Head of Legal

Job Description

At Ardmore, we deliver some of London’s most ambitious residential, commercial and hotel projects.

We are looking for a Head of Legal to lead our in-house Legal team, providing practical and commercially focused advice across a broad range of construction and business matters.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced construction lawyer who enjoys working closely with operational and commercial teams in a fast-paced environment. The role is focused on leading and developing the legal team, acting as a trusted point of escalation for the business, and ensuring Ardmore has reliable, high-quality legal support across the full project lifecycle.

The Role:

Reporting into senior leadership, you will oversee the in-house Legal team, including senior solicitors, junior solicitors, paralegals and other legal professionals. You will play a key role in supporting the business on legal risk, contracts, disputes and governance, while ensuring the team is well-managed, well-supported and aligned with business needs.

What You’ll Be Involved In:

• Leading, mentoring and developing the in-house Legal team
• Acting as a senior point of contact and escalation for legal and contractual issues across the business
• Supporting the Board, senior management and project teams with practical and commercially focused legal advice
• Overseeing the review, negotiation and management of construction contracts and related documents
• Supporting the business on a range of legal and risk matters across the full project lifecycle
• Overseeing disputes and claims across the Group, including adjudication, mediation, arbitration and litigation
• Managing external solicitors, counsel and other advisers where required
• Ensuring robust legal processes, governance and contract administration standards are in place
• Helping drive consistency, best practice and continuous improvement across the legal function
• Providing training and guidance to colleagues and supporting the development of the wider team

What We’re Looking For:

You will be a qualified solicitor with strong construction law experience gained in private practice and/or in-house.

You will also bring:

• Proven experience leading, managing or mentoring legal teams
• Strong experience across non-contentious and contentious construction matters
• Good knowledge of construction contracts and associated legal documentation
• The ability to provide clear, balanced and commercially aware legal guidance across a broad range of issues
• Confidence working closely with senior stakeholders across a complex business
• Strong judgement, communication and stakeholder management skills
• A practical, supportive and solutions-led approach

Why Join Ardmore?

This is an opportunity to lead and shape an in-house legal function within a leading construction business, where you will play a key role in supporting the business, developing the legal team and helping ensure Ardmore continues to receive pragmatic, reliable and commercially focused legal support.

What We’re Looking For:

• Qualified solicitor with a background in construction law, and with substantial experience in the construction industry.
• Proven track record of advising senior management on legal and compliance issues.
• In-depth knowledge of English construction law, the key forms of dispute resolution (including adjudication), and corporate governance.
• Strong negotiation skills, with experience in handling complex construction contracts and managing disputes.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance legal risks with commercial objectives.
• Experience in managing and developing a legal team.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal matters to colleagues.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

Example of Company Benefits:

• Medical Cover (Most pre-existing conditions are covered)
• Competitive Maternity, Adoption & Paternity Pay scheme
• Competitive holiday allowances, starting with 25 + bank holidays and going up to 29 days + Bank holidays (dependant on length of service), Day off on your birthday also included!
• Competitive pension scheme to help you for when you retire
• Life Assurance (Paying 4* your salary depending on level) -
• Relevant professional membership fees paid and continued support with your professional growth and Learning.
• Generous Staff referral scheme, paying up to £3,500
• The opportunity to save up to 25% on your bike via the Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on 100's of retailers and Gyms

Further Information About the Role

Kindly be aware that this advertisement for our job vacancy may not encompass all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the role described. It is subject to potential amendments at the sole discretion of Ardmore.

For a full role profile, please contact me directly at [email protected]

Equal Opportunities

Ardmore are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender, reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy or maternity.

Reasonable adjustments

We would like you to perform at your best at every stage of our recruitment process. Please contact us using [email protected] if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application.

Candidate Privacy Notice

As part of our recruitment process for all roles including employees, consultants and subcontractors, we collect and process personal data relating to job candidates and potential candidates. We explain how we use personal information in the Candidate privacy notice. To view our Candidate privacy notice please visit the Ardmore Group website > Working for us > privacy notice.