Non-Contentious Construction Principal Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment in London seeks a Principal Associate to lead non-contentious construction matters for a Top 50 law firm, advising on high-value projects across real estate, energy and infrastructure sectors.

You will manage procurement, contracts and development finance issues while mentoring junior lawyers and driving business development to grow the London practice. A hybrid model is offered.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Non-Contentious Construction gained within a leading law firm, in-house or a combination of both.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating JCT, NEC, FIDIC and/or other standard-form construction contracts.
• Strong experience across development projects, procurement structures and construction-related financing arrangements.
• Excellent understanding of construction, infrastructure and engineering risk allocation.
• Ability to lead matters independently and manage competing priorities.
• Strong commercial judgement and client management skills.
• Experience supervising and developing junior lawyers.
• An interest in business development and contributing to the growth of a market-leading practice.

Responsibilities

• Take a lead role on complex, high-value non-contentious construction matters, working closely with clients throughout the project lifecycle.
• Advise on procurement strategy, project structuring, risk allocation and the negotiation and drafting of construction documentation.
• Advise on standard and bespoke forms including JCT, NEC and FIDIC, alongside development agreements and development finance transactions.
• Supervise and support junior lawyers and contribute to the growth of the London team through client development.

Skills

Non-Contentious Construction

Contract drafting

Client management

Leadership

Business development

Tools

JCT contracts

NEC contracts

FIDIC contracts

Job description

Non-Contentious Construction Principal Associate | London | Top 50 Law Firm

Are you an experienced Non-Contentious Construction Lawyer looking to take the next step in your career within a highly regarded and growing London practice?

This is an opportunity to join one of the UK's leading Construction & Engineering teams, advising on complex and high-value projects across the real estate, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors. The team has an excellent flow of work and acts for a broad range of sophisticated clients, offering strong exposure to significant projects and the opportunity to build your profile within an established national practice.

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 an emphasis on allowing lawyers to bring their authentic selves to work and build long-term careers.

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 who is recognised in both Chambers and Legal 500 and has been with the firm for well over a decade. During that time, they have played an important role in the growth of the firm and the wider Construction & Engineering practice, helping to develop its market position and build a strong and established client base.The team acts for developers, investors, funders, public sector bodies, contractors, consultants and occupiers, with a broad range of work spanning real estate development, infrastructure, energy, industrial, remediation and process plant projects.

The growing London practice works closely with colleagues nationally and across Real Estate, Corporate, Finance, Projects and Regulatory, providing a genuinely multidisciplinary offering to clients.

The Role

You will take a lead role on complex, high-value non-contentious construction matters, working closely with clients throughout the project lifecycle.

Your work will cover procurement strategy, project structuring, risk allocation and the negotiation and drafting of construction documentation. You will advise on standard and bespoke forms including JCT, NEC and FIDIC, alongside development agreements, forward funding arrangements and development finance transactions.

The role offers significant client exposure, with the opportunity to take ownership of matters, develop existing relationships and become a trusted adviser to clients on their key projects.

You will also have the opportunity to supervise and support junior lawyers and contribute to the continued growth of the London team through client development and business development activity.

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

• Join a highly regarded national Construction & Engineering practice
• Work on complex, high-value projects across a range of key sectors
• Advise a diverse client base including developers, investors, funders and major organisations
• Significant client exposure and responsibility for leading matters
• Work alongside leading lawyers across a range of complementary practice areas
• Opportunity to build your client profile and contribute to the continued growth of the London practice

Requirements

• Strong experience in Non-Contentious Construction gained within a leading law firm, in-house or a combination of both
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating JCT, NEC, FIDIC and/or other standard-form construction contracts
• Strong experience across development projects, procurement structures and construction-related financing arrangements
• Excellent understanding of construction, infrastructure and engineering risk allocation
• Ability to lead matters independently and manage competing priorities
• Strong commercial judgement and client management skills
• Experience supervising and developing junior lawyers
• An interest in business development and contributing to the growth of a market-leading practice

This is an excellent opportunity for a Principal Associate to join a growing London Construction & Engineering practice, taking ownership of high-value matters while developing their client relationships and long-term career within a leading national firm.