Construction Lawyer - Contentious

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Sector: Construction and Building Services, Legal
Role: Partner
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time

We're a national law firm with a local reach. Our philosophy is 'we're legal and financial experts that care' - something you'll find in the way we work with our clients and how we support our teams. But we're more than just a law firm - we're a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life's ups and downs. Working here you'll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We'll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

An opportunity has arisen for a talented Solicitor to join our Real Estate Construction team based from either our London, Gatwick, Sheffield or Manchester team.

Your Role and What You'll Be Doing

The successful candidate will join Partner, Alex Delin's, team of 14 lawyers who act on behalf of employers, developers, funders, contractors, subcontractors, and professionals including architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors in a wide range of disputes about construction and engineering projects. We always seek to apply a pragmatic and cost-effective solution for our clients which means the successful candidate will possess a hands-on and determined attitude while having these objectives in mind to enable differences to be resolved as efficiently as possible. Where resolutions cannot be attained, we regularly prepare our clients' cases in the most complete and compelling way possible so that their side of the arguments can be heard.

These include claims for and differences over extensions of time, loss and expense, consequences of delay including concurrency arguments, prolongation and disruption, variations to scope of works, and assessments of measured works. Experience acting in disputes about coverage under Construction All Risk (CAR), Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance policies will be ideal but not a prerequisite. Experience in disputes over the value of interim and final accounts is essential as Irwin Mitchell regularly acts for clients in adjudications over such matters whether on a 'smash and grab' or 'true value' basis. For example, we are currently acting in TCC litigation over the enforcement of an adjudicator's decision to be heard in 2025 following a successful result for one of our clients.

We also regularly advise clients and act in TCC litigation with respect to the provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022 including claims under the retrospectively extended Defective Premises Act 1972 limitation period, Landlord's Certificates, Remediation Contribution Orders, Remediation Orders, Building Liability Orders, defective products, recovering historical costs incurred while awaiting for remedial works to be scoped and carried out, and the Building Safety Regulator with respect to Higher Risk Buildings. We are currently acting in TCC litigation about such disputes and expect more to emerge in 2025 including by way of adjudication following the judgment in BDW Trading Limited v Ardmore Construction Limited 2024 EWHC 3235 (TCC).

We primarily act for clients with respect to JCT, NEC, RIBA, FIDIC, IChemE, and bespoke lump sum and reimbursable contracts.

About You

We're looking for an experienced Solicitor who has a passion for construction disputes and wants to progress their career within one of the UK's leading law firms. Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• The ability to work as part of a team
• Qualified via traditional SRA route or CILEX, with 2 - 5 years PQE
• The ability to manage caseloads whilst maintaining attention to detail and a seamless service
• An aptitude for business development and a passion for growing strong client and referrer relationships
• Demonstrable technical experience gained across contentious construction disputes, with the ability to also negotiate and prepare documentation on construction transactions or have a desire to become more involved with non-contentious matters too
• A clear enthusiasm for this area of law and a commitment to securing the best outcomes for your clients while working under pressure

If this sounds like you and you want to join a thriving team hit the apply button below for consideration!

Our Benefits - What We Can Offer You

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can 'buy' up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days - Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you're fully supported. This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team, and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Additional Information

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group's onboarding process, all successful applicants are required to complete the group's employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners, and other stakeholders.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.