Associate - Projects, Development and Construction

Overview

Our non-contentious Construction team are looking for an NQ-2PQE Associate to join the London office. 

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a leading UK and international law firm which provides high quality legal advice tailored to both businesses and individuals. We address the specific objectives of each client through our flair and technical expertise and offer a personal service founded on a strong team ethic.

Today, we have UK offices in the City of London, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Cambridge, Guildford, Oxford and Reading while our overseas network stretches from Asia to Europe through our presence in Singapore, Piraeus, Paris and Madrid. With 130 partners and over 880 people in total, our main areas of practice are real estate, commercial, corporate, dispute resolution, private client and family.

The Projects, Development & Construction Team have established a strong reputation in a variety of sectors, particularly (in relation to this role) in real estate, housing & accommodation, property investment, commercial property, education, health, care, sustainability and renewables, and also work together with our technology and private wealth teams. Our lawyers are recognised for their expertise in procurement, construction, development and large scale projects, including JVs, regeneration and advising on renewables projects.  In these areas, we're acknowledged for our depth of expertise and market leading sector insight.

Responsibilities

Our specialist Projects, Development and Construction Team is a core element of the wider firm and provides a comprehensive range of construction law solutions across the wide spectrum of projects undertaken in the construction industry. Clients include public institutions, property owners and investors, developers, funders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors, suppliers and construction/design consultants and specialists.

 

At Penningtons Manches Cooper, we are involved with projects from the outset and work with clients to shape their procurement and contracting strategies. We negotiate and draft all types of construction, development and project documentation.

 

We help clients to prepare agreements that best reflect their interests and the appropriate sharing of risk. The work we undertake spans the full ambit of construction, development and infrastructure with a focus on regeneration schemes, accommodation sector projects, energy and renewables, healthcare, hotels and infrastructure. The contractual expertise we offer is based upon both ‘standard form’ contracts and bespoke arrangements, tailored to meet any project requirements. Although the JCT remains the most common form of contract we see, we also regularly advise on  EPC and EPCM contracts, NEC forms and on multi-party and partnering working arrangements and Joint Ventures.

 

Our team also has extensive experience of advising on risks in live schemes, including on giving payment advice, advising on delays, fire stopping issues and preventing the failure of construction projects. This often links to analysing a contract to inform a client of its rights and responsibilities and suggesting next steps, and can cover such things as payment advice, challenging extensions of time requests  and (where necessary) issuing termination notices and advising on the consequences of termination and (more recently) issues around insolvency.

 

Most clients realise that formal disputes are to be avoided where possible though. As such, we are engaged to advise on live projects – generally to help avoid disputes and to shape commercial negotiations and deals. It is for this reason we are looking to fill a senior non contentious position at present.

 

Much of our focus is in the UK but we also advise on a range of international projects across many jurisdictions and work with our network of trusted international law firms and consultants where appropriate too.

Essential & Desirable Criteria

We are looking for a full time Junior Associate to join our construction team. The ideal candidate will be NQ-2 years qualified and have previous experience of working within a construction team or housing practice.

 

The candidate will mainly have experience of non-contentious construction law, std form construction contracts and some experience of commercial and/or housing development work.

A good working knowledge of the various std form contracts and appointments, including JCT, NEC and EPC forms, their standard amendments and market norms is ideal, as is a willingness to take on more bespoke, complex agreements, large scale due diligence exercises and/or typical development arrangements with appropriate supervision.

 

There will be opportunities to development know how and get involved with BD also and, as such, a desire to know the sector and work we are involved in is extremely important.

 

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. You can find out more about our firm’s commitment, initiatives and Pennclusion committees here.

 

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background. We aim to provide adjustments for people who have a disability, long-term health condition (including mental health) or neurodiversity. If you would like to request an adjustment, please contact [email protected]