Commercial Property Lawyer

About Berwins

Berwins was established in 1993 and has based itself very strongly on its values of care, expertise and service. It has sought to make the best use of technology, and has operated paper-light since 2024 (and paperless in corporate and commercial). Every person at Berwins uses three screens, whether in-office or working remotely, and lawyers use Microsoft Surface devices. Commercial lawyers, being flexible in location, use their mobiles as their phones rather than landlines. We use desk-booking software, calendar-booking and task management software and Liberate Case Management.

About the role

The commercial property team is seeking a new leader, currently using consultants pending this recruitment, but includes a paralegal and a legal team assistant. It also has a company/commercial team comprising a partner/senior lawyer, a junior lawyer and a trainee, and the two teams work closely together and share clients and resources.

The successful candidate will be part of growing the firm's footprint and will be based in the Harrogate office, looking to develop professional contacts across the area.

Requirements

• Ideally 3 to 6 years PQE – although flexible on this depending on experience
• An experienced commercial property lawyer, able to work unsupervised but as part of the team
• Able to work across different locations and largely paperless
• Ability and willingness to network, and to develop business for the team

Knowledge and experience

• Experience of dealing with mixed caseloads of commercial property matters including sales and purchases, commercial leases, corporate support, finances, development and landlord and tenant
• Acquisitions of shops, offices, bare land and industrial units (including multi-let mixed use buildings)
• Confident in negotiating leases and the supporting documents for commercial properties
• Acquired and financed land for residential development sites
• Handled development matters including negotiating option agreements and overage provisions (optional)
• Experience in property finance (optional)

Location

Berwins operate out of three locations:

• Harrogate as the firm's head office, where most teams are based
• Leeds, established in 2013 with flexible available desks within a separate office, at Platform New Station Street
• York, which has a small serviced office and currently having occasional use, but with growth possibilities

Benefits

• Flexitime – with the ability to accrue an additional 1 days leave per quarter (total of 4 per calendar year)
• 35 hour working week
• Hybrid working; minimum of 3/5 of working week in the office
• Death in service benefit
• Medical Cash plan
• On site parking in Harrogate (subject to availability and salary sacrifice)
• Option to Purchase additional annual leave (maximum 5 days)
• Discount off inhouse legal services for employee and immediate family

In the first instance please contact Danielle Day for an initial discussion and fuller description of the opportunity and role. Email Danielle