Associate/Senior Associate 3+ years PQE
Commercial and Agricultural Property, Winchester
Paris Smith LLP is one of the South’s leading law firms with a clear strategy and vision for the future. We are committed to ensuring that clients have a positive experience with the Firm, and to inspire our people to reach their full potential aligned to our values. We are based in offices in Southampton, Winchester and Bournemouth with 40 partners and employing 170 members of staff.
Recognised as an “outstanding Property team” and a leader in the South of England, our Property Lawyers have a well-earned reputation for providing sound and pragmatic legal advice across all Property matters. We combine the expertise and resources of a full-service law firm with the personal approach, strong client relationships and collaborative culture that have been central to our success.
Our clients include businesses, property investors, developers, landowners, families and private individuals, and we pride ourselves on delivering clear, practical and commercially focused advice. Our established Commercial Property practice works closely with colleagues across Corporate, Private Client, Dispute Resolution and other specialist teams, providing an excellent platform from which to develop and expand our agricultural and rural property services. We value initiative, ambition and entrepreneurial thinking, and encourage our lawyers to play an active part in developing the firm's future.
The Role
We are looking for a talented solicitor with a minimum of 3 years PQE to join our established Commercial Property team in Winchester. This is an excellent opportunity for a solicitor with agricultural property experience who is looking to develop their practice within a highly regarded regional law firm.
The role will encompass agricultural and rural property, commercial property transactions and property support for corporate transactions, with a particular emphasis on growing our agricultural property offering. We are looking for someone who not only enjoys delivering high-quality legal advice but also has the enthusiasm and commercial drive to develop client relationships, generate new opportunities and play a significant role in building our agricultural property practice.
For the right candidate, there is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of this area of the business, with the potential to develop and lead a dedicated agricultural property team.
Working within our Commercial Property team, you will advise a broad range of clients, including farmers, landowners, rural estates, agricultural businesses, property investors, developers and corporate clients.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
Agricultural and Rural Property
- Acquisitions and disposals of farms, agricultural land and rural estates.
- Agricultural tenancies, farm business tenancies and other rural property arrangements.
- Advising on easements, rights of way, overage agreements and restrictive covenants.
- Property aspects of rural diversification, renewable energy and development projects.
- Advising farming businesses, rural landowners and estates on their property requirements.
- Developing relationships with land agents, surveyors, accountants and other professional advisers within the agricultural sector.
Commercial Property
- Acquisitions and disposals of commercial and investment properties.
- Commercial leases, lease renewals and landlord and tenant matters.
- Property finance, refinancing and secured lending transactions.
- Advising on development agreements and other commercial property arrangements.
Corporate Property Support
- Working alongside our Corporate team on mergers, acquisitions and business disposals.
- Undertaking property due diligence and reporting on property portfolios.
- Advising on property issues arising from corporate transactions.
- Managing property aspects of transactions to meet commercial deadlines.
Business Development and Practice Growth
An important element of this role will be the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our agricultural property practice.
You will be encouraged to:
- Develop and strengthen relationships with existing and prospective agricultural clients.
- Build a network of contacts and professional referrers across Hampshire and the wider South of England.
- Identify opportunities to expand the firm's agricultural and rural property services.
- Contribute to the strategic development of the agricultural property practice and our Agricultural Sector within the firm.
- Help establish and grow a dedicated agricultural property team as the practice develops.
Candidates with an existing client following or established professional contacts within the agricultural sector would be particularly welcome.
The Candidate
We are looking for a solicitor with genuine agricultural property expertise, strong commercial instincts and the ambition to help grow a successful practice.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A minimum of three years' PQE, with demonstrable experience in agricultural and rural property law.
- A sound understanding of agricultural property transactions, agricultural tenancies and rural land matters.
- Experience in general commercial property transactions.
- The ability and willingness to undertake property support work for corporate transactions.
- Strong drafting, negotiation and technical legal skills.
- The confidence to manage transactions independently and develop direct client relationships.
- A commercially focused and practical approach to advising clients.
- An interest in business development and growing an agricultural property practice.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across the firm.
An existing agricultural client following or established referral network would be a significant advantage, although we would also welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate the ambition and ability to develop a practice.
We are particularly interested in hearing from solicitors who see this role as an opportunity to take greater responsibility for the development of a specialist practice and, potentially, a future leadership position.
Why Join Us?
This is more than an opportunity to manage an existing caseload. It offers the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the development of a specialist practice within an established and respected law firm.
We offer:
- The opportunity to develop and grow an agricultural property practice with the backing of an established regional firm.
- The potential to build and ultimately lead a dedicated agricultural property team.
- A varied caseload combining agricultural property, commercial property and corporate support work.
- The opportunity to develop your own client relationships and professional network.
- Close collaboration with experienced partners and specialists across the firm.
- Genuine scope for professional development, increased responsibility and career progression.
- A supportive, collegiate working environment in our Winchester office.
Associate/Senior Associate in Winchester employer: Paris Smith LLP
Paris Smith LLP is an exceptional employer that values its employees by fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture in the picturesque city of Winchester. With a strong emphasis on professional development, you will have ample opportunities to mentor junior solicitors while managing high-value cases, ensuring both personal and career growth. The firm also promotes a healthy work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in family law.
