Senior Associate

Sharpe Pritchard is seeking an experienced construction lawyer to join our ambitious and growing team, with flexibility to appoint at Associate, Senior Associate or Managing Associate level depending on experience.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious lawyer to play a key role in our Construction team. The ideal candidate will be looking for the autonomy to develop their practice, cultivate their own client base and help shape the future of the team. Working closely with the Partners, you will take ownership of a varied caseload spanning both contentious and non-contentious construction matters, leading on a range of projects as well as supporting on larger and more complex matters. You will build strong client relationships, deliver high-quality commercial and practical advice, and contribute to the firm’s wider business and strategic objectives.

Alongside your client work, you will have the opportunity to play an active role in the growth and development of the Construction practice, while supporting and developing more junior members of the team. The role offers a genuine level of autonomy within a supportive environment, making it an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to build their profile and client relationships while contributing to an ambitious construction practice.

We operate a hybrid working model, whereby employees can combine working from the office with working from home. The current policy provides an expectation of a minimum of one day a week in the office, subject to the needs of the firm, clients and colleagues.

Our office is within easy access of Kings Cross and Farringdon mainline stations and Chancery Lane tube.

Leadership & Management Responsibilities

• Deliver and oversee client case work in a professional and timely manner ensuring colleagues and junior members of staff are provided with support, guidance, and training
• Effectively delegate work to other staff members and supervise the work effectively
• Where applicable, supervise, manage, and develop junior staff members and immediate support staff
• Provide day to day guidance to Associates, and Trainees with regards to their roles, duties and responsibilities
• Acts as a source of expertise and specialist knowledge both for those more junior and as a sounding board for Partners

Client Management

• Manage all client work allocated by the Head of Department and any other Partner and deliver the same in accordance with detailed procedures and quality standards contained in the firm's Office Procedures Manual
• Ensure the confidentiality and security of all the firm's and client documentation and information
• At all times, exercise high standards of client care in a professional and pleasant manner
• Ensure that all client work is progressed expeditiously and that the client is kept regularly informed on progress and on costs
• Where appropriate, deputise for Partners in client meetings or at client events

Practice Development

• Promote the firm’s business service offerings by proactively engaging in any relevant sales and marketing activity including holding key events, writing articles, marketing, seminars, conferences, trade fairs exhibitions, and involvement in tenders
• Undertaking secondments to work at clients’ premises if so required
• Achieve designated levels of billing and time recording for case work and client work to ensure all client activity can be invoiced and billed to each client
• Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure effective recording and billing of all client time and to take overall responsibility for credit control on your caseload
• Demonstrates strong financial practices (e.g. good time-recording habits, timely billing, good recovery rate, good debtor management, good levels of WIP) and leads by example in this respect to more junior fee earners
• Demonstrates a good productivity rate and performance against personal financial key performance indicators (KPIs)

Professional Standards

• Understand, operate, and ensure compliance with all policies, procedures, systems, and controls to ensure the smooth, safe and effective running of the practice
• Ensure good working relationships with external institutions and organisations
• Supervise, support, and develop more junior team members
• Comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules and the Rules on the Professional Conduct of Solicitors
• Be familiar with, adhere to, and promote the firm’s equal opportunities policy
• Help create a fair, transparent, and inclusive working environment for all colleagues
• Take personal responsibility for your own and where applicable, your team’s continuous personal and professional development requirements to enable personal growth
• Comply with the relevant training requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and assist with in-house training where it is required.

Required Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Qualified solicitor or recognised foreign equivalent/CILEX
• Up to date knowledge of and experience in Construction law and practice
• Act as subject matter expert with accountability for direction on technical issues in specialist area
• Knowledge and understanding of the Solicitors Regulation Authority Code of Conduct and other regulatory requirements
• Ability to lead negotiations on behalf of clients, where appropriate
• A professional, approachable individual who can influence others and develop good relationships
• Acts as a mentor to colleagues
• Highly organised with the ability to work under pressure, ensuring projects are successfully managed through to conclusion and implementation
• Maintain conviction and resolve when faced with unexpected challenges
• Excellent decision maker, taking timely, confident decisions, and embracing innovative solutions to solve problems
• Is adaptable, flexible, and copes well with change
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Demonstrable research, analytical, and drafting skills
• Good commercial judgement and business management
• Strong business development skills with the ability to attract work for themselves and the wider firm
• Strong practice development skills with the ability to manage and develop a client base
• Ability to deal confidently with senior and experienced clients and advisers

What you will be getting in return

Our HQ is based in London and we are supportive of hybrid working. There is a requirement to be present in the office for at least one day of the week.

A generous bonus scheme is on offer alongside a competitive salary. You will gain professional development with a structured path to advancing your career. We provide a generous benefits package that includes but is not limited to:

• Generous annual leave, starting at 28 days leave per annum (two days of which must be taken at Christmas on dates decided by the firm)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Health and wellbeing app
• Individual learning and development, and business development budgets
• Regular team events including:
• Social committee events throughout the year
• Monthly all staff lunches

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of race or racial group, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or disability.

We make reasonable adjustments within the recruitment process and upon joining the firm, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

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