Senior Project Legal Counsel

Bouygues Construction SA; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction company is seeking an experienced construction solicitor to support the Sizewell C infrastructure project. The role involves drafting and negotiating contracts, managing legal risks, and ensuring compliance with construction law. Applicants should have over 8 years’ PQE in construction law and demonstrate strong negotiation and risk management skills. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to a landmark project in the UK’s energy sector.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ PQE in construction and major projects.
• Experience with high-value energy/infrastructure projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate contracts, subcontracts, and NDAs.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks.
• Collaborate with internal teams for legal compliance.
• Oversee legal documentation and record management.
• Provide training on contractual obligations.

Skills

U.K. construction law expertise

Negotiation skills

Risk management

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent)

Tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point)

Job description

As the Civil Works Alliance (CWA), we are searching for an accomplished construction solicitor to play a pivotal role in one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure programmes: Sizewell C. This is your opportunity to become part of a team shaping the future of clean energy, with a new 3.2-gigawatt power station delivering reliable, low‑carbon electricity to 6 million homes for generations to come.

With substantial experience in construction and major projects, you’ll join an enterprise that unites the expertise of Sizewell C and three global industry leaders – Balfour Beatty, Bouygues Travaux Publics and Laing O’Rourke – all working together to deliver world‑class results.

In this senior advisory role, you’ll have real impact across every stage of our ambitious project:

Principal Accountabilities, Activities and Decisions

Contractual Advisory & Compliance

• Assist with drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, subcontracts, consultant appointments and NDAs in line with project requirements and goals.
• Work closely with members of the Procurement and Commercial teams to put in place required contracts and subcontracts within required project timescales and to help achieve project goals.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, industry regulations, and project‑specific requirements.
• Advise project teams on legal issues, potential risks, and mitigations.
• Assist in developing the CWA’s suite of contracts (to be based on NEC contracts) to be used when procuring works/service from the supply chain.
• Helping to create processes, policies and documentation to help embed key contractual requirements into the day‑to‑day operations of the Civil Works Alliance.

Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

• Identify potential legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Internally manage disputes, claims, and litigation that may arise during the project. Liaison with external counsel as appropriate.
• Serve as a point of contact for dispute resolution processes, collaborating with external counsel as necessary.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal departments (e.g., Finance, Procurement, Commercial) to ensure legal alignment with business objectives.
• Work with external stakeholders, including clients, subcontractors, and government agencies, to manage contractual relationships effectively.

Documentation & Record Management

• Oversee the preparation, documentation, and storage of all legal agreements and correspondences.
• Maintain accurate records to ensure easy retrieval for audits, dispute resolution, and compliance checks.

Regulatory Monitoring & Policy Development

• Monitor U.K. construction and contract law developments and ensure project compliance.
• Help to develop and implement internal policies and guidelines to enhance legal compliance and risk management practices.

Training & Guidance

• Provide training and resources to project teams on contractual rights, obligations, and compliance requirements.
• Serve as a legal point of reference, offering guidance to ensure team alignment with contractual terms and legal standards.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Knowledge & Skills

• Expertise in U.K. construction law, including knowledge of industry‑standard contracts (in particular NEC3 and NEC4 contracts).
• Knowledge of contracts used in offshore projects (e.g. marine installation) desired, but not essential.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities.
• Proficient in risk management.
• Ability to work independently and handle complex legal matters effectively.
• Attention to Detail: Accurate in contract drafting and reviewing to ensure compliance and protect the organization’s interests.
• Communication Skills: Clear and concise communication to explain complex legal issues to non‑legal team members and stakeholders.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align legal advice with the Civil Works Alliance’s long‑term objectives.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Able to work in a fast‑paced environment with evolving project demands and challenges.
• Team player and relationship manager across multiple stakeholders with a strong work ethic.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to operate in a range of environments.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time‑management skills.
• MS Office – Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point to a high standard.

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent) with 8+ years’ PQE in construction and major projects, gained either in‑house or at a leading private practice (ideally with secondment experience).
• Experience of working on high‑value energy/infrastructure projects desired, but not essential.

If you’d like to contribute directly to a landmark project at the heart of the UK’s energy transition – ensuring legal integrity, excellence and compliance every step of the way, please apply now. We are committed to building a diverse and high‑performing team, drawing on talent from every background to deliver for the future.