Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, 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. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.
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.
The department
We have one of the best regarded and largest dedicated property teams within the country, numbering over 100 specialists across seven offices.
Birketts is recruiting for an ambitious, driven and forward thinking Solicitor, ideally with experience in the property industry to come and join our growing team in our spacious Ipswich town centre office. You will join the highly successful Utilities Team which has nationwide clients throughout the UK and presently consists of 14 fee earners and 3 secretaries. We need to extend and recruit additional fee earners to take forward our ambitious plans for the future.
You will join a niche team who deal with conveyancing transactions for utility network operator clients. The team specialise in high volume, time-critical property transactions for IDNOs/DNOs, gas transporters, fibre providers, water incumbants, EV providers as well as assisting developer clients with their utility transactions.
As well as freehold and leasehold acquisitions of substations, gas governors, fibre cabinets and water pumping stations, the team deal with easements, variations and surrenders to actively manage their clients networks.
The candidate
The successful candidate will have a good 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. An interest in and aptitude for business development is welcomed.
Birketts has designed a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. Promotion is based on assessment of your performance, competency and achievements all of which is openly and clearly set out in our Talent Management Framework. This transparency is important to us and our culture and is well received by all colleagues. We actively encourage development, with a regular dialogue between individuals and supervisors to discuss career goals and aspirations. All employees within the team have a ‘buddy’ to monitor work type and provide support.
This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious commercial property lawyer to join a successful team in a growing firm which enjoys an enviable reputation and can offer excellent career prospects.
Qualifications/Experience
2+ PQE gained within a strong regional, national or City firm with experience in some or all of the following:
* Residential or commercial sales and purchases
* Landlord and tenant work
* General commercial property development
* Reporting on title
* Land Rights for Network Operators
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.
Equal opportunities
At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:
* 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays (rising with service up to a maximum of 30 days)
* Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
* Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
* Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
* Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
* Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
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.
Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.
Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.
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