Purpose of job
You will join a highly successful, leading Agriculture and Estates team who are seeing substantial growth, resulting in the need for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans for the future.
The Agriculture and Estates team in Sevenoaks is led by Annabelle Rout, and overall Team Leader is Chris Coupland who along with other team members will guide and support you throughout your career at Birketts LLP. The team's expertise covers a variety of different types of rural issues including:
1. Sales and acquisitions of agricultural property and land (including options, overages and pre-emption agreements);
2. Agricultural tenancies;
3. Sporting and fishing rights;
4. Banking and re-financing agricultural properties;
5. Residential conveyancing and tenancy advice for farming and estate clients;
6. Business structures and joint venture/collaborative agreements;
7. Diversification issues;
8. Succession planning;
9. Working with the wider Private Client and tax teams advising on:
10. Wills, trust planning and probate matters
11. Tax Advice in relation to IHT, SDLT, BADR, CGT and VAT
12. Renewable Energy and Natural Capital Schemes
13. Basic payment scheme, agri-environment and ELMS scheme issues.
Your work would include:
14. Drafting, negotiating and agreeing documentation for property sales and purchases, deeds of easement and other property-related documents;
15. Managing your own smaller transactions and liaising with other team members on larger transactions
16. Attending meetings with clients and other law firms
17. Attending business development events
The candidate
We are seeking an ambitious, driven and forward thinking Associate, with 3-4 years PQE, with a passion for rural matters and an interest in Agricultural law to come and join our growing team on a full time permanent basis.
You will need to demonstrate strong attention to detail in order to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard. You will have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis and an interest in and aptitude for business development.
Prior experience of Agricultural law is not essential, but candidates must be able to demonstrate a genuine interest in becoming a specialist within this area. Candidates with good quality experience of either Private Client or Property who have a desire to specialise in Agriculture and Estates would be highly suited.
Equal opportunities
We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.
Benefits
One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:
18. 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising with service / promotion
19. Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years’ continuous service
20. Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
21. Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
22. Staff Profit Share / performance bonus
23. Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
24. Paid CSR day (Corporate Social Responsibilty)
25. Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
26. Subsidised gym membership
27. Electric car scheme
28. Eye Care Voucher
29. Agile Working Policy
30. Dress for your Day Policy