Construction Associate

Acuity Law; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK law firm in Cardiff seeks a Construction Associate with at least 4 years' PQE. The role involves managing a wide range of construction matters, including drafting contracts and resolving disputes. The ideal candidate will have experience in both contentious and non-contentious work. This position offers a balanced practice, career progression opportunities, and a competitive salary package.

Benefits

Market-leading salary

Bonus structure

Flexible working arrangements

Career progression opportunities

Collaborative culture

Qualifications

• At least 4 years PQE in a reputable UK construction team.
• Experience in both contentious and non-contentious construction work.
• Strong technical knowledge of JCT, NEC, and FIDIC contracts.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating various construction documents.
• Managing disputes including adjudications and arbitrations.
• Building strong client relationships and supporting business development.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving abilities

Education

Law degree

4+ years PQE in construction law

Job description

About Acuity Law

We are a leading UK law firm renowned for our commitment to excellence, client service, and delivering innovative legal solutions. Our firm is recognised for its collaborative and dynamic working environment, offering high-quality legal advice to a diverse range of clients, from multinational corporations and financial institutions to SMEs, start-ups and high-net-worth individuals. We pride ourselves on fostering professional growth, encouraging innovation, and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture.

About The Role

We are seeking a Construction Associate to join our dynamic and growing Construction team. This is a genuinely balanced role, offering exposure to the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious construction matters.

You will act for employers, developers, contractors, funders, consultants, and public-sector bodies on projects across a range of sectors and will work closely with senior members of the team to support clients through every stage of a construction project - from procurement and contract negotiation to dispute avoidance and resolution.

Your caseload will span the full life cycle of construction work, including drafting and negotiating standard form and bespoke documentation, and advising on high-value disputes (adjudication, arbitration, mediation, and TCC litigation).

About The Team

Our Construction team is recognised for its breadth of experience across complex and high-profile projects, from pre-development strategy and procurement to contentious dispute management. We act across multiple sectors including healthcare, education, manufacturing, commercial, regeneration, and residential development.

We advise on every aspect of a project - acquisition, planning, construction, financing, operation, and leasing - supporting clients through non-contentious project delivery as well as managing disputes at all stages. Our contentious practice handles adjudications, arbitrations, mediations, expert determinations, and TCC proceedings for a wide range of clients including developers, contractors, local authorities, social housing providers, and construction professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Non-Contentious Construction

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction documents including JCT, NEC, FIDIC, consultant appointments, collateral warranties, bonds, and guarantees.
• Advising on procurement strategy, risk allocation, and contract structure across a variety of projects.
• Supporting clients with project delivery issues, early-stage risk management, and contract administration queries.
• Advising on regulatory compliance, professional obligations, and construction-related statutory requirements.
• Collaborating with colleagues in Real Estate, Corporate, Banking, and Commercial teams on crossdisciplinary development and financing work.

Contentious Construction

• Advising on and managing disputes including defects, delays, extensions of time, payment issues, repudiatory breach, and professional negligence claims.
• Acting in adjudications, arbitrations, mediations, expert determinations, and TCC litigation.
• Preparing submissions, witness statements, and expert instructions; supporting partners in major disputes.
• Advising clients on dispute avoidance strategies and early-resolution mechanisms.

Client Development & Relationship Management

• Building strong relationships with clients, delivering commercial and pragmatic advice.
• Contributing to business development activities including networking, pitches, and thought leadership.
• Supporting knowledge-sharing initiatives and internal training programmes.

Team Collaboration & Development

• Working closely with partners and senior lawyers on complex matters.
• Supervising and mentoring more junior team members.
• Keeping abreast of industry and legal developments to ensure clients receive current, practical advice.

About You

You will be a confident and commercially focused Construction Associate with at least 4 years’ PQE, experienced in both contentious and non-contentious construction work (or a genuine desire to work across both streams). You will bring a proactive, solutions-driven approach and enjoy working in a collaborative environment on varied and high-value matters.

Personal Specification

• 4+ years’ PQE gained in a reputable UK construction team.
• Solid grounding in non-contentious construction (JCT, NEC, FIDIC, and bespoke drafting).
• Experience of or strong interest in contentious construction work (adjudication, arbitration, mediation, TCC litigation).
• Strong technical knowledge and the ability to deliver clear, commercially focused advice.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trusted client relationships.
• Team-oriented approach, with enthusiasm for mentoring juniors and supporting business development.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with meticulous attention to detail.

Why Join Us?

• Balanced Practice - Genuine opportunity to work across both contentious and non-contentious matters.
• High-Quality Work - Advise on complex, high-value projects and disputes for leading developers, contractors, consultants, and funders.
• Career Progression - Clear pathways, hands‑on responsibility, and structured development.
• Collaborative Culture - Work in a supportive team that values innovation, knowledge-sharing, and professional growth.
• Business Development Exposure - Get involved in networking, client pitches, and thought leadership.
• Competitive Package - Market‑leading salary, bonus structure, and flexible working arrangements.

Next Steps

If you are an ambitious Construction Associate looking for an exciting opportunity to develop your career in a highly respected UK law firm, we would love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment team. We look forward to welcoming a talented professional to our growing team.