Associate/ Senior Associate

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Construction and Engineering lawyer to join our growing team, based in Guildford.  The role will suit someone who has excellent people skills, who is looking to develop their career within a friendly collegiate team that is widely recognised for its expertise in this area.

While this role would ideally suit a candidate with a mixture of both contentious and non-contentious construction experience, we are also keen to hear from candidates who may have experience working on primarily contentious or non-contentious construction matters.  This is an ideal opportunity for candidates who want a clear route for progression, with promotion opportunities for the right candidate.

The team’s client base is impressive and the successful candidate will gain exposure to quality work with the team currently working on several high value and complex disputes and projects for clients in the logistics, education and car manufacturing sectors, as well as main contractors and sub-contractors.

The Construction team is part of the Real Estate department which currently consists of 7 partners and 22 other lawyers.  It is regarded as one of the leading real estate practices in the South East outside London, and is recommended by the leading independent legal directories, ranked in band 1 in the Legal 500 for both construction and commercial property. 

Testimonials from our clients include “The S&B team are highly approachable and responsive. They make great effort to understand our business and our issues. They consult willingly and are creative in the ways that they approach solutions. They give well-balanced advice and are highly knowledgeable in all of the areas of law in which we need support. Their seminars and industry days are always on-point and informative."

There is knowledge lawyer and paralegal support within the department and access to a wide range of valuable on-line resources.

The work will involve advising on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious construction matters.

We recognise that lawyers value the ability to work flexibly - we have agile working policies to facilitate flexible working and we are happy to consider both full time and part time working.

We are looking for team players with experience on the contentious side of adjudication, arbitration and litigation in the TCC as well as the ability to give practical and commercial advice at an early stage where projects are in distress;

Typical disputes include interim and final payments disputes, professional negligence claims and issues of delay and defective works;

On the non-contentious side, candidates should have experience of leading and advising on transactions, drafting and negotiating construction contracts and ancillary agreements and providing ongoing project advice;

The team act for employers, construction professionals, contractors and sub-contractors and the successful candidate can look forward to a broad range of quality work across various sectors;

There are opportunities for career progression as the team continues to grow and all team members are encouraged to develop their own practices and contacts;

All team members are encouraged to participate in business development and the team regularly host case law updates and workshops for clients and contacts, as well as marketing generally to the industry.   The successful candidate should be interested in and have an understanding of the construction and engineering sector and in turn will be fully supported to develop their own practices and contacts as well as ensuring the continued success and growth of the team and wider firm.

Candidates should have good inter-personal skills, strong academics and high quality experience – typically with a major City or leading national/regional practice.

Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career

Stevens & Bolton is a leading independent UK law firm located in Guildford, supporting clients across the world. With over 270 people, approximately 160 lawyers, many of whom chose to join us from City law firms.

Our vision is to be one of the UK’s most successful law firms, offering excellence beyond the city, a supportive culture and the best client experience. We take great pride in being named "Law Firm of the Year: The Independents" at The Lawyer Awards 2020 and receiving commendation in 2023.

At Stevens & Bolton, we pledge to make a positive difference for our clients and colleagues alike. For our colleagues, this means providing support in their daily work and fostering their career growth. You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment. We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.

Diversity and inclusion lie at the core of our values. Our inclusive culture encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. In 2020 we were shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards.

We are committed to an agile working model that provides flexibility and benefits everyone's lives. Our newly refurbished office in Guildford offers a modern and adaptable working environment - a central hub where collaboration, teamwork, and socialising thrive. Furthermore, we equip our people with the necessary IT infrastructure and support to seamlessly work from home.