The Arora Group
The Arora Groupisone of the UK’s largestfamily-owned businesses,leveragingsynergies across its specialist property,constructionand hotel divisions. Since 1999, the Group has built its standingbymanaging projectsmeticulouslyfrominceptionto delivery and beyond. Today, it owns and manages a diverse portfolio of flagship assetsvalued at more than£3bnacrosskeybusiness locationsin the UK and Ireland, partnering withsome ofthe world’s most recognised brands to deliver consistentlyhighlevelsofserviceand sustainable growth.RecentacquisitionsincludethelandmarkNovotelLondon West andMetro Building in Hammersmith,andthe iconic“MOJBuilding”at102Petty France,St James.Liveprojectsinclude theconstructionofthenew Sofitelhotel atDublin Airport,theredevelopment of the iconic Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa,andthe Group’sproposal for the expansion ofHeathrow Airport.
Role Overview
We areseekingan experienced,commerciallymindednon-contentiousproperty lawyer to join our in-house legal team.The core focus ofthe rolewillbe asset management of a large and diverse property portfolio,includingshopping centres,hotelsand other commercial premises.Therolewill also involveacquisitions,disposalsandotherbespokepropertymatters.
The role would suit a lawyer with strong private practice training who has experienceleading transactions,taking ownership of legalworkstreamsandworkingclosely withcolleagues across the business. AlthoughPQE is notdeterminative, weanticipatethat therole would suit a lawyer with at leastfive years’post-qualification experience who istechnicallyproficient,confident managing matters independently andexperiencedinengaging directly with counterparties and external advisers.
This is an opportunity to join a lean, high-performing in-house legal function at the centre of adynamic andsubstantialprivately owned property,hoteland development business, with direct exposure to seniordecision-makersand a broad range of commercially significant matters.
You would have a high degree ofresponsibilityandautonomy, working as part of asupportiveteam ofpropertyprofessionalsandreportingto senior managementin conjunctionwith theGroup’sGeneralCounsel.
Key Responsibilities
Asset Management
- Drafting and negotiating commercial leases, mostly from alandlord’s perspective,across a varied property portfolio, including retail, leisure,hoteland office assets.
- Advising on and negotiating all manner of property agreements including:
- Agreements for lease
- Licences to assign
- Licences for alterations
- Deeds of variation
- Deeds of surrender
- Short-term occupation arrangements
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1954exclusion documentation
- Hotel and property management agreements
- Supporting asset managers and surveyors on day-to-day landlord and tenant matters.
- Providing pragmatic and commercially focused legal advice to internal stakeholders.
Acquisitions and Disposals
- Managing acquisitions and disposals of investment properties.
- Reviewing and reporting on title.
- Drafting and negotiating transaction documentation.
- Dealing with completion and post-completion matters.
- Supporting larger transactions alongside external counsel whererequired.
Financing and Other Property Matters
- Assistingon refinancing transactions involving the property portfolio.
- Reviewing Certificates of Title and related documentation.
- Advising on easements, rights of way,wayleavesand utility agreements.
- Supporting on planning and development-related matters whenrequired.
- Assistingwith drafting appointments of professionals and collateral warranty deeds.
- Supporting wider corporate transactions through property due diligence, titlereviewand management of property workstreams.
- Managing external legal advisers and controlling legal spend whereappropriate.
Property Disputes
- Supporting the management of a broad range of property disputes across the portfolio, including tenant defaults, lease interpretation issues, dilapidations, service chargedisputesand possession matters.
- Instructing and managing external counsel on contentious landlord and tenant matters whererequired.
- Advising internal stakeholders on dispute avoidance strategies and commercially pragmatic resolutions.
Construction
- Assistingwith the negotiation and management of construction and development documentation, including professional appointments, collateral warranties, pre-construction servicesagreementsand building contracts.
- Working closely with internal project,constructionand asset management teams, and managing external legal advisers whereappropriate.
Candidate Profile
Essential
- Qualified solicitor in EnglandandWales,withno less thanfiveyears’PQEor equivalent experience.
- Strong commercial real estate experience gained at a reputable regional, national or City firm.
- Significant experienceacting formajorlandlords,ideally includingowners of shopping centres.
- Excellent groundinginall legal aspects oflandlord and tenant work, with experience negotiating and completing a high volume of asset management transactions.
- Ability to take ownership of matters and managereal estatetransactions with little or nosupervision.
- Strong technical drafting and negotiation skills.
- Commercially minded, pragmatic andsolutions focused.
- Confidentdealing directly with senior business stakeholders,external advisersandopposing legal counsel.
Desirable but not essential
- Experience in one or more of the following areas would be helpful but is not essential:
- property finance work;
- property disputes work;
- construction law; and
- planning law.
- Previous in-house experience.
Compensation: Competitive salary
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