Associate - Property Litigation

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Property Litigation lawyer to join our Real Estate group. You will join a friendly, collegiate team that is widely recognised for its expertise in this area and is ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers.

The Real Estate group currently consists of 8 partners and 17 other lawyers. It is regarded as one of the leading real estate practices in the South East outside London and is recommended by the leading independent legal directories.

The group handles a broad range of real estate work across different sectors and includes teams dedicated to real estate dispute resolution, construction and transactional real estate. The real estate disputes team (2 partners and 4 other lawyers) sits within the group and handles the full scope of property litigation work including:

• Commercial landlord and tenant work –1954 Act renewals and disputes; dilapidations; consents; rent reviews; break notices; forfeiture and possession;
• Development disputes and other contractual disputes relating to commercial and residential property;
• Easements, covenants and boundary disputes and advice;
• Land ownership including adverse possession and co-ownership claims;
• Insolvency matters with a property angle;
• Litigation in the High Court and County Court as well as the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber); mediations and other forms of ADR.

Clients include mid tier businesses (whether quoted or owner-managed), household name PLCs and other major international groups.  We act for owners and investors, individuals and developers nationwide and have extensive experience dealing with our corporate occupier clients’ property litigation requirements.

With PSL, trainee and paralegal support within the group and access to a wide range of valuable resources and training, you will be joining a supportive working environment encouraging you to grow.  

As a firm we work flexibly and remote/hybrid working is available, with employees encouraged to be in the office at least 2 days per week.

• Candidates should have excellent inter-personal skills, strong academics and high quality experience – typically with a major City or leading national/regional practice.
• Ideally a grounding in commercial landlord and tenant work to assist with the team’s occupier and investor clients.
• An understanding of Court and Tribunal work and of the different procedural stages of litigation.
• Dedicated to delivering high standards of client service
• Commercial awareness
• Ability to work collaboratively and with a strong team ethos

• Competitive base salary
• Pensions Scheme (5% employer contribution)
• Private medical insurance
• Permanent health insurance
• Life assurance
• Receive either the sum of £750 per annum as a travel allowance or reimbursement of carparking expenses via a pay as you go card at a local carpark (likely to be Farnham Road carpark)
• Travel – option to apply for an interest free loan for a season ticket or parking permit
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay (after sufficient service)
• Cash back scheme
• Comprehensive flexible benefits package including:
• Critical illness insurance
• Buy/Sell holiday scheme
• Dental insurance
• Cycle to work schemes
• Taste card
• Fun pass
• Give as you earn
• Discounted gym memberships and shopping
• Profit share and discretionary bonus schemes

Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career

You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment.  We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.

We are recognised as a top firm in The Times Best Law Firms 2024 and shortlisted for ESG Initiative of the Year at the upcoming Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2024 Awards. We were highly commended for both “Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year” – Legal Business Awards 2023 and “Law Firm of the Year” – SLS Legal Awards 2023, commended for “Law Firm of the Year: The Independents” – The Lawyer Awards 2023, and were shortlisted for “UK Law Firm of the Year - Small/Mid Sized Firm” – The British Legal Awards 2023 and “Workplace Fit-out of the Year” – Insider South East Property Awards 2023. Our refurbished office has been awarded a RICS SKA silver certificate and a 2 star Fitwel accreditation.

We’ve made excellence the hallmark of our firm: in the clear advice we give, in the enduring client relationships we build and in our proactive and highly responsive service.  We seek to recruit people who will help us maintain and build on this, and in return we offer excellent long-term career and development opportunities.

Diversity & Inclusion
We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). This drives a strategy which focuses on constant promotion of an inclusive culture that encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. Previously we have been shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards.