PA - Real Estate - 12mth FTC
17 hours ago
London
JOB TITLE: PA/Paralegal - Real Estate Team GROUP: Real Estate: Private Client & Commercial REPORTING TO: Head of Department TERM: FTC 12 month HOURS: Full-time, 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday with one hour for lunch. A flexible approach to working hours is a must, overtime may be required at busy times. We currently operate a hybrid working policy with at least 3 days office working per week. Our hybrid working policy is discretionary and may be subject to change. ABOUT SHERIDANS Sheridans is a leading London law firm whose lawyers combine the in-depth legal knowledge and breadth of expertise and experience required to give unparalleled advice to their clients. Since 1956, Sheridans has represented individuals and organisations across a wide variety of sectors, providing quality advice which is commercially focussed and personally delivered. Specialist lawyers in leisure, media and entertainment work closely alongside the firm’s corporate finance, employment, real estate and dispute resolution groups to provide a truly bespoke service to its clients. ABOUT THE TEAM The team advises clients across Sheridans’ core sectors, with typical clients including property investors/developers, owner-managed businesses, high net worth individuals, family trusts, large corporates and PLCs. The team specialises in commercial and residential property transactions including acquisition and disposal of sites for the purpose of owner occupancy, lettings or residential and commercial development, acquisition of mixed use investment properties, joint ventures, property finance, landlord and tenant matters, notably negotiation, and granting of leases of hotel and leisure space, retail premises, restaurants, office space, industrial units, location agreements and concession agreements. The team provides a full service throughout the lifecycle of the transaction and beyond, providing input, exploring issues/options and viability, advising on all property related legal matters, utilising the depth and breadth of the knowledge of the team to navigate clients to the ultimate desired result. ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY We are seeking a PA/Paralegal to join our Real Estate team at Sheridans. Working alongside the Principal Partner, we are seeking an experienced individual with many years of prior, direct Real Estate experience to join us and assist with Commercial and Private Client property matters. The successful individual will play a crucial role in directly supporting the Principal and other junior members of the team in various property transactions and also have the chance to develop their career further by engaging in transactions. We offer a close-knit environment where you will be encouraged to fully participate, share ideas and become a key part of the team. RESPONSIBILITIES • Consistently delivering a high-quality work product while managing deadlines, • Initiating and overseeing the file matter opening process, including due diligence and liaison with clients regarding ID documents, escalating to the compliance team when appropriate, • Assisting Principal and other members of the team with day-to-day matter transaction management (filing emails/documents, updating checklists etc.), • Preparing both paper and electronic transaction bibles, including creating a detailed index, photocopying, scanning, and collating documents to be sent to the client and to be used internally, • Preparing files for closings and archiving, • Extensive document work, including preparing redline/comparison documents using CompareDocs/pdfDocs/PowerPDF and ad-hoc printing tasks. Typing tasks using handwritten amends and amending correspondence and documents as required, • Printing, organising and scanning documents and emails into the document management/file management system (iManage and Lawman), • Extensive diary management for Principal: arranging meetings, lunches, and scheduling conference calls taking full ownership, chasing and liaising with attendees, both internal and external. Organising travel and preparing itineraries when appropriate, • Preparation and coordination of accurate monthly client bills, including proof reading and amending narratives each month, • Preparing documentation, • Liaising with local authorities and agencies, • Conducting research, • Managing Stamp Duty Land Tax Returns and Land Registry applications and handling pre and post-completion tasks, • Assisting with drafting, negotiating and completing standardised, short term and contracted out leases, • Assisting with lease renewals and licensing (underlet, assign, alterations), • Assisting with surrenders, rent reviews and deeds of variation, • Audio typing The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the Firm and the overall business needs. SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: Skills & experience • Previous experience in Real Estate law – this is an essential requirement and only candidates with Real Estate experience will be considered, • Demonstrated high level effective experience as a Real Estate Paralegal or PA, • Intermediate to advanced skill level with the Microsoft suite (Outlook, Word, Excel), pdfDocs, PowerPDF, Adobe and DocuSign, • Familiarity with GDPR and ability to adhere to confidentiality / compliance procedures and the ability to act with discretion whilst maintaining privacy, • Calm under pressure, adaptable, flexible and patient given the nature of the work and clientele, • Willing to build relationships and liaise comfortably with people both internally and externally at all levels, • High level of organisation and time management skills. Strong attention to detail with good judgement, initiative and problem-solving skills, • Confidently able to multi-task, particularly when managing your workload under pressure, and working to any given deadlines, • A team player with a positive and ‘can-do’ attitude, who is friendly, professional, reliable, enthusiastic and confident to learn and ask for help Qualifications • A strong academic record, • Qualifications such as a Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) or CILEx Level 3 Diploma for Legal Secretaries are desired, but not essential EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Our aim is for all staff to feel welcomed at Sheridans and ultimately be their true self at work. We are proud to promote inclusion & diversity among clients, candidates, and staff as an equal opportunities employer. It is our policy to support people who hold Protected Characteristics (under the Equality Act 2010) both internally and externally through supporting practices based solely upon merit.