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About the team:

One of the biggest dedicated commercial development and investment teams in the UK advising many investors and developers, we regularly lead on high value, and strategically important deals and projects. Our extensive experience means clients receive innovative and commercial solutions to often complex specifications quickly and efficiently.

Our wide range of clients include investors and developers in real estate, property companies, institutional investors, local authorities, US private equity investors, funds, private banks, pension funds, shopping centre operators, and private clients. We advise on mixed-use schemes, offices, shopping centres, business and retail parks, hotels, industrial estates and logistics parks, and our wider real estate group advises on residential, private rented sector, healthcare, retirement and student accommodation.

The team provide advice on investment and development projects including: joint venture projects, promotion and option agreements, sale and leaseback transactions, forward fundings, investment sales and purchases and commercial lettings. Whilst we have a separate dedicated asset management team, certain asset management work will also be undertaken within the team.

Our comprehensive real estate development service includes site assembly (with or without compulsory purchase) including obtaining vacant possession, managing the planning process to secure the necessary planning permission, structuring and negotiating tax-efficient development and financing arrangements.

Clients of the Birmingham team include: St Modwen Properties PLC, Schroder UK Real Estate Fund, Segro, Lincoln Property Company, GCP Student Living PLC, Mountpark Logistics, Rainier Developments Limited, Aston Martin, Rockwell Properties Limited, Prologis and Logicor.

By way of example of the team’s work:

• The forward funding of Rockwell's mixed use hotel led development in West India Dock to Aviva, with associated debt finance with LendInvest including the UK's tallest Premier Inn.
• The ongoing development of the Station Hill, Reading site, a major mixed use regeneration scheme adjacent to Reading train station.
• Advising St Modwen on some of their largest logistics transactions as part of their ongoing development pipeline.
• Advising Schroder UK Real Estate Fund on the sale of an industrial estate in Canning Town to SEGRO for in excess of £140 million.

Main purpose of the role:

We are looking for a Senior Associate who has gained good experience working within a recognised real estate team with experience of advising sophisticated clients on the acquisition and the disposal of substantial real estate investment assets, pre-letting and active leasing and asset management (ideally including some work for occupational tenants). Some development experience would also be helpful but not essential, but a willingness to learn the skills required of a development lawyer, with supervision, is required.

This is an opportunity to truly increase the depth and breadth of your experience, and be able to work with high profile and sophisticated clients. The work is challenging, varied and interesting and will provide opportunity to develop and nurture solid client relationships, as well as work closely with others within the team and firm.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The role will have a broad high value, high profile property development and investor focus across all sectors and will involve:

• Acquisition and disposal of land and properties freehold and leasehold (including unregistered land);
• Major redevelopment projects;
• Lettings and Pre-lettings;
• Management of real estate portfolios;
• Associated property deeds and documents (e.g. side letters, conditional and unconditional agreements for sale/lease/surrender, options, deeds of variation, certificates of title etc.);
• Funding, including all title investigation, searches, enquiries, drafting, negotiation, research, analysis, liaison with clients agents and third parties, meetings reporting on title, indemnity insurance arrangements, project management, administration and financial aspects, Land Registry or other applications (including SDLT) and post completion formalities as well as understanding and delivering on clients' requirements and expectations (including all reporting requirements);
• Marketing, group practice development and client entertainment/training events and activities.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Working in an inclusive, sharing and collaborative culture, you will be expected to play your part in ensuring the continuing success and growth of the team.
• Manage your own caseload to tight deadlines, remain calm under pressure and prioritise your workload effectively;
• Give clear, practical advice with sound commercial judgment and swift accurate implementation of instructions;
• Negotiate effectively and deliver commercial solutions for our clients;
• Carry out title reviews and reports on title and leases;
• Draft and negotiate agreements for lease (including conditional and pre-let agreements), leases and associated documents;
• Have experience of (and ideally have led) sales and purchases;
• Carry out asset management work;
• Communicate appropriately at all levels within the team and the wider business as well as with clients, agents and other parties;
• Work closely and collaboratively with Gowling WLG team members, clients, and other professionals (e.g. agents, surveyors, consultants, accountants and others);
• Prepare for and participate in marketing functions as part of added value services to our clients; and
• Delegate where appropriate and supervise and mentor more junior fee earner team members.

What We Can Offer You:

The opportunity to work for a firm which has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK and has been ranked by Great Place to Work® for 22 consecutive years.

Excellent benefits, including:

• A hybrid approach to office and remote working, with up to 50% remote working available
• Generous annual leave, with the option to buy up to a week's extra annual leave
• Private medical insurance, and the option to add family members
• A generous pension allowance
• Life assurance covering four times your annual salary
• The chance of a three-month sabbatical every five years
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave schemes
• A range of health and wellbeing programmes
• State of the art offices, in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, with an onsite restaurant
• Opportunities to flourish in your role through training and personal development

Many of our people work flexibly in some way. If you would like to explore your own flexible working arrangements with us, we are happy to discuss this during the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunities:

Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.

At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.

Any offers we make will be conditional subject to clearance by the SRA, evidence of eligibility to work in the UK and DBS clearance.

For more information on the role please get in touch with Nina Marshall - [email protected]

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