Rodeo
Get started

Charles Russell Speechlys

Contentious Construction Associate (2-4 PQE)

London
Posted about 11 hours ago
Sign up to applySee more jobs like this
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever

How your CV stacks up

1Upload CV
2Analyse CV
3Improve CV

Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role

?%

Job Title

Due to strong client work demand, we are recruiting an experienced contentious Construction-focussed Associate into our London based Construction, Engineering & Projects team.

About the Team

The team is a highly reputable full-service construction law team providing transactional advice through to dispute avoidance and dispute resolution advice relating to large-scale construction and engineering projects in both the UK and internationally. The team are well-regarded when it comes to acting for clients across a wide range of business sectors with a particular emphasis on real estate developers, housebuilders, property investment companies, contractors, subcontractors and major engineering consultancies. The team also acts for the Firm’s private clients on high value residential construction projects.

Our transaction advice includes advising on the procurement of construction projects, all forms of domestic and international construction contracts, and ancillary documentation such as consultant appointments, trade contracts, collateral warranties, parent company guarantees and performance bonds. Core dispute avoidance and dispute resolution services include advising on all forms of dispute resolution (adjudication / arbitration / litigation / mediation / expert determination) and giving strategic advice to clients to ensure that their dispute is resolved as cost effectively as possible whilst maintaining the best possible outcome.

Opportunity

This is a great opportunity to work across a wide variety of contentious with non-contentious construction work streams, with current growth particularly focussed on the contentious side of the practice. We are particularly interested in experience of working on both UK adjudications and Technology and Construction Court (TCC) litigation. The new joiner can be expected to have a significant level of responsibility and client contact, whilst working in a supportive and collaborative team.

Reasons to use Rodeo

I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

Start with a chat, not a search bar

Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.

P

Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

See breakdown
Save jobNot relevant
View details

It searches the market for you

Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.

Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

See breakdown
Strong

Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

See breakdown
Strong

Only hits

No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Acting for a wide range of national and international clients on complex and high value construction disputes, including UK adjudications, arbitrations and TCC litigation.
  • Undertaking dispute advisory work including ADR (for example, mediation).
  • Dealing with a wide range of matters, such as final account and delay claims, quality of build claims, construction insolvency, bond claims, ACM cladding, professional indemnity and other insurance-related claims.
  • Advising government bodies, sponsors, funders, developers, employers, operators, constructors, sub-contractors and professional teams in relation to dispute avoidance and resolution mechanisms, together with project procurement techniques (including facilities management).
  • Working closely with existing clients to maintain and develop relationships, acting as a trusted advisor capable of providing timely and quality advice whilst managing expectations.
  • Working collaboratively as a cohesive team, to execute large-scale, high-value, client matters to the highest standard.
  • Assisting with drafting, negotiating and advising on construction contracts, consultant appointments, collateral warranties, financial securities (including bonds and guarantees), letters of intent and reliance letters.
  • Contributing to group knowledge and know-how initiatives.
  • Complying with all relevant legal and regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Be an England and Wales qualified solicitor or equivalent with 2-4 years’ PQE, able to integrate into teams effectively.
  • Solid experience of contentious construction work.

Desirable

  • Exposure to working on both UK adjudications and/or TCC litigation in the context of fire safety related litigation and/or arbitration or any other forms of dispute avoidance / resolution (mediation, expert determination etc.).

Person Specification

Get help with your application

Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.

Get help applying for this job
  • Able to effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally, to ensure that complex information is delivered clearly, concisely and relevant to the audience.
  • Builds trusted working relationships with a range of stakeholders to support collaboration, alignment and delivery.
  • Commercial awareness, financial acumen and business-like approach to both legal practice and business development.
  • Responds effectively to changing priorities while maintaining progress against key outcomes and meeting deadlines.

Working Arrangement

Hybrid working - We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.

Reasonable Adjustments

At Charles Russell Speechlys we are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, where candidates can perform to the best of their ability at an interview or in a test situation. At any point in the hiring process for this role, if you require a reasonable adjustment or accommodation that might assist you during the application and interview process, please reach out to the above-named contact and they will work with you to understand your requirements. For more information, please see our Workplace Reasonable Adjustments Statement.

Any information you disclose will be kept confidential unless otherwise instructed by you, and will only be used to provide appropriate support to you during our assessment process.

Charles Russell Speechlys is an Equal Opportunities Employer, and we are committed to developing an increasingly diverse, inclusive and supportive culture where everyone can be themselves, feel valued, and that they can thrive and belong. Please see here for more information on our employee-led DEI Networks.

For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.

Clicking 'apply' will direct you to the application tracking system, hosted for us by Reach-ATS.com.

Trusted by 25,000+ job seekers

“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Jessica, London

Get help applying for this job

Location

London, England, United Kingdom

Sign up to applySee more jobs like this