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 42% of our partnership. The team you will join The Residential Development Team at Birketts is expanding. The team includes 5 partners and 40 other fee earners at all levels working collaboratively together across six of Birketts’ seven offices specialising in the acquisition, sale and development of land for an array of national and SME Residential Developers and Registered Providers . The Sevenoaks team plays a key strategic role within the wider Residential Development practice as a focal point for growth in the South East. The team works closely with colleagues across planning, tax, construction, environmental and real estate litigation to deliver joined-up, commercially focused advice on major development schemes. The Residential Development Team sits within Birketts’ highly regarded and one of the UK’s largest dedicated Real Estate teams. Our property lawyers are particularly experienced in dealing with development and investment, planning, secured lending and landlord and tenant matters. The work you will be doing This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of experts that play a key role in the delivery of residential development projects. You will be responsible for: • Providing strategic leadership for the Sevenoaks Residential Development team, aligned with the wider division, firm and sector strategy • Driving the growth and profile of the Sevenoaks practice, including identifying and developing new workstreams, clients and markets. • Building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with key developer, landowner and investor clients. • Playing a visible role in business development, including thought leadership, sector initiatives, networking and participation in key industry events. • Working collaboratively with partners and teams across Birketts to deliver integrated advice on complex residential development projects. • Acting as a senior ambassador for Birketts in the residential development market, reinforcing the firm’s reputation for technical excellence and commercial insight. • Developing, leading and mentoring a team of junior lawyers, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment. While the role includes maintaining a personal practice, the emphasis is on leadership, client strategy and team growth, rather than solely fee-earning delivery 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 We are seeking a Partner with: • Significant post-qualification experience gained within a well-regarded city, regional or national firm. • Deep technical expertise across all key aspects of residential development law. • A strong commercial mindset, with the ability to provide pragmatic, strategic advice to sophisticated development clients. • Proven experience of leading and growing teams, including mentoring senior lawyers and developing future leaders. • A demonstrable track record in business development, client relationship management and market engagement. • The credibility and confidence to operate as a senior leader within Birketts’ Residential Development practice and the wider firm. An existing client following or strong market network is desirable, together with the ambition and drive to grow the Sevenoaks Residential Development team as a core part of Birketts’ long-term strategy. Benefits As a Partner at Birketts, you will benefit from a comprehensive and competitive package designed to support your wellbeing, recognise your contribution, and provide peace of mind both professionally and personally. 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.