Senior Associate – Construction (Non-contentious) (4+ years PQE)
- London
- Permanent
- Full-time
in London, Leeds, Birmingham, and Colchester we provide legal services to clients throughout
the UK.
We are recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers UK as a medium-sized niche firm specialising
in banking, construction, commercial litigation, corporate, employment, projects, and property.
Our main client base is Registered Providers ('RPs') of social housing, and the Firm is ranked
Tier 1 for its work in this area. We also act for a number of private developers and investment
funds. Over the past few years, we have grown significantly and now have over 300 employees
and partners and a growing international reach.
Niche Specialist Skill Sets: Building and Fire Safety
Introduced in response to London's Grenfel Tower tragedy and Dame Judith Hackitt's
reports, a wave of new legislation passed in the years that fol owed the disaster and referred
to broadly as the Fire Safety Act 2021 (FSA) and the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA)
represents the most fundamental reform of regulation across the construction and property
sectors in living memory. The new framework continues to have a significant impact on the
work of everyone in the construction sector. As the new regime continues to be implemented,
it is transforming the law relating to the planning, design and construction of all buildings and
the operation of higher risk residential property.
We are a leading firm in this rapidly developing area of law.
The Team
Our Construction, Engineering and Procurement team is comprised of 38 fee-earners (eleven
partners, six senior associate solicitors, five associate solicitors, eight solicitors, four paralegals
and four trainee solicitors), is divided into two sub-teams (contentious and non-contentious)
and is supported by a dedicated Knowledge Development Lawyer .
Our clients include developers, funders, contractors, sub-contractors, construction
consultants, local authorities, RPs, and PFI / PPP consortia.
The specialist services we offer our RP clients has led to us being instructed on some of the
largest construction developments in the social housing sector, which are often in the spotlight
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We are established as leading legal experts in the field of building and fire safety claims in
residential construction. We provide cutting-edge legal advice to our clients who are operating
at the coalface of unprecedented legislative change and regulatory developments in England
that include the BSA, the FSA, changes to the planning regime, building control, the Building
Regulations as wel as new rights of redress designed to enhance the ability of building
owners, landlords, homeowners, and leaseholders to seek compensation for defective work.
The Opportunity
Our team has tripled in size in the last eight years and an opportunity has arisen for an
individual with a passion for construction law to join our dynamic non-contentious construction
practice.
The Role
We are looking for an ambitious non-contentious construction solicitor, who is self-motivated,
driven, prepared to work hard and to “hit the ground running” (we are a busy team!), to make
their mark within a thriving construction department.
You will have the confidence to advise on and negotiate construction contracts at face-to-face
meetings, a drive to develop your industry, sector and commercial awareness and an
enthusiasm for business development and networking.
Whilst we support agile working across the Firm, we recognise the value of in person
attendance as face-to-face contact is a great way to develop strong col egiate relationships,
build teams and foster a dynamic workplace.
The Main Responsibilities
1. Responsible for the day-to-day independent running of files, including scoping matters
in full, billing, and proper document management and file administration in accordance
with our Document Management System (DMS) policy and best practice.
2. The ability to manage complex transactions, using your own initiative, free drafting of
contracts and offer balanced and commercially astute advice.
3. Client relationship management: learning how best to communicate with clients,
engage them and interact with them; managing client expectations, meeting client
deadlines, delivering on every promise and raising the profile of the firm. Experience of
working on transactions in the social housing sector is preferable, but not essential.
4. Advising on matters pertaining to construction procurement - the forms to be used
(industry and bespoke), the contractual matrices to be put in place and the competitive
tendering procedures commonly used, time scales, inter-relationship with planning,
property, insurance, tax, banking, and other related areas of law.
5. Advising on matters concerning construction law (including key provisions, implied
terms, certification, payment, variations, completion and delay, liquidated damages,
extensions of time, loss and expense, standard insurance requirements and defects).
6. Advising on and drafting/reviewing construction contracts, project agreements and
security documents (such as building contracts, development agreements, consultants'
appointments, collateral warranties, assignments and novation's, bonds and
guarantees)
7. Considering and developing a comprehensive understanding of the main UK
construction industry form of contracts, particularly the agreements that are of most
relevance and use to the social housing sector and to RPs, including the JCT and NEC
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772945suite of contracts, RIBA and CIC appointments. Familiarity with the FIDIC suite of
contracts is preferable but not a mandatory requirement.
8. Developing your knowledge of various construction procurement methods that extend
to construction management, management contracting, prime cost contracting, early
contractor involvement and two stage tendering.
9. An understanding of procuring developments through JV structures is advantageous.
10. An understanding of facilities management and asset management contracts is
advantageous.
11. Developing article-writing and presentation skil s and contributing to the firm's and
team's programmes of internal and client training (seminars and webinars) and the
writing of internal know how and client-facing publications.
12. Mentoring, “buddying” and providing on-the-job technical training and commercial
current awareness for juniors in the team.
13. Following our firm's policies and your departmental procedures (as detailed in the Staff
Manual), including LEXCEL and the Solicitors' accounts rules.
The above is not an exhaustive list and from time to time these responsibilities will need to be
reviewed and the requirements varied to meet department and business needs.
Key Requirements
The ideal candidate wil :
1. have a minimum of four years' PQE non-contentious construction experience in private
practice within this jurisdiction.
2. Have gained a 2:1 (or equivalent) at degree level (a postgraduate qualification in
construction law and/or previous work experience in the construction industry or social
housing sector will be advantageous).
3. Be a self-starter who is proactive in approach and is prepared to put forward new ideas
and suggestions for improving processes and procedures, adopting a 'can-do' attitude.
4. Have excel ent interpersonal skills and enjoy working in a collaborative environment,
as part of a team, and supporting and mentoring juniors.
5. Enjoy networking, developing relationships with industry and sector stakeholders and
client engagement.
6. Welcome the opportunity to develop Marketing and Business Development skills -
which include public speaking, client training, seminars, webinars, writing articles and
briefings.
7. Have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and experience of drafting
agreements, preparing letters of advice, and writing clearly and concisely avoiding
legalese.
8. Have a meticulous eye for detail and consistently produce work of the highest standard.
9. Be able to grapple with complex matters and distil from them the key legal and factual
issues in the context of the relevant background and commercial of the business
parameters - and explain them in advice to clients.
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10. Be both adept at and proactive in dealing with information, as between clients and
external organisations, always in such a manner as not to compromise the practice,
the firm or any of our clients.
11. Appreciate and value the importance of always keeping our clients informed of relevant
developments and the progress of their matters and the importance to the firm of
prompt time-recording and bil ing: you understand the importance of adopting a flexible
work approach to working hours to ensure deadlines are met, bil ing is never delayed,
and clients are always kept updated.
12. Have a thorough knowledge of the main methods of construction procurement used in
the UK - with a focus on traditional procurement, design and build, construction
management and management contracting, single and two stage tendering, prime cost
contracting, measured term contracts and maintenance agreements: an understanding
of the current public procurement regime that applies in the UK will be helpful.
13. Have a detailed working knowledge of the main contracts within the JCT suite of
agreements - particularly the traditional forms (standard building contracts), design and
build, intermediate forms, minor works agreements and measured term contracts and
be able to demonstrate the same during the interview process.
14. A working knowledge of the NEC suite of contracts is advantageous.
15. A working knowledge of the FIDIC suite of contracts and PFI / PPP contracts is
advantageous.
16. Have a good understanding of how building contracts, professional appointments and
col ateral warranty agreements fit in with development agreements, development
agreements for lease and funding arrangements.If you wish to apply for the above position or would like any further information or clarification, please email any
queries/ your CV and covering letter (as the case may be) to legal.recruit@devonshires.co.uk and complete the
diversity monitoring questionnaire which can be accessed by clicking here.
All recruiters must submit their candidates' CV via our HR team or using the recruitment inbox listed above. Only HR
can agree terms of business with third parties, provide the appropriate privacy notice to be shared with candidates and
ensure that the firm maintains its commitments to LEXCEL, ISO27001 and Equality Diversity & Inclusion.Devonshires Solicitors LLP is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and to providing a
workplace free from discrimination and harassment: all job applicants, employees, partners and third parties who
come into contact with us will receive equal treatment, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and
civil partnership, trade union activities, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We welcome applications from groups where we are currently under-represented. For this reason, we ask that all
candidates complete the recruitment monitoring survey, in complete confidence, purely for statistical purposes in
order that we can effectively monitor how well our Diversity procedures are working. To review our policies on
Diversity & Inclusion and Dignity at Work please visit our recruitment pages at www.devonshires.com.