Senior Associate, Construction

Howard Kennedy; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in the UK is seeking a Senior Associate Construction Litigator, focusing on UK-based building work. The role involves handling contentious matters, providing legal advice, and developing client relationships. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in construction law, strong organizational skills, and exceptional client-facing abilities. The firm offers a competitive salary, generous holiday, and various health benefits, among others.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual holiday

Permanent Health Insurance

Life Assurance

Interest free Season Ticket Loan

Private Healthcare

Pension Scheme

Staff Introductory Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven experience working on contentious construction work at a senior level.
• Detailed knowledge of adjudication, arbitration and litigation.
• Good communication skills with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Handling contentious matters including arbitration and litigation.
• Providing technical legal advice on construction disputes.
• Developing and managing client relationships.

Skills

Contentious construction work experience

Delay claims knowledge

Strong organization skills

Exceptional client facing skills

Advocacy and communication skills

Problem solving

Problem-solving approach

Attention to detail

Job description

The role

We're seeking a senior associate construction litigator, with a focus on UK-based building work.

It's an exciting time to join the team as we continue to grow and one of our key strengths is our Building Safety team which provides strategic advice in relation to the challenges of a highly regulated and fast evolving legal environment. You will have the opportunity to make an impact working side‑by‑side with our partners and other lawyers for blue‑chip clients working on cutting edge law.

The team acts for developers, contractors, sub‑contractors, construction companies and real estate investment funds in mediation, adjudication, arbitration, and litigation.

Role responsibility

• Handling contentious matters and dispute advisory work up to and including ADR, expert determination, adjudications (plus enforcement proceedings in the TCC), arbitration and litigation. You will be expected to handle with autonomy cases dealing with wide range of matters including final account and delay claims, quality of build claims, construction insolvency, bond claims, fire and structural safety claims under the new legislation, professional indemnity and other insurance‑related claims.
• Providing technical legal and commercial advice to clients involved in construction disputes, working with partners and other fee earners in the team to assess risks and provide innovative solutions to clients.
• Effectively project managing matters through to completion and delegating effectively to more junior members of the team. Providing them guidance and supporting their professional development.
• Developing and managing strong client relationships, developing an understanding of their needs in order to consistently deliver highest quality legal services to them.
• Instructing and liaising with counsel and other experts where necessary.
• Attending and running meetings with clients, counsel and opposing parties.
• Keeping up to date with developments in contentious construction law, sharing knowledge, insight and best practice within the team and wider firm.

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;

• Proven experience working on relevant contentious construction work at a senior level;
• Detailed knowledge of adjudication, arbitration and litigation practice and procedure;
• Strong organisation skills with the ability to manage client deadlines;
• Good communication skills, confidence in dealing with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels;
• Exceptional client facing skills and the ability to operate as a 'trusted advisor';
• The ability and drive to develop long standing client relationships;
• A broad technical grounding across real estate;
• The ability to deal with complex technical legal concepts;
• A commercial approach to problem solving, providing innovative solutions to the firm and our clients;
• Thoroughness and attention to detail;
• Confident and effective advocacy / communication style;
• Willingness to actively participate in business development and profile‑raising activities; and
• The ability to supervise, mentor and develop more junior members of the team.

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative. If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme