Senior Commercial Property Solicitor - In-House

Senior Commercial Property Solicitor - In-House

Location: Belfast / Greater Belfast
Coverage: All-Ireland
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Travel: Occasional travel to operational sites, with travel to the Dublin office approximately once per month

Exclusive Recruitment Assignment

This opportunity is being managed exclusively by VANRATH. All enquiries and applications will be handled in the strictest confidence.

The Opportunity

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced Commercial Property Solicitor to join the in-house legal team of a highly successful and well-established business operating across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

This is a particularly interesting opportunity for an experienced solicitor looking to move in-house, or for an existing in-house lawyer seeking a broader, more commercially focused position within a substantial international organisation.

The business has a significant property portfolio across the island of Ireland, encompassing owned and leased land, operational sites, development opportunities and property which is leased to third parties. As a result, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to take ownership of a broad and varied range of commercial property matters, providing pragmatic legal advice directly to the business.

The Northern Ireland operation is part of a much larger international organisation with a significant presence across multiple markets. This provides the successful candidate with the benefits of working within a well-resourced global group, while retaining the autonomy, visibility and commercial exposure that comes with a key in-house legal position.

The Role

Working closely with the wider business and legal function, you will take responsibility for a broad range of commercial property matters across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising on the acquisition and disposal of commercial and operational property.
• Taking ownership of the legal aspects of property acquisitions, disposals and development transactions.
• Advising on freehold and leasehold property matters.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating leases, licences, easements, wayleaves and other property documentation.
• Advising on landlord and tenant matters, including the letting of company-owned property.
• Managing property portfolios and maintaining appropriate oversight of property-related legal issues.
• Advising senior stakeholders on property risks, opportunities and contractual obligations.
• Managing relationships with external solicitors, agents, consultants and other professional advisers.
• Supporting the business on property due diligence and transactional matters.
• Advising on property-related aspects of wider commercial projects and business initiatives.
• Visiting operational sites across Ireland where required to understand property matters and provide practical legal advice.
• Developing strong relationships with stakeholders across the business and becoming a trusted commercial adviser.

Given the breadth of the property portfolio and the geographical scope of the role, this is not a narrow conveyancing position. You will have genuine ownership of a wide variety of commercial property matters and will play an important role in supporting the continued development and operation of the business.

About You

We are keen to hear from commercially minded property solicitors who are looking for a role with genuine variety, responsibility and exposure to the wider business.

Ideally, you will have:

• Qualification as a solicitor in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
• Strong post-qualification experience in commercial property.
• Extensive experience across acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant work and general commercial property matters.
• The ability to independently manage a varied caseload and prioritise competing demands.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• A pragmatic and commercially focused approach to legal advice.
• The confidence to work directly with senior stakeholders and operational teams.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• The ability to build strong relationships across a complex organisation.

Candidates qualified in only one jurisdiction will also be considered, provided they are willing and able to obtain qualification in the other jurisdiction.

Previous in-house experience would be advantageous but is not essential. Applications are welcomed from experienced private practice commercial property solicitors who are ready to make the move into an in-house environment.

Why Consider This Role?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business with significant scale, a substantial property footprint and the backing of a major international group.

You will benefit from:

• A highly varied commercial property workload across the whole island of Ireland.
• Genuine ownership and responsibility for your work rather than simply providing support on individual transactions.
• Exposure to both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland property matters.
• The opportunity to work closely with senior commercial, operational and business stakeholders.
• A hybrid working model based in the Belfast area.
• Regular interaction with colleagues in Dublin, with travel to the Dublin office approximately once per month.
• Occasional travel to operational sites across Ireland.
• Excellent benefits and a strong overall remuneration package.
• The opportunity to develop your career within a substantial and internationally recognised organisation.
• The support, resources and career opportunities associated with being part of a global group.
• A role where your legal advice will have a direct and visible impact on the business.

The Company

Our client is a well-established international organisation with significant operations across Ireland.
The business has a diverse operational footprint across the island of Ireland and a substantial property portfolio supporting its activities across both jurisdictions.

As part of a wider international group, the organisation benefits from significant resources, expertise and opportunities while maintaining a strong local presence and focus.

The organisation places significant emphasis on its people, long-term growth, responsible business practices and continued investment, making this an excellent environment for an experienced legal professional looking to develop their in-house career.

Interested?

If you are a Commercial Property Solicitor looking for a move in-house that offers genuine variety, autonomy, international exposure and the opportunity to take ownership of property matters across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

Apply now or contact Ciaran Gallagher at VANRATH for a confidential discussion about the opportunity.
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Skills:
Commercial Property Solicitor Property In-House

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