Solicitor - Senior Associate 3-8yr PQE Residential Development

Shakespeare Martineau; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid work model

Partner access

Job summary

Shakespeare Martineau in the United Kingdom is seeking Solicitors/Associates (3–8 PQE) to join our Residential Development team, focusing on strategic land and development work. The role offers high-quality, complex matters with an experienced partner group and senior lawyers.

Based in Birmingham with a flexible hybrid pattern (c.2 days in the office) and potential alignment to other hubs, you will build relationships with leading housebuilders and clients while developing leadership within the

Qualifications

• 3–8 years’ PQE within a real estate team (development-focused)
• Strong experience in residential development work, including housebuilder site acquisitions and development transactions
• Experience of strategic land (promotion and option agreements)
• Ability to manage matters with minimal supervision
• Interest in business development and client relationship building

Responsibilities

• Lead or support on complex residential development and strategic land transactions
• Run your own caseload of site acquisitions, disposals and strategic land matters
• Work closely with partners and gain hands-on exposure to high-value, complex deals
• Build strong relationships with clients and deliver commercial, pragmatic advice
• Contribute to a growing team, including involvement in business development activity

Skills

Residential development

Strategic land

Client relationships

Collaborative work

Autonomy

Job description

Department: Shakespeare Martineau - Commercial Property & Development - Residential Development - Land - 1043

Location: Flexible

Description

We have two exciting opportunities for talented Solicitors/Associates (3–8 PQE) to join our growing Residential Development team, with a focus on strategic land and development work.

We can offer

• High-quality work – complex strategic land and development projects
• Growth opportunity – join a team actively expanding with an exciting pipeline of future work
• Partner access – collaboration with experienced partners and senior lawyers
• Client exposure – work with leading, high-profile housebuilders and other key players across the development sector
• Supportive culture – a collaborative team known for exceptional client relationships and taking the time to genuinely understand their clients
• Flexible working – a people-first culture offering genuine flexibility, with a Birmingham base (c.2 days in office) and scope to be aligned to other hubs in Bristol, Milton Keynes or Leicester if preferred

Meet the Team

Our Residential Development team advises national and regional housebuilders, landowners, funders and land promoters on a broad range of matters, including:

• Strategic land (promotion agreements, option agreements)
• Site acquisition and disposals
• Large-scale development schemes (including urban extensions and regeneration projects)
• Collaboration and overage arrangements

We support clients across the full lifecycle of development with sites ranging from smaller schemes through to major strategic land developments of up to 8,500 units. The team has seen significant recent investment, including senior hires from leading firms, and continues to build momentum with strong panel relationships and new client wins.

What you will be doing

• Lead or support on complex residential development and strategic land transactions
• Run your own caseload of site acquisitions, disposals and strategic land matters
• Work closely with partners and gain hands‑on exposure to high-value, complex deals
• Build strong relationships with clients and deliver commercial, pragmatic advice
• Contribute to a growing team, including involvement in business development activity

This role is particularly suited to someone who is confident managing matters with increasing autonomy and keen to step into a more senior, visible role within a growing practice.

What you will need

Key Requirements

• 3–8 years’ PQE within a real estate team (development-focused)
• Strong experience in residential development work, including:
  • Housebuilder site acquisitions
  • Development transactions
• Experience of strategic land (including a comprehensive understanding of promotion and option agreements)
• Ability to manage matters with minimal supervision (particularly at the more experienced level)

Additionally, you will have:

• Strong commercial acumen and a client-focused approach
• Excellent organisational and file management skills
• A collaborative mindset and experience working in a team environment
• Interest in (or experience of) business development and client relationship building

Benefits, Agile Working and Additional information

We embrace agile working and offer a blended approach to where and how we work.

We appreciate that people have different needs and preferences and we’re keen to be flexible, after all, we value what you do, not where you do it.

We have the following hubs across the UK: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stratford upon Avon & Tunbridge Wells.

This role can be based from any of the following office hubs: Birmingham, Leicester or Milton Keynes.

We ask that you are able to attend the office at least 2 days per week, including team collaboration time.

Want to find out more about our amazing benefits?

Additional information

Please be aware, for some vacancies, where we receive high numbers of applications we may need to bring the close date forward.

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Equal opportunities

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.