In:House Counsel
Location: Peterborough (With hybrid/flexible working options)
Salary: Competitive
The company prides itself on being an award-winning private housebuilder dedicated to creating beautiful homes and communities across the East of England, the East Midlands, and the South West of England.
Their mission is to provide affordable yet aspirational homes to their communities, ensuring that new homes are accessible and attainable for all with a quality product suitable for everyone.
They are proud of their people, and collaboration and teamwork are key to everything they do. Their values are Trust, Teamwork, Kindness, and Passion.
The Role
They are seeking a commercially minded and experienced In-House Property Lawyer to join their legal team. This role supports the legal needs of their growing development portfolio, including land acquisition, planning, construction, corporate structuring, and financing.
You will work closely with the General Counsel and senior leadership to ensure legal compliance, manage risk, and contribute to strategic decision-making across the Group.
Key Responsibilities
Property Transactions
* Advise on and manage legal aspects of site acquisitions, disposals, and land development agreements.
* Support planning activities and manage infrastructure agreements including section 106, Section 278, and Section 38 agreements, along with property due diligence.
* Liaise with external counsel and local authorities as needed.
Commercial and Contractual Support
* Draft, review, and negotiate a range of commercial contracts (supplier, construction, JV agreements, etc.).
* Support departments such as Sales, Construction, and Procurement on legal risk management.
Compliance and Governance
* Assist in ensuring regulatory compliance across the Group (e.g., data protection, health and safety, anti-bribery).
* Maintain and develop internal policies and procedures to support good governance.
Company Secretarial
* Support company secretarial duties, including maintaining statutory registers and assisting with board meetings, resolutions, and filings.
* Liaise with external company secretarial service providers as needed.
General Legal Support
* Provide pragmatic legal advice to senior stakeholders.
* Manage and coordinate with external counsel on complex or specialist matters.
* Support financing activities including loan agreements, security documentation, and investor relations.
Skills and Qualifications
* Qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
* Experience of around 4-5 years post-qualification preferred, but candidates with more or less experience demonstrating the required skills are welcome.
* Strong background in property law, especially residential property development and affordable housing.
* Exposure to corporate and finance matters.
* Understanding of compliance frameworks, including AML, anti-bribery, and UK sanctions regulations.
* Excellent drafting and negotiation skills.
* Commercially aware with the ability to align legal advice with business strategy.
* Proactive, self-sufficient, and capable of managing a varied workload independently.
Benefits
* Influence on legal strategy and business decisions.
* Collaborative and entrepreneurial team environment.
* Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
* Exposure to diverse legal and commercial matters.
* Part of a growing and ambitious business.
* Discretionary Bonus Scheme.
* Competitive salary and benefits, including:
* 25 days holiday (27 days after two years of service).
* Pension Scheme.
* Group Life Assurance.
* Group Income Protection Scheme.
* Smart Health E.
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