Solicitor (Stock Rationalisation) – Real Estate (3-5 years PQE)
- London Leeds
- Permanent
- Full-time
London, Leeds and Colchester we provide legal services to clients throughout the UK.
We are recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers UK as a medium-sized niche firm specialising in
construction, commercial litigation, corporate, employment, projects and property legal services to
clients based throughout the United Kingdom.
Our main client base is Registered Providers and the firm is ranked Tier 1 for its work in social
housing. We also act for a number of private developers and investments funds. Over the past few
years, we have grown significantly and now have over 300 staff across four offices and a growing
international reach.The Team
Real Estate (and particularly real estate development) is at the heart of Devonshires' business.
Within the Team, there are 15 dedicated partners working on a wide variety of property transactions
with a broad range of clients from registered providers of social housing and care homes, through to
pension funds, build to rent operators and private developers, acting on sites and developments
from a handful of units to thousands. Due to the size and nature of the transactions Devonshires are
involved in, deals are often reported in both the industry and national press with some of our
transactions nominated for awards.
The Devonshires stock rationalisation team are one of the most experienced in the sector and as a
result are often instructed on a variety of deals acting for both Seller's and Buyer's with portfolios
ranging from tens of units to thousands. This is a growing sector and a key area for the Real Estate
team making this an exciting opportunity for someone to join the Team.Job Purpose
The role will specialise in assisting with stock rationalisation projects. The role will cover a full range
of property related legal issues from assisting with negotiating and agreeing Stock Transfer
Contracts and the additional legal documentation involved in stock rationalisation projects as well as
producing reports on title through to legal completion.
1The role will also include an opportunity to provide support on property aspects of larger projects
such as joint ventures, site acquisitions and property disposals.
An important part of the role is to provide direct support and assistance to one of the Partners within
the team, whilst also contributing more widely to the team and its growth.Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Role
- Responsible for the day to day running of files to include, but not limited, to:
- reporting on property searches
- drafting full reports on title and proposing potential solutions for title issues;
- drafting, negotiating and reporting on stock transfer agreements and contracts for
- drafting and negotiating unit leases, transfers (including transfers of part), deeds of
- creating and maintain a variety of trackers to assist with the various aspects of stock
- liaising with management companies and preparing the relevant documentation
covenant
- reviewing section 106 agreements and planning consents (desirable but not
- liaising with insurers to obtain a variety of title and search indemnity policies;
- an understanding of structuring transactions with reference to SDLT and VAT;
- dealing with deeds of easements and deeds of release;
- To keep clients constantly updated with progress and meeting their deadlines, this will also
- To organise and maintain tidy and accurate files, both in hard copy and electronically;
- To meet fee targets;
- To develop and grow client relationships;
- To provide support and supervision to other fee earners across the team and to share
- To follow department procedures, the Solicitors' accounts rules and the Firm's policies and
- Undertake such duties and tasks that are appropriate for the role of Solicitor such as
- To take on an active role and responsibility for training and developing fee earners.
Attributes and Skills Required
- You will have between 3 - 5 years' PQE as a real estate solicitor with experience of stock
- You will have a strong academic background, ideally gaining a 2:1 at degree level;
- You will enjoy client contact and have excellent communication skills, both written and
- Ability to prioritise workload to increase efficiency;
- You will be commercially aware, proactive and able to convey clear and concise information
- A high attention to detail to produce work and documentation which is consistently of a high
- To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients
- You will be happy to undertake work with minimal supervision;
- To be familiar with Word, Outlook and Internet applications;
- Familiarity with Registered Providers would be an advantage but is by no means necessary.
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ISO27001 and Equality Diversity & Inclusion.
Devonshires Solicitors LLP is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and to providing a
workplace free from discrimination and harassment. As such all job applicants, employees, partners and third
parties who come into contact with us, will receive equal treatment, regardless of age, disability, gender re-
assignment, marriage and civil partnership, trade union activities, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or
belief, sex or sexual orientation. We welcome applications from groups where we are currently under-
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