Job Description

We are looking for a Senior Associate to join our Housing Development and Regeneration team based in Birmingham

About the team

The Housing Development and Regeneration team, one of the top teams in the country, sits within our Real Estate Group, the third largest Real Estate practice in the UK. With 30 years' experience advising the country's leading housebuilders, there is a large knowledge base to enable you to develop your career with confidence. And you'll get chance to learn from the best and be part of a winning team.


The team has a national span with offices in Birmingham, London and Leeds to serve our national client base. It comprises 12 partners, supported by a team of 85 lawyers and paralegals, advising on all aspects of residential development and housing led regeneration. We act for house builders, mixed use developers, affordable housing providers, landowners (public and private) and investors in the residential sector. So, we can help you find a field that interests you and support your development in that area. We also have a well-leveraged team, so you'll have the right level of assistance, allowing you to focus on work that matches your skills and experience.


The legal market is subject to continuous change and the impact of AI. The housing sector continues to be a key area of investment for both government and opposition parties alike. Demographic demand requires a continuing increase in supply. Our large, experienced team and excellent client base has a proven track record of:-


providing technical difficult advice which adds value to our housing development clients, so while we embrace AI, it will not replace the need for lawyers in this area; and resilience in times of market downturn which has enabled us to capitalise on housing sector growth during stable market periods.
The team's areas of residential development expertise includes:


acquisitions, disposals and exchanges of land and property, including serviced parcels; overage arrangements, and security; strategic work - option agreements, promotion agreements and hybrids; collaboration, consortium and joint venture arrangements, with related site assembly; planning and infrastructure agreements; building licences and development agreements; development management agreements; mixed use schemes, with related structuring advice; private rented sector; institutional investment in the residential sector; investor acquisitions and disposals of residential portfolios; funding agreement
Clients include: Persimmon, Bloor, Miller, Crest Nicholson, Bellway, Vistry, Taylor Wimpey, Barratts, Avant, Sanctuary, Legal and General and Keepmoat and more.

About the role

The purpose of the role is to provide cutting edge specialist advice on all aspects of residential development and housing led work, to develop and maintain strong client relationships and to become immersed in the residential development market. The role covers work streams involving supervising title due diligence and learning to lead on land acquisition (both short and long term) and some of the more nuanced elements of residential development work whereby we add real value to client relationships and projects (eg Strategic Options, Overages and Collaborations). The role presents the opportunity for a long and meaningful career in residential development, working as part of one of the biggest residential development teams in the country and for some of the top house builders and residential developers in the market.


We have a separate team of paralegals dealing with plot sales and part exchange transactions. Therefore, this role does not include any element of domestic conveyancing. We're a sociable team who enjoys working together - and we're always up for a team night out! We believe in a high-performance culture that celebrates success whilst also giving you the flexibility to shape your own career path.

About you

You will be able to:


Manage your own caseload to tight deadlines, remain calm under pressure and prioritise your workload effectively; Work in a team environment (which may involve working as part of a larger project team) and support your colleagues; Give clear, practical advice with sound commercial judgment and swift accurate implementation of instructions; Negotiate effectively and deliver commercial solutions for our clients; Communicate appropriately at all levels within the team and the wider business as well as with clients, agents and other parties as well as attend inquiries, judicial reviews and appeals; Work closely and collaboratively with Gowling WLG team members, clients, and other professionals (e.g. local authorities, agents, surveyors, consultants, accountants and others).
You will be:


A qualified solicitor (at least 3 PQE) with experience in residential development and be prepared and eager to forge yourself a long and successful career acting to the top residential developers and house builders in the country. Ready to learn, to work hard and to reap the benefits of joining a well-established and successful residential development practice.
Some experience working in residential development is preferred, but all candidates with clear drive and determination will be considered. There is always scope to learn on the job and some base level experience (alongside careful supervision) will help accelerate that development.

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 24 consecutive years.


Excellent benefits, including:


A hybrid approach to office and remote working. 25 days 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 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 Sam Price - sam.price@gowlingwlg.com


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