Contentious Construction Associate (2-4 PQE)

Contentious Construction Associate (2-4 PQE)

Due to strong clie nt work demand, we are recruiting an experienced contentious Construction-focussed Associate into our London basedConstruction, Engineering & Projects team. The team is a highly reputable full-service construction law team providing transactional advice through to dispute avoidance and dispute resolution advice relating to large-scale construction and engineering projects in both the UK and internationally.

The team are well-regarded when it comes to acting for clients across a wide range of business sectors with a particular emphasis on real estate developers, housebuilders, property investment companies, contractors, subcontractors and major engineering consultancies. The team also acts forthe Firm’s private clients on high value residential construction projects.

Our transaction advice includes advising on the procurement of construction projects, all forms of domestic and international construction contracts, and ancillary documentation such as consultant appointments, trade contracts, collateral warranties, parent company guarantees and performance bonds.

Core dispute avoidance and dispute resolution services include advising on all forms of dispute resolution (adjudication / arbitration / litigation / mediation / expert determination) and giving strategic advice to clients to ensure that their dispute is resolved as cost effectively as possible whilst maintaining the best possible outcome.

This is a great opportunity to work across a wide variety of contentious with non-contentious construction work streams, with current growth particularly focussed on the contentious side of the practice. We are particularlyinterested in experience of working on both UK adjudications and Technology and Construction Court (TCC) litigation. The new joiner can be expected to have a significant level of responsibility and client contact, whilst working in a supportive and collaborative team.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Acting for a wide range of national and international clients on complex and high value construction disputes, including UK adjudications, arbitrations and TCC litigation.
• Undertaking dispute advisory work including ADR (for example, mediation).
• Dealing with a wide range of matters, such as final account and delay claims, quality of build claims, construction insolvency, bond claims, ACM cladding, professional indemnity and other insurance-related claims.
• Advising government bodies, sponsors, funders, developers, employers, operators, constructors, sub-contractors and professional teams in relation to dispute avoidance and resolution mechanisms, together with project procurement techniques (including facilities management).
• Working closely with existing clients to maintain and develop relationships, acting as a trusted advisor capable of providing timely and quality advice whilst managing expectations.
• Working collaboratively as a cohesive team, to execute large-scale, high-value, client matters to the highest standard.
• Assisting with drafting, negotiating and advising on construction contracts, consultant appointments, collateral warranties, financial securities (including bonds and guarantees), letters of intent and reliance letters.
• Contributing to group knowledge and know-how initiatives.
• Complying with all relevant legal and regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles .

Skills and Experience

• Be an England and Wales qualified solicitor or equivalent with 2-4 years’ PQE, able to integrate into teams effectively.
• Solid experience of contentious construction work
• Exposure to working on both UK adjudications and/or TCC litigation in the context of fire safety related litigation and/or arbitration or any other forms of dispute avoidance / resolution (mediation, expert determination etc.) .

Person Specification

• Able to effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally, to ensure that complex information is delivered clearly, concisely and relevant to the audience.
• Builds trusted working relationships with a range of stakeholders to support collaboration, alignment and delivery.
• Commercial awareness, financial acumen and business-like approach to both legal practice and business development.
• Responds effectively to changing priorities while maintaining progress against key outcomes and meeting deadlines.

Hybrid working

We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.

Reasonable Adjustments

At Charles Russell Speechlys we are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, where candidates can perform to the best of their ability at an interview or in a test situation. At any point in the hiring process for this role, if you require a reasonable adjustment or accommodation that might assist you during the application and interview process, please reach out to the above-named contact and they will work with you to understand your requirements. For more information, please see our Workplace Reasonable Adjustments Statement.

Any information you disclose will be kept confidential unless otherwise instructed by you, and will only be used to provide appropriate support to you during our assessment process.

Charles Russell Speechlys is an Equal Opportunities Employer

and we are committed to developing an increasingly diverse, inclusive and supportive culture where everyone can be themselves, feel valued, and that they can thrive and belong. Please see here for more information on our employee-led DEI Networks.

For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.