Junior-Mid Construction Associate

The Role

Clifford Chances Construction Group is unique in operating at the top tier of all construction industry sectors. Our approach is to be innovative and commercial providing a complete and market-leading service to clients.

The Groups four main areas of work comprises

Energy

We work across the energy spectrum. We are working on pathfinding renewable and energy transition technologies including green hydrogen nuclear floating offshore wind CSPstorage sustainable aviation fuel and CCS projects in addition to our established market leading position on fixed bottom offshore wind onshore wind hydropower PV solar thermosolar biomass energy from waste and conventional (gas) energy projects.  Recent examples include major new nuclear projects in the UK and Belgium the first commercial-scale offshore wind projects in South Korea and Japan the first utility scale floating offshore wind projects and a hydropower project in Mozambique.

Real Estate & New Communities

From urban regeneration to trophy single assets; from sports stadia to luxury hotels from residential to office; and dynamic new asset classes such as data centres film studios and major railway infrastructure-adjacent developments.  Current examples include Battersea Power Station redevelopment London Bankside leading global data centre developers and the Qiddiyah entertainment district.

Social and Transport Infrastructure

We are proud to be associated with some of the worlds most iconic and vital transport utilities defence and social infrastructure projects.  We are currently working on light rail projects new hospitals and major new bridges and tunnel projects across Europe Africa and Latin America.

Industrial Processes and Natural resources

We cover all industrial process facilities from mines to mills.  We work on some of the worlds largest mineral deals including LNG liquefaction and regas projects refineries and petchem facilities and mining projects. We are currently extremely active up and down the EV battery supply chain from EV gigafactories to CAM plants to mining and lithium processing facilities.

Key Attractions

The only leading law firm to maintain a highly specialist construction team of such size and dedicated cross-sector focus.

The future of the practice: the quality of our instructions and the continuing success of the Construction Group make it one of the leading places to be doing this kind of work.

A wide variety of instructions from a variety of clients including the very biggest and complex deals.  We work with some of the firms strategic clients on projects which will touch and change all of our lives often involving pathfinding technology. 

Regular training sessions alternating between detailed single issue reviews and broader industry topics an intensive regime of training and skills development keeps us at the top of our game as Construction Lawyers.

Knowledge sharing members of the Group regularly contribute to blogs and pitches as well as delivering workshops to clients and contacts.

A highly competitive base salary with potential for a substantial bonus under the Clifford Chance bonus scheme.

Great prospects for long-term career development.

Who you will work with

The prominence of our Construction Group makes this an unrivalled opportunity for high calibre candidates who wish to work on the biggest and most iconic projects globally to develop their careers in a fast-moving sector.  We aim to be market leaders in the sectors in which we operate and look for Lawyers who share this ambition.

As part of the group you will work closely with the firms top-ranked Energy & Infrastructure Real Estate and International Arbitration Groups often in other offices in the network.  Our clients are primarily project sponsors and developers but we also advise lenders investors and contractors.

The Construction group in London is made up of 2 Partners 2 Counsels and approximately 10-14 Lawyers and Trainees.  It is also the central hub of our global construction group of over 100 Lawyers.  Our work regularly involves projects in Africa Latin America as well as Continental Europe and the UK.

The group is non-hierarchical and Lawyers may find themselves working directly with Partners as well as senior associates and also handling certain matters themselves.

What you will be responsible for

As a Lawyer at Clifford Chance your remit will be to apply your full knowledge of the law within your specialist area by identifying legal issues drafting and advising clients.  We have an extensive education programme but you will also be expected to be proactive in ensuring that your technical expertise is up to date.  You will collaborate in knowledge initiatives for the Firm.

Lawyers working in our Construction Group act for sponsors/developers funders contractors and other project participants and you can expect to be involved in the drafting negotiation and analysis of construction operation/fm and ancillary documentation.

There is a clear transactional bias to the Groups work and our Lawyers are required to involve themselves in the management and organisation of teams of clients Lawyers and professional advisers.  You will utilise client focus initiatives to understand and drive service levels to meet client needs.

Managing matters with a disciplined practice is key including adhering to matter opening and conflicts clearance processes.

We have a wide range of tools and support services available and you will be expected to utilise Best Delivery tools: e.g. templates Legal Support Centre Resource Management Legal Project Managers and Matter Balance Reports.

We encourage all Lawyers to take charge of their own development and you will be expected to complete any mandatory and relevant skills risk and legal training. 

Qualifications :

Your experience 

Minimum criteria / essential requirements

• You will be a qualified lawyer.
• You will have gained experience at a similar firm or at an overseas similar common law practice.
• You will have gained junior to mid-level non-contentious construction experience as a practising lawyer working on large international or complex construction projects.

Skills and knowledge

• You will be able to demonstrate excellent document drafting skills.
• Strong communication and analytical skills along with a high level of commercial awareness.
• Good exposure to collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.
• To have an appetite for developing client relationships and thought leadership.

How we will support you

From your first day with us you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge.  From formal training informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

As well as recruiting the best people we insist on the professional development of all our employees.  Our Lawyers work continuously to develop both legal and personal skills through the training programmes offered by the in-house law education system the Clifford Chance Academy.  

Additional Information :

Hybrid working

This role follows our balanced hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.
 

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial wellbeing lifestyle and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK please visit our What We Offer page on our career site.

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families our firm and society. 

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender gender identity and expression marital or civil partnership status race colour national or ethnic origin social or economic background disability religious belief sexual orientation or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection terms and conditions of employment including pay promotion training transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time