Partner

About Us

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 6th best law firm to work at in 2026.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership.

The team you will join

Our leasehold enfranchisement practice sits within our Residential Real Estate team and comprises fee-earners from both the Residential Real Estate team and the Real Estate Disputes team.

The Residential Real Estate team has 70+ members operating out of 6 of our 7 offices. Our leasehold enfranchisement practice operates on a national basis regardless of the location of its practice members.

We are seeking a Partner who can work across both enfranchisement and technical leasehold residential real estate matters.

The leasehold enfranchisement practice is currently made up of two Partners, five fee earners and one assistant, working alongside a secretarial pool. Together the team advise on all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement, both non-contentious and contentious.

Beyond the core practice, there are supporting, specialist fee-earners in our corporate and tax teams, which ensure our clients receive a seamless end-to-end enfranchisement service.

The work you will be doing

You will be responsible for growing an existing team with a focus on technical-excellence, outstanding client service and business development.

You will be an active contributor to the core management group within the Residential Real Estate team across all offices which is responsible for team strategy and the employee experience.

Responsibilities will include:

• actively developing the business through existing and new connections

setting up volume lease extension projects and thereafter supervising the implementation of such projects

drafting, advising on and implementing participation agreements and deeds of adherence for collective enfranchisement and 1987 Act acquisitions

reviewing and advising on existing leases and the grant of new leases as part of the Residential Real Estate team’s financing practice

acting on the statutory and voluntary disposal or acquisition of blocks of flats

actively marketing the sector including regular business development meetings with the sector members, writing articles, commenting on upcoming legislation, etc

attending leasehold enfranchisement training and social events e.g. through ALEP

working alongside and developing relationships with enfranchisement valuers

assisting with the development of processes and precedents within the enfranchisement sector

conducting and documenting regular team meetings with sector members to encourage and instil a collaborative cross-office, cross-division and high performing practice

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.

What we are looking for

The role requires a candidate with a strong following and marketplace presence to be able to actively and effectively grow the practice.

• Recognised technical expert who provides clear, tailored advice on complex legal and commercial issues.
• Drives efficient time recording, profitable pricing, strong cash flow, and team gross profit delivery.
• Leads business development and high-profile pitches, builds a strong market presence, wins new clients, and drives cross-selling opportunities.
• Delivers exceptional project and client management, consistently meeting expectations through strong communication and deep client understanding.

Builds trust through strong relationships, continual professional development, clear communication of vision, and championing positive change.

Demonstrates strong risk management, supports junior staff, upholds Lexcel standards, and maintains high compliance and file review performance.

Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard

Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service

To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working.

Benefits

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

You can find out more on our website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Inclusivity and Culture

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values.
  
  
  

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via talent@birketts.co.uk