Non-Contentious Construction Principal Associate / Legal Director

Our market-leading Construction & Engineering team is seeking an experienced Principal Associate or Legal Director to join our growing London practice. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in one of the UK's most respected construction teams, advising a broad range of clients on complex, high-value and strategically important projects across real estate, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors.

You will work closely with clients throughout the project lifecycle, providing commercially focused advice on procurement strategy, project structuring, risk allocation and contract negotiation. The role offers significant client exposure and the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of the London practice while collaborating with colleagues across our national team.

We act for developers, investors, funders, public sector bodies, contractors, consultants and occupiers, delivering practical and innovative solutions that help clients achieve their commercial objectives.

As a Principal Associate or Legal Director, you will be expected to lead on complex transactional construction matters and act as a trusted adviser to clients on their most critical projects. Responsibilities include:

• Advising on the procurement, negotiation and drafting of a wide range of construction, infrastructure and engineering documentation.
• Leading negotiations on standard and bespoke forms of construction contracts, including JCT, NEC and FIDIC forms.
• Advising on development agreements, forward funding arrangements, development finance transactions and real estate-led construction projects.
• Supporting major infrastructure, energy, industrial, remediation and process plant projects.
• Advising clients on risk management, project delivery strategies and market best practice.
• Working closely with colleagues in Real Estate, Corporate, Finance, Projects and Regulatory teams on multidisciplinary transactions.

We embrace flexible hybrid working, with team members typically working at least three days per week from the office to support collaboration, learning and team connection.

About You

We are interested in candidates with strong technical expertise alongside a commercial and proactive approach to client service. You will ideally have:

• Extensive experience advising on non-contentious construction matters gained within a leading law firm, in-house legal team or a combination of both.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating JCT, NEC and/or other standard-form construction contracts.
• Expertise in development projects, financing arrangements and project procurement structures.
• Strong technical understanding of construction, infrastructure and engineering risk allocation.
• The ability to lead matters independently and manage competing priorities effectively, and also to work effectively and efficiently within project teams.
• A proven track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Experience supervising and developing junior lawyers.
• An enthusiasm for business development and contributing to the growth of a market-leading practice.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

For Legal Director candidates, we would expect:

• An established reputation within the market.
• A demonstrable track record of winning work and the ability to support broader strategic growth initiatives.
• Leading on complex development projects as the principal client contact, coordinating multidisciplinary teams across Real Estate, Corporate, Banking and other specialist practices.

We are committed to diversity, inclusion and well-being, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are a Disability Confident Employer and interview all applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We will make reasonable adjustments to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible.

• Extensive experience advising on non-contentious construction matters gained within a leading law firm, in-house legal team or a combination of both.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating JCT, NEC and/or other standard-form construction contracts.
• Expertise in development projects, financing arrangements and project procurement structures.
• Strong technical understanding of construction, infrastructure and engineering risk allocation.
• The ability to lead matters independently and manage competing priorities effectively.
• A proven track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Experience supervising and developing junior lawyers.
• An enthusiasm for business development and contributing to the growth of a market-leading practice.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• For Legal Director candidates: an established reputation within the market and a demonstrable track record of winning work.