Construction and Projects Associate

What We Will Offer

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can gain early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all‑round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

• A competitive salary and a host of family‑friendly policies.
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family.
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers.
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes.
• One day per year off to volunteer with any charity you are involved with outside of work.
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, with tools and support for physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
• Most roles are hybrid, meaning colleagues can work in our office and remotely.
• We are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements during the application and interview process.

We are an equal‑opportunity organisation, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

Team Structure

Stephenson Harwood’s projects, energy and infrastructure team provides a unique offering of both transactional projects and non‑contentious construction expertise. We are seeking a mid‑level candidate with non‑contentious construction experience and ideally project experience, although this is not essential. The role spans construction and projects, as and when required, offering an opportunity for an ambitious construction lawyer to develop breadth of experience. The projects side focuses on energy transition, advising on nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture, energy‑from‑waste, district heating, battery storage, solar, onshore wind, LNG and mining projects in the UK and internationally. The non‑contentious construction side involves specialist advice on construction and engineering projects across a range of sectors, including commercial real estate developments. The team works both domestically and internationally, collaborating with colleagues in the Middle East, Asia and other European offices, on developments in those jurisdictions.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead matter management on smaller or less complex matters with minimal partner supervision.
• Work alongside partners and manage associates on more complex matters.
• Prepare and draft clear, concise and unambiguous documentation.
• Conduct legal research using internal and external knowledge‑management resources.
• Liaise with clients under partner supervision.
• Assist partners with matter management and financial hygiene.
• Supervise junior associates and trainees/solicitor apprentices.
• Develop an internal and external network of contacts.
• Build excellent working relationships with clients and peers within the firm.
• Attend business‑development and profile‑raising events such as client seminars, industry and trade‑body networking, and graduate recruitment activities.

Attributes/Skills Required

• UK‑qualified lawyer with demonstrable mid‑level experience from a strong private‑practice law firm, or foreign‑qualified candidates with equivalent experience in similar markets such as Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
• A strong academic record is required.
• Proactive and collaborative self‑starter with a keenness to develop expertise across both projects and construction.
• Strong technical knowledge and excellent attention to detail.
• Construction experience with at least some of the following: general commercial real estate development, JCT, NEC, FIDIC, MF/1, IChemE contract forms (JCT required), and bespoke consultancy appointments.
• Familiarity with non‑contentious construction elements such as lease, sale and purchase, development funding and refinancing agreements.
• Project experience including PFI and PPP projects, greenfield projects, asset management, operational project sale and acquisition, and construction and facilities management.
• Ability to independently manage non‑complex transactional construction files with little supervision.
• Deliver pragmatic commercial advice to clients and colleagues, placing construction risks in the broader transaction context.
• Strong interest in legal technology and AI, and willingness to use software such as Harvey and the firm’s SharperAI programme to improve client service.
• Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply up‑to‑date knowledge of the law.
• Organised and able to work to strict deadlines, prioritising effectively and flagging conflicting urgent deadlines to partners.
• Good housekeeping/file‑management practices.
• Accurate daily time recording.
• Resilience under pressure.
• Understanding of the firm’s market position and how it differentiates its services from competitors.

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm’s strategy and business needs.