Company Description Cheshire East Council is a unitary authority serving more than 420,000 residents and 20,000 businesses, delivering services such as education, social care, planning, transport, and environmental health. Guided by the Cheshire East Plan 2025–29, the council is committed to enabling prosperity and wellbeing for all. Its strategic priorities include inclusive economic growth, improved transport, lifelong learning, a carbon-neutral future, and reduced health inequalities. The council focuses on financial sustainability, digital transformation, and collaborative governance to support safe, thriving communities. Staff work within a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking organization that offers clear direction and a strong sense of purpose.
Role Description The Senior Property Lawyer is a full-time role based in Crewe, delivered on a hybrid working basis with some work from home. The role involves managing a diverse caseload of property matters, including acquisitions, disposals, leases, licenses, easements, and development agreements for the council and its partners. The post-holder will draft, review, and negotiate complex legal documents, provide clear legal advice to officers and elected members, and support projects linked to regeneration, housing, and infrastructure. Day-to-day work includes advising on property-related risk, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and council policies, and collaborating with internal teams such as estates, planning, and finance. The Senior Property Lawyer will also mentor colleagues, contribute to service improvement, and help maintain high professional standards within the legal service.
Qualifications
- Qualified solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive with substantial post-qualification experience in property law, ideally within local government or the public sector.
- Strong expertise in commercial and residential property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, leases, licenses, and development agreements.
- Sound knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks, such as land law, planning law interfaces, local government powers, and public procurement considerations.
- Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex legal documentation with attention to detail and risk management.
- Effective communication and advisory skills, capable of explaining legal issues clearly to non-specialists and engaging with officers, senior leaders, and elected members.
- Demonstrated experience in managing a varied caseload, meeting deadlines, and prioritizing work in a busy, outcomes-focused environment.
- Collaborative working style, with the ability to build productive relationships across multidisciplinary teams and support organizational projects and initiatives.
- Experience supervising or mentoring legal professionals or trainees, and contributing to continuous improvement of legal services.
- Comfort with hybrid working arrangements, digital tools, and case management systems; commitment to ongoing professional development.
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