Senior Solicitor – Investment

Reports to Head of Legal - Investment

Department General Counsel’s Office

Directorate Chief Operating Officer

Location Multiple locations – Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Guildford, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf), Manchester, Newcastle, Northstowe

Direct Reports None

Grade 17 Post Reference B0431N & B0431N

Job purpose

To support Assistant Director of Legal – Investment and Head of Legal (Investment) in the provision of a proactive, professional legal service to Homes England’s Investment’s teams in regard to banking, finance, equity & joint venture agreements, insolvency law and related investments documents in support of delivering Homes England’s mission and objectives.

Key relationships

Chief Investment Officer, Investment Directorate including transaction and portfolio management teams and Affordable Housing, Investment Risk team, external Legal Panel firms, Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities Legal team, other public/private sector organisations and their legal advisers.

Key accountabilities and responsibilities

• Providing professional services in relation to all aspects of the agency's remit on areas of law including:

o Banking and Finance

o Company, Corporate Finance and Commercial

o Commercial Property

o Contract

• Provision of legal advice, transaction support, and ongoing portfolio management of Homes England’s investments relating to:

o Development and infrastructure funding including lending alliances;

o products, equity investment, partnerships and joint ventures;

o Distressed transactions; and

o the Affordable Housing Programme including its sub-programmes.

• Drafting (and assistance in the execution and signing) where required of transaction documentation, investment and lending documentation and advising on mitigation strategies to maximise investment recovery.

• Reviewing the drafting and negotiation of legal documentation by our appointed lawyers in respect of loan, equity and joint ventures transactions – identifying and providing commentary and advice on risk (legal, commercial, and financial).

• Drafting Agency standard documentation particularly Heads of Terms, Loan Agreements and other investment security related documentation.

• To support the Head of Legal (Investment) as required.

• Homes England’s remit requires that staff should act flexibly and undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the post as directed by the Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer or General Counsel. This will include working on a variety of different projects.

Key skills, knowledge and experience

Essential:

• Solicitor with current practising certificate and substantial post-qualification experience in the following areas of law: Corporate, Corporate Finance and/or Commercial.

• Experience of transacting complicated commercial, corporate or corporate finance arrangements or secured lending.

• Experience of identifying and managing legal, commercial and financial risk.

• Understanding the role of an in-house lawyer.

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the ability to adapt communication styles by audience and influence senior stakeholders.

• Expert draftsperson able to produce effective and accurate drafting of legal documentation and reports. The role will also advise on the following areas of law: Subsidy Control, Public Procurement and Freedom of Information.

Experience in these areas whilst beneficial is not essential – training will be provided.

Values and key behaviours

Homes England colleagues are expected to be flexible in undertaking duties and responsibilities commensurate with the general character of the role and level of responsibility