Partner / Legal Director

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The firm
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, and we are delighted to share the opening of a new office in heart of Bristol city centre in the Autumn of 2024.

We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations, charities and other not-for-profit 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.
The department
Our vibrant and growing Charities Team advises a wide range of clients on matters including charity law, governance, charity mergers, fundraising, structuring and restructuring, trading, investment matters, regulatory matters (including inquiries), set up and incorporation, trusts and permanent endowmnent and much more. We are very active in the charity sector and regularly publish thought leadership pieces and attend events to connect and engage with current issues in the sector.

The team currently comprises 5 specialist qualified charity law solicitors, led by Partner, Liz Brownsell, but Birketts now has ambitious plans to recruit into our new Bristol office as part of our growth strategy.

Clients we work with include charities (many are household names), independent schools, social enterprises, and other not-for-profit organisations. We also advise high net worth individuals and corporates on philanthropy, including setting up new charitable foundations or making charitable donations, as well as other entities on their dealings with charities. In addition, we have a growing charity admininistration and clerking service, working primarily wity grant-making charities to provide support in managing and administering their grant-making activities.

Ranked Top Tier in Legal 500, you will join a successful and enthusiastic Charities team which works and collaborates closely as a supportive team of colleagues. This is a great opportunity to be a key member of a growing team with potential for further development and progression.
The candidate
The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, enthusiastic, ambitious, energetic, and must have specialist expertise in charity law and confident in advising clients directly, to lead on your own matters and build a team of specialist charity lawyers in our new Bristol office.

You will be involved in a range of business development activities, including attending networking and other BD events, supporting on tenders/pitches, and writing sector-relevant articles for our own and external publications.

Strong technical drafting, research and communication skills, with good attention to detail and a commercial/pragmatic approach are essential qualities, as is the ability to deliver a strongly client-focussed service, giving clear, timely and practical legal advice on often complex, technical areas of charity law and regulation.

Specialist experience of charity law across a broad range of matters is essential. Work includes advising on setting up new charities, incorporating existing charities, advising on structuring not-for-profit businesses, advising on trustees' powers, interpreting historic constitutional and other documents to identify restrictions affecting charity assets, updating constitutional documents, advising on charity mergers, fundraising arrangements, commercial contracts, Charity Commission investigations, governance and a range of other technical questions of charity law and regulation.
Qualifications/Experience
We are looking to recruit an individual who has the drive and commitment to assist Birketts' in the continued growth and development of our Charities practice and to become an essential core member of our team.

• Qualified Solicitor of at least 8 years PQE
• Strong academic background.
• Good level of experience as a charity law specialist
• A keen interest in business development and growth opportunities.

Equal opportunities
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.

https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Highlighting:

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with 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 ESG day (Environmental, Social and Governance)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Agile Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy

Partner benefits discussed at interview stage.

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.