Legal Counsel

Job Description Summary

Legal Counsel 5 – 8 years PQE (Contentious Construction)

Remote working/travel at times

Competitive salary and bonus

We have an exciting opportunity for Legal Counsel to join as a key member and legal adviser on contentious construction within the Litigation and Disputes team.

• You will be a key liaison between the Legal Director, Senior Legal Counsel, other team members and Capita businesses.

• You will provide technical, timely, commercially aware contentious construction legal advice and assistance on a range of client and supplier contracts and projects on a pro-active basis.

• You will ideally be a contentious construction disputes specialist with around 5 - 8 years PQE but construction lawyers who have non-contentious construction experience are also encouraged to apply

Capita’s lawyers are hardworking, collaborative, resilient and friendly, and we welcome applications from like-minded people who are interested in joining the team.

Previous applicants need not apply.

What you’ll be doing:

• Providing efficient progression and resolution of litigation and disputes where Capita has provided construction services to clients and suppliers
• Locating, collating, reviewing, analysing and reporting on key material relating to disputes and jointly with Senior Legal Counsel considering the merits as to liability and quantum with a view to engaging claimants and other potential defendants to reach an early commercial settlement.
• Negotiating disputes at the pre-action stage with a view to achieving the early, efficient and cost-effective resolution of disputes with Capita’s construction clients and suppliers.
• Developing relationships with stakeholders and helping to promote the Litigation and Disputes team and wider legal team within the business.
• Engaging with external panel legal firms for litigation advice and assistance, ensuring effective cost management.
• Assisting with the implementation and development of legal policies, procedures and guidance, including training, and in particular the policies for litigation management.
• Managing continuous personal professional development, sharing know-how with the disputes and wider legal and business teams and assisting with development and dissemination of legal training as required.
• Liaising with and supporting the Legal Director on high profile, group wide or divisional projects and/or reporting, regarding dispute resolution and effective litigation management.

What we’re looking for:

• You will ideally be a contentious construction disputes specialist with experience of court proceedings in the High Court and TCC (including the Pre-Action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Disputes).
• 5 – 8 years PQE
• Can work with limited supervision and be able to manage and resolve complex construction disputes.
• Co-Pilot experience or openness to learning how to utilise it are essential. Embracing and working alongside AI to achieve efficiencies will be necessary.
• An ability to draft key correspondence and documents on complex construction disputes (e.g. defect and delay claims) such as letters of claim, responses to letters of claim etc.
• Experience of leading the resolution of construction disputes from inception to conclusion.
• Sound legal, construction industry, commercial, business and negotiating acumen, along with excellent written and oral communication skills, articulate and proficient drafting.

About Group Legal

Our Group Legal Function is one of Capita’s central corporate functions and is sharing legal knowledge to create a more productive and successful business going forward. Our team is working with the Board and Capita’s divisions to provide legal and regulatory advice and assistance. We’re building a framework for managing legal risk for both today and tomorrow to ensure we can continue to adapt to changing technologies and ways of working. Join us and discover how you will shape the future of legal assistance.