Do you want to join a highly reputable team with strong connections to top chambers, esteemed clients and quality work? If so, this role might be for you!

The role

We are looking for an experienced solicitor to join the Real Estate Disputes (“RED”) team based in our Birmingham office. There is an existing team of four fee earners in the office and you will also be working with partners Richard New and Sam Maw as part of the national RED team.

You will undertake a stimulating combination of consultancy and active litigation on a variety of complicated matters. The client base is primarily on the commercial side, providing strategic advice to investors, developers, charities, educational establishments and healthcare clients. The team also handles matters generated from our insurance and private client teams.

Part of this role is to work closely with our large non-contentious real estate team, giving advice to clients on property issues where an advantage is to be gained or a problem avoided. We spend as much time on avoiding disputes as we do on ‘pure’ litigation.

Where a client has a dispute, the team takes the matter on to settlement or trial. The aim is to give practical but quality advice on property issues informed by the knowledge and experience of litigating them, as well as being able to take them through the litigation process where necessary.

The types of issue the team gets involved with are possession and forfeiture, lease renewal, rent reviews, adverse possession, option disputes, rights of way and protestor injunctions. There is asset management work, but one of our differentiators from other RED practices is the variety of work on offer. The successful candidate will feel themselves challenged.

Litigation is carried out in High and County Courts, First Tier and Upper Tribunals. We also explore alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and expert determination.

We have significant expertise working with local and central Government, prestigious universities and colleges, NHS trusts and charities. Whilst certain team members have specialisms – business rates, agricultural tenancies, telecoms, professional negligence, legal indemnity work – you will be expected to get involved in a wide-ranging and stimulating selection of matters.

You will work on your own matters, supervising and delegating junior team members as appropriate, as well as assisting partners on more substantial matters and working with RED colleagues as part of the national team. You will be expected to get involved in the team’s marketing and seminar activities.

The person

You will be 5+ years PQE with a broad spread of hands-on real estate disputes experience gained with a respected firm and in particular have experience of tribunal and court work.

The activities

• Good academics
• Excellent writing style and ability to produce clear, logical drafting
• Excellent technical analysis
• Attention to detail
• Excellent time and paper management skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and desire to be involved in growing the practice
• Willingness to learn and build up a wide range of experience
• Desire to market, to build new and strengthen existing client and agent relationships
• Commitment to and interest in real estate disputes (property law and dispute resolution)
• High level of analytical and forensic/litigation skills with real potential for taking on more complex matters
• A pragmatic approach to problem solving
• Ability to create a good impression with clients (internal and external), potential clients and multipliers
• Ability to work with other fee earners in the team and non-contentious fee earners in other teams, groups and sectors
• Active participant in business development initiatives

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The benefits

As you’d expect, we offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits.

Pre employment screening

If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening. This screening will include, but is not limited to, a basic DBS, verification of your right to work, a three year employment history and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role. Full details of our pre-screening employment process are available upon request.

The firm

Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our clients and their industries benefit from our knowledge and learning, and receive consistent experiences with no surprises. We tell them what they need to know when they need to know it.

We build personal relationships, with advice individually tailored to individual need. And if clients need things we don’t offer, we draw on our network to give recommendations. Our 1,250 plus people and over 750 lawyers share one vision – achieving more for clients.

By joining Mills & Reeve, you’ll have the chance to build your skills and experience within a firm that’s not only ranked in the top 50 UK law firms, but also one that truly values their people. Our mantra is “Achieve more. Together.”, which we feel embodies our purpose and is more than just a catchphrase! We’re also ranked in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, and were recently awarded Platinum Investors in People.

and finally

Everyone at Mills & Reeve brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment, are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, and want to achieve the right balance for both our people and the firm. We encourage everyone to ask if they feel they need any workplace adjustments, and will do our best to support with these.