Construction Solicitor

Title – Construction Associate

PQE – 1 – 5 Year PQE

Background to the Firm

Ortus Group is working with a leading mid-market law firm based in smart offices in the City of London. The business provide a comprehensive legal service to a wide range of businesses and private individuals. The client base includes multinationals, public and private companies, partnerships, public sector organisations and private clients.

The Construction team

The Construction team sits as specialist unit within the firms incredibly well regarded Real Estate Services department, the construction team works for a wide range of clients including nationally known housebuilders, developers, industrial and commercial clients, entrepreneurs, HNW individuals, construction professionals, main contractors, and sub-contractors. Real Estate is one of the firm's core practice areas.

The successful candidate is likely to have had a thorough grounding in their training contract and any post qualification experience in both contentious and non-contentious construction work and wish to develop their career as a construction law specialist on both fronts.

On the contentious side, the candidate should be familiar with the Construction and Engineering Protocol, the procedures of the TCC and with adjudicating under the Construction Act, in relation to matters such as disputed accounts, time and delay claims, workmanship and materials issues, and professional negligence.

They should also have substantive non-contentious experience in drafting and negotiating building contracts (principally JCT contracts in their various forms, but not exclusively so) as well as professional terms of engagement, collateral warranties, parent company guarantees and performance bonds.

There may be a requirement for a certain amount of involvement in real estate litigation insofar as the interests of housebuilder clients are concerned: this would tend to relate to land rights, contract disputes with customers, and commercial JV and profit-sharing arrangements. Some knowledge of insurance law would also be helpful but is not a pre-requisite.

The candidate will actively assist in developing the practice by working mainly on their own files, and with others on larger transactions. In accordance with the general practice of the firm, the candidate will have responsibility and client contact, and will enjoy the support and encouragement of other members of the team at all levels.

Responsibilities

To be responsible, under the supervision of the partner, for the day-to-day running of matters and to:

• Provide a high level of client service
• Carry out work expeditiously and to a high professional standard
• Depending upon level, assist in the supervision of trainee solicitors
• Comply with the continuing education requirements of the Law Society and, over and above those requirements, to ensure that adequate training is undertaken to keep up to date with changes in the law
• Ensure that all time spent on any matter is recorded and that recorded time is monitored regularly and billed promptly
• Consolidate the relationship with clients and actively seek to market the services of the department and the wider firm to clients and potential clients
• Attend the firm’s networking events, initiate and undertake other business development activities, as appropriate

Specification of Role

• Able to demonstrate competence in contentious and non-contentious construction law
• Capable of producing competent advice promptly and within budget
• Able to deliver excellent client service at the highest level
• Able and willing to become involved and assist in all matters, including billing and business development as well as fee-earning work
• Demonstrates a keen interest in business development and willingness to become involved in departmental marketing initiatives
• Able to demonstrate the qualities of an enthusiastic team player

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme

Private Medical Insurance

Season Ticket Loan

Death in Service Benefit

Hybrid Working (currently three days in the office and two remotely)

For a young ambitious construction lawyer this is a genuinely incredible opportunity, please get in touch to find out more.