Contracts Legal in Cookstown

As Contracts Legal, you will efficiently and effectively provide legal/contractual support to both the legal and preconstruction commercial teams, primarily to assist in non-contentious duties; including tender analysis of Building Contracts, identifying risks, opportunities, and liability issues and recommendations to internal stakeholders and clients, to ensure the Building Contracts align with insurance and risk management parameters of the business. Focus on effectively advancing negotiations and drafting on Building Contracts to successful conclusions with internal/external legals and client legal teams.

Main Responsibilities

• Managing the negotiation of building contracts with clients from tender stage through to completion, including managing due diligence.
• Providing internal legal advice to achieve business objectives and risk management and ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
• Review and drafting of building contracts, commercial agreements, and associated legal documents.
• Review contract documents during the tender stage, providing relevant commentary and advising wider pre-construction of any risks or unique conditions.
• Depending on the project requirements, agree staged or progressive legal agreements such as Letter of Intent, Pre-Construction Services Agreements and finally the Main Contract, ensuring the appropriate risk profile is achieved at each stage.
• Once finalised, providing a detailed summary to the construction team of key contract requirements, time frames, penalties, etc.
• Where required, review and agree consultant appointments and warranties.
• Where required, review and agree specialist sub-contract appointments and warranties.
• Client relationship management.
• Any other duties required by management.

Key Relationships

• Departmental relationships within the Company including legal, preconstruction and commercial teams, project teams and buyers.
• Contact with relevant bodies, consultants and advisers.
• External legal and insurance advisors who support the function.

Key Competencies/Attributes

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Possess good social and environmental legal awareness.
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise workloads in a demanding environment.
• Ability to make informed judgements, and ability to seek solutions and convey these to the team.
• Self-motivated.
• Ability to self-manage.
• Strategic awareness.
• Team player.
• Tenacity - ability to stay focused on an issue until it is solved.
• Influencing, negotiation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Assertiveness and ability to have personal impact on business issues and decisions.
• Problem solver and critical thinker.

Education/Experience

• Essential: Degree in Quantity Surveying and/or degree in construction law (or equivalent).
• 5+ years relevant post qualification construction law experience.
• Sound understanding of relevant industry regulations, standard forms of contract (mainly JCT Design & Build contracts), collateral warranties, novation arrangements, bonds, parent company guarantees.
• Knowledge of all relevant applicable legislation and Building Regulations.
• Proficiency with bespoke schedules of amendments to standard forms of contract.
• Ability to understand business needs and provide practical, proactive advice and solutions.
• Excellent negotiation and drafting skills.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Candidates must have the appropriate work permit or the right to work in the UK.

• Desirable: Degree in law (or equivalent) and open to qualified solicitors with relevant construction law experience.

The role is generally office based although due to the nature of the business and the role, some travel will be required to fulfil the needs of the role.

McAleer & Rushe Contracts UK is an equal opportunities employer.