Job Specification - Associate Construction - Olswang

Job Specification - Associate
Construction
OLSWANG:
Olswang is a leading full service City law firm with a strong reputation for quality and innovation;
we now number over 650 personnel over 4 offices. We have built our reputation for providing first
class commercial and pragmatic advice working for many of the leading names in the media,
technology and real estate sectors, but today our clients come from an ever-wider range of
sectors.
Olswang has an empowering, meritocratic and respectful culture and combines an informal and
relaxed attitude with a relentless commitment to quality of service and delivery. We are
passionate about our sectors and our clients and are proud to be a place where people want to
come to and stay. For the last four years Olswang has been featured in the Sunday Times Top
100 Best Companies to Work For.
THE TEAM:
The Olswang Construction Team is headed by Richard Wilson, whose focus is non-contentious,
whilst Nick Lane specialises in contentious Construction. Richard and Nick are assisted by 3
associates and 1 trainee. The team has historically focussed on development work and acts for a
wide range of developer clients as well as a number of funding institutions and banks, but is
increasingly working also for contractors.
The team has close working relationships with key members of the construction industry including
other professionals, contractors, investors and developers, and is recognised for its pragmatic
and commercial approach to drafting and negotiation. Clients of the Group include Delancey,
Kier Property, Thornfield Properties and RO Developments.
Clients of the team include:
· Analytical Properties
· Aspinall's
· AXA Investment Managers
· Brandeaux Administrators
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· Delancey
· Kier Property Developments
· The Mall Partnership
· Thornfield Properties
· UBS
The Construction Team sits within the wider Real Estate Group which also includes specialists in
tax, finance, planning, real estate litigation and corporate real estate.
THE ROLE:
We are currently looking for a construction associate with at least 2 years' post-qualification
experience to join our Central London based team. The team cover a mix of contentious and
non-contentious work for a wide range of clients but candidates with a contentious/noncontentious
bias will be considered. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to
broaden their exposure to a wide range of work, in a small but respected team with ambitious
growth plans.
Non - contentious
Work will include drafting project documentation for clients and advising on procurement strategy.
The team are familiar with advising on and amending all standard forms of building and
engineering contracts, including JCT, GC/Works, ICE, NEC, and FIDIC forms. They also advise
on collateral warranties and third party rights schedules, bonds and guarantees, and consultancy
appointments.
The team also work closely with the Firm's Banking, Finance and Property Development
specialists and advise on the construction aspects of finance and property development
documentation. They have advised on a wide range of retail, office and leisure schemes, for
example the development of an 11,000 m 2 mixed office and residential property in central London
for Delancey.
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Contentious
The successful candidate can expect to be involved in advising clients on all manner of
contentious issues, including:
· fee issues with consultants, payment and certification issues with contractors;
· design issues and professional negligence;
· completion, partial possession, delay and awards of interim extensions of time;
· copyright, retention of title and other ownership issues;
· termination of building contracts and consultants' appointments; and
· insolvency.
The team also give practical advice on monitoring problems during projects, obtaining appropriate
technical help where necessary, and ensuring that clients are in the best possible position to
defend claims where disputes do arise.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
· Excellent academics with a minimum 2.1 degree.
· At least 2 years' post-qualification experience gained in construction law from a highly ranked
practice or team.
· Good technical ability with solid drafting skills.
· Ability to communicate and understand the business needs of clients. Commercial outlook
and desire to be pro-actively involved in business development and marketing.
· Team player - able to work effectively in an established, close-knit team.
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