Senior Associate / Legal Director

Overview

In this role you will lead and support the leasehold enfranchisement practice within a national, full-service real estate group. You will work across the Residential Real Estate and Real Estate Disputes teams to handle complex enfranchisement matters and related lease work for landlords, tenants, and public bodies. You will grow the sector through strategic guidance, client development, and cross-office collaboration. The opportunity combines high-level contentious and non-contentious work with mentorship and process development in a respected firm.

Pay / Benefits

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (post-probation)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Life Assurance – 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance (PHI)

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day caseloads including 1993 Act collective enfranchisement and lease extensions
• Act for landlords and tenants including public bodies and social landlords
• Provide strategic advice on structuring lease grants to avoid 1987 Act issues
• Handle voluntary lease extensions and volume/individual matters
• Draft, advise on, and implement participation agreements and deeds of adherence for collective enfranchisement and 1987 Act acquisitions
• Review existing leases and assist with new leases as part of financing practice
• Assist with disposal/acquisition of blocks of flats and with deeds of variation and licences to assign
• Advise clients on licences for alterations and manage related disputes (First Tier Tribunal/Court, desirable)
• Market the sector through BD meetings, writing articles, and commenting on legislation
• Train and develop junior practice-members and paralegals; liaise with enfranchisement valuers
• Develop processes and precedents within the enfranchisement sector
• Support cross-office collaboration and line-management responsibilities

Key requirements

• ≥6 years PQE in a professional legal environment
• Experience in leasehold enfranchisement with cross-over into residential real estate
• Proven ability to meet demands of enfranchisement matters, including contentious aspects
• Proven track record in marketing and developing new relationships
• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development
• Experience with training and managing juniors; willingness to undertake line-management
• Competence in Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation
• Desirable: experience with contentious leasehold enfranchisement
• Established client base or network (preferred)
• Hybrid working compatibility and flexible/agile working preferences

• Mentoring and people development
• Relationship building and stakeholder management
• Business development and thought leadership
• Microsoft Word
• Excel
• time recording software

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