Associate Director - Home Based (Permanent) in Chelmsford, Essex

Main information

• Term Type: Permanent
• Fulltime: True
• External Department: Real Estate - Enfranchisement
• Location Text: Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, Chelmsford

About us

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 and over 600 staff 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.

The team you will join

Our leasehold enfranchisement practice comprises fee-earners from both the Residential Real Estate team and the Real Estate Disputes team. The Residential Real Estate team comprises 70 members operating out of 6 of our 7 offices. The Real Estate Disputes team comprises of over 40 members operating out of all offices. Our leasehold enfranchisement practice operates on a national basis regardless of the location of the practice members. We have a vacancy within the leasehold enfranchisement practice for a Senior Associate or Legal Director who can work across both enfranchisement and leasehold residential real estate matters.

The work you will be doing

• Work within the specialist area of enfranchisement and provide a supporting role to the residential property team on more complex transactional areas such as the disposal of blocks of flats outside the right of first refusal, reviewing the grant of new leases, assisting in the sale or purchase of property with the benefit of a range of enfranchisement claims and to actively grow the enfranchisement sector.
• Responsible for day-to-day management of a caseload including 1993 Act collective enfranchisement and lease extensions, 1967 Act enfranchisement and lease extensions, 1987 Act rights of first refusal.
• Acting for a client base comprising landlords and tenants including public bodies and social landlords.
• Providing strategic advice on structuring the grant of leases to avoid the application of the 1987 Act.
• Acting on voluntary lease extension matters both on volume lease extension matters and individual lease extensions.
• Drafting, advising on and implementing participation agreements and deeds of adherence for collective enfranchisement and 1987 Act acquisitions.
• Reviewing and advising on existing leases and the grant of new leases as part of the Residential Real Estate Team's financing practice.
• Acting on the voluntary disposal or acquisition of blocks of flats.
• Assisting the Residential Real Estate Team with deeds of variation and licences to assign.
• Assisting the Residential Real Estate Team and advising clients independently on licences for alterations.
• Dealing with claims in the First Tier Tribunal and/or Court (desirable but not essential).
• Actively marketing the sector including regular business development meetings with the sector members, writing articles, commenting on upcoming legislation, etc.
• Attending leasehold enfranchisement training and social events e.g. through ALEP.
• Working alongside and developing relationships with enfranchisement valuers.
• Assisting with the development of processes and precedents within the enfranchisement sector.
• Providing guidance and support to junior practice-members on a cross-office basis including formal training of paralegals.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role.

What we are looking for

• A minimum of 6 years PQE in a professional legal environment.
• Contribute to thought leadership and sector-focused marketing initiatives.
• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development.
• Established client base or network (preferred but not essential).
• Experience building credibility and trust through effective relationships.
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation.
• Experience of leasehold enfranchisement with a proven ability to meet the demands of all areas of enfranchisement matters, including the cross-over between enfranchisement and residential real estate.
• Experience of training and managing junior team members and be willing and able to undertake line-management responsibilities.
• A proven track record of active marketing within this specialist sector and growing new relationships.

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week. 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.

Benefits

• 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 and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share).
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance.
• Paid CSR Day.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave.
• Subsidised gym membership.
• Electric car scheme.
• Dress for your Day Policy.

Inclusivity and Culture

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. 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.