Senior Associate - Construction

Senior Associate – Construction role at Holmes & Hills Solicitors

Overview

Holmes & Hills is a large regional law firm with seven offices across Essex and Suffolk, delivering high‑quality legal services to clients across the UK. The Construction team provides strategic, hands‑on support to clients across the construction supply chain, with a focus on managing risk and commercial position.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside Partners on a broad range of complex and high‑value contentious construction matters across the UK.
• Manage your own caseload of adjudications, enforcement proceedings, and court litigation in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC).
• Advise on non‑contentious issues including contract drafting, risk management and project strategy if desired.
• Represent clients spanning the construction supply chain—from subcontractors and consultants to main contractors and developers.
• Play an active role in business development and client relationship management, supported by the marketing team and firm networks.
• Demonstrate solid technical ability with commercial awareness and the confidence to lead client matters.

Illustrative Instructions (examples of recent work)

• Acting in multiple high‑value adjudications with interim and final account disputes, variations, and loss and expense claims, including a multi‑million‑pound loss of profit claim.
• Enforcing adjudicator’s decisions in the TCC, including defending jurisdictional challenges and securing declaratory relief under Part 8.
• Advising on complex contract structures and risk allocation under JCT and NEC forms; providing early‑stage project advice.
• Representing a national main contractor on a major UK infrastructure project with delay and entitlement strategy issues.
• Advising a groundworks contractor on a £28 million package at a power station, including delay and quantum assessment.
• Securing injunctive relief for misappropriated equipment valued over £500,000 and providing in‑house training on contract management and dispute avoidance.
• Supporting national trade associations with construction law advice.

Qualifications

You’ll be a qualified solicitor with solid experience in contentious construction law, ideally gained within a recognised construction or commercial litigation practice.

• Hands‑on experience running or assisting with adjudications, enforcement proceedings, and TCC litigation.
• Understanding of the Construction Act, payment mechanisms, and key contractual principles under JCT and NEC forms.
• Ability to manage matters with autonomy, handle client relationships directly, and contribute to the strategic direction of cases.
• Proactive and commercial approach to resolving disputes and helping clients achieve business objectives.
• Experience in non‑contentious work (drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction contracts) is advantageous but not essential.
• Existing network of contacts or ability to develop new business is advantageous.

Seniority and Employment

• Role suitable for Associate or Senior Associate (approximately 4–6+ PQE) seeking the next step in their career.
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Legal

What We Offer

• Competitive basic salary
• Supportive, relaxed and flexible work environment
• 28 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Medicash cash back schemes after 1 year’s service
• Life insurance
• EAP and wellbeing support services including virtual GP access 24/7
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity/paternity pay and family events leave
• Cycle scheme

About Us

Holmes & Hills Solicitors is a large regional firm with seven offices and over 200 legal professionals. We work with businesses, individuals, families and local authorities to build long‑standing relationships and support growth and development.