Junior - Construction Associate

Role Overview

Junior Construction Associate at Clifford Chance, Middle East Construction Group, based in the UAE.

Company Overview

Clifford Chance's Middle East Construction Group operates at the top tier across all construction industry sectors in the MENA region. The Group provides innovative, commercial and market-leading services across four main areas: Energy and Utilities (renewable energy, nuclear, wind, battery storage, solar, carbon capture, thermal utilities, water and wastewater, and oil and gas projects); Real Estate and New Communities (new cities, urban regeneration, sports stadia, theme parks, hotels, data centres, film studios and railway infrastructure); and Social and Transport Infrastructure (light and heavy rail, hospitals, airports, bridges and tunnels).

The firm maintains the only elite law firm dedicated specialist construction team of such size and multi-sector focus. The UAE Construction team is fully integrated with the International Construction Group and regularly works with construction colleagues across the global network, with particularly close relationships in Riyadh, London, Singapore and Sydney.

Role Purpose

To apply specialist legal knowledge to identify legal issues, draft legal documents and advise clients on complex construction projects. You will be involved in the drafting, negotiation and analysis of construction documentation, primarily EPC contracts, operation and facilities management agreements, and ancillary documentation. You will work with sponsors, developers, funders, contractors and other project participants on some of the biggest and most iconic projects in the Middle East.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advisory and Drafting

• Identify legal issues within your specialist construction area.
• Draft legal documents and provide advice to clients.
• Demonstrate excellent document drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Involve yourself in drafting, negotiation and analysis of construction (in particular EPC), operation and FM and ancillary documentation.

Team Management and Collaboration

• Involve yourself in the management and organisation of teams of clients, lawyers and professional advisers.
• Work directly with Partners as well as senior associates.
• Handle certain matters independently.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and other jurisdictions.
• Work closely with the firm's top-ranked Project Development and Finance, Corporate, Real Estate and International Arbitration Groups.
• Collaborate in knowledge initiatives for the Firm.

Client Focus and Service Delivery

• Utilise client focus initiatives to understand and drive service levels to meet client needs.
• Develop client relationships.
• Support junior talent and thought leadership.

Practice Management and Compliance

• Manage matters with disciplined practice, including adhering to matter opening and conflicts clearance processes.
• Utilise Best Delivery tools including templates, Legal Support Centre, Resource Management, Legal Project Managers and Matter Balance Reports.
• Complete any mandatory and relevant skills, risk and legal training.
• Proactively ensure that your technical expertise is up to date through the extensive education programme.

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualified lawyer.
• Experience at a similar firm or at an overseas similar common law practice.
• Junior to mid-level non-contentious construction experience as a practising lawyer working on large international or complex construction projects.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent document drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and analytical skills.
• High level of commercial and cultural awareness.
• Good exposure to collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and other jurisdictions.
• Appetite for working on complex projects.

Additional Information

Professional Development

From your first day you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your skills and knowledge through formal training, informal coaching and mentoring, skills-based and technical training and on-the-job learning. Lawyers develop both legal and personal skills through training programmes offered by the Clifford Chance Academy. Regular training sessions alternate between detailed single-issue reviews and broader industry topics.

Compensation and Benefits

A highly competitive base salary with potential for substantial bonus under the Clifford Chance bonus scheme. Great prospects for long-term career development.

Culture

The Construction Group is non-hierarchical and highly focused on the development of its team members. The firm has a hard-working, results-driven yet approachable, friendly and team-based culture.