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Job Title Associate (2-4 PQE) - Real Estate Litigation
Location London
Description

The Department

We have earned a reputation as one of London's largest and best specialist property litigation teams. The team is led by Daniel Levy and all six of the team's partners are individually ranked in the key directories. The way in which the team functions allows the individuals in it to take on responsibility from an early juncture, but at the same time provides on-going support and development in a genuinely collaborative working environment.

Unlike other leading property litigation teams, we are equally at home advising high net worth individuals as we are leading UK property companies, developers, corporate occupiers, and investment funds.

The lawyers in our team regularly participate in court and trial work, including in the Appeal Courts. The size and complexity of the matters not only requires commercial and strategic acumen but the ability to handle the often significant media interest.

While recognised as assertive, highly skilled litigators, our team are also renowned negotiators and regularly conduct mediations, arbitrations and other dispute resolution alternatives.

The team's expertise covers the full range of real estate disputes including:

  • Breaches of contract
  • Commercial, residential and mixed-use schemes
  • Compensation claims
  • Construction disputes
  • Development disputes
  • Dilapidations claims
  • Insolvencies
  • Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 maters;
  • Landlord and tenant issues including rent arrears and forfeiture (both commercial and residential)
  • Mixed use scheme advice (including tenants' rights of first refusal)
  • Party wall disputes
  • Possession of land claims (both commercial and residential)
  • Professional negligence
  • Rights of light claims
  • Service charge disputes
  • Telecommunications Code strategic advice and disputes

The team's key clients include, among others:

  • Brookfield
  • Blackstone Property Management
  • Chelsfield
  • Shaftesbury Capital PLC
  • Delancey
  • IWG (Regus)
  • TK Maxx

The property litigation team sits within the wider Real Estate department. In addition to property litigation, the department's core practice areas include construction, development and urban regeneration, fashion and retail, investment, planning and environment, residential, finance and taxation.

The department's clients span both the world of corporate and private wealth giving us a unique perspective on the market. This role will focus on the former. Our infrastructure of connections and investors coupled with our understanding of the complex policy landscape, are both highly valued by our clients.

We find practical commercial solutions, underpinned by a tenacious determination to get the deal done. We offer a one-stop shop for property services from acquisition and planning, through to construction, disposal and asset management, encompassing both commercial and residential property.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Management of a varied and complex contentious property caseload.
  • Exercise high standards of client care in a professional manner at all times.
  • To ensure that all client work is progressed in a timely fashion and that the client is kept regularly informed on progress and costs.
  • To ensure the confidentiality and security of all of the Firm's client documentation and information.
  • To play a key role in the success of both the team and the wider firm.
  • Development of client relationships as well as relationships with contacts in the industry.
  • Be responsible for achieving agreed levels of billing and time recording.

Skills/Experience

  • 2-4 years PQE, ideally having spent time within a highly rated property litigation practice.
  • Strong academic record.
  • Excellent technical skills in the field of property litigation, an ability to make a considered judgement call and a proven history of meeting and exceeding client expectations.
  • Candidates will need to be assertive, focussed and be able to present themselves in a confident manner to clients, particularly high net worth individuals. Resilience and an ability to remain calm under pressure are also key attributes.
  • Candidates will need to demonstrate excellent written and interpersonal skills in order to meet the drafting and presentation aspects of the role, as well as a keen eye for detail.
  • Organisational and prioritising skills are also essential to meet the demands of challenging internal and external clients.
  • Good teamwork skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels are essential.
  • Candidates are expected to be pro-active and take the initiative both in relation to the development of their development and their relationships with key clients/contacts.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About The Mishcon de Reya Group

The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association with Karas So LLP ). The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. Its work is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning seven core practice areas: Corporate ; Dispute Resolution ; Employment ; Impact; Innovation ; Private ; and Real Estate .

The Mishcon de Reya Group includes consultancy businesses MDR Discover, MDRi (in Hong Kong), MDR Mayfair (in London, Singapore and Dubai), MDR ONE and MDRx. The Group also includes MDR Lab, which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership.

Earlier this year, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.

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