Construction Legal Counsel - Infrastructure/Projects
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Direct message the job poster from Heriot Brown In‑House Legal Recruitment.
This is an opportunity for a construction lawyer to step into an in‑house role embedded in the delivery of complex UK infrastructure projects, working closely with commercial and project teams rather than advising from the sidelines.
The role suits a junior construction lawyer who enjoys contract work but wants greater ownership, closer involvement in decision‑making, and a clearer line of sight between legal advice and how projects are actually delivered on site.
The role
You’ll join a collaborative in‑house legal team supporting a portfolio of high‑value, strategically important infrastructure and construction programmes across the UK.
The work is predominantly non‑contentious, with some exposure to dispute avoidance and resolution, and a strong emphasis on providing practical, commercially grounded advice to teams operating in live project environments.
Over time, the role offers increasing autonomy and visibility across projects as you build relationships with internal stakeholders and develop a deeper understanding of the business.
What you’ll be doing
- Taking ownership of drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction and project contracts, with a strong focus on standard forms (NEC experience particularly relevant)
- Advising on associated arrangements including joint ventures, consultancy and professional services contracts, variations, settlement agreements, heads of terms and collaboration agreements
- Supporting both upstream (client‑side) and downstream (supply‑chain) contracting on live projects
- Working closely with project, commercial and procurement teams to identify, manage and mitigate legal and commercial risk
- Managing and instructing external advisers where appropriate, with a focus on efficiency and value
- Contributing to the development of practical templates, processes and ways of working within the legal team
- Supporting compliance and governance matters relevant to infrastructure delivery, including ESG, competition and ethical business requirements
- Providing clear, pragmatic advice that balances legal risk with commercial outcomes
What they’re looking for
- A qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with experience in the construction sector
- A background in non‑contentious construction and projects work, with exposure to standard form contracts such as NEC, JCT and/or FIDIC
- Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with the confidence to advise non‑legal stakeholders directly
- Commercially minded, with a genuine interest in how projects are delivered in practice
- Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast‑moving project environment
- Clear, practical communicator who can translate legal issues into actionable advice
- Prior in‑house or secondment experience is helpful, but not essential
Why this role stands out
- Direct exposure to high‑value, nationally significant UK infrastructure projects
- A genuine in‑house position with day‑to‑day interaction with project and commercial teams
- Broad scope across non‑contentious work, with insight into dispute management and risk strategy
- A strong platform for lawyers considering their first or second move in‑house
- An environment that values ownership, curiosity and practical problem‑solving over hierarchy
This role is particularly well suited to construction lawyers who want to be closer to delivery, take on greater responsibility, and develop as commercially astute in‑house advisers.
Seniority level
Associate
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Legal
Industries
Construction
London, England, United Kingdom
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