Solicitor (Stock Rationalisation) - 3-5 years PQE

Job Purpose

The role will specialise in assisting with stock rationalisation projects. The role will cover a full range of property related legal issues from assisting with negotiating and agreeing Stock Transfer Contracts and the additional legal documentation involved in stock rationalisation projects as well as producing reports on title through to legal completion.

The role will also include an opportunity to provide support on property aspects of larger projects such as joint ventures, site acquisitions and property disposals.

An important part of the role is to provide direct support and assistance to one of the 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 15 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.

The Devonshires stock rationalisation team are one of the most experienced in the sector and as a result are often instructed on a variety of deals acting for both Seller’s and Buyer’s with portfolios ranging from tens of units to thousands. This is a growing sector and a key area for the Real Estate team making this an exciting opportunity for someone to join the Team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for the day to day running of files to include, but not limited, to:
  • reporting on property searches
  • drafting full reports on title and proposing potential solutions for title issues;
  • drafting, negotiating and reporting on stock transfer agreements and contracts for sale;
  • drafting and negotiating unit leases, transfers (including transfers of part), deeds of assignment of rent arrears and rent authority letters;
  • creating and maintain a variety of trackers to assist with the various aspects of stock transactions
  • liaising with management companies and preparing the relevant documentation required by management companies on a disposal / acquisition i.e. deeds of covenant
  • reviewing section 106 agreements and planning consents (desirable but not essential);
  • liaising with insurers to obtain a variety of title and search indemnity policies;
  • an understanding of structuring transactions with reference to SDLT and VAT;
  • dealing with deeds of easements and deeds of release;
• To keep clients constantly updated with progress and meeting their deadlines, this will also involve attending weekly project calls with our clients and the opposing party;
• To organise and maintain tidy and accurate files, both in hard copy and electronically;
• To meet fee targets;
• To develop and grow client relationships;
• 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;
• To take on an active role and responsibility for training and developing fee earners.

Person Specification

Attributes and Skills Required

• You will have between 3 - 5 years’ PQE as a real estate solicitor with experience of stock rationalisation projects;
• CILEx Lawyers must have Conveyancing Practice Rights;
• You will have a strong academic background, ideally gaining a 2:1 at degree level;
• You will enjoy client contact and have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Ability to prioritise workload to increase efficiency;
• 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;
• A high attention to detail to produce work and 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;
• You will be happy to undertake work with minimal supervision;
• To be familiar with Word, Outlook and Internet applications;
• Familiarity with Registered Providers would be an advantage but is by no means necessary.