Associate / Solicitor

Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 50 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.

We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.

Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.

Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us.

Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution group has a long-standing experience of working with some of the most successful and influential businesses in the UK and also internationally. Our specialist teams combine expertise with a sound understanding of the commercial landscape to provide exceptional solutions for every aspect of our clients’ corporate requirements.

Our experienced Construction & Engineering team is well known for being genuinely unique by the construction industry by including not only lawyers, but chartered construction professionals, including a building surveyor and chartered quantity surveyors, and an experienced tribunal member. We provide a legal and industry support service from inception to completion of construction projects with specialist ability to advise clients during life of contract/project to avoid disputes or lessen impact on progress of project/costs. We carry out all standard non-contentious and contentious work as well as specialising in managing risk in bespoke procurement. We also have significant experience in adjudication both as tribunal and representing parties. Our construction expertise spans across a range of sectors including commercial, industrial, healthcare, residential, retail and education.

The role:

We are looking for a 3-5yr PQE Solicitor or Associate to join our Birmingham-based Construction and Engineering team, part of the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution group. 

The role is to produce high quality legal services to clients on all aspects of predominantly contentious construction work, with some non-contentious matters on occasion.

Your key duties will include:

• attending client meetings
• taking clients’ instructions
• giving clear advice in correspondence and in person
• drafting documents, letters and contracts tailored to the client’s individual needs
• negotiating with clients and other professionals to secure agreed objectives
• working in a team, sometimes referring matters to the head of disputes
• assisting, supervising and delegating appropriate work to more junior fee earners and supporting more senior team members on large complex matters
• taking a proactive approach to business development

Skills and experience you will have:

• around 3-5yrs’ construction experience  
• experience of dealing with adjudications, TCC litigation and mediation
• experience of drafting and negotiating amendments to standard form contracts (for example JCT/NEC)
• previous experience in bespoke forms of contract, appointment and collateral warranties on a variety of commercial and residential projects would be an advantage, but not essential for a strong contentious candidate
• previous experience in managing or supervising others

Key competencies you will need:

• motivation to take up a challenge at an exciting time
• ideally good connections to and a knowledge of the local market place
• excellent organisational and time management skills
• strong negotiation and communication skills

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.