At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal expertise in construction, negotiate contracts, and manage client relationships.
- Company: Dynamic law firm with a culture of bravery and kindness.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth in a collaborative and innovative setting.
- Why this job: Join a team that helps iconic brands turn ideas into reality while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Legal expertise in construction and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Successful businesses rely on a unique set of ideas and people. We help our clients protect and develop those vital assets, unlocking possibilities for future success. From iconic brands and leading multinationals to pioneering start-ups, we are proud to work with a huge range of inspiring clients, helping them to turn their ideas into reality and get the best from - and for - their people.
Our people are not only exceptional at what they do, they also enjoy doing it and consistently give their best to a firm they’re proud to be part of. This stems from our firm culture and our ethos of bravery and kindness. That ethos runs through everything we do, from our approach to recruitment, business practices, and DEI activities to the day‑to‑day environment in our office and our relationships with clients.
With an internationally minded team of more than 700 working across key areas of law – plus strategic partnerships around the world – we’ve got both the combination and calibre of legal experts it takes to enable our clients’ businesses to thrive. Whether it is providing global employment law advice, managing a global IP portfolio, managing a real estate portfolio or piecing together a multijurisdictional corporate transaction, we are able to have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.
About the team: Our Construction team is recognised for its strong capabilities in non‑contentious construction work, supporting clients across sectors such as advertising and marketing, retail, hospitality, leisure, and both large‑scale residential and commercial development. The team is experienced in negotiating building contracts, advising on procurement strategies, and handling the due diligence associated with significant development and refurbishment projects. It also has expertise in navigating risk throughout the construction lifecycle and insolvency.
The Construction practice comprises a team with extensive industry and legal experience across both transactional and contentious matters. Collectively, the team brings deep expertise in areas such as corporate occupier HQ moves, office fit‑outs, and major development projects, and regularly advises a wide range of stakeholders including landlords, tenants, lenders, employers, contractors, and consultants. The team is also well‑versed in supporting corporate transactions by providing detailed and commercially focused construction due diligence. They also handle dispute avoidance, mediation, adjudication and court litigation.
Working within the broader Real Estate and Construction offering, the team collaborates closely with specialists across the firm, enabling an integrated approach to advising on construction, real estate, regulatory, and dispute‑related issues. Lewis Silkin ranks strongly across multiple practice areas - highlighting the firm’s breadth, depth, and strong market reputation.
About the role: We have developed detailed career benchmarks which set out what you will be expected to achieve at each level of your professional development.
- Providing technical legal expertise: you will continually seek to build on your current knowledge and proactively look to improve your advising skills.
- Delivering excellent service: you will analyse legal information to solve problems and formulate arguments or strategy relevant to your clients’ needs. You’ll also use your initiative to proactively manage work, and provide regular and appropriate updates to your stakeholders.
- Building relationships: you will proactively develop positive working relationships with colleagues, ensuring that you work collaboratively and that you treat all colleagues with respect and professionalism.
- Developing our business: you will have an awareness of the firm’s goals and clients, and have an appropriate level of involvement in building and maintaining relationships with key clients and prospects.
The likely areas of work in the role would include:
- Advising on, drafting and negotiating amendments to standard form building contracts such as JCT, FIDIC and NEC including associated collateral warranties/third party rights, performance bonds and parent company guarantees.
- Drafting and negotiating both industry form (JCT, RIBA, RICS) and bespoke consultant appointments and subcontracts.
- Due diligence reviews of collateral warranty/third party rights packages for commercial tenants.
- Inputting into construction aspects of agreements for lease and licences to alter for commercial tenants.
- Drafting and negotiating commercial fit‑out contracts, novation agreements, letters of intent and pre‑construction services agreements.
- Carrying out contract risk reviews for contractor and consultant clients when tendering for or negotiating contracts.
- Advising on disputes including with regard to termination of contracts, insolvency.
Senior Associate in London employer: Lewis Silkin
At Lewis Silkin, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture of bravery and kindness, where our exceptional team thrives in a collaborative environment. As a Senior Associate in our renowned Construction team, you will benefit from comprehensive career development opportunities, work alongside industry experts, and engage with a diverse range of inspiring clients. Our commitment to employee growth, coupled with our strong market reputation, makes us an outstanding employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding legal careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Associate in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Senior Associate role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company culture and values. Since they value bravery and kindness, think about how you can demonstrate these traits in your responses. Show them you’re not just a fit for the role, but for their team too!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. This will help you articulate your experience and skills confidently, especially when discussing your expertise in construction law and client relationships.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our amazing team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Associate in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Associate role. Highlight your relevant experience in construction law and how it aligns with our firm's ethos of bravery and kindness.
Showcase Your Skills:We want to see your technical legal expertise shine through! Be specific about your experience with building contracts, due diligence, and any successful projects you've been involved in.
Be Authentic:Let your personality come through in your application. We value individuals who are not only skilled but also enjoy what they do. Share a bit about why you’re passionate about construction law and working with clients.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lewis Silkin
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the key legal concepts related to construction law, especially around building contracts like JCT and NEC. Familiarise yourself with recent case studies or examples that showcase your understanding of these areas.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
Since building relationships is crucial in this role, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with colleagues or clients in the past. Highlight instances where your communication skills made a difference in a project or negotiation.
✨Be Proactive
Demonstrate your initiative by discussing how you've taken charge of projects or improved processes in previous roles. Think of specific situations where you identified a problem and took steps to resolve it before it escalated.
✨Align with Their Ethos
Familiarise yourself with the firm's culture of bravery and kindness. Be ready to discuss how you embody these values in your work and how they resonate with your professional philosophy. This will show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the team.
