The Residential Development Team acts for a broad range of developers (both small regional companies to national developers), affordable housing providers, local authorities, promoters and landowners. Developments we work on regularly range from 5 to 4,000 dwellings, and can in some instances be worked on for 10 years or more, giving the team members extensive opportunities to grow long standing relationships with clients and a real sense of pride in schemes worked on. All members of our Residential Development team play an active role in marketing and practice development as well as providing a high level of service to existing clients within the team. This is an excellent opportunity to join a successful and growing team, joining a top 50 law firm which enjoys an excellent reputation and offers excellent and exciting career prospects. You will be based in one of the four offices set out above, supported and working with each local team, but also working collaboratively cross office with other team members. Our Legal Talent framework can see Solicitors become Associates after 3/4 years and Senior Associates after 6 years with further promotion to Legal Director and Partner. We welcome candidates who can bring ambition, drive and growth to our team and in return we can offer the first-class training with a progressive career path. Accountabilities
* Working with and supporting senior fee earners across our offices in the Residential Development Team on a wide variety of residential development acquisitions (options, conditional and unconditional contracts), promotion agreements and disposals;
* Working on affordable housing transactions for both Registered Providers and private developers;
* Carrying out title due diligence, reporting on title - including searches and site visits;
* Understanding development infrastructure delivery and working on transfers and easements to bring services and access rights to development sites;
* Dealing with lender requirements for development funding;
* Proactively working with other specialisms within Birketts to ensure full and commercial advice is given to clients;
* Drafting documents accurately and commercially;
* Early responsibility and opportunity to network and grow client relationships.
* Liaison with our plot sales team within Residential Development for site set up and handover, but this role is not to support the plot sales function.
Due to growth, we are seeking two solicitors to come and join our Residential Development Team on a full time permanent basis. Preferably you will have trained within a well-regarded city, national or regional firm and already have experience in the residential development sector and wish to further specialise in this practice area., 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.
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 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 The Residential Development Team at Birketts is expanding. The team includes 4 partners and 40 other fee earners at all levels working collaboratively together across four of Birketts' seven offices. The team also works closely with other Birketts' teams, which includes full support from tax, planning, environmental, construction and Real Estate litigation teams. The Residential Development Team sits within Birketts' highly regarded and one of the UK's largest dedicated Real Estate teams. 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. We are people orientated, offering a dynamic, progressive and supportive culture where you can learn from our Partners, Legal Directors and Senior Associates who are experts in their field.
One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we are appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. A competitive salary and benefits package is given but you can also expect a great team and supportive colleagues, a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, a programme of wellbeing and mental health support and structured career development and study support.
* 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising with service.
* 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
* Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
* Season Ticket Loan
* Gym Flex membership
* Electric car scheme
* Dress for your Day Policy
* Agile Working Policy
* 35 hour working week
Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. Following close of successful probation period, it is likely you will be able to work 3 days in office and 2 days from home.