Legal Counsel (Construction)
On-siteLondon, England, United Kingdom
Job Summary
Lead legal and contractual matters across Hemiko's district heating portfolio, focusing on construction, project delivery, and risk. Draft, review, and negotiate key agreements including NEC-based contracts and associated delivery documentation. Advise commercial, delivery, and operational teams on contract interpretation, administration, and risk management throughout procurement, delivery, completion, and operational phases. Provide pragmatic guidance on contract strategy, change control, delays, defects, payment, interface risks, claims, and dispute avoidance. Support tender and procurement activity by advising on legal risk, bid governance, and contractual departures. Develop and maintain construction contract templates, playbooks, and precedent documentation. Coordinate external legal advisers for specialist input and track relevant legal developments in the energy sector.
Required Qualifications
- Qualified solicitor in England & Wales
- circa 4 years' PQE or more
- Strong construction law experience
- Excellent working knowledge of NEC contracts
- ability to advise confidently on procurement, drafting, negotiation, administration and contract risk across the project lifecycle
- Strong communicator with the ability to explain legal issues clearly
- Proactive and able to work autonomously and manage a varied workload
- Ability to approach new issues strategically and identify pragmatic solutions or where further specialist advice or support is required
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
- Confident in identifying and analysing risk and providing commercially-focussed advice to key stakeholders
Desired Qualifications
- Experience in some or all of the areas below would be advantageous, but we are open to candidates from a range of strong construction backgrounds who can broaden their skillset in role
- Experience advising on energy, utilities, district heating, civil engineering or other major infrastructure projects
- Experience with other standard forms such as JCT, FIDIC, or professional appointments, alongside strong NEC capability
- Familiarity with public procurement, concessions, public sector delivery models or grant-funded infrastructure projects
- Experience supporting development, land, interface or project structuring matters relevant to infrastructure delivery
- Experience of claims, disputes or contentious construction matters, whether in formal proceedings or through strategic dispute avoidance
- Understanding of regulatory regimes relevant to heat networks, utilities or decarbonisation infrastructure
- Experience working with investors, lenders or joint venture partners on project-related legal and commercial issues
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