Partner - Ipswich, Chelmsford, Norwich, Cambridge, London, Sevenoaks or 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 based in Bristol, 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, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

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 Residential Development Team sits within Birketts’ highly regarded and one of the UK’s largest dedicated Real Estate practice groups, comprising specialists in development, investment, finance, and landlord and tenant matters. The Residential Development Team includes 5 specialist development partners and 40 other fee earners at all levels working collaboratively together across six of Birketts’ seven offices. The Partners oversee all aspects of development work from land promotion, acquisition, estate and infrastructure projects and plot sales (open market and social housing disposals). The team also works closely with other Birketts’ Residential Development Sector experts including tax, planning, environmental, construction and Real Estate litigation teams.

This role will have a particular focus on the Social Housing sector and will include close liaison with our specialist contentious Social Housing management team. Working with that team enables great access to a significant number of Registered Providers for whom the firm acts.

We are seeking a Partner with ideally 10+ years’ PQE experience gained within a well-regarded city, regional or national firm and a well-developed knowledge in all areas of residential development law with an in-depth understanding of the social housing sector and its regulatory framework and funding models. 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 RP clients, tailored to their needs and having regard to public sector funding and charitable status requirements. The role holder will ideally have a well established client base or network within the social housing sector, working with RPs on existing legal procurement frameworks and have a business development acumen to identify and develop new business opportunities.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of experts that play a key role in the delivery of residential development projects. This role will have a particular focus on development projects in the Social Housing sector on a national basis. The leading partner will work closely with our specialist contentious Social Housing management team and experts within the Social Housing Sector. Working with the wider Social Housing Sector team will enable great access to a significant number of Registered Providers for whom the firm acts. You will be involved in transactions that support social housing and community development, working closely with housing associations and local authorities.

You will be responsible for:

• Maintaining and growing client relationships and contributing to the strategic direction and success of the team and firm.
• Developing, leading and mentoring a team of junior lawyers, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Participating in networking events, conferences and other business development activities to promote the firm’s services.
• Working for Registered Providers on joint venture and partnership agreements both at framework level and on a site by site basis.
• Acquisitions of housing development sites through a variety of contract structures for RPs, including land led and strategic land schemes.
• Advising on housing regeneration schemes, joint ventures, partnerships and collaborations.
• Acquisitions of "s.106 sites” for RPs from private housebuilders, including drafting and negotiation of development agreements (turnkey and golden brick).
• Experienced in checking s106 affordable housing provisions to ensure compliance with grant funding requirements.
• Experienced in advising on grant and funding agreements.
• Overseeing golden brick completions and handover arrangements.
• Dealing with estate site set up and drafting intra-group transfers and shared ownership leases in readiness for plot sales.
• Negotiating Nomination Agreements on behalf of Registered Providers.
• You will be familiar with all aspects of Infrastructure Agreements and estate infrastructure transfers and easements for Registered Providers and will oversee a team of junior lawyers dealing with the day to day running of those transactions.
• Drafting and negotiating Management Agreements and Service Level Agreements on behalf of Registered Providers.

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

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.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.