Our practice offers clients a full set of specialist services covering all aspects of the construction and engineering industry. The practice is diversified and balanced between contentious and non-contentious, domestic and international work. It covers energy related work, infrastructure and complex commercial and retail developments. A large proportion of our recent non-contentious work has been advising on high-value, bespoke projects and developments that demand innovative solutions, high quality drafting, commercialism and an understanding of the practical issues arising on complex projects.
Highlights from our domestic practice include non-contentious advice for long standing client Land Securities on its major commercial property developments at St David's Cardiff and for Liberty International on a major UK project.
The non-contentious group have become the leading practice within new nuclear. This role presents a good opportunity for someone wanting to get involved in this exciting area of the practice.
"This team continues to be involved in an impressive amount of significant contentious and non-contentious work, offering strong international capabilities. It advises major client Transport for London on matters such as its maintenance contract for the East London Line, and is also acting for Anschutz Sports Holdings on its redevelopment of the O2."
Sources Say: "A team that succeeds through thoroughness and hard work rather than mere aggression."
Nicholas Downing leads the non-contentious work and is "an excellent adviser who really gets under the skin of a project."
Chambers and Partners 2010
Key responsibilities
• Would be expected to negotiate with limited supervision
• Would be responsible for drafting discrete pieces of legal advice for clients with minimal amendment
• Would need gather and evaluate information to indentify underlying key issues
• Supervise and develop Junior Associates and Trainees.
Qualifications and experience required
• c.3 years PQE
• Excellent academics
• Non-contentious construction experience, in particular, must have experience in Energy (international context)
• Ability to work across multiple areas to include infrastructure and commercial property
Work based competencies
• We would expect the successful candidate to have a minimum of 3 years experience in private practice but would consider those with less or more experience providing they meet the required competencies;
Technical
• Legal ability - detailed grasp of complex legal concepts, excellent drafting skills, ability to see issues from a commercial perspective and able to communicate complex legal advice to clients effectively
• Delivering excellent client service - excellent communications skills, driven to deliver to clients promptly, sets themselves challenging goals and resilient in achieving them
Client
• Finding and winning - able to build relationships with clients, identifies opportunities and networks effectively internally
• Developing and retaining - works to become a trusted advisor to the client, aware of client industry dynamics
People
• Leadership and management - acts as role model to others, provides coaching to those more junior than themselves
• Initiative and managing change - resilient in the face of multiple priorities, able to deliver difficult messages, takes ownership for resolving problems pro-actively
• Teamwork and communication - seeks out the views of others, assured and succinct in communication
• Impact and personal development - proactively requests feedback from others, able to deal with constructive criticism and takes ownership for self-development
Firm
• Financial performance - familiar with key drivers of firm performance
• Risk management and professional ethics - takes responsibility for personal and professional ethics, understanding of reputational risk and the regulatory framework, prepared to seek advice where appropriate
• Knowledge management - shares knowledge with others proactively, consults with senior technical experts where appropriate
• Firm contribution - high level of personal integrity, contributes to developing a diverse and innovative culture, prepared to go the extra mile
Behavioural competencies
• Ability to use initiative pro-active and self-motivated;
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Enthusiastic, positive and committed team member;
• Ability to cope with conflicting demands and meet deadlines;
• Attention to detail with a high level of accuracy;
• Excellent communication skills; communicates effectively at all levels, both verbally and written;
• Takes personal responsibility for getting things done;
• Ability to establish professional credibility;
• Ability to negotiate win : win solutions
• Strong influencing skills;
• Intelligent and commercially minded;
• Remains calm under pressure;
• Develops and motivates team members.
• Ability to think strategically and visualise the “bigger picture”;
• Promotes a collegiate environment, good team morale and a spirit of co-operation
