Legal Counsel (Property) – 6 months FTC
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 per annum
Location: High Wycombe (Hybrid – 2 days in the office)
Start Date: ASAP
A quick look at the role:
The Legal Counsel (Property) provides commercial property law advice to the Biffa Group to support its wide ranging and diverse property portfolio. A member of the wider Legal Team, working closely with the Property & Planning Team and external professional advisers. You will advise on property acquisitions and disposals by way of lease, license and freehold transfers. You will also undertake property legal due diligence, as standalone transactions, or as part of larger corporate acquisitions or tenders to secure new locations. A practical, hands-on partnering approach, coupled with the ability to build effective working relationships with the wider Biffa team, is required. You will be robust and confident enough to clearly and concisely communicate legal risk with commerciality in mind.
Key responsibilities of the role:
* Provide commercial property law advice in a pro-active and timely manner to the Biffa Group to support its wide ranging and diverse property portfolio.
* Support drafting and negotiation of heads of terms and options for commercial property acquisitions and disposals and creation of property interests whether by way of license, easement, lease or freehold interest.
* Review, negotiate and approve commercial property leases, freehold property acquisition and disposal documentation, licenses and lettings, and easements and support the Biffa Group in negotiating these to conclusion.
* Assist in due diligence exercises with regard to leasehold and freehold properties, enquiries, replies and searches.
* Provide general advice on lease/license/letting related issues such as terminations, breaks, rent reviews, alterations.
* Provide general advice in relation to freehold property.
* Provide general advice in relation to estates management issues, including boundary and general disputes, rights of way, easements and compulsory purchase orders to protect the value of the Biffa Group assets
* Assist the property & planning team to ensure that all transactions are concluded in a timely manner.
* Submit SDLT returns and Land Registry applications.
* Manage and instruct external professional suppliers as may be necessary particularly in connection with property searches and more complex property transactions.
Essential requirements
* Qualified solicitor (ideally 7+yrs PQE ) in England and Wales with in house experience (whether as a secondee, paralegal, trainee, or fully qualified lawyer)
* Extensive knowledge of commercial property law; landlord and tenant law; and general property law, start to end property transaction knowledge and practical application
* A truly commercial property partner with a practical, hands-on partnering approach
* Robust and confident enough to clearly and concisely communicate legal risk with commerciality in mind
* Confident with all Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Teams)
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