Commercial Property Associate

Blake Morgan LLP; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Blake Morgan LLP in Reading is seeking a Commercial Property Solicitor with broad real estate experience to join our Reading office. You will work on leases, development matters, due diligence and support senior fee earners on high-value matters, in a dynamic environment.

You'll be part of a large real estate team with cross-office collaboration across the network, enjoy a supportive culture and a focus on work-life balance, with hybrid working typically 3 days in the office.

Qualifications

• Experience in good quality real estate work including leases, development matters, and due diligence.
• Strong communication and client liaison skills.
• Commercial approach with a team-oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate contracts, leases, licences, transfers and deeds.
• Conduct due diligence by reviewing title, enquiries and searches.
• Liaise with clients and opposing counsel on transactions.
• Obtain quotes for indemnity policies and liaise with insurers as appropriate.
• Conduct legal research and attend client meetings.
• Work with senior fee earners on high-value matters.

Skills

Real estate law

Contracts and leases

Due diligence

Client communication

Team player

Education

Solicitor qualification

Job description

We are currently looking to hire into our Reading based Real Estate team and welcome applications from Commercial Property Solicitors with broad ranging property experience. The team acts for investors, developers, banks, occupiers, local authorities, and telecoms operators and is highly regarded for its work.

If successful you can expect a balance of public and private sector work and your responsibilities might include but not be limited to leases and agreements, mixed use site development matters, due diligence and client support in conjunction with more senior fee earners. This role will support prestigious clients on high value deals, in a fast paced and dynamic environment. The successfully appointed candidate will be given an opportunity to work on a variety of matters, both autonomously and as part of the wider team.

We can provide you with an excellent platform to develop both your technical ability and business development skills within a supportive and thriving team.

Whilst you will be part of a large real estate team which spans our other offices (especially Southampton, London, Oxford, Cardiff and Manchester), you will be working exclusively in the real estate team in our Reading office. You will likely soon develop close client relationships that will endure through your career. Our encouragement of a decent work/life balance and complimentary interests will help you towards a strong long-term profile in this region. We support hybrid working, typically with 3 days flexible office attendance, according to business need.

Typical Workload

We are looking for a solicitor to assist with and work alongside all members of our commercial property team. Typical workload will involve:

• Supporting and/or taking full responsibility for deals by drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, leases, licences, transfers, deeds, etc.
• Undertaking due diligence tasks by reviewing and reporting on title, raising enquiries, reviewing searches
• Liaising with clients and lawyers on the other side of transactions
• Obtaining quotes for indemnity policies, liaising with insurance brokers and underwriters as appropriate
• Undertaking legal research
• Attending client or all parties' meetings

Skills / Experience Required

Your experience will probably have been acquired at a leading national or regional firm where you have been involved in good quality real estate work (including leases and agreements and development matters). A background within property finance and/or property development would be highly desirable. Any telecoms experience would also be desirable but not essential.

We expect candidates for the position to have the following personal attributes:

• Confident and personable
• Strong technical competence
• Commercial approach
• Excellent communication skills and able to explain complex matters to clients without a legal background
• A team player
• Resilient and adaptable
• Willingness to get involved and assist with practice and sector development
• Ability to establish a rapport with clients both face to face and via telephone or email, in order to ensure impeccable client service
• Motivated and ambitious

The interview process will start as soon as suitable candidates have been identified.

Blake Morgan strives to create and maintain a positive, non-discriminatory work environment. We will ensure that all applications for vacancies will be considered without discrimination against any person on the basis of race, colour, religion, disability, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or marital status. We strive to ensure that our shortlisting and interviewing panels are diverse. Further details about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion can be found here .