Litigation and Dispute Resolution - Construction and Engineering 5 to 7 years' PQE

We are looking to recruit a Senior Associate with five to seven years’ PQE to join the Construction and Engineering disputes team within the Litigation practice.

About Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm that serves a global client base in private capital, private wealth, M&A and disputes. Personal connection, an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence are at the heart of our firm. These values drive our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.

We are big enough to undertake the most complex and demanding mandates yet small enough to know each other well and to be agile, adapting to the needs of our clients. We seek to strengthen the firm by recruiting talented people from all backgrounds who want to build long-lasting and impactful careers with us. Our culture is challenging and supportive, creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

What this means for you

Joining Macfarlanes means being part of a collaborative, Partner-led team where you’ll develop and learn from experienced lawyers and business professionals. Our size means you’ll be given genuine responsibility early on and often be involved at the heart of client matters, gaining insight into how our high-quality legal advice is developed and delivered to help clients overcome their most pressing issues.

You’ll work closely with senior colleagues who are approachable and who want you to succeed. You’ll be encouraged to get involved in client and business development activities, and you’ll be recognised for your contribution.

The majority of our work has a cross-border focus, so you’ll often collaborate with global clients and specialist advisers in overseas jurisdictions. You’ll build connections with international law firms, broaden your experience, and be part of a multidisciplinary team that comes together to achieve the best results.

We also place real importance on your development. Our training and mentoring programmes are second to none, and designed to help you strengthen your legal and commercial skills.

Above all, you’ll be part of a firm where we all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, where you’ll be recognised and appreciated, and encouraged to succeed.

Work highlights

• Acting for Atlantic Projects Company in a dispute about the design and construction of a power station.
• Acting for Pinewood in multiple adjudications and High Court proceedings relating to payment disputes and delays to the completion of the major expansion of Shepperton Studios.
• Representing Sto SE & Co KgaA in relation to claims made under the Building Safety Act relating to cladding supplied in the UK by its subsidiary.
• Acting for St James’s Oncology SPC Ltd in multi-party High Court proceedings in relation to defects in the design and construction of oncology facilities at Europe’s largest teaching hospital, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds (for which we were shortlisted for The Lawyer’s Litigation Team of the Year).
• Acting for Global Switch in a series of complex adjudications and High Court proceedings against a contractor in relation to the design, construction and fit out of a data centre in London.

Practice overview

The Construction and Engineering Disputes team consists of two Partners, five Senior Associates and two Associates. The team works closely with our Non-contentious Construction and Engineering team, which comprises of one Partner and seven Associates.

This team sits within the broader Litigation practice, which consists of a total of 18 Partners, three Senior Counsel, 25 Senior Associates, 26 Associates, 12 Trainee Solicitors and three Paralegals.

The Construction and Engineering Disputes team act for a variety of clients, including commercial developers, house builders, PFI project companies and investors.

We operate across a wide range of sectors, including multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects, private finance initiatives, large commercial and industrial developments, residential developments, private equity and pension investments and supplier and services procurement.

Key areas of expertise include:

• Developers: we work for many of the UK’s leading commercial developers, helping them to manage risks in the construction process and resolve disputes with contractors, consultants and suppliers when they arise. 
• PFI and infrastructure: we advise project companies, investors, funders and service providers in relation to disputes arising from the design, construction and management of large scale projects, including government buildings, hospitals, schools and waste facilities.
• House builders: we act for a number of large housebuilders, including in relation to claims about planning, design, procurement, materials and workmanship.
• International: we represent a number of clients in disputes arising from international construction and infrastructure projects, which are often resolved through arbitration.

Our clients seek our help in difficult situations. Whether the matter involves delay and disruption on site, payment issues or substantial defects, we have a well-founded reputation for tackling the key issues head on, coming up with innovative solutions and putting our clients in the best possible position to resolve their disputes.

The role

The individual will be required to carry out a broad range of high-quality work. Key duties will include:

• drafting correspondence, advice notes and court/arbitration/adjudication submissions and other documents;
• working with our clients’ technical and commercial teams;
• liaising with expert witnesses, barristers and consultants; and
• working alongside the team to understand the practical issues that our clients face, to develop a strategy to address those issues and to provide high quality and effective advice.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the practice area.

The candidate

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• strong academic qualifications from degree upwards;
• five to seven years’ post-qualification experience; and
• ambitious, with a genuine commitment to develop their professional and legal skills and the profile of the team.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references. These checks will be initiated with your consent and your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print).

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at recruitment@macfarlanes.com.

Key people

Mark Lawrence
Partner

Mark acts for a wide range of clients, including commercial developers, PFI project companies, house builders, financial institutions, investors, landlords and tenants.

He has extensive experience of advising in relation to construction and engineering, infrastructure, real estate and professional negligence disputes.

Mark has acted for clients in claims in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as well as in domestic and international arbitration and adjudication. 

He has particular expertise in guiding clients through technically, legally and factually complex disputes and works closely with the leading barristers and experts in the industry.

His recent disputes experience spans infrastructure, power stations, hotels, data centres, film studios and large commercial and residential developments.

Doug Wass
Partner

Doug acts on a wide range of substantial international and domestic litigation, arbitration and adjudication matters. He has particular expertise in complex construction, engineering, projects/PFI and real estate claims and related professional negligence issues.

Doug is Co-Head of the Disputes team.

Doug has advised a wide range of clients, including large developers, project companies, professional consultants, contractors and sub-contractors. His experience includes office, residential, hotel, industrial, hospital, university, school, power plant, airport and roads projects. Doug’s arbitration work has included major international ICC and LCIA arbitrations. Doug also regularly advises clients in relation to mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Doug has an MSc in Construction Law and Arbitration from King’s College, London and is a member of the Society of Construction Law and the Adjudication Society. Doug is also a Solicitor-Advocate.