Associate - Projects And Construction

Trowers & Hamlins is a City-led, international and national law firm with over 170 partners and 1000 staff. With offices across the UK, Middle East and Asia, we provide a full-service integrated offering.

Our clients operate in diverse industry sectors such as construction, transport and infrastructure, banking and financial services, distribution and logistics, education and health, hotels and leisure, defence, engineering and surveying, charities, retail and energy and natural resources. We also act for many high net worth individuals.

We are different and we believe it is our people that make us unique. We expect and respect that you and your talents are too. The truth is we don't prescribe who you are or how you ought to be. It's what you can do that interests us most.

While the work on offer is rewarding and often complex, the qualities we look for are simple. The ability to get on with people from all walks of life, for example. To talk and to listen. To develop the sorts of relationships that mean you win the friendship and loyalty of clients and colleagues alike. In short, to connect. These are the characteristics our people all have in common. They are vital, as is the drive and imagination to use your unique talents to the full. We will help you in this. In fact, we will support you in every way we can.

Who we are

Our award-winning construction practice is, justifiably, one of the leaders in the construction legal field; equally comfortable acting on landmark national infrastructure projects or complex regeneration deals and our work takes us across the globe, wherever our clients are active.

Our national offering is a 'life span' service for all construction/engineering related matters, from initial structuring, procurement advice, setting up contracts, appointments, joint ventures, and development agreements with backup specialists in employment, energy, property and tax. We are also able to support our clients on risk management and disputes with our strong contentious team.

We are integrated with our colleagues in real estate, tax and planning.  The team combines legal excellence, commercial acumen, and an impressive track record together with a deep understanding of the construction industry.  A number of our team are ranked as experts and leading practitioners in their field by Chambers UK and Legal 500.

Where you'll work

You'll form part of an enthusiastic, ambitious, and growing local team of ten solicitors and one trainee solicitor in Manchester.  You will be supported by strong leadership to enable you to develop your understanding of the construction sector in the Northwest, nationally and internationally.  We work on a collaborative basis which means you will be encouraged to share your ideas and get involved in the team's initiatives. 

The Manchester team advise on contentious and non-contentious construction legal issues for private and public sector clients including national and regional contractors and developers, central government, local authorities, and registered providers. We are ranked in Tier 2 for Northwest Construction in Legal 500 and in Tier 4 in Chambers and Partners and Katie Saunders is Notable Practitioner in Chambers and a Leading Individual in Legal 500 and Tom Holroyd is named as a Next Generation Partner. Katie won real estate lawyer of year 2023 in the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse awards.

Recent transactions include advising on retrofit projects to reduce energy use in existing buildings. Advising Salix Homes on the Greenhaus sustainable apartment development part of Salford's 50-acre regeneration with English Cities Fund. We are advising the Offsite Homes Alliance on the procurement and delivery of a construction new build and modular framework.  Our contentious work includes advising a regional contractor on liability issues following structural failures at a care home and disputes over a power station in the Falkland Islands. 

We are actively involved in the Constructing Excellence Manchester Best Practice Group and promote Construction Best Practice through our seminars and webinars held at our offices on a monthly basis.  Nationally we are the forefront of best practice in promoting use of modern methods of construction in housing development and are leading on advising on the changes to fire safety for residential accommodation under the Building Safety Act.

As part of the national department, you can also expect to work alongside colleagues on work which is being led out of our other UK offices including national and international real estate transactions.    

What you'll be doing

• Advising clients including regional and national contractors and developers, local and central government departments, registered providers operating in the commercial / private and public sectors;
• Contentious advice on adjudications and litigation for public and private sector clients;
• Providing construction related procurement advice for public sector clients;
• Advising on all aspects of development through design and Construction;
• Advising on asset management contracts and maintenance contracts;
• Providing construction due diligence support to the real estate, corporate and banking teams on acquisitions and disposals;
• Building and maintaining effective client relationships;
• Active participation in marketing initiatives.

What you'll need

The firm has a Career Development Framework which sets out the competencies we expect of those at the Associate level.  In particular for this role, we require:

• Qualified solicitor up to 3 years' post qualification experience gained at a reputable firm.
• Understanding of the construction sector.
• Excellent technical skills;
• Commercial awareness;
• Strong client focus;
• Drive and enthusiasm;
• Excellent academic record;
• The willingness to learn;

As part of our firm recruitment policy our candidates are subject to employment screening background checks. These checks include personal details, education and employment history, professional qualifications and credit and criminal checks as appropriate.

Trowers & Hamlins is an equal opportunities employer and values diversity and inclusion. All applications will be considered on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role and will be treated equally irrespective of Ethnicity, Gender (including Trans and non-binary) Race, Disability, Religion and sexual orientation.

If you require any further information on any of our vacancies or would like to discuss any adjustments or additional support that you might need either during the recruitment process or after the offer stage, please feel free to contact our recruitment team on recruit@trowers.com