Junior - Construction Associate

The role

As a Lawyer at Clifford Chance your remit will be to apply your full knowledge of the law within your specialist area by identifying legal issues, drafting and advising clients.  We have an extensive education programme, but you will also be expected to be proactive in ensuring that your technical expertise is up to date.  You will collaborate in knowledge initiatives for the Firm.

Lawyers working in our Construction Group act for sponsors/developers, funders, contractors and other project participants and you can expect to be involved in the drafting, negotiation and analysis of construction (in particular EPC), operation/FM and ancillary documentation.

There is a clear transactional bias to the Group's work and our Lawyers are required to involve themselves in the management and organisation of teams of clients, Lawyers and professional advisers.  You will utilise client focus initiatives to understand and drive service levels to meet client needs.

Managing matters with a disciplined practice is key, including adhering to matter opening and conflicts clearance processes.

We have a wide range of tools and support services available and you will be expected to utilise Best Delivery tools: e.g. templates, Legal Support Centre, Resource Management, Legal Project Managers and Matter Balance Reports.

You will be expected to complete any mandatory and relevant skills, risk and legal training. 

Who you will work with

The prominence of our Construction Group makes this an unrivalled opportunity for high calibre candidates who wish to work on the biggest and most iconic projects in the Middle East to develop their careers in a fast-moving sector.  We aim to be market leaders in the sectors in which we operate to provide a best-in-class service to our clients, and look for lawyers who share this ambition.

As part of the group, you will work closely with the firm's top-ranked Project Development & Finance, Corporate, Real Estate, and International Arbitration Groups, often in other offices in the network.  Our clients are primarily project sponsors, state-owned enterprises and developers, but we also advise lenders, investors and contractors.

The UAE Construction team is fully integrated with the International Construction Group, and regularly works with Construction team across our global network (with a particularly close relationship with our Construction team members in Riyadh, London, Singapore and Sydney).   

The group is non-hierarchical and highly focused on the development of its team members. Junior lawyers will find themselves working directly with Partners as well as senior associates and also handling certain matters themselves.

What you will be responsible for

As a Lawyer at Clifford Chance your remit will be to apply your full knowledge of the law within your specialist area by identifying legal issues, drafting and advising clients.  We have an extensive education programme, but you will also be expected to be proactive in ensuring that your technical expertise is up to date.  You will collaborate in knowledge initiatives for the Firm.

Lawyers working in our Construction Group act for sponsors/developers, funders, contractors and other project participants and you can expect to be involved in the drafting, negotiation and analysis of construction (in particular EPC), operation/FM and ancillary documentation.

There is a clear transactional bias to the Group's work and our Lawyers are required to involve themselves in the management and organisation of teams of clients, Lawyers and professional advisers.  You will utilise client focus initiatives to understand and drive service levels to meet client needs.

Managing matters with a disciplined practice is key, including adhering to matter opening and conflicts clearance processes.

We have a wide range of tools and support services available and you will be expected to utilise Best Delivery tools: e.g. templates, Legal Support Centre, Resource Management, Legal Project Managers and Matter Balance Reports.

You will be expected to complete any mandatory and relevant skills, risk and legal training.

Your experience

Minimum criteria / essential requirements

• You will be a qualified lawyer.

• You will have gained experience at a similar firm, or at an overseas similar common law practice.

• You will have gained junior to mid-level non-contentious construction experience as a practising lawyer working on large international or complex construction projects.

Skills and knowledge

• You will be able to demonstrate excellent document drafting skills and attention to detail.

• Strong communication and analytical skills, along with a high level of commercial and cultural awareness.

• Good exposure to collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and other jurisdictions.

• To have an appetite for working on the most complex projects, developing client relationships, supporting junior talent and thought leadership.

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge.  From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

As well as recruiting the best people, we insist on the professional development of all our employees.  Our Lawyers work continuously to develop both legal and personal skills through the training programmes offered by the 'in-house' law education system, the Clifford Chance Academy.  

About the Firm

Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance.  And wherever you’re heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures and languages.  In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.

We're proud of our hard-working and results-driven yet approachable, friendly and team-based culture.  Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.  Find out more here.