Technical Associate Director

A growing construction disputes consultancy is seeking an Associate Director – Technical Expert to support and help lead expert witness appointments on major claims and disputes.

Based in London (or remote with periodic London travel), you will deliver high-quality technical analysis, shape report outputs and contribute to developing the technical expert offering.

Project Details

The Associate Director will play a key role in leading, managing, and delivering technical expert witness and advisory work within a Forensic Expert Witness team.

This includes establishing sound technical methodologies, reviewing design and construction records, analysing causation and technical compliance, and producing high-quality technical inputs for reports and proceedings.

Assignments typically relate to litigation, arbitration and adjudication, with additional advisory work supporting live projects, settlement discussions and mediations in the UK and internationally.

Responsibilities and Duties

This is a senior role focused on providing high-quality technical expert analysis, supporting client and legal teams, and contributing to the growth of the technical expert service line.

Typical duties will include:

• Act as Technical Expert on suitable instructions (or as a lead assistant / No.2), taking responsibility for technical opinion, technical sections of reports, and interface with clients, solicitors and counsel
• Lead the technical investigation and analysis of design, construction, and performance issues (e.g. defects, compliance, workmanship, specification, engineering standards)
• Review and interrogate key project documentation including drawings, specifications, RFIs, method statements, inspection/testing records, site records, correspondence and contractual technical requirements
• Provide clear, evidence-based technical opinions on causation, liability and technical merits to support dispute resolution proceedings
• Prepare and/or oversee robust technical expert reports and supporting exhibits, ensuring strong reasoning, transparent methodology and high presentation standards
• Support expert advisory work on live projects including dispute avoidance, technical risk reviews, and technical input to settlement strategy and negotiation support
• Present technical findings clearly to clients, solicitors, counsel, tribunals and internal stakeholders
• Support senior client relationship management and help develop trusted relationships with solicitors, counsel and industry stakeholders
• Contribute to business development activity, including generating new instructions, cross-selling services and strengthening the firm’s profile for expert witness jobs and construction dispute resolution jobs
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and development of junior and mid-level staff, including quality assurance and coaching on technical analysis and expert report writing
• Manage workflows to ensure deadlines, budgets and quality expectations are consistently met
• Support progression towards testifying expert appointments and provide testimony where appropriate

Desired Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will be a credible senior technical professional with excellent report-writing skills and the confidence to operate at senior client and legal stakeholder level.

• Strong technical expertise in one core discipline: Architecture, MEP, Structural Engineering, or Civil Engineering
• Proven ability to investigate and explain complex technical issues using contemporaneous evidence and clear reasoning
• Experience producing high-quality technical reports, ideally for claims, disputes, expert witness work, or formal proceedings
• Strong knowledge of design and construction processes, standards, specifications, and typical causes of defects/non-compliance
• Experience across a range of construction and engineering projects (buildings, civil engineering, infrastructure)
• Confident communicator able to present technical opinions to solicitors, counsel, clients and project stakeholders
• Commercial awareness and understanding of dispute dynamics, including how technical issues translate into claims and liability arguments
• Ability to manage multiple commissions, maintain quality, and work efficiently under deadline pressure
• Demonstrable ability to support winning work and securing repeat instructions through high-quality delivery and relationship building
• Expert witness testifying experience is advantageous but not essential where progression toward expert appointments can be evidenced

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• Degree qualified in Architecture, Building Services/MEP, Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering or similar (or equivalent)
• Chartered status is highly desirable (e.g. RIBA, CIBSE, IStructE, ICE, or similar)
• Postgraduate study in construction law / dispute resolution (LLM / MSc) is advantageous but not essential
• Relevant professional training in expert witness practice is beneficial

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Maxim Recruitment is working with a leading advisory and expert witness consultancy within a wider multidisciplinary professional services group.

The business provides expert advisory and forensic expert witness services to the construction and infrastructure sectors, supporting clients throughout the dispute lifecycle—from dispute avoidance and strategic technical and commercial advice through to formal proceedings including adjudication, arbitration and litigation.

The team is recognised for delivering clear, well-evidenced technical opinions on complex, high-value matters, often working closely with solicitors, counsel, funders and other expert disciplines (including quantum and delay).

The organisation offers strong career development, high-quality training and a collaborative culture focused on technical excellence and professional integrity.

A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Annual bonus
• Pension
• Private medical cover
• Life cover
• Professional membership fees paid
• Ability to work from home with travel to the London office as required