Senior Associate – Construction – Bristol – 5+ Years PQE

Overview

In this Senior Associate role, you will advise and negotiate non-contentious construction matters for a leading UK law firm in Bristol. You will draft and review major contract forms, support high-value development projects, and collaborate with clients and project teams. The role blends legal expertise with a proactive, business-facing mindset and opportunities to engage in national projects. You will work closely with Partners to drive practical, commercially minded solutions and contribute to a collaborative Real Estate practice.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible, agile working
• Michelmores Academy development framework
• career progression support
• opportunities to work on high-profile, national projects
• collaborative culture that values creativity

Responsibilities

• Advise on and negotiate construction contracts, appointments, and ancillary documents
• Review and advise on contract terms for employer and client-side entities
• Draft across contract suites (JCT, NEC, FIDIC, IChemE, EPCs, O&Ms, bespoke agreements, collateral documents)
• Support high-value regional and national development projects across energy, infrastructure, health, education, commercial, and consumer sectors
• Collaborate with clients, consultants and project teams in person and via Teams
• Manage a varied, fast-paced caseload with support from Partners and Managing Associates

Key requirements

• At least 5 years’ PQE in Construction and Engineering
• Strong non-contentious construction experience; contentious experience beneficial
• Extensive drafting and negotiation across major contract families
• Experience acting for funders, employers, contractors and consultants
• Strong commercial awareness and a proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work collaboratively
• Motivation, initiative and genuine interest in business development

• Excellent communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Collaborative mindset
• Drafting and negotiation of construction contracts (JCT, NEC, FIDIC, IChemE, EPCs, O&Ms)
• Contract review and risk assessment for employer and client-side entities
• Experience across multiple contract families and bespoke agreements

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