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.

About the Team

Gowling WLG is home to one of the UK's largest real estate practices with a team of more than 275 commercially-minded, innovative and pragmatic lawyers.

We work alongside many of the sector's most successful companies and have helped to deliver numerous high profile projects, advising throughout their lifecycle.    

The Housing Development and Regeneration Team work alongside top 10 residential property developers including The Miller Group, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Bloor and Gleeson Developments. It is among the best known names for residential development legal work and plots sales in the UK. It is also one of the biggest.

The areas of residential development expertise within the team include: serviced and un-serviced parcels of land and property, overage, strategic work such as complex and simple options, planning and infrastructure agreements and site assembly, joint ventures, large scale consortium developments, building licences and development management agreements, with a separate sub-team providing plot sales and part exchange transactions.

The team also has a very strong offering to  affordable housing providers such as Sanctuary, has market-leading expertise in build to rent and private rented sector investment, and advises on some of the largest and most complex regeneration and transport projects in the UK (such as Brent Cross).  The team numbers over 120 in total, which reflects the strength and breadth of client base and expertise.

Main purpose of the role:

The initial focus will be HDR where we will be running a 4 week pilot, however, this role is likely to expand to focus on the wider REG practice.

Our business is growing and we are looking for a Manager to effectively lead, engage and manage our Paralegal Support Team within our Real Estate Practice.  The team takes a streamlined approach to the work it undertakes and you will be responsible for proactively managing and supervising the team.  Initially, the role will have a residential development focus on standard infrastructure agreements and post completion work produced by the team. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for supervising, leading, developing and coaching newly-formed Paralegal team
• Monitoring (and accountable for) day–to-day work flow to ensure balance and to a consistently high service, meeting agreed internal and client service levels
• Allocating and prioritising work within the team, managing conflicting deadlines and ensuring consistency in quality and delivery
• Tracking, monitoring and reporting on KPIs and team performance
• Providing operational support to the team
• Organising, leading and attending team meetings to discuss any new process developments and new team processes;  Delivering target messages and collecting team ideas for improvement
• Managing all elements of team processes from start to finish using your initiative and with nominal supervision, in accordance with the client’s agreed procedures/service level requirements; Taking instructions where appropriate and act on those whilst keeping parties to the matter fully updated at all stages of the transaction
• Assisting in preparing analysis to assist with team targets and management.  Preparation and circulation of regular reporting (as required) Managing team members' development against career pathways and competencies
• Conducting team annual performance development reviews and annual salary review discussions (if required with support from Practice Operations Manager)
• Acting as an escalation point for members of the team with any client service issues, providing guidance and support
• The role will develop to include supervision of standard infrastructure agreement work in addition to post completion work.  
• Working with Practice Operations Manager on people management and wider HR matters

Working with Practice Operations Manager on various streamlining and operational change projects within the HDR Paralegal Support Team 

Qualifications

Key Skills and Experience:

• Self-motivated, confident manager, who is able to work under pressure whilst delivering and driving excellent client service
• Previous experience of managing a team and driving a high performance culture 
• Able to demonstrate the Firm's values and act as a positive role model
• Demonstrates enthusiasm for change, quick to identify and implement improvements
• Able to prioritise workloads and delegate effectively
• Able to think strategically and put plans into action
• Able to form strong working relationships with key stakeholders and communicate effectively and with influence at all levels across the business
• Able to identify and proactively manage risk

You should have:

• Relevant real estate legal knowledge of infrastructure agreements and experience of dealing with the Land Registry Portal and Land Registry applications. 
• Sound technical/theoretical land law knowledge, and the ability to apply this practically;
• Ideally, previous experience of working in a related role, legal or office experience
• Completion of CILEX course or GCSE qualifications in English and Maths between 4-9 or A-C equivalent,
• Previous Management or Supervisory experience (and operational) 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral, written and listening).
• Strong organisation and time management skills  
• Experience of dealing with clients either on their own initiative or as part of a team
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office 
• Problem solving skills

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.