Job description

We are recruiting for a Construction lawyer to join our Real Estate team in London as Senior Associate.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE
Real estate is the world's largest asset class and our work for organisations active in the sector, whether theyre investors, developers occupiers or lenders, gives us a deep understanding of the industry and the way it operates. We are at the heart of the global real estate sector offering cutting-edge and intelligent advice that complements the way our clients work.

Our client base reflects the diversity and vibrancy of our practice. We act for the leading private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, public and private companies, pension funds, investment banks and other financial institutions, wealthy private investors, hotel owners and operators, retailers, public sector bodies, developers and unit trusts from across the globe. As our clients business and investment strategies evolve our practice continues to adapt and grow, with increasing emphasis on transactions in the operational real estate space including senior living, PRS, and the digital real estate sector, as well as across all the more traditional real estate asset classes. The Real Estate team is also at the forefront of innovating how legal services are delivered to our clients.
We are recruiting for a Senior Associate (6 PQE+) to join the Construction team within A&O Shearman's award-winning Real Estate group in London. This is an exciting opportunity in a vibrant stand alone practice which also provides go to expertise for our Real Estate, Banking and Corporate lawyers, alongside their own pitches and client management.

• Drafting and negotiating construction documents for all types of real estate asset based transactions, and data center deals, in the UK and providing assistance as required in other parts of the network.
• Managing the construction workstream on real estate, financing and corporate transactions and working seamlessly with other A&O Shearman teams and clients.
• Project management of the overall smooth running of the construction elements of a transaction, including competently leading such a transaction and supervising junior lawyers
• Providing contract management advice in respect of construction projects.
• Being an integral part of the go to team in relation to all real estate related construction matters and liaising with colleagues throughout the A&O Shearman network (particularly in Europe).
• Strategically advising clients in meetings, on the phone and by email, managing client expectations and project delivery appropriately.
• Building relationships with clients (both on and off deal) and assisting with and implementing business development initiatives including a strong enthusiasm for growing the practice through client training and networking.
• Training and developing junior members of the team and leading on know-how for the practice.

• Qualified lawyer 6 PQE+ or above for Senior Associate
• Driven, enthusiastic associate with strong academics and experience of working on major construction deals. The successful candidate will have had experience at a senior level of a variety of aspects of construction in a number of sectors and involving a number of different real estate asset classes.
• Strong technical knowledge of all construction procurement methods.
• Detailed knowledge of the documents (e.g. JCT and FIDIC contract forms, appointments, warranties, TPRs etc) used in construction procurement transactions with the ability to comfortably draft and negotiate these.
• Familiarity with forward funding / development funding agreements, development agreements, development management agreements, agreements for lease and related documents.
• Extensive experience of the construction and development elements of financing, real estate and corporate transactions.
• Experience of cross jurisdictional issues is an advantage but is not essential.
• Keen interest in AI and technology and passionate about using the firms extensive capabilities in this area to help drive initiatives within the Real Estate team.
• Intellectual curiosity and versatility.
• Self-starter with the desire and ability to continuously acquire, build upon and share knowledge internally in the team.
• Detail-focused and self-motivated approach.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple transactions and deadlines.
• Excellent client relationship skills.
• Sound experience of operating at senior associate level within a complex international organisation.
• Strong commercial/business acumen with the ability to deliver creative and pragmatic solutions and advice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface at all levels and particularly to win the respect of the partner and fee-earner community, building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to develop and work in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment.
• A person of sound judgement, able to establish a high level of credibility.