Partner - Contentious Construction and Engineering

Construction, Commercial Litigation

Location: Newcastle & Tyneside
Type: permanent
Job Reference: 5235

Construction & Engineering (Contentious) Partner Opportunity
Award-Winning North East Law Firm
Location: Newcastle/Cumbria/Teesside (Agile Working Available)
Salary: Competitive + Profit Share & Individual Bonus Schemes
PQE: 8+ Years in Construction Disputes

The Opportunity
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for an experienced construction disputes lawyer to join a prestigious North East law firm as a Salaried Partner in their expanding Construction & Engineering team. You could already be a Partner or a Senior Associate looking for the next big step in your career.
This forward-thinking law firm is seeking a talented professional to lead and develop their contentious construction offering, working alongside an established team of partners and fee earners, while having the freedom to build and shape their own practice area.
About the Role
What You'll Be Doing:

Leading contentious construction matters including adjudication, litigation and dispute resolution
Managing and developing an existing associate solicitor specialising in construction disputes
Growing the contentious construction client base through active business development
Working collaboratively with the firm's established non-contentious construction team
Building and recruiting your own specialist team over time

Current Workload: The firm has experienced steady growth in construction and engineering disputes over the past 3 years, with sufficient work currently sustaining a dedicated associate-level fee earner and providing additional work for the disputes team. There's clear opportunity for expansion with the right leadership.
What We're Looking For
Essential Requirements:

8+ years PQE in construction and engineering dispute resolution
Extensive experience in adjudication processes
Currently operating at Senior Associate level or above
Strong willingness to engage in business development
Proven ability to build client relationships

Desirable:

Existing client following or professional network
Experience managing junior lawyers
Track record in team development

Remuneration & Benefits
Salary: Competitive
Structure: Salaried Partner role (no buy-in required)
Additional Benefits:

Profit Share Scheme - percentage of salary based on fee income achieved
Individual Bonus Scheme - discretionary rewards for exceptional contribution
Comprehensive benefits package including pension contributions
Option to pay profit share directly into pension fund

The Support You'll Receive

Dedicated associate solicitor with exclusive contentious construction focus
Access to 3 experienced construction solicitors (18 months - 5 years PQE)
Trainee/apprentice support
Freedom to recruit additional specialist fee earners
Full backing from established disputes resolution team
Flexible approach to fee earning vs business development time

Market Opportunity
The construction disputes market in the North East has shown consistent growth, with increasing opportunities emerging. This role offers the perfect platform to capitalise on this growth while building a market-leading contentious construction practice.

This is an expansion role within a thriving practice area, offering genuine partnership-level responsibility from day one, exceptional support, and the freedom to build your own team in one of the region's most progressive law firms.
For a confidential discussion about this exceptional opportunity, please contact Kim Wilkes at Think Legal - kim@thinklegalrecruitment.com
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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