We are looking to appoint an experienced legal advisor who would report directly to the Managing Director and the Director of Operations and will provide Legal guidance, and support across the practice.
You will be responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, managing contractual agreements and insurance cover for the company, and be experienced in working on international and UK based architectural contracts, across a variety of typologies and levels of complexity.
We offer a variety of employee benefits including private health insurance, cycle to work scheme, a cash health plan, employer contribution pension, employee assistance plan, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, visa assistance for candidates who need to relocate to London. Our core hours policy allows flexibility in your daily start and end times, and you can work from abroad for up to 30 days a year.
About the role
Company contracts
You will be responsible for reviewing and assisting in the negotiation of non-project contracts, such as supplier agreements and leases, liaising with external lawyers as necessary to best protect the company’s interests. In addition, providing employment law advice to the Human Resources department on a range on employment matters, including disputes.
Project contracts
Leveraging your legal experience, you will draft, review, and negotiate contracts, collateral warranties, NDAs and legal documents in order to agree suitable protection for DCA London in its architectural appointment contracts with Clients and Sub-consultants. Ensuring that all contract obligations are covered by the professional indemnity insurance and other applicable practice insurances whilst maintaining and updating standard form legal contracts for the company, including Standard Terms and Conditions, NDAs and Sub-Consultant Appointment Contracts.
You will provide advice on the setting up of projects both inside and outside the UK, including the constraints of working in non-UK jurisdictions, working with external legal and insurance advisors as necessary and make recommendations on the structure of project contracts to best protect DCA London’s interest and reduce risks.
You will provide sound legal advice on matters of Intellectual Property rights to ensure their protection as well as legal advice and guidance internally, including project teams, on contract issues and use judgement to recommend the correct resolution of issues. Working closely with the Leadership team to understand key opportunities requiring review of contract documentation.
Preparing overview of all the signed project contracts, including all key obligations and risks and ensure completeness and accuracy of contract documentation for internal sign off and work towards the agreement of the contract documentation with the client in a timely manner.
Insurance
You will manage the renewal and set-up of Professional Indemnity insurance ensuring the best cover and financial terms available for both existing and future projects whilst ensuring that Leadership and Project teams are aware of the insurance cover in place and are informed and involved in renewal discussions affecting cover.
You will manage Professional Indemnity insurance potential claims notifications process and ensure that all circumstances likely to give rise to a claim are notified to insurers. In the event of a claim, you will liaise with insurers and external legal counsel to ensure an effective claims management process and facilitate an optimum outcome.
Additionally you will be responsible for renewing Public Liability and Employers Liability in collaboration with the Leadership team.
Key responsibilities
— Keeping all appointments updated and filed.
— Contributing actively to quality management processes to archive and file project information.
— Maintaining a contract risk register.
— Keeping abreast of legal developments
— Providing training and CPDs to staff on legal and contract issues.
What about you
You will have excellent communication and inter-personal skills, able to present contract issues in a clear and concise manner and build relationships with prospective clients and consultants. Provide sound judgement to be able to recommend possible ways to resolve contract issues and a strength of character to effectively manage high pressure situations such as client contract negotiations.
You will have a minimum of 5 years’ experience, either as a construction specialist lawyer or architect with legal qualification carrying out legal and commercial contract reviews, highlighting issues and risks. Experience monitoring project appointments and management processes and contracts risk register. Excellent drafting skills to prepare and amend legal documentation, such as design agreements, consultant collaboration agreements and NDAs and are well organised to keep contract documents in good order.
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