Solicitor, 5-8 years’ PQE

Job Purpose

The role will specialise in site acquisition and development projects for our clients. The role will cover a full range of property related legal issues from negotiating development agreements, conditional contracts and advising on potential title problems through to legal completion.

The role will also include an opportunity to provide support on property aspects of larger projects such as joint ventures, leisure projects, regeneration projects and care.

An important part of the role is to provide direct support and assistance to two partners within the team, whilst also contributing more widely to the team and its growth.

The Team

Real Estate (and particularly real estate development) is at the heart of Devonshires’ business. Within the Team, there are 17 dedicated partners working on a wide variety of property transactions with a broad range of clients from registered providers of social housing and care homes, through to pension funds, build to rent operators and private developers, acting on sites and developments from a handful of units to thousands. Due to the size and nature of the transactions Devonshires are involved in, deals are often reported in both the industry and national press with some of our transactions nominated for awards.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for the day to day running of files to include, but not limited, to:
  • managing due diligence process including title review and reporting and proposing potential solutions for title issues; • reviewing and reporting on section 106 agreements and planning consents;
  • reviewing, negotiating and reporting on land acquisition contracts, including conditional, option and overage agreements;
  • reviewing, negotiating and reporting on development agreements, particularly those with PLC housebuilders;
  • reviewing, negotiating and reporting on plot/block/phase leases and transfers; 2
  • advising clients on infrastructure and statutory agreements relating to servicing of development sites;
  • managing golden brick completions and post completion requirements;
  • an understanding of structuring transactions with reference to SDLT and VAT.
• Leading on complex real estate development acquisitions (including large-scale portfolio acquisitions and multi-phase residential schemes) and disposals.
• Helping to build and develop long-standing relationships with a varied client base.
• To take on a lead role and responsibility for supervising and developing junior solicitors and paralegals.
• Providing support on large-scale transactions such as large-scale portfolio acquisitions and disposals;
• To keep clients regularly updated with progress and meeting their deadlines;
• To organise and maintain matter files;
• To meet fee targets;
• To maintain, develop and grow client relationships and deliver exceptional service;
• To provide support and supervision to other fee earners across the team and to share knowledge as and when required;
• To follow department procedures, the Solicitors’ accounts rules and the Firm’s policies and procedures as detailed in the Office Manual, including LEXCEL;
• Undertake such duties and tasks that are appropriate for the role of Solicitor such as changes in information systems and new technology as may reasonably be required;

Person Specification

Attributes and Skills Required

• You will have between 5 - 8 years’ PQE as a real estate solicitor with experience of site acquisition and development work;
• CILEx Lawyers must have Conveyancing Practice Rights;
• You will have a strong academic background, ideally gaining a 2:1 at degree level;
• Previous experience dealing with development matters is required;
• You will enjoy client contact and have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal;
• You will have the ability to manage multiple matters and prioritise your workload to meet client deadlines;
• You will have excellent drafting and negotiation skills;
• You will be commercially aware, proactive and able to convey clear and concise information to clients and external organisations, which will not compromise the practice or the firm;
• You will have strong attention to detail and produce work and documentation which is consistently of a high standard;
• You will have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis;
• You will be happy to undertake work with minimal supervision;
• You will be familiar with Word, Outlook and Internet applications;
• Knowledge of Registered Providers or affordable housing transactions would be an advantage but is by no means necessary.