Associate, Construction

The role

We're seeking an Associate construction litigator, with a focus on UK-based building work.

It's an exciting time to join the team as we continue to grow and one of our key strengths is our Building Safety team which provides strategic advice in relation to the challenges of a highly regulated and fast evolving legal environment. You will have the opportunity to make an impact working side-by-side with our partners and other lawyers for blue-chip clients working on cutting edge law. 

The team acts for developers, contractors, sub-contractors, construction companies and real estate investment funds in mediation, adjudication, arbitration, and litigation.

Role responsibility

• Handling and assisting with contentious matters and dispute advisory work up to and including ADR, expert determination, adjudications (plus enforcement proceedings in the TCC), arbitration and litigation. You will have the opportunity to be involved with a wide range of matters including final account and delay claims, quality of build claims, construction insolvency, bond claims, fire and structural safety claims under the new legislation, professional indemnity and other insurance-related claims.
• Assisting in delivering technical legal and commercial advice to clients involved in construction disputes, working with partners and other fee earners in the team to assess risks and provide innovative solutions to clients.
• Instructing and liaising with counsel and other experts where necessary.
• Acting as a key point of contact for clients, developing an understanding of their needs in order to provide strategic and commercial advice, and helping to build long-term relationships.
• Keeping up to date with developments in contentious construction law, contributing to internal knowledge sharing, training sessions, and thought leadership within the team

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;

• Proven experience working on relevant contentious construction work;
• Knowledge of adjudication, arbitration and litigation practice and procedure;
• Strong organisation skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines;
• Good communication skills, confidence in dealing with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels;
• The ability to build effective relationships with clients and colleagues at all levels;
• A broad technical grounding across real estate;
• Commercial acumen with a pragmatic and solution-focused approach to client issues.
• Thoroughness and attention to detail;
• Collaborative mindset, contributing to a positive team culture and supporting firm-wide initiatives.

At Howard Kennedy we believe that everyone deserves the space to thrive. We’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that reflects the diversity of both our people and our clients.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we’re committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.

We understand that every candidate’s needs are different If there’s anything we can do to make your application journey more comfortable— whether for interviews, assessments, or onboarding—please let us know. We’ll work with you to remove any barriers and ensure our recruitment process is comfortable for you. 

Contact our recruitment team at recruitment@howardkennedy.com to discuss any support you might need.

Agency Introductions

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative. If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.

We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.

At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.