Senior Associate / Legal Director / Partner

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 500 lawyers and legal professionals based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

We are defined by our next level law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

We have one of the best regarded and largest dedicated property teams within the country, numbering over 100 specialists.  Our property lawyers are particularly experienced in dealing with development and investment, planning, secured lending and landlord and tenant matters.

Our lawyers come from a range of backgrounds, including major City practices, other major national and regional firms, industry and local government and include individuals with construction, planning and commercial expertise. The depth and range of expertise means the team can work together in major and complex transactions on cost effective terms, providing our clients with true value for money. 

The team currently comprises a number of specialist qualified Commercial Property solicitors and Partners, making us one of the largest Commercial Property teams in the East of England.

We have the strength and depth of expertise to ensure we deliver the service you would expect in respect of technical quality, practical approach and timeliness of advice.

The property team has experience in all areas of contentious and non-contentious legal matters, representing clients from a broad range of public and private organisations as well as individuals and senior executives and we are proud to act for sector leading clients nationwide and some of the East of England’s most important businesses and institutions.

Our teams have extensive combined experience and the ideal candidate will possess experience in the following areas:

• Conditional and unconditional acquisitions and disposals
• Affordable housing - planning matters
• Portfolio acquisitions and disposals
• Option agreements and strategic land planning
• Consortium/collaboration agreements  
• Overage arrangements
• Mixed Site assembly and development
• City/town regeneration schemes
• Licensed property work
• Secured lending
• Site regeneration for both the public and private sectors 

To join our Commercial Property team we are seeking a candidate who is a solicitor with ideally 6+ year’s PQE experience gained within a well-regarded city, regional or national firm with a well-developed knowledge in all areas of commercial property law. 

The successful candidate will have an excellent knowledge of the law yet be able to think commercially and analytically so as to provide accurate and practical advice to company clients and high net worth individuals which is tailored to their needs, with an ability to think clearly under pressure. You will also be expected to play an active role in marketing and practice development as well as providing a high level of service to existing clients. 

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. Promotion is based on assessment of your performance, competency and achievements. Our Talent Management Framework will see you joining as a Senior Associate at 6+ years PQE, with the opportunity to be promoted to Legal Director / Partner over 10 years PQE, or equally we will cosider Legal Directors or Partners for this role.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious commercial property lawyer to join a successful team in a growing firm which enjoys an excellent reputation and can offer good career prospects.

• 6 years+ PQE gained within a strong regional, national or City firm
• Commercial landlord and tenant work knowledge
• Experience of acting for both banks and borrowers in secured lending matters
• Knowledge of providing property support as part of corporate transactions
• Strong academic background
• A high attention to detail to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard
• To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis.
• Interest in and aptitude for business development.

The information provided in relation to PQE is provided for guidance only and will not be determinative in the recruitment decision. Any applicant with more or less PQE than that mentioned in the vacancy details will be considered on their individual merits.  However, the team is keen to recruit someone who will initially undertake work referred down from the Partners and Senior Associates and provide clients with good value services.

We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Benefits

One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare - BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance   - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR day (Corporate Social Responsibility)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Gym Flex membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy
• Discounted legal services.
• Agile Working Policy
• Season Ticket Loan

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile and part time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.