Gowlings Solicitors Limited
Highly Competitive Salary – Negotiable & Dependent Upon Experience
Senior Leadership Opportunity | Residential & Commercial Property | Full-Time
Gowlings Solicitors is seeking an experienced and ambitious Head of Conveyancing to lead and develop our Residential and Commercial Conveyancing Department.
We recognise that an experienced property solicitor considering a senior move will expect their experience, technical ability, supervisory responsibilities and contribution to the firm to be properly reflected in their remuneration.
For that reason, we are offering a highly competitive salary package, negotiable and dependent upon the successful candidate’s experience, qualifications and the level of responsibility they are able to undertake.
We are keen to attract the right person rather than simply fill a position, and remuneration will therefore be discussed individually with suitable candidates.
The Opportunity
This is a significant opportunity for an experienced solicitor who is looking for more than simply another fee-earning position.
As Head of Conveyancing, you will take responsibility for our Residential and Commercial Conveyancing work, combining your own high-quality legal work with departmental leadership, supervision, compliance, risk management and development.
You will have the opportunity to make a genuine contribution to the direction and continued growth of the department.
Key Responsibilities
Your role will include:
- Managing your own varied caseload of residential and commercial property matters
- Leading the day-to-day operation of the Conveyancing Department
- Supervising solicitors, conveyancers, fee earners and support staff
- Providing technical guidance on complex property transactions
- Monitoring workloads, file progression and service standards
- Undertaking appropriate file reviews and supervision
- Maintaining high standards of client care
- Supporting and developing members of the team
- Working with management to improve systems and departmental procedures
- Helping to identify opportunities for growth and business development
Residential Conveyancing
You will have strong experience across residential conveyancing, including matters such as:
- Freehold and leasehold sales and purchases
- New-build transactions
- Remortgages
- Transfers of equity
- Registered and unregistered titles
- Leasehold matters
- Shared ownership transactions
- Complex title issues
- Other residential property transactions
Commercial Conveyancing & Property
The successful candidate will also have experience in Commercial Conveyancing/Commercial Property, potentially including:
- Sales and purchases of commercial property
- Commercial freehold and leasehold transactions
- Landlord and tenant matters
- Grant and assignment of commercial leases
- Lease renewals and variations
- Licences and associated documentation
- Commercial refinancing and secured lending matters
- Property aspects of business transactions
- General commercial property advice
Supervision, Compliance & Risk Management
An important part of the Head of Conveyancing position will be ensuring that the department maintains strong professional, regulatory and compliance standards.
You will have responsibility for appropriate oversight in areas including:
- SRA regulatory requirements
- Anti-Money Laundering compliance
- Client due diligence
- Source of funds and source of wealth
- Risk assessments
- Conflicts of interest
- File reviews and supervision
- Lender requirements
- Mortgage fraud prevention
- Undertakings
- Client care
- Complaints prevention and management
- Maintaining appropriate records, procedures and audit trails
You will be expected to provide confident leadership while ensuring that compliance is embedded into the everyday operation of the department.
About You
We are interested in hearing from experienced solicitors who are either already working in a senior or supervisory capacity or are ready to take the next significant step in their career.
You should:
- Be a Solicitor qualified in England & Wales
- Have a minimum of 3 years’ post-qualification experience (3+ years PQE)
- Have strong Residential Conveyancing experience
- Have experience in Commercial Conveyancing/Commercial Property
- Be technically confident and capable of dealing with complex matters
- Have the ability to supervise and support other fee earners
- Have a sound understanding of conveyancing compliance, AML and risk management
- Demonstrate strong organisational and leadership skills
- Have excellent communication and client-care skills
- Be commercially aware and interested in developing the department
- Be comfortable taking responsibility and exercising professional judgement
Previous management or Head of Department experience would be advantageous, but it is not essential for an experienced solicitor who can demonstrate that they are ready to progress into a leadership position.
Salary & Package
Competitive, Negotiable and Reflective of Your Experience
Gowlings Solicitors understands that experienced property solicitors bring different levels of expertise, client relationships, management experience and commercial capability.
Salary will therefore be competitive and individually negotiated according to experience.
We do not want to restrict applications by advertising an artificial salary figure that may not properly reflect the experience of an exceptional candidate.
The package offered will take into consideration factors including:
- Your overall post-qualification experience
- Residential and Commercial Conveyancing expertise
- Technical knowledge and ability
- Previous supervisory or management responsibilities
- Experience in compliance and risk management
- Ability to lead and develop a conveyancing team
- Business development experience and professional relationships
- The overall value and experience you can bring to the firm
For an exceptional candidate with significant experience, this will be recognised when agreeing the remuneration package.
We encourage experienced solicitors to have a confidential discussion with us about their current position, experience and salary expectations.
Why Gowlings Solicitors?
This position offers the opportunity to take on a genuinely senior role with responsibility and influence.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Head our Residential and Commercial Conveyancing Department
- Take ownership of the department’s day-to-day operation
- Develop and mentor other legal professionals
- Influence procedures, systems and working practices
- Contribute to departmental growth and business development
- Build and develop professional relationships
- Combine high-quality fee earning with leadership responsibilities
- Develop your own career as the department continues to grow
Interested?
If you are an experienced property solicitor looking for a position where your experience, ability and level of responsibility will be recognised and appropriately rewarded, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Whether you are an existing Head of Conveyancing, a senior property solicitor looking for a new challenge, or an experienced solicitor ready to move into departmental leadership, we welcome a confidential conversation.
Salary: Highly competitive and negotiable, subject to experience.
To apply, please send your CV and details of your current experience and salary expectations to Gowlings Solicitors.
All applications and initial enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Pay: Up to £60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
