Legal Counsel - Construction & Development
Our client is a privately owned, family‑run real estate developer and operator transforming London's landscape through market-leading accommodation and hotel developments. Founded in 2011, they've grown into one of the UK's fastest‑growing real estate platforms with assets under management exceeding £2 billion and a development pipeline of £2.4 billion. They are an end‑to‑end business with in‑house capabilities spanning acquisition, design, planning, development, and asset management. Their portfolio includes acclaimed hospitality destinations and ambitious student accommodation schemes delivering over 2,300 beds across the City of London. Recent achievements include delivering London's first 50% Affordable student housing scheme and securing planning permission for landmark developments across Central London. Their mission is to create places and spaces that make a positive contribution to communities across the UK, combining commercial success with social impact.
Your role
Our client is seeking a Construction Legal Counsel to join their small, collegiate legal team, providing pragmatic and commercially focused support on construction and development matters across their dynamic portfolio. This is a hands‑on role offering the opportunity to work on high‑profile projects from technical design through to handover and operation. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with two existing Senior Legal Counsel and report into a highly experienced leadership team including the Executive Director (a qualified solicitor), Development Director, Projects Director, and Senior Commercial Manager. While the primary focus will be construction law, there will be exposure to broader practice areas to develop into a well‑rounded in‑house counsel.
What You’ll Do
Construction & Development (Core Focus)
* Draft, review and negotiate professional appointments, construction contracts (JCT and bespoke), sub‑contracts, and related project documentation
* Manage external counsel on complex construction matters, ensuring documentation aligns across the contractual suite
* Negotiate collateral warranties, bonds, guarantees, parent company guarantees and insurance arrangements
* Provide day‑to‑day legal support on construction issues including variations, extensions of time, liquidated damages, and defects
Project Support Across the Lifecycle
* Support projects from concept through design, construction, handover and operational phases
* Ensure construction documentation complies with funder requirements including step‑in rights, direct agreements and reporting obligations
* Advise on operational construction‑related matters including defects, maintenance obligations and remedial works
* Provide construction input into property sales, joint ventures and strategic transactions
Stakeholder Management
* Act as day‑to‑day contact for external legal counsel on construction and development matters
* Build trusted relationships with contractors, consultants, funders and partners
* Translate complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance for non‑lawyers across the business
Your profile
Essential
* Qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent common‑law jurisdiction) with 3+ years PQE
* Strong construction law experience gained in private practice and/or in‑house
* Expertise working with standard form construction contracts (JCT, NEC) and negotiating commercial amendments
* Proven experience drafting and negotiating professional appointments, collateral warranties, bonds, guarantees and associated project documentation
* Ability to manage competing priorities and work to tight deadlines in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment
* Sound judgment with a pragmatic, solutions‑focused approach that balances legal risk with commercial objectives
Desirable
* Familiarity with real estate development structures and the interaction between construction, funding and asset management
* Experience working in an in‑house environment, particularly within real estate or development
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