Legal Counsel - Construction in England

Dominus is a privately owned, trusted group of companies focused on the hotel and PBSA (student accommodation) sectors in Central London and across the United Kingdom. Founded in 2011, we have grown into a market‑leading real estate platform with assets under management of more than £2 billion. We are an end‑to‑end business, with capabilities spanning acquisition, design, planning, development and asset management. Our differentiation stems from our ability to approach each project individually and identify the optimal strategy to maximise value. We combine a highly knowledgeable team with trusted partnerships, which has built a reputation for quality throughout the industry.

Legal Team

Working collaboratively with the two existing Senior Legal Counsel and guided by the Executive Director, Development Director, Projects Director and Senior Commercial Manager, you will join a small, collegiate Legal Team that provides support and advice to the Group’s investment and development activities in real estate, with a particular focus on construction and development delivery. The team works hand in hand with the Group’s other functions, dealing with transactions, contracts, property, construction, litigation, insurance and compliance.

Working Relationships

• Internal: All colleagues within the Group. Reporting to existing Senior Legal Counsel, Pearl Kumar and close working relationship with other Senior Legal Counsel, Junior Legal Counsel, Executive Director, Development Director, Projects Director, Senior Commercial Manager and Investment Director.
• External: Day‑to‑day contact for external legal counsel on construction and development matters. Regular interaction with opposite numbers at contractors, consultants, funders and partners.

Role Purpose

To provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal support on construction and development matters across the Dominus portfolio, helping to manage legal risk while enabling the business to deliver projects at pace. This is a hands‑on role with responsibility for drafting and negotiating key construction and consultancy documentation, managing instructions to external legal advisers and supporting the wider Business in resolving issues that arise during design, construction and handover, whilst offering support from the two existing Senior Legal Counsel to expand your understanding of other practice areas to develop into a more rounded In‑House Counsel.

Key Responsibilities

• Pre‑Design and Concept (Stages 0–1) – Support Role: Assist the Senior Legal Counsel in reviewing initial project proposals to identify headline construction‑related risks.
• Developed and Technical Design (Stages 2–3): Draft, review and negotiate professional appointments for design and other consultants, including scope of services, fee structures, limitation of liability, indemnities and intellectual property provisions. Prepare and negotiate collateral warranties and third‑party rights in favour of funders, tenants and purchasers. Work with the Development and Commercial teams to ensure all appointments and warranties align with project and funding requirements.
• Construction (Stage 4): Manage external counsel in the drafting, review and negotiation of construction contracts, sub‑contracts and related project agreements. Review and support negotiation of bonds, guarantees, parent company guarantees and insurance arrangements. Ensure construction documentation is consistent across the contractual suite and reflects the agreed commercial and technical position. Provide day‑to‑day legal support on issues arising during construction.
• Funding and Security: Support the Senior Legal Counsel and Investment team on construction aspects of development and investment funding arrangements. Ensure construction documentation and project structures comply with funder requirements.
• Handover and Close‑Out (Stage 5): Support the transition from construction to operation, including satisfaction of conditions precedent for funding drawdowns and disposals.
• In‑Use / Operational Phase (Stage 6): Advise on day‑to‑day construction‑related issues affecting operational assets, including defects, maintenance obligations and remedial works. Draft and review operational contracts with construction or technical elements.
• Disposals and Strategic Transactions: Provide construction input into property sales and joint ventures, ensuring that construction risk is appropriately allocated and that all necessary warranties, guarantees and reports are in place.

Experience and Skills

• Technical Skills: Qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent common‑law jurisdiction) with strong experience in construction law, gained in private practice and/or in‑house. Comfortable working with standard form construction contracts and negotiating commercial amendments.
• Ways of Working: Ability to work collaboratively with the two existing Senior Legal Counsel, taking ownership of your matters while escalating issues appropriately. Able to manage your own workload, juggle competing priorities and work to tight deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Personal Attributes: Confident, professional and approachable with excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Strong attention to detail and commitment to high standards of drafting and execution.

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Legal

Industries: Real Estate, Legal Services, Hotels and Motels