Construction Lawyer/ Associate (Permanent) in London

As one of the UK's leading law firms, we're here for the people and businesses who rely on us at life's important moments - made possible by our colleagues who bring the expertise, judgement and care that makes the difference. Everyone's path here is different, but we share a desire to help our business make a real impact.

Your Role and What You'll Be Doing

You'll join Irwin Mitchell's nationally recognised Construction & Engineering team, led by Partner, Vijay Bange. This role can be based in any of our London, Birmingham, Leeds or Manchester offices and offers the opportunity to work as part of a national practice advising clients both in the UK and internationally across major construction, engineering, energy and infrastructure projects.

Our contentious construction and engineering lawyers support a wide variety of clients on all manner of projects both in the UK and across the world. Our work includes extensive dispute avoidance advice throughout the life of a project, supporting clients through both established and bespoke ADR processes, and representing clients before all manner of domestic and international tribunals. The team is known for combining specialist technical knowledge with practical, commercial advice that helps clients manage risk and keep projects moving.

Our rapidly growing team is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals interested in working with a close-knit team on a broad range of projects, from advising individual clients on domestic matters to representing leading global companies on major international infrastructure projects.

• Working with a partner-led team advising on a very broad range of contentious construction and engineering matters
• Working with colleagues to provide clients with pragmatic, commercial dispute avoidance advice and strategies designed to manage and minimise risk
• Supporting clients through negotiations, mediations and other non-adversarial forms of alternative dispute resolution
• Advising on disputes involving all manner of delays, disruptions, defects, payment issues, professional negligence and contractor or consultant claims
• Assisting with adjudications, litigation, domestic and international arbitrations and other forms of dispute resolution where matters escalate
• Working directly with clients, technical experts and colleagues from across our full-practice firm to deliver joined-up advice
• Contributing to business development activity and helping to build long-term relationships with developers, contractors, consultants, funders and occupiers

You'll have exposure to high-quality, complex work from an early stage and will be encouraged to take on responsibility as your experience develops, with support from senior colleagues in a collaborative national team.

About You

We're keen to hear from lawyers looking to develop their careers within a leading construction and engineering practice. A qualified lawyer with around 1-3 years' PQE. Experience in construction, engineering, and infrastructure work, primarily focussed on contentious work, and ideally with some experience of international arbitration (although this is not essential). Strong drafting, analytical and technical skills, with the ability to understand complex contractual and project issues. A commercial, client-focused mindset and confidence working with clients operating in high-value, fast-moving project environments. An interest in the construction and engineering sector, including the commercial, technical and regulatory pressures clients face.

You'll be joining a supportive, high-performing and forward-thinking team that values quality, integrity and development. If you're looking for exposure to complex construction and engineering work within a national firm, this role offers an excellent next step in your career.

Our Benefits - What We Can Offer You

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can 'buy' up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services. This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We're committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim. Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders. We carry out pre-employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks with our trusted 3rd parties. The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.