Birketts LLP

About us 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 and over 600 staff 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 6th best law firm to work at in 2026. 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 42% of our partnership. The team you will join The Residential Development Team at Birketts is expanding. The team includes 5 partners and 40 other fee earners at all levels working collaboratively together across six of Birketts' seven offices specialising in the acquisition, sale and development of land for an array of national and SME Residential Developers and Registered Providers . The Sevenoaks team plays a key strategic role within the wider Residential Development practice as a focal point for growth in the South East. The team works closely with colleagues across planning, tax, construction, environmental and real estate litigation to deliver joined-up, commercially focused advice on major development schemes. The Residential Development Team sits within Birketts' highly regarded and one of the UK's largest dedicated Real Estate teams. Our property lawyers are particularly experienced in dealing with development and investment, planning, secured lending and landlord and tenant matters. The work you will be doing This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of experts that play a key role in the delivery of residential development projects. You will be responsible for: Providing strategic leadership for the Sevenoaks Residential Development team, aligned with the wider division, firm and sector strategy Driving the growth and profile of the Sevenoaks practice, including identifying and developing new workstreams, clients and markets. Building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with key developer, landowner and investor clients. Playing a visible role in business development, including thought leadership, sector initiatives, networking and participation in key industry events. Working collaboratively with partners and teams across Birketts to deliver integrated advice on complex residential development projects. Acting as a senior ambassador for Birketts in the residential development market, reinforcing the firm's reputation for technical excellence and commercial insight. Developing, leading and mentoring a team of junior lawyers, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment. While the role includes maintaining a personal practice, the emphasis is on leadership, client strategy and team growth, rather than solely fee-earning delivery 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. What we are looking for We are seeking a Partner with: Significant post-qualification experience gained within a well-regarded city, regional or national firm. Deep technical expertise across all key aspects of residential development law. A strong commercial mindset, with the ability to provide pragmatic, strategic advice to sophisticated development clients. Proven experience of leading and growing teams, including mentoring senior lawyers and developing future leaders. A demonstrable track record in business development, client relationship management and market engagement. The credibility and confidence to operate as a senior leader within Birketts' Residential Development practice and the wider firm. An existing client following or strong market network is desirable, together with the ambition and drive to grow the Sevenoaks Residential Development team as a core part of Birketts' long-term strategy. Benefits As a Partner at Birketts, you will benefit from a comprehensive and competitive package designed to support your wellbeing, recognise your contribution, and provide peace of mind both professionally and personally. Inclusivity and Culture 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. 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.

About us 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 team you will join This role sits in the Corporate Team within the Corporate Services Division. The Corporate Team is a nationally recognised and highly regarded team which includes over 60 fee earners, and 19 partners, many of whom are recommended in the latest Legal 500 rankings, often in the Hall of Fame category. The Team is enjoying substantial growth, resulting in the need for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans for the future. The Team's size and expertise mean we advise entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, financial institutions, owner-managed and privately owned businesses, as well as international investors and public companies, all at different stages of the business life-cycle from start-ups through to mergers and acquisitions, buy-outs and buy-ins, development capital fundraisings, EOT transactions, institutional sales/purchases, and management buyouts, to refinancing and exits. We are also highly experienced in international corporate transactions and work with a range of overseas law firms on cross-border transactions. The Corporate Team includes specialist private equity, venture capital, reorganisations, capital markets and incentives/EOT sub teams, and also benefits from working closely with other service lines in the Corporate Services Division, such as the Banking & Finance, Corporate Tax, Company Secretarial and Commercial and Technology teams. The Team enjoys the resources of two dedicated professional support lawyers, as well as know-how resources such as FromCounsel and Practical Law, and document automation products such as Clarilis. The Team has a Corporate Innovation Group, evaluating and developing innovation ideas and the adoption of new technologies, including AI, to improve efficiencies and the client experience. We play a leading role in several firm wide sector specialisms, including our Energy and Infrastructure Team, Food and Beverages Team, Independent Healthcare Team, Private Equity Team, Hospitality & Leisure Team, Transport & Logistics Team, and Automotive Team, amongst others. The work you will be doing We are looking to recruit a Partner into the Corporate team who has the drive and commitment to assist Birketts' in the continued growth and development of our firmwide corporate practice and to become an essential core member of the Corporate Team. The ideal candidate will hold a pivotal role in advising clients on complex corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings. This senior-level position demands deep legal expertise, commercial acumen, and leadership skills to manage high-value and complex deals and mentor and supervise junior team members. A key aspect of the role is the development and management of new and existing client and referrer relationships and taking an active role supporting the partners in the team in the management and supervision of the Ipswich office Corporate Team. Prior knowledge or experience of the Suffolk/East Anglia market is not a pre-requisite, however the successful candidate will be expected to become integrated into the market over time. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated initiative-taker to join a successful and friendly Corporate Team, based in our Ipswich office, in a growing firm which enjoys an excellent reputation. What we are looking for A qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 10+ years PQE in corporate/M&A law. Recognised technical expert who provides clear, tailored advice on complex legal and commercial issues. Drives efficient time recording, profitable pricing, strong cash flow, and team gross profit delivery. Leads business development and high-profile pitches, builds a strong market presence, wins new clients, and drives cross-selling opportunities. Delivers exceptional project and client management, consistently meeting expectations through strong communication and deep client understanding. Builds trust through strong relationships, continual professional development, clear communication of vision, and championing positive change. Demonstrates strong risk management, supports junior staff, upholds Lexcel standards, and maintains high compliance and file review performance. Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard 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 Inclusivity and Culture 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. 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, pregnanc

About us 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 and over 600 staff 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 6th best law firm to work at in 2026. 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 42% of our partnership. The team you will join Our leasehold enfranchisement practice comprises fee-earners from both the Residential Real Estate team and the Real Estate Disputes team. The Residential Real Estate team comprises 70 members operating out of 6 of our 7 offices. The Real Estate Disputes team comprises of over 40 members operating out of all offices. Our leasehold enfranchisement practice operates on a national basis regardless of the location of the practice members We have a vacancy within the leasehold enfranchisement practice for a Senior Associate or Legal Director who can work across both enfranchisement and leasehold residential real estate matters. The leasehold enfranchisement practice is currently made up of two Partners, five fee earners and one assistant, working alongside a secretarial pool. Together the team advise on all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement, both non-contentious and contentious. Beyond the core practice, there are supporting, specialist fee-earners in our corporate and tax teams, which ensure our clients receive a seamless end-to-end enfranchisement service. The work you will be doing You will work within the specialist area of enfranchisement and provide a supporting role to the residential property team on more complex transactional areas such as, the disposal of blocks of flats outside the right of first refusal, reviewing the grant of new leases, assisting in the sale or purchase of property with the benefit of a range of enfranchisement claims and to actively grow the enfranchisement sector. Responsibilities include: Responsible for day-to-day management of a caseload including 1993 Act collective enfranchisement and lease extensions, 1967 Act enfranchisement and lease extensions, 1987 Act rights of first refusal Acting for a client base comprising landlords and tenants including public bodies and social landlords Providing strategic advice on structuring the grant of leases to avoid the application of the 1987 Act Acting on voluntary lease extension matters both on volume lease extension matters and individual lease extensions Drafting, advising on and implementing participation agreements and deeds of adherence for collective enfranchisement and 1987 Act acquisitions Reviewing and advising on existing leases and the grant of new leases as part of the Residential Real Estate Team's financing practice Acting on the voluntary disposal or acquisition of blocks of flats Assisting the Residential Real Estate Team with deeds of variation and licences to assign Assisting the Residential Real Estate Team and advising clients independently on licences for alterations Dealing with claims in the First Tier Tribunal and/or Court (desirable but not essential) Actively marketing the sector including regular business development meetings with the sector members, writing articles, commenting on upcoming legislation, etc Attending leasehold enfranchisement training and social events e.g. through ALEP Working alongside and developing relationships with enfranchisement valuers Assisting with the development of processes and precedents within the enfranchisement sector Providing guidance and support to junior practice-members on a cross-office basis including formal training of paralegals 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. What we are looking for A minimum of 6 years PQE in a professional legal environment Contribute to thought leadership and sector-focused marketing initiatives Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development Established client base or network (preferred but not essential) Experience building credibility and trust through effective relationships To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation Experience of leasehold enfranchisement with a proven ability to meet the demands of all areas of enfranchisement matters, including the cross-over between enfranchisement and residential real estate. Experience in the continuous aspects of enfranchisement is also welcomed. You should also have experience of training and managing junior team members and be willing and able to undertake line-management responsibilities. A will have a proven track record of active marketing within this specialist sector and growing new relationships. Applicants that have experience of the contentious side of leasehold enfranchisement are also encouraged to apply for this role. Hybrid Working Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week. 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. Benefits As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits: 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years cont