Associate

Lewis Silkin is a UK top-100 commercial law firm with offices in London, Oxford, Cardiff, Dublin and Hong Kong. The firm is recognised by clients and industries alike as being distinct: for its deep understanding, insight and advice to creative, innovative and brand-focused businesses; for its market-leading international practice in employment, immigration and reward; and for delivering pragmatic, commercial advice in a refreshingly human way.

With 60 partners and more than 360 staff, the firm is structured around two key divisions; the Employment, Immigration and Reward (EIR) and the Creators, Makers and Innovators (CMI). 

The CMI division is made up of leading advisers for creative, innovative and brand-focused businesses, offering thorough knowledge of the industry sectors in which clients operate combined with real expertise across a wide range of legal services. From start-ups to multinationals, the firm's comprehensive and commercially focused advice helps clients succeed in an increasingly complex and converged international marketplace.

The Construction team at Lewis Silkin sits primarily within the wider Real Estate practice group within the CMI division but also works closely with the Dispute Resolution practice group.  Real Estate is and has always been at the heart of Lewis Silkin and growth of our Real Estate practice, including construction, is a core focus at present.   

Our specialist Construction team consists of Clare Reddy, Partner, who is based in London heads up the team and deals with non-contentious work, and Owen Williams, a managing associate who deals with a mix of contentious and non-contentious work (working 4 days a week from both London and Oxford offices).  We draw on support from the wider Real Estate and Dispute Resolution teams as needed.

The Real Estate practice group prides itself on its sector-specific knowledge, specifically in the advertising and media, retail, hospitality and leisure and professional services industries, which are core sector focus areas for the CMI division.

While the Construction team is small we constantly punch above our weight advising on high value and high profile developments for a wide range of client including advising on HQ relocations, major development and infrastructure works and regeneration projects.

Key clients include high profile retailers, hotels, foreign investors, top architects and other design practices and marketing leading contractors and developers.

We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic construction associate to join our construction team.  The candidate will mainly be assisting more senior associates and partners with their cases, as well as running their own matters under supervision.  

As the construction team is small, the candidate will have an early opportunity to get involved with high quality work and to have direct contact with a variety of clients. The candidate’s workload will be a mix of contentious and non-contentious construction work including both standalone construction work as well as supporting real estate colleagues with development matters and construction aspects of real estate transactions.

Typical work will include:

• Advising on, drafting and negotiating amendments to standard form building contracts such as JCT, NEC, TPC, TAC, NHF, FIDIC including associated collateral warranties/third party rights, performance bonds and parent company guarantees

• Drafting and negotiating bespoke consultant appointments

• Carrying out contract risk reviews for contractor and consultant clients when tendering for or negotiating contracts, such as long term housing repairs and maintenance contracts, fit-out contracts and architect appointments

• Due diligence reviews of collateral warranty/third party rights packages for commercial tenants

• Inputting into construction aspects of commercial agreements for lease

• Drafting and negotiating commercial fit-out contracts and letters of intent

• Advising on disputes including with regard to termination of contracts, insolvency, payment disputes, extension of time disputes and defects claims

• Assisting with bringing or defending adjudication proceedings

• Assisting with bringing and defending claims in other forums including court, arbitration and mediation

The role will develop in accordance with the candidate’s own skills, aptitude and preferences and according to the needs of clients and the practice group.

Associates are expected to undertake a significant amount of business development including giving seminars, attending networking events and producing Lewis Silkin branded publications. 

The role will be based in our London Office (although working from our Oxford and Cardiff offices will be encouraged from time to time) and will be reporting to Clare Reddy, Head of the Construction Team / Brian Kilcoyne, Head of the Real Estate practice group.

Training

The Division’s training programme includes seminars and workshops given by external speakers and by our own internal experts and the successful candidate will be encouraged to attend appropriate external training events. 

The successful candidate will be allocated a Career Development Partner (CDP) who will have an overview of their long term career aspirations and progression.  We have an excellent track-record of developing our associates and generating opportunities for partnership.  Organic growth and a strong team culture is at the heart of our success.   

Candidate profile

The candidate will have at least four months experience in construction law by the time they qualify or will have up to 2 years PQE.

The ideal candidate must have excellent academics and have gained the benefit of training in a well-respected firm.  We are looking for someone with good communication and organisational skills.  The candidate must have strong analytical ability, a clear communication style (both spoken and written), excellent client handling skills and, above all, must be a dedicated team player who has a good use of initiative and who also has a sense of fun.

No agencies please.

Lewis Silkin is an equal opportunities employer.