Senior Associate - Construction in Colchester

Construction Solicitor – Senior Associate

Holmes & Hills is a large and growing regional law firm with its heart in East Anglia and a reputation for delivering high-quality legal services to clients across the UK. With seven offices across Essex and Suffolk, including our flagship A12 Commercial Hub at J25, we are strategically positioned to serve businesses operating throughout London, the South East and beyond.

Job Vacancy

Construction Solicitor – Senior Associate

Holmes & Hills is a large and growing regional law firm with its heart in East Anglia and a reputation for delivering high-quality legal services to clients across the UK. With seven offices across Essex and Suffolk, including our flagship A12 Commercial Hub at J25, we are strategically positioned to serve businesses operating throughout London, the South East and beyond.

Our fee earners work in genuine partnership with clients combining technical expertise with a proactive, commercially focused approach. We act as trusted advisors to a wide range of clients, from individuals and SMEs to national contractors, developers and local authorities.

Across the firm, we prioritise personal relationships, practical advice, and long-term collaboration. Our Construction team in particular has earned a reputation for its strategic, hands‑on support to clients across the construction supply chain resolving disputes efficiently while helping clients manage risk and strengthen their commercial position.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced Construction Solicitor (Associate or Senior Associate) to join our expanding Construction team.

This is an opportunity to work alongside Partners Sam Bawden and Lawrence Pearce on a broad range of complex and high‑value contentious construction matters across the UK.

You’ll be trusted with genuine responsibility from the outset, managing your own caseload of adjudications, enforcement proceedings, and court litigation in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC). If you wish, you’ll also have the opportunity to advise on non‑contentious issues including contract drafting, risk management and project strategy.

Our clients span the full construction supply chain – from specialist subcontractors and consultants to main contractors and developers – with a growing portfolio of high‑profile and technically challenging projects.

You’ll play an active role in business development and client relationship management, supported by an experienced marketing team and strong firmwide networks across the construction sector.

We’re looking for someone who combines solid technical ability with commercial awareness and the confidence to lead client matters. You’ll have strong experience in adjudications and construction‑related litigation, together with the drive to contribute to the continued growth of one of the region’s leading construction practices.

Illustrative Recent Instructions

• Acting in multiple high‑value adjudications involving interim and final account disputes, variations, and loss and expense claims, including a multi‑million‑pound loss of profit claim following a national housebuilder’s repudiatory breach of contract.
• Successfully enforcing adjudicator’s decisions in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC), including defending jurisdictional challenges and securing declaratory relief under Part 8 proceedings.
• Advising on complex contract structures and risk allocation under JCT and NEC forms, providing early‑stage project advice to prevent disputes and protect commercial positions.
• Representing a national main contractor in relation to contentious issues arising on a major UK infrastructure project, advising on delay, disruption, and entitlement strategy.
• Advising a specialist groundworks contractor on a £28 million package at a power station, including claims for delay, variation, and quantum assessment.
• Securing urgent injunctive relief for a leading scaffolding contractor to recover misappropriated equipment valued in excess of £500,000.
• Providing in‑house training for clients on contract management, introduction to construction law, and dispute avoidance, helping project teams reduce risk and strengthen commercial practices.
• Supporting national trade associations including the Scaffolding Association, National Association of Shopfitters, and the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing and Lead Contractors, providing industry members with both contentious and non‑contentious advice.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I NEED?

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

You should have:

• Hands‑on experience running or assisting with adjudications, enforcement proceedings, and TCC litigation.
• A sound understanding of the Construction Act, payment mechanisms, and key contractual principles under JCT and NEC forms.
• The confidence to handle matters with autonomy, manage client relationships directly, and contribute to the strategic direction of cases.
• A proactive and commercial approach to resolving disputes and helping clients achieve their business objectives.
• Experience in non‑contentious work (such as drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction contracts) is advantageous but not essential.
• Candidates with an existing network of contacts or client relationships - or those with a proven track record in developing new business - will be particularly well suited to this role.

This role would suit an Associate or Senior Associate (circa 4–6+ PQE) who is looking to take the next step in their career.

WHAT SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES SHOULD I HAVE?

• Strong technical ability and a detailed understanding of construction law principles, particularly around payment, termination, and risk allocation.
• Confidence managing adjudications and litigation from start to finish, with excellent drafting and analytical skills.
• Commercial awareness - able to see the bigger picture, understanding client objectives, and give pragmatic, outcome‑focused advice.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to advise clients clearly and persuasively.
• Self‑motivation and initiative, capable of handling matters with appropriate independence while collaborating closely with partners and colleagues.
• Leadership potential, with an interest in mentoring junior team members and supporting the team’s continued growth.
• Business development mindset - comfortable networking, presenting, and building your professional profile within the construction sector.

WHAT ARE WE OFFERING?

• Competitive basic salary
• A supportive, relaxed and flexible work environment in an experienced and growing team.
• 28 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Medicash cash back schemes after 1 years’ service
• Life Insurance
• EAP and various other physical and mental wellbeing support services including virtual GP access 24/7
• Family friendly policies such as enhanced maternity and paternity pay plus, family events leave
• Cycle scheme

About Us

Holmes & Hills Solicitors is a large regional firm of solicitors with seven offices across Essex and Suffolk and over 200 legal professionals across a number of specialist departments. Holmes & Hills works in partnership with clients across East Anglia, including businesses, individuals, families and local authorities, to build long standing relationships, protect clients' interests and support clients' growth and development.

Working in partnership with businesses and individuals

Holmes & Hills's large team of legal experts work in partnership with individuals and organisations to provide them with truly proactive legal services through personal relationships. Acting as a trusted advisor to clients, we take the time to understand clients' needs and objectives before delivering practical advice through a personal and accessible approach.

Independently recognised as a leading law firm

Holmes & Hills Solicitors is independently recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners - two independent directories of the UK’s top law firms - as being a leading supplier of legal services in the region.

These accreditations give our clients the confidence that the legal advice and representation they receive from Holmes & Hills is some of the best available.

Our clients range from established and growing businesses whose brands are recognised and sold around the world and local authorities across the region, through to families and first‑time home buyers.

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