Head of Non Contentious Construction

Head of Non-Contentious Construction | Existing Workflow | Build & Lead Your Own Team

If you're a senior Non-Contentious Construction Solicitor looking for the opportunity to lead and grow a practice, this is a chance to join a small specialist construction boutique at the beginning of an ambitious period of growth, taking on a senior leadership position from day one.

You'll join as Head of Non-Contentious Construction, working directly alongside the Head of Firm, with an established client base and existing non-contentious workflow ready to take over. The foundations are already there, but you'll have genuine influence over how the practice develops, including growing the client base and building a specialist team around you.

The Firm
This is an established specialist construction law boutique in London, combining the quality and technical expertise associated with larger commercial practices with a smaller, highly client-focused environment.

The firm is led by a highly experienced construction lawyer who spent much of their earlier career within Top 50 UK law firms and has more than 20 years' experience advising across the sector.

Its clients are predominantly successful privately owned contractors and developers, with the firm known for providing highly commercial advice and developing strong, long-term relationships.

The culture is friendly, collaborative and entrepreneurial, giving senior lawyers the freedom to take ownership of their work and contribute to the development of the business.

The firm now has ambitious plans to grow over the coming years, and this appointment represents the first major step in that next stage, with further recruitment planned as the practice expands.

The Role
You will join as Head of Non-Contentious Construction, sitting immediately below the Head of Firm and taking responsibility for the firm's non-contentious construction offering.

Importantly, you will not be expected to build a practice from nothing. There is already an existing flow of non-contentious work, currently being serviced externally, which will move across to the successful hire.

The firm also has established client relationships capable of generating further instructions and has deliberately limited additional business development until the right senior lawyer is in place to service the work.

Your practice will focus on private sector development and infrastructure projects, advising on procurement strategy, drafting and negotiating construction documentation, due diligence and building safety issues. The work will predominantly involve JCT and NEC contracts, with occasional exposure to other forms including FIDIC.

Alongside running your own matters, you will work closely with the Head of Firm to grow the practice, develop client relationships and ultimately recruit and oversee a specialist Non-Contentious Construction team.

This is a hands-on leadership position. You will have significant influence over how the practice develops, while remaining closely involved in technical legal work and client relationships.

The Candidate

• Senior Non-Contentious Construction Solicitor, ideally around 7+ PQE
• Strong specialist construction experience
• Experience advising on private sector development and/or infrastructure projects
• Strong knowledge of JCT and NEC contracts
• Experience of building safety issues
• Able to manage sophisticated matters independently
• No client following required, but the ability and appetite to undertake business development and grow a practice is important
• Commercial, entrepreneurial and comfortable operating within a growing specialist firm
• Experience from a recognised construction practice or strong in-house team preferred

What's On Offer

• Head of Non-Contentious Construction position from day one
• Competitive salary, alongside bonus and benefits
• Existing workflow ready to take over
• Direct position immediately alongside the Head of Firm
• Genuine leadership over the strategy and development of the practice and firm
• Opportunity to recruit and build your own specialist team as the firm grows
• Greater autonomy over your work, clients and practice development
• Opportunity to become a central figure within an ambitious specialist construction firm
• Hybrid working with the office/remote split agreed individually

This is an opportunity to move beyond being one senior lawyer within a larger construction team and take genuine ownership of a practice, with the work, seniority and financial package already in place to support that move.

If this is of interest, then please apply now or reach out to Freddie Bolwell for a confidential discussion.