Senior Associate - Construction (6+ PQE)
Role Overview
Wedlake Bell's Construction Team is recruiting a Senior Associate for a full-time, permanent position.
The role focuses principally on non-contentious construction work; contentious experience would also be beneficial.
The team advises throughout the construction lifecycle, from feasibility, planning, and design through procurement, delivery, and completion.
Clients include developers, property investors, asset and investment managers, banks and funders, housebuilders, occupiers, designers, consultants, and contractors.
Key Skills for This Role
Full Job Posting
Role overview
Wedlake Bell's Construction Team is recruiting a Senior Associate for a full-time, permanent position.
The role focuses principally on non-contentious construction work; contentious experience would also be beneficial.
The team advises throughout the construction lifecycle, from feasibility, planning, and design through procurement, delivery, and completion.
Clients include developers, property investors, asset and investment managers, banks and funders, housebuilders, occupiers, designers, consultants, and contractors.
Nature of work
- Advise on procurement strategy across traditional contracting, design and build, EPC, and management contracting structures.
- Draft and negotiate pre-construction agreements, enabling works contracts, building and engineering contracts, and bespoke project documents.
- Prepare and negotiate consultant appointments, framework agreements, and professional-team documents.
- Advise on risk allocation, insurance, payment, performance security, bonds, guarantees, collateral warranties, and third-party rights.
- Advise on development agreements, forward funding arrangements, agreements for lease, development management agreements, and development obligations.
- Work across residential, office, hospitality, logistics, later living, healthcare, and other development sectors.
Key responsibilities
- Lead complex non-contentious construction matters and provide clear, technically strong, commercially focused advice.
- Act as the principal day-to-day client contact, taking ownership, anticipating issues, and maintaining momentum.
- Collaborate across the firm to deliver integrated services aligned with client objectives.
- Supervise, mentor, and support junior lawyers through delegation, feedback, and technical guidance.
- Build client relationships, identify additional support opportunities, and contribute to pitches and business development.
- Support partners with matter management, resourcing, financial discipline, and team know-how.
Skills and qualifications
- Qualified solicitor in England and Wales with at least six years' post-qualification experience, or equivalent.
- Substantial construction practice experience, primarily in private practice, with a strong non-contentious focus.
- Understands construction law, procurement structures, and commercial drivers affecting construction and development projects.
- Strong drafting and negotiation experience with standard and bespoke construction documents, particularly JCT forms.
- Familiarity with NEC, FIDIC, or other standard forms is advantageous.
- Able to lead complex matters with limited supervision, exercise sound judgement, and communicate technical issues clearly.
About Wedlake Bell
Wedlake Bell is a City of London law firm offering services across Private Client, Real Estate, Business Services, and Disputes.
The firm describes its culture as collaborative and supportive of work-life balance, personal development, and professional connections.
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