Job Description

Non-Contentious Construction Managing Associate

Location: Manchester

PQE Level: 5-7 years PQE

Salary: 60000 - 80000 Bonus

Join an Award-Winning Construction Team as Managing Associate

Are you an experienced Non-Contentious Construction lawyer looking to take the next step in your career 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 a talented Managing Associate 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.

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

You will have autonomy and significant client engagement. As first line support for the Partners youll be taking your experience and expertise to the next level supporting 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.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Advisory Work:

• 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

• 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

Transactional Work:

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

• Advising 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

Client Relationship Management:

• Building and maintaining strong client relationships

• Acting as first line support for Partners on client matters

• Direct client contact and engagement on high-profile projects

• Understanding client needs and delivering commercially focused solutions

• Identifying opportunities for business development and cross-selling

Team Leadership and Development:

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

• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers and trainees

• Providing technical guidance and support to the wider team

• Contributing to the development of the teams expertise and capabilities

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

Innovation and Process Improvement:

• Demonstrating enthusiasm for innovation in legal service delivery

• Using legal technology and process improvement tools

• Contributing to the development of precedents and best practice approaches

• Embracing the firms award-winning innovation culture

Business Development:

• Supporting Partners with business development activities

• Contributing to pitches and proposals

• Building your profile within the construction sector

• Networking and relationship building with clients and contacts

About You

Essential Requirements:

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales

• 5-7 years PQE with strong technical capabilities in construction law

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

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

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

• 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

• Strong understanding of the construction industry and its commercial drivers

• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills

• Strong client relationship management skills

• 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 collaborate effectively within a large international team

• Supervision and management capabilities to support and develop junior lawyers

• Commercially focused with excellent problem-solving abilities

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy

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

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

• Experience with business development and pitching

• Strong networking and relationship building skills

• Experience mentoring and supervising junior lawyers

• Experience working in a large international law firm environment

Key Attributes:

• Client-focused with commitment to exceptional service delivery

• Commercially astute and business-oriented approach

• Proactive and solutions-focused

• Strong leadership potential

• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills

• Adaptable and flexible approach to work

• Enthusiastic about innovation and new ways of working

• Self-motivated with strong work ethic

• Committed to continuous learning and development

• Passionate about construction law

• Team player who thrives in a collaborative environment

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: 60000 - 80000 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 Legal Director and Partner level

• Autonomy and significant client engagement

• 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

• Supervision and mentoring of junior lawyers

• 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

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 an experienced Non-Contentious Construction lawyer (5-7 years PQE) looking to take the next step in your career with a leading international law firm wed love to hear from you. Click apply now or contact or 0