Job Description

Non-Contentious Construction Legal Director

Location: Manchester

PQE Level: 8 years PQE

Salary: 80000 - 110000 Bonus

Lead an Award-Winning Construction Team as Legal Director

Are you a senior Non-Contentious Construction lawyer ready to take on a leadership role with a leading international law firm Our client a London headquartered international full-service law firm with 250 years of heritage and a reputation for award-winning innovation is seeking an exceptional Legal Director to join their highly regarded Non-Contentious Construction team in Leeds.

Owing to ongoing growth continued success and a range of new and exciting instructions this is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in transactional delivery client relationship development and the continued expansion of the team and practice.

This is a high performing cohesive and busy team with a strong client roster where you will become part of a wider national and international team of named experts with a robust framework for future development and progression to Partner level.

The Firm

Our client is a London headquartered international full-service law firm that consistently delivers high-quality outcomes for clients globally. With 250 years of heritage the firm today supports over 5000 of the worlds most respected organisations helping them in over 50 areas of business law across more than 100 countries. The firm is known for award-winning innovation and delivering impact to clients.

The firm has a strong global presence with offices across Asia (Japan Singapore) Europe (England & Wales France Germany Ireland Luxembourg Poland Scotland Spain) and the Middle East (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Oman Qatar UAE) plus regional business groups covering Africa Central & Eastern Europe India Korea Latin America Nordics North America Türkiye and Ukraine.

Recent major deals include advising on the largest UK IPO of 2025 (300m market capitalisation) the 36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear power station financing (one of Europes most significant infrastructure projects) and the 275m sale of an iconic London landmark to a luxury international hotel group.

The firm is a place where you are valued encouraged and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. The culture of improvement growth and collaboration delivers results drives innovation and rewards ambition. The firms success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds locations and perspectives.

The Group and Team

With more than 100 specialist lawyers including 26 Partners the firms highly rated Construction and Engineering team offers a full service of legal solutions to all aspects of the construction industry. From ports to sports stadiums the award-winning team has changed city landscapes and infrastructure around the world for a range of clients including leading property companies and developers governments and other public bodies contractors and high-profile companies.

The work of the group is hugely varied and includes buildings residential and living accommodation civil and process plant engineering energy infrastructure transport and utilities - across both private and public sectors. The team also provides project support and advice to the firms wider Real Estate Banking Corporate and Projects teams.

The Construction and Engineering team is recognised for its technical excellence commercial approach and ability to deliver innovative solutions on complex high-profile projects. The team has a strong track record of advising on major infrastructure projects including energy facilities transport networks and large-scale developments.

The Role

As a Legal Director in the Non-Contentious Construction team you will play a central leadership role in transactional delivery client relationship development and the continued expansion of the team and practice.

You will have significant autonomy and extensive client engagement. As first line support for the Partners youll be taking your experience and expertise to the highest level leading clients on a range of complex and market-leading matters in a range of sectors including living office retail life sciences energy industrials and transport.

This is a key leadership position with clear progression to Partner level where you will be expected to drive business development manage client relationships lead teams and contribute to the strategic direction of the practice.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Advisory and Leadership:

• Providing strategic advice to a diverse range of high-calibre clientsincluding government bodies funders developers employers operators contractors sub-contractors and professional teamson high-profile projects

• Leading on complex high-value construction transactions and providing expert guidance

• Advising on procurement strategies (including facilities management)

• Advising on effective dispute avoidance and resolution mechanisms

• Supporting clients on both complex and day-to-day transactional matters adding value through sector expertise

• Acting as trusted adviser to key clients and building long-term relationships

Transactional Excellence:

• Drafting and negotiating a wide range of construction and engineering contracts including JCT NEC and bespoke agreements

• Leading on construction or engineering projects within the UK

• Developing innovative solutions tailored to individual client needs

• Managing complex high-value construction transactions from inception to completion

• Demonstrating technical excellence and commercial acumen on all matters

Client Relationship Management and Business Development:

• Building maintaining and developing strong client relationships at senior level

• Acting as first line support for Partners on key client matters

• Direct client contact and engagement on high-profile projects

• Understanding client needs and delivering commercially focused solutions

• Leading business development activities and identifying opportunities for growth

• Developing and implementing client account strategies

• Contributing to pitches proposals and presentations

• Building your profile and reputation within the construction sector

• Networking and relationship building with clients contacts and market influencers

• Cross-selling firm services and identifying opportunities across practice areas

Team Leadership and Development:

• Demonstrating strong supervision and management capabilities to help support and develop the group of talented junior lawyers

• Leading supervising and mentoring Managing Associates Associates junior lawyers and trainees

• Providing technical guidance and leadership to the wider team

• Contributing to the development of the teams expertise and capabilities

• Managing team resources and workflow effectively

• Working collaboratively within a large international team to provide comprehensive coverage and expertise

• Contributing to recruitment and talent development initiatives

• Building and developing a high-performing team culture

Innovation and Thought Leadership:

• Demonstrating enthusiasm and leadership for innovation in legal service delivery

• Championing the use of legal technology and process improvement tools

• Leading the development of precedents and best practice approaches

• Embracing and driving the firms award-winning innovation culture

• Contributing to thought leadership initiatives articles and presentations

• Representing the firm at industry events and conferences

Practice Development:

• Contributing to the strategic direction and development of the Construction practice

• Identifying opportunities for practice growth and expansion

• Supporting the Partners in practice management and development

• Contributing to the firms wider strategic initiatives

• Building relationships with other practice areas to support cross-selling

About You

Essential Requirements:

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales

• 8 years PQE with strong technical capabilities in construction law

• Demonstrable track record of advising on non-contentious construction matters at senior level

• Significant experience advising on construction or engineering projects within the UK

• Proven track record of leading complex high-value construction transactions

• Strong technical knowledge of construction and engineering contracts including JCT NEC and bespoke agreements

• Extensive experience drafting and negotiating construction contracts

• Experience advising on procurement strategies

• Experience with dispute avoidance and resolution mechanisms

• Experience advising a diverse range of clients including government bodies funders developers employers operators contractors sub-contractors and professional teams

• Deep understanding of the construction industry and its commercial drivers

• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills at senior level

• Strong client relationship management skills with proven ability to build and maintain senior client relationships

• Proven ability to manage complex high-value transactions

• Experience developing innovative solutions tailored to individual client needs

• Ability to support clients on both complex and day-to-day transactional matters

• Strong team player able to lead and collaborate effectively within a large international team

• Strong supervision and management capabilities with proven track record of developing junior lawyers

• Commercially focused with excellent problem-solving abilities

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy

• Business development experience with demonstrable track record

• Leadership skills and ability to contribute to practice development

Highly Desirable:

• Experience across a range of construction sectors including living office retail life sciences energy industrials and transport

• Experience advising on major infrastructure projects

• Experience with facilities management procurement

• Experience working with Real Estate Banking Corporate and Projects teams

• Strong enthusiasm for innovation in legal service delivery including the use of legal technology and process improvement

• Proven track record in business development pitching and winning new work

• Strong networking and relationship building skills at senior level

• Extensive experience mentoring and supervising lawyers at all levels

• Experience working in a large international law firm environment

• Experience contributing to practice management and strategic development

• Thought leadership experience (articles presentations conferences)

• Experience with cross-selling and identifying opportunities across practice areas

Key Attributes:

• Client-focused with commitment to exceptional service delivery

• Commercially astute and business-oriented approach

• Proactive and solutions-focused

• Strong leadership capabilities with proven track record

• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills at all levels

• Adaptable and flexible approach to work

• Enthusiastic about innovation and new ways of working

• Self-motivated with strong entrepreneurial drive

• Committed to continuous learning and development

• Passionate about construction law

• Team player who thrives in a collaborative environment and can lead effectively

• Strategic thinker with ability to contribute to practice development

• Strong business acumen and commercial awareness

Whats On Offer

Our client is committed to recognising and rewarding great work with rewards and benefits that are among the best in the business.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary: 80000 - 110000 Bonus

• Bonus scheme

• International full-service law firm with 250 years of heritage

• Support over 5000 of the worlds most respected organisations globally

• 50 areas of business law across 100 countries

• Award-winning innovation and reputation for delivering impact

• Construction and Engineering team: 100 specialist lawyers including 26 Partners

• Highly rated and award-winning Construction team

• Work on high-profile projects that have changed city landscapes and infrastructure around the world

• Diverse client roster including leading property companies and developers governments and other public bodies contractors and high-profile companies

• Hugely varied work across buildings residential and living accommodation civil and process plant engineering energy infrastructure transport and utilities

• Work across both private and public sectors

• Part of a wider national and international team of named experts

• Robust framework for future development and progression

• Clear pathway to Partner level

• Significant autonomy and extensive client engagement

• Leadership role with strategic input into practice development

• First line support for Partners on complex and market-leading matters

• Work across a range of sectors including living office retail life sciences energy industrials and transport

• Opportunity to develop innovative solutions for clients

• Lead and mentor teams of lawyers at all levels

• Access to legal technology and process improvement tools

• Culture of improvement growth and collaboration

• Supportive and collegiate environment

• Work on high-calibre matters with high-character colleagues

• Access to full-service firm resources (Real Estate Banking Corporate Projects Employment Dispute Resolution IP Tax Competition and more)

• Employee networks that provide space to discuss differences and celebrate diversity

• Firm that values people from the widest range of backgrounds locations and perspectives

• Recent major deals: Largest UK IPO 2025 (300m) 36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear financing 275m London landmark sale

• Global offices across Asia Europe and Middle East

• Regional business groups covering Africa CEE India Korea Latin America Nordics North America Türkiye Ukraine

• High performing cohesive and busy team with strong client roster

• Ongoing growth and continued success with range of new and exciting instructions

• Natural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other markets

• Opportunity to build your profile and reputation in the construction sector

• Business development support and resources

• Thought leadership opportunities

Location

This role is based in the firms Manchester office located in the heart of the citys business district with excellent transport links and access to the citys amenities restaurants and cultural attractions.

How to Apply

If youre a senior Non-Contentious Construction lawyer (8 years PQE) ready to take on a leadership role with a leading international law firm wed love to hear from you. Click apply now or contact or 0