Real Estate Legal Counsel

Compensation: Competitive salary (experience determined)

Office: Bristol or London Office

Role Description

Belltown Power UK is a developer of onshore wind, solar, battery storage and green hydrogen projects in the UK and is looking for a suitably qualified Scots or E&W and experienced solicitor to expand its in‑house real estate team. You will report to the Commercial Director and existing in‑House Counsel and assist in the legal aspects of the land acquisition agreements necessary for the development, financing, construction and operation of our projects. You will work closely with our Development Managers and Senior Land Manager, who will negotiate the commercial and technical aspects of the agreements. This is an exciting opportunity to be an in‑house counsel in the growing renewable energy sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting in delivering cost‑efficient and pragmatic acquisition of land rights for the Company’s renewable energy projects.
• Investigating, analysing and reporting on land titles, utility searches and wider property issues for project sites, cable routes and delivery and access routes in Scotland and England/Wales.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various types of real estate documents crucial to the development of renewable energy projects, including exclusivity agreements, lease options and leases, easements, and pinch/point and access agreements, typically using existing precedents developed by external solicitors and commercial terms agreed by project Development and Land Managers.
• Managing negotiations towards conclusion with a sense of urgency, understanding fundamental requirements and recognising where compromises may be made.
• Interfacing with the Development Managers to ensure land rights are fit for purpose, commercially acceptable and bankable.
• Coordinating with landowners’ legal advisors and land agents to achieve signing of agreements within agreed timescales, minimising landowner advisor spend and tracking fee levels for landowners’ advisors.
• Perfecting registrations of land rights and filing projects documents in a ‘transaction ready’ state.
• Advising the team as required on property law and other relevant matters.
• Assisting the business with other general legal matters which may arise.

Who we are looking for

Belltown is looking for a self‑motivated and proactive real estate lawyer, experienced in renewable energy, to join our highly capable, welcoming, and dynamic UK development team and to drive the rapid and cost‑efficient acquisition of land rights required for our project pipeline, based predominantly in Scotland and Wales. You will be a core part of delivering renewable energy generation projects in the UK that help tackle the climate emergency and decarbonise hard‑to‑abate sectors. This is a rewarding role and will appeal to you if you are still in private practice or whether you are looking to move from another in‑house role.

This role requires a lawyer who can work confidently and proactively in a team and alone with support from an experienced in‑House Counsel, is able to lead on negotiations, understand commercial drivers and risks and has acute attention to detail and takes ownership for their work.

Qualifications

• Be a solicitor admitted in England and Wales or Scotland.
• Have 3+ years PQE as a real estate solicitor in the UK, ideally with working knowledge of E&W land law. Scots law experience desirable.
• Have training and grounding in renewable energy property law from a law firm with a material presence in the industry.
• Be able to demonstrate an excellent academic record (with a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent) and a proactive and self‑motivated attitude to life and taking ownership of your responsibilities.

Desired Qualities

• Smart and good at solving problems as they arise;
• Empathetic and able to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders;
• Well organised and a good project manager;
• Collaborative, flexible and supportive of the rest of team;
• Self‑motivated, committed to performing well and eager to develop.

Diversity & Inclusion

We actively seek a diverse workforce and particularly encourage applications from individuals with characteristics under‑represented in the energy industry. Belltown is committed to ensuring equality, tackling discrimination, promoting diversity in our workforce, creating an inclusive working environment and fostering good relationships between diverse groups of employees. All employees and job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Belltown provides significant opportunities for flexible working.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements are available.

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