Partner / Legal Director

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The firm
Bristol is our seventh office opening in the early Autumn so come and be part of the founding team. Since January 2021 we have had a 'hub' which has hosted our Southwest based partners but to reflect our growth in this area and the firm strategy we are now here to stay. We are establishing a full-service presence in Bristol, and this is an exciting opportunity to be part of that and help form the office as we grow.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we live in and serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. https://www.birketts.co.uk/environmental-social-governance/

Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership. Sustainability was a key factor in determining our choice of office in Bristol.

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 with our other offices being located in 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: real estate, 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.
The department
In Autumn 2024 Birketts will be opening its new office in Bristol, our seventh office in the UK. The firm already has offices in London, Sevenoaks, Cambridge, Chelmsford , Ipswich and Norwich. Birketts' Housebuilding Sector Group works across all of those offices and intends to establish a Housebuilding practice in its new Bristol office serving residential developers across the South West.

Birketts' Housebuilder Sector Group sits within one of the highest regarded and largest dedicated property teams within the country, that numbers over 100 specialists. 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.

Together, as a collaborative firm, we have over 1000 people working with us and we are ranked highly in the Legal 500 across all areas we practice in.
Accountabilities
Our team has extensive combined experience and the ideal candidate will possess experience in the following areas:

• Conditional and unconditional acquisitions;
• Affordable Housing and Build to Rent disposals;
• Development Agreements;
• Option agreements, Promotion agreements and strategic land development ,
• Collaboration and equalisation agreements;
• Project management;
• Secured lending transactions for developers and lenders;
• Client relationship management.

The candidate
The successful candidate will already be working for residential developers across the South West and in addition to an excellent knowledge of that sector, will have the ability to think commercially and analytically so as to provide accurate and practical advice to clients together with high level service. You will have a desire and skills to build and grow our South West residential development Housebuilder practice and to develop and manage a supporting team around you.

Qualifications/Experience

• 10 years'+ PQE gained within a strong regional, national or City firm.
• Residential Development work for national and/or SME developers.
• Strong academic background.
• A high attention to detail to produce work/ 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.
• Demonstrable aptitude and drive for business development.

Equal opportunities
We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Benefits

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/working-for-birketts/

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.