Litigation and dispute resolution - construction and engineering 3-5 years' PQE

We are looking to recruit an associate or senior associate from three to five years' PQE to join the construction and engineering disputes team within the litigation department.

About Macfarlanes

We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Our unrivalled blend of expertise, agility and culture means we have the flexibility to meet their most challenging demands and adapt to the changing world around us. While many of our services can be found at other firms, the mix cannot.

We find, recruit and train talented people from all backgrounds, building careers for the long term, to one day shape and lead the firm. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. We remain focused on equal treatment in recruitment, retention and promotion.

What this means for you

Offering a partner-led service enables our fee earners to learn and develop through working closely with a senior member of the team. Our size means that you will often be very close to the front line or in a client facing role, gaining a greater insight into the issues facing our clients.

We expect all our fee earners to assume real responsibility, as well as to participate in client and business development activities. That means wider exposure for you and a steep learning curve.

Our matters often have a cross-border element, so our fee earners frequently liaise with global businesses and specialists in overseas jurisdictions.

The importance we place on the development of our fee earners' legal and commercial skills has allowed us to develop the excellent reputation we have - we believe our education and training programme is second to none.

We all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, with the firm recognising, appreciating and rewarding the efforts of its employees.

Work highlights

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.

Advising European Land in relation to a cladding claim against the original design and construction team of a residential tower, which involves issues arising from the Grenfell Inquiry and the operation of the new Building Safety Act.

Practice overview

The construction and engineering disputes team consists of three partners, four senior associates and two associates. The team works closely with our non-contentious construction and engineering team, which comprises of one partner and eight associates.

This team sits within the broader litigation practice, which consists of a total of 19 partners, four senior counsel, 25 senior associates, 32 associates, 11 trainees and five 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;

three to five 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

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our employees and partners. Improving diversity 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 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 towards improving the diversity of our applicants, and ultimately, our hires. 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.

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 regularly facilitates the resolution of his clients' disputes through negotiation, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

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

Doug Wass
Partner

Doug acts on a wide range of substantial international and domestic arbitration, litigation and adjudication matters. He has particular expertise in complex construction, engineering, projects/PFI and real estate claims and related professional negligence issues, although his practice also encompasses more general commercial disputes.

Doug is the co-head of the litigation and dispute resolution group.

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.

Andy Mather
Partner

Andy has represented state Andy acts on a wide range of substantial international and domestic arbitration, litigation and adjudication matters. He has a particular expertise in complex construction, engineering and real estate disputes and related professional negligence issues.

Andy has represented a wide spectrum of clients, including state governments, financial institutions, large developers, high-net-worth individuals, professional consultants, contractors, and sub-contractors.

strong academic qualifications from degree upwards;

three to five years' post-qualification experience; and

ambitious, with a genuine commitment to develop their professional and legal skills and the profile of the team.

We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Our unrivalled blend of expertise, agility and culture means we have the flexibility to meet their most challenging demands and adapt to the changing world around us. While many of our services can be found at other firms, the mix cannot.

We find, recruit and train talented people from all backgrounds, building careers for the long term, to one day shape and lead the firm. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. We remain focused on equal treatment in recruitment, retention and promotion., 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

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our employees and partners. Improving diversity 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., Mark acts for a wide range of clients, including commercial developers, PFI project companies, house builders, financial institutions, investors, landlords and tenants.

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 regularly facilitates the resolution of his clients' disputes through negotiation, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

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

Doug Wass
Partner

Doug acts on a wide range of substantial international and domestic arbitration, litigation and adjudication matters. He has particular expertise in complex construction, engineering, projects/PFI and real estate claims and related professional negligence issues, although his practice also encompasses more general commercial disputes.

Doug is the co-head of the litigation and dispute resolution group.

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.

Andy Mather
Partner

Andy has represented state Andy acts on a wide range of substantial international and domestic arbitration, litigation and adjudication matters. He has a particular expertise in complex construction, engineering and real estate disputes and related professional negligence issues.

Andy has represented a wide spectrum of clients, including state governments, financial institutions, large developers, high-net-worth individuals, professional consultants, contractors, and sub-contractors.