Associate/ Senior Associate - Real Estate - Leeds

The role

We are looking for a solicitor to join the Real Estate National Service Line (“NSL”). Based in Leeds, working under supervision, you will assist partners and other fee earners, undertaking a wide range of commercial property work.

Areas of work include:

• Land acquisitions including options and conditional contracts
• Property investment acquisitions and disposals acting for both buyers and sellers
• Acting for landlords and tenants in connection with the grant of business leases
• Retail, leisure and healthcare development work (excluding construction)
• General management work to include dealing with:

o   Surrenders

o   Licences

o   Easements

o   rent reviews

o   lease renewals

o   property finance

Client base

Our client base includes developers, corporate occupiers with multi-site holdings, property Investors, including family trusts, private office and global investment funds.

The person

You will be 3-7 years’ PQE or equivalent experience in real estate work (commercial property), gained in a large regional or City law firm.

What skills and attributes would I need?

Essential:

• Degree or equivalent
• Technically strong
• Excellent written English and ability to produce clear, logical drafting
• Effective time and matter management and a systematic approach to work
• Attention to detail
• Flexibility to work with several team members
• Lateral thinking and problem solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

 Desirable:

• Property management or development experience

Who would I be working with?

You will work with partner Simon Sherwood and his team based in Leeds, including Partner Andrea Newman. The team is part of the firm-wide Real Estate National Service Line, which is headed up by Richard Hanson, and supported by professional support lawyers. You will also work with other partners in the RE NSL on specific projects or as part of a wider client service team.

What else should I know?

This is an ideal opportunity to build your skills and experience with a major UK law firm, listed as one of the “Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For” for the last 20 years - the only law firm to achieve this.

We are also proud to have been awarded Platinum Investors in People status this year.  The firm joins a select club of only 6% of 50,000 assessed organisations awarded the coveted platinum status.

The firm is also delighted to report for the eighth year running we were named as one of Roll On Friday’s ‘best law firms to works at’.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability.

Disclosure and barring service check and security clearance

This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (to check for any previous criminal convictions and cautions) and, given the nature of the work-type, you may also be required to undergo national security vetting to SC level – the latter can be undertaken following commencement of employment.

And finally

Mills & Reeve is committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment in which all our people can thrive. We hire people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our firm stronger, and we have a collaborative culture that celebrates different perspectives and values respect for one another, working together, and openness and integrity. Our approach to flexible working means that we work in a way that achieves the right balance for our people, our clients and for our business.