Overview
In this senior role, you will advise on contentious construction and engineering matters for a national and international client base. You will lead dispute avoidance and resolution strategies, working with partners and cross-functional teams to move projects forward. You’ll mentor junior lawyers and help develop client relationships with developers, contractors, consultants, funders and occupiers. This is a high-impact position within a collaborative, growth‑minded team focused on complex infrastructure and energy projects.
Pay / Benefits
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
- pension schemes
- volunteering days (fully paid)
- Westfield Health membership with Aviva Digital GP
- hybrid working options via Flexible by Choice
- wellbeing initiatives and recognition as Best Workplaces for Wellbeing 2024
Responsibilities
- Advising on a broad range of contentious construction and engineering matters in a partner-led team
- Providing pragmatic dispute avoidance strategies to manage risk
- Supporting negotiations, mediations and non-adversarial ADR processes
- Handling disputes involving delays, defects, payment issues, and professional negligence
- Leading or supporting adjudications, litigation, and international arbitrations
- Co-ordinating with clients, technical experts and cross-firm colleagues to deliver integrated advice
- Engaging in business development and cultivating relationships with developers, contractors, consultants, funders and occupiers
- Mentoring and developing junior lawyers within the team
- Pursuing high-quality, complex work with potential progression toward partnership or senior associate roles
Key requirements
- Qualified lawyer with at least 5 years’ PQE
- Experience in contentious construction, engineering and infrastructure, with some international arbitration exposure
- Excellent drafting, analytical and technical skills on complex contractual and project issues
- Ability to work autonomously while collaborating with colleagues
- Comfort building trusted client relationships in high-value, fast-moving environments
- Commercially aware with a practical risk-management approach
- Proactive in supporting business development and team growth
- Experience mentoring or supervising junior lawyers
- Mentoring and coaching
- Relationship-building
- Commercially aware
- Drafting of complex contracts and dispute documents
- Dispute resolution strategies (ADR, adjudication, arbitration)
- Knowledge of construction and engineering contracts
Construction Senior Associate in Leeds employer: Irwin Mitchell
Irwin Mitchell is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to employee well-being and professional growth. With a supportive work culture that values diversity and inclusion, employees enjoy generous benefits such as 25 days of holiday, health and wellbeing support, and opportunities for community involvement. Located in Sheffield, the firm fosters a collaborative environment where colleagues can thrive and make a meaningful impact in their roles.
