Contentious Construction Managing Associate in London

This is a standout opportunity to join a Top 25 UK firm, renowned for providing technical excellence, innovation and a dynamic approach to law. The Construction & Engineering team is rapidly expanding and is looking for an ambitious Contentious Construction & Engineering senior solicitor to join its highly regarded team.

About the Firm

This Legal 500 and Chambers-ranked firm has built a strong reputation advising a diverse client base including HNW individuals, multinational corporates, financial institutions and public bodies. With full-service capability across sectors such as Real Estate, Energy, Financial Services and Technology, the firm combines a long-established heritage with a forward-looking mindset. Despite its scale and international reach, the firm retains a collegiate and supportive culture, with a genuine focus on development, wellbeing and flexible working.

The Construction & Engineering team sits within a leading Real Estate practice, consistently ranked in the top tiers. The team advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters and works closely with colleagues across the wider department. Led by an experienced and well-regarded partner group, the team offers strong collaboration, high-quality work and clear progression prospects, including a pathway to partnership.

The Role

Joining the firm’s specialist Construction & Engineering team, you will advise and lead a varied caseload ranging from project advisory work to formal dispute resolution. Clients span the supply chain and operate across a range of sectors, both in the UK and internationally, including the Living Sector (with a focus on building safety), Industrial Engineering, Transport & Infrastructure, Energy & Waste, and PFI. More specifically, your work will involve advising on contentious construction and engineering matters across the life cycle of projects, including delay, extensions of time, liquidated damages, additional cost and defects claims. You will support and run matters involving adjudication and High Court litigation, with exposure to arbitration and mediation where relevant.

As a Managing Associate, you will be a key member of a busy, high-performing and collegiate team. You will work closely with partners on complex matters, contribute to the ongoing development of client relationships and collaborate across the firm’s wider Real Estate teams on multi-disciplinary transactions. There is a genuine focus on continuous development and long-term progression. You will be encouraged to take on significant responsibility, lead matters, play an active role in business development and support the supervision and development of junior lawyers - all within a supportive environment that is invested in your future at the firm.

What makes this opportunity stand out

• Join a highly regarded Contentious Construction & Engineering team within a market-leading Real Estate department, consistently ranked by Chambers and Legal 500.
• Work on complex, high-value contentious matters across the full life cycle of major domestic and international projects, advising clients across the living, infrastructure, energy and engineering sectors.
• Benefit from a collegiate, supportive culture within a Top 25 UK firm, with genuine investment in development, wellbeing and flexible working.
• Enjoy clear progression and early responsibility, with client exposure and opportunities to contribute to business development within a growing team.

Requirements

• Be a qualified solicitor with 5+ years’ PQE and solid Contentious Construction and Engineering experience.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of contractual, tortious and statutory rights across the construction supply chain, and confidence advising on disputes relating to delay, extensions of time, liquidated damages, additional cost and defects.
• Have experience of adjudication and High Court litigation procedures.
• Experience of arbitration (domestic and/or international) and mediation would be advantageous but is not essential.
• Be comfortable managing complex matters collaboratively, working with colleagues across practice areas in the UK and internationally to deliver high-quality advice.
• Show enthusiasm for business development, with the ability to build client relationships and support the continued growth of the practice.

With increasing demand and significant team growth, there is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in the Contentious Construction team, where you will build client relationships, manage juniors and invest into the further expansion of the team and firm. This is an excellent opportunity to further your own career within a market leading department.