Property Counsel
Infrastructure organisation
£54,595 - £58,936 – plus 20% cash fund for salary/benefits
Birmingham/London
Hybrid working
Permanent
Overview of the Property Counsel position
Sellick Partnership is working with a major UK infrastructure organisation to recruit a Property Counsel into its Legal and Company Secretariat team. This role sits within the Chief Finance Officer Directorate and supports a nationally significant infrastructure programme with a strong focus on utilities, telecoms and statutory undertaker work.
You will provide property law advice to a wide range of internal stakeholders, helping to secure land rights, easements and statutory powers required to deliver, operate and maintain major transport infrastructure. You will manage your own caseload under appropriate supervision, while also working closely with land, property, construction and third-party agreements teams to ensure legal risk is controlled and delivery timelines are protected. This role suits a solicitor with solid experience in property law who enjoys working on infrastructure and utilities projects in a complex, fast-paced environment.
Key responsibilities of the Property Counsel will include
* Advise on acquisitions, disposals, leases, licences and easements across a wide portfolio of commercial, residential and agricultural property
* Support utilities, telecoms and statutory undertaker agreements, protecting land rights and ensuring the organisation can construct, operate and maintain infrastructure
* Handle your own caseload of complex property and compulsory purchase matters, including drafting and negotiating bespoke agreements
* Research and advise on statutory powers, legislation and case law to ensure the organisation remains compliant
* Support office portfolio matters including leases, licences to occupy and telecoms agreements
* Assist with commercial contracts, confidentiality agreements and cost agreements for the land and property teams
* Manage external law firms when required, including monitoring quality, cost and delivery against agreed budgets and timescales
* Draft, update and maintain standard legal templates to improve consistency, compliance and efficiency
* Prepare legal advice, reports and briefings for senior stakeholders and attend internal governance meetings to provide legal input
* Maintain accurate property and acquisition data for audit, reporting and decision making
* Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work
Experience/qualifications required for the Property Counsel position
To be considered for this Property Counsel role, you will need:
* To be a qualified solicitor with post-qualification experience in property law
* Experience advising on property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, leases and easements
* Experience working with utilities, telecoms providers, government departments or transport bodies
* Exposure to infrastructure, construction, development or utilities projects
* The ability to manage a varied caseload and draft complex legal documents with limited supervision
* Experience of working within budgets and managing external legal advisers
* Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to advise colleagues at all levels
What’s in it for the successful Property Counsel?
This organisation offers the chance to work on a major national infrastructure programme within a supportive and highly regarded in-house legal team. You will gain exposure to complex, high-value work that has a real impact on the delivery of a public service, alongside:
* Competitive salary and benefits
* Plus an additional 20% cash fund that can been added to salary or used for benefits
* Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
* A strong focus on wellbeing, inclusion and professional development
* The opportunity to build long-term in-house experience on major infrastructure projects
How to apply for the Property Counsel position
This is a great opportunity for a property lawyer looking to move into or progress within an in-house role focused on utilities and infrastructure. If you have the relevant experience and would like to be considered, please apply as soon as possible. Alternatively, contact Mark Bladen at Sellick Partnership for a confidential discussion about the role.