Paralegal - Property Litigation
About Gowling WLG
We have more than 1,400 legal professionals working around the world. Our offices span across 19 cities in Canada, the UK, Continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East. There's strength in our global presence - we embrace our differing cultures and work together as one team. We also understand the importance of investing in relationships that build knowledge and trust, while we provide legal advice that's tailored to our clients' world.
'Our people and distinct culture are what makes us different. We know this through client and employee feedback and this drives everything we do'' Chris Oglethorpe, HR Director.
There are great opportunities for all our people to flourish. Through training and personal development they can grow in their role. Our people are the cornerstone of our success, across legal, business support and early talent. We care about their happiness and believe in the power of teamwork. We want them to feel empowered and recognise that by supporting, respecting and embracing everyone's different contributions we achieve more.
Working flexibly, working fairly
Agile working offers people more freedom and flexibility in where, when, and how they work. As technology advances and our workforce becomes more diverse - and with clients often working to a 24/7 rhythm - having extra flexibility is key to helping us balance work and other commitments sensibly and productively.
By supporting people to choose where and when they get their work done, we help them to make a full and fair contribution to their team - while maintaining that all important work-life balance.
Where possible and depending on business needs, we will consider all flexible working options such as part-time working, job sharing, working from home and staggered hours. If in considering a role with Gowling WLG you favour flexibility in your working arrangements, please discuss this with the recruitment team in the early stages of the application process.
About the Team
The specialist Property Litigation Team contains 19 fee earners at two offices in London and Birmingham. Physically located within the Real Estate Group we have the benefit of working with one of the largest real estate practices in the country with a diverse range of clients from house-builders to pension funds, and taking in property companies, developers and telecoms operators along the way. Ranked by the directories in the top tiers for Birmingham and for London, we also attract stand-alone clients looking for specialist help with complex or high value disputes.
The team is led by Martin Thomas, who is recognised as a leading practitioner in the field as are fellow Partners Clive Chalkley and Carole Peet. Based in both the London and Birmingham offices we work as a single team regardless of geographical base providing a full litigation and dispute resolution service for clients in the Real Estate sector. We advise and represent clients in all types of Court and also in arbitrations, adjudications and Mediations. Advocacy is not for everyone, but those with the right skills and enthusiasm are encouraged to qualify and we do, where required, provide in-house advocates.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Based in Birmingham or London, working closely with the rest of the team a paralegal is required to assist with a large transaction, for a government department, with several litigation cases running in tandem as part of that transaction. Your role will also include assisting the real estate team, who are involved in advising on future accommodation needs as well as on the real estate aspects of the current portfolio. Your responsibilities will include:
Assembling and identifying title documentation
Drafting notices and correspondence
Liaising with internal and external clients
Issuing claims and filing documents in Court
Co-ordinating and pulling together weekly client legal briefing for sign off by Partners
Co-ordinating the property reports and audit programme
Process billing and portal administration
Capturing requests for information from the client and distributin internally.
Project planning and deadline management
Proactive administration including:
Preparing litigation timetables
Contacting clerks
Organising weekly meetings
Coordinating weekly briefings from sub-teams
Monitoring central e-mails
Key skills and experience
Experience of working in a legal environment within a real estate focussed role would be advantageous
Project management skills will be advantageous
A team player
Well-organised and capable of working to deadlines
Excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing
Adaptable
Willing to learn
Good attention to detail
Equal Opportunities
Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.
At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.
We have more than 1,400 legal professionals working around the world. Our offices span across 19 cities in Canada, the UK, Continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East. There's strength in our global presence - we embrace our differing cultures and work together as one team. We also understand the importance of investing in relationships that build knowledge and trust, while we provide legal advice that's tailored to our clients' world.
'Our people and distinct culture are what makes us different. We know this through client and employee feedback and this drives everything we do'' Chris Oglethorpe, HR Director.
There are great opportunities for all our people to flourish. Through training and personal development they can grow in their role. Our people are the cornerstone of our success, across legal, business support and early talent. We care about their happiness and believe in the power of teamwork. We want them to feel empowered and recognise that by supporting, respecting and embracing everyone's different contributions we achieve more.
Working flexibly, working fairly
Agile working offers people more freedom and flexibility in where, when, and how they work. As technology advances and our workforce becomes more diverse - and with clients often working to a 24/7 rhythm - having extra flexibility is key to helping us balance work and other commitments sensibly and productively.
By supporting people to choose where and when they get their work done, we help them to make a full and fair contribution to their team - while maintaining that all important work-life balance.
Where possible and depending on business needs, we will consider all flexible working options such as part-time working, job sharing, working from home and staggered hours. If in considering a role with Gowling WLG you favour flexibility in your working arrangements, please discuss this with the recruitment team in the early stages of the application process.
About the Team
The specialist Property Litigation Team contains 19 fee earners at two offices in London and Birmingham. Physically located within the Real Estate Group we have the benefit of working with one of the largest real estate practices in the country with a diverse range of clients from house-builders to pension funds, and taking in property companies, developers and telecoms operators along the way. Ranked by the directories in the top tiers for Birmingham and for London, we also attract stand-alone clients looking for specialist help with complex or high value disputes.
The team is led by Martin Thomas, who is recognised as a leading practitioner in the field as are fellow Partners Clive Chalkley and Carole Peet. Based in both the London and Birmingham offices we work as a single team regardless of geographical base providing a full litigation and dispute resolution service for clients in the Real Estate sector. We advise and represent clients in all types of Court and also in arbitrations, adjudications and Mediations. Advocacy is not for everyone, but those with the right skills and enthusiasm are encouraged to qualify and we do, where required, provide in-house advocates.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Based in Birmingham or London, working closely with the rest of the team a paralegal is required to assist with a large transaction, for a government department, with several litigation cases running in tandem as part of that transaction. Your role will also include assisting the real estate team, who are involved in advising on future accommodation needs as well as on the real estate aspects of the current portfolio. Your responsibilities will include:
Assembling and identifying title documentation
Drafting notices and correspondence
Liaising with internal and external clients
Issuing claims and filing documents in Court
Co-ordinating and pulling together weekly client legal briefing for sign off by Partners
Co-ordinating the property reports and audit programme
Process billing and portal administration
Capturing requests for information from the client and distributin internally.
Project planning and deadline management
Proactive administration including:
Preparing litigation timetables
Contacting clerks
Organising weekly meetings
Coordinating weekly briefings from sub-teams
Monitoring central e-mails
Key skills and experience
Experience of working in a legal environment within a real estate focussed role would be advantageous
Project management skills will be advantageous
A team player
Well-organised and capable of working to deadlines
Excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing
Adaptable
Willing to learn
Good attention to detail
Equal Opportunities
Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.
At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.