Advise sophisticated clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors
• Significant opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of the London practice
• Work collaboratively across Real Estate, Corporate, Finance, Projects and Regulatory

Requirements

• Extensive Non-Contentious Construction experience gained within a leading law firm, in-house or a combination of both
• Strong technical expertise across complex construction and development projects
• Extensive experience drafting and negotiating JCT, NEC, FIDIC and/or other standard-form construction contracts
• Strong understanding of procurement, project structuring, risk allocation and construction-related financing arrangements
• Established client relationships and a demonstrable ability to develop and maintain a strong network
• Proven track record of winning work and contributing to business development
• Ability to lead significant matters and act as principal client contact
• Experience supervising, mentoring and developing junior lawyers
• Commercial approach with strong negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills

This is a senior opportunity for a Legal Director looking to develop an established practice, take a leading role in the growth of the London Construction team and work towards partnership within a highly regarded national firm.