Associate / Senior Associate / Legal Director - Norwich

PQE: Term Type: Permanent

Working Hours: Full time or part time

Reports to: Department: Commercial Real Estate

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.

RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024. 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 Birketts Commercial Real Estate Team is one of the best regarded and largest dedicated real estate teams within any firm outside of London, with over 200 lawyers across the firm as a whole. Our property lawyers are particularly experienced in dealing with development (including strategic land) and investment, planning, secured lending and landlord and tenant matters. We are increasingly advising high value, high profile transactions and clients. 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 and provide a sector based offering for our clients. It also means there is support and opportunity across the Real Estate spectrum.

A minimum of 3 years PQE gained at a reputable legal firm.

• Track record of managing caseloads with minimal supervision.
• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
• Dependable and efficient in time management.
• An interest in business development and an eye for identifying and leveraging opportunities.
• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service.
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation.

You will have experience in some or all of the following:

• Commercial landlord and tenant work.
• Investment and asset management.
• General commercial property development and/or strategic land work (including Options, Promotion Agreements, Collaboration Agreements etc.).
• Experience of acting for banks and/or borrowers in secured lending matters.
• Knowledge of providing property support as part of corporate transactions.

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people.

As an Associate, we typically expect candidates to have between 3-6 years PQE. As a Senior Associate you will have a minimum of 6 years PQE. As a Legal Director you will have a minimum of 9 years PQE. Any information provided in relation to PQE should be used for guidance only and will not be determinative in the recruitment decision. Applicants will be considered on their individual merits.

You will be responsible for:

• Drafting and negotiating on relevant contracts, deeds, documents, advice notes, letters and correspondence tailored to the client’s individual needs and requirements.
• Acting as a key point of contact for clients, building trusted relationships, and identifying opportunities to add value.
• Participating in marketing and networking initiatives.
• Ownership of personal financial performance, demonstrating accountability and a commercial mindset.

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. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 or 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.
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy. 60:40 office to home.
• 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.

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.