Associate / Senior Associate

Birketts is an ambitious and diverse top 50 UK law firm based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, Norwich and London.  The firm provides a broad range of legal services to national and international organisations and institutions, small and medium sized businesses and private individuals. Multi award winning and one of the fastest growing full service firms, Birketts has a clear vision and strategy to establish a national presence beyond its East Anglian heartland. The firm has a total headcount of close to 900 including over 100 Partners.

With a rich heritage spanning over 150 years we’ve built an enviable track record advising businesses, institutions and individuals in the UK and internationally.
Throughout our history our ethos has remained simple: we provide clear legal advice and value and insight to our clients. We set out to truly understand our clients’ needs and help realise their ambitions.

We believe that through this approach and a combination of technical excellence and high quality service we can develop long-lasting partnerships and become our clients' solicitor of choice.

We have one of the best regarded and largest dedicated property teams within the country, numbering 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. 

The team currently comprises a number of specialist qualified Commercial Property solicitors and Partners, making us one of the largest Commercial Property teams in the East of England.

We have the strength and depth of expertise to ensure we deliver the service you would expect in respect of technical quality, practical approach and timeliness of advice.

The property team has experience in all areas of contentious and non-contentious legal matters, representing clients from a broad range of public and private organisations as well as individuals and senior executives and we are proud to act for sector leading clients nationwide and some of the East of England’s most important businesses and institutions.

Our team has extensive combined experience and the ideal candidate will possess experience in the following areas:

• Conditional and unconditional acquisitions and disposals
• Portfolio acquisitions, disposals and management
• Secured lending transactions for lenders and borrowers
• Acting for landlords and tenants across multiple sectors in relation to:

1. Leases
2. Surrenders
3. Conditional and unconditional agreements for lease
4. Management matters such as licences to assign, alter etc

• Supporting the firm’s corporate team with the real estate aspects of their share and asset sales and purchases

To join our Commercial Property team we are seeking a candidate who is a solicitor with ideally 6+ years’ PQE experience gained within a well-regarded city, regional or national firm with a well-developed knowledge in all areas of commercial property law. 

The successful candidate will have an excellent knowledge of the law yet be able to think commercially and analytically so as to provide accurate and practical advice to company clients and high net worth individuals which is tailored to their needs, with an ability to think clearly under pressure. You will also be expected to play an active role in marketing and practice development as well as providing a high level of service to existing clients. 

The successful candidate will also be involved in team leadership and supervision of junior members of the team, also supporting the leadership teams across all five commercial property teams in Norwich.

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. Promotion is based on assessment of your performance, competency and achievements. Our Talent Management Framework will see you joining as a Senior Associate at 6+ years’ PQE, with the opportunity to be promoted to Legal Director / Partner over 10 years PQE, or equally (depending on experience) we will consider Legal Directors or Partners for this role.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious commercial property lawyer to join a successful team in a growing firm which enjoys an excellent reputation and can offer good career prospects.

• 6 years’+ PQE gained within a strong regional, national or City firm
• Commercial landlord and tenant work knowledge
• Experience of acting for both banks and borrowers in secured lending matters
• Knowledge of providing property support as part of corporate transactions
• 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.
• Interest in and aptitude for business development

The information provided in relation to PQE is provided for guidance only and will not be determinative in the recruitment decision. Any applicant with more or less PQE than that mentioned in the vacancy details will be considered on their individual merits.  

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.

• 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 CSR day (Corporate, Social, Responsibility)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Eye Care Voucher
• Agile Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy

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.