Property Counsel

Property Counsel
Infrastructure organisation
Hybrid working
£800 per day
Interim

Overview of the Property Counsel position

Sellick Partnership is currently working with a major UK infrastructure organisation to recruit a Property Counsel into its in-house Legal, Counter Fraud and Insurance team. This is a senior property law role supporting one of the largest and most complex infrastructure programmes in Europe, with responsibility for advising on land acquisition, compulsory purchase, development, management and disposal of a wide range of property assets.

You will provide commercial, pragmatic legal advice to internal stakeholders across land, property, construction and corporate teams, ensuring that legal risk is managed while enabling the delivery of a nationally significant transport project. You will handle a complex caseload and also work closely with external law firms where required. This role suits a solicitor with strong experience in property and compulsory purchase work who enjoys working in a fast-moving, high-profile environment.

Key responsibilities of the Property Counsel will include

• Advise on all aspects of property law including acquisitions, disposals, landlord and tenant matters, easements and wayleaves, planning issues and compulsory purchase
• Draft, negotiate and complete deeds of easement, access agreements and other property documentation with utilities, landowners and third parties
• Support the delivery of major infrastructure works by protecting access, land rights and operational requirements
• Advise on statutory compensation, blight and discretionary property schemes, including the application of the Equality Act
• Manage a varied caseload of complex property and compulsory purchase matters, including some contentious issues
• Instruct, manage and control external solicitors and counsel, ensuring quality, value for money and timely delivery
• Act as a key point of contact between land and property teams, government departments, construction teams and external advisers
• Draft, maintain and improve standard form templates and legal processes to support consistency and compliance
• Prepare legal advice, briefings and reports for senior stakeholders to support informed decision making
• Maintain accurate case and property data for audit, reporting and governance purposes
• Carry out legal research and horizon scanning to ensure the organisation remains compliant and up to date
• Supervise legal assistants or trainee solicitors where required
• 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 a strong post-qualification track record in property law
• Experience advising on a broad range of property transactions including acquisitions, disposals and landlord and tenant matters
• Experience of compulsory purchase, blight or statutory land acquisition, either in private practice or in house
• Exposure to infrastructure, construction or large-scale development projects
• Experience of managing complex caseloads and working with external law firms
• The ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with multiple stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to advise senior non-legal colleagues clearly and confidently

Experience working with public bodies, utilities, transport organisations or government departments would be an advantage.

What's in it for the successful Property Counsel?

This organisation offers a rare opportunity to work on one of the UK's most high-profile infrastructure programmes, alongside a collaborative and highly regarded in-house legal team. You will gain exposure to work that few lawyers ever experience, alongside:

• Competitive hourly rate of up to £800 per day
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• The opportunity to influence major commercial and legal decisions on a nationally significant project

How to apply for the Property Counsel position

This is an excellent opportunity for a property lawyer looking to move into or progress within a senior in-house role working on complex, high-value projects. 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.

Synonyms: Property Lawyer, Senior Property Lawyer, Property and Planning Lawyer, Commercial Property Lawyer, Infrastructure Property Lawyer, Property Legal Counsel

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.