About the Firm
Berry & Lamberts Solicitors is a three-office firm of solicitors based in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood. The firm provides private client, commercial property, litigation, family, residential property, commercial property and company commercial services to individuals and businesses. As the firm continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Dispute Resolution Solicitor to join our expanding dispute resolution team.

Role Overview

The role will involve:

• Property-related disputes, including boundary disputes, neighbour disputes, party wall disputes, easements and rights of way disputes
• Residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes, including possession proceedings, disrepair claims, rent reviews, dilapidations and lease renewals. We mainly act for landlords but do occasionally act for tenants
• Inheritance disputes, including issues relating to the validity of wills, Inheritance Act disputes and applications for the removal of executors
• General contractual disputes, mainly relating to the supply of goods and services

While the candidate may not have experience in all of these areas, previous experience in property and landlord and tenant disputes would be desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews with clients at the office where you are based, at any of the firm’s other offices or at the client’s premises
• Assess legal problems
• Advise clients on the likely cost of the legal advice they require and ensure that adequate funding is in place
• Conduct legal research
• Draft papers
• Brief barristers where required
• Meet deadlines for the submission of court papers

• Respond to clients and other parties
• Attend hearings and represent clients where appropriate
• Maintain client confidentiality
• Ensure that adequate funds are held on account to cover solicitors’ costs
• Prepare regular invoices for clients

Compliance

• Ensure that cases are handled in accordance with the departmental manual and the professional rules governing your conduct including, without limitation, the SRA Regulations
• Understand and correctly apply the law and practice relating to Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and follow firm and departmental guidance
• Maintain files to the required ISO 9001 standard and the department’s standard format
• Comply with all relevant firm policies, including but not limited to, those on client care, undertakings and key dates
• Participate in team meetings
• Attend internal and external courses
• Keep up to date with law and practice and develop knowledge in specialist and technical areas

Business Development and Role Requirements

• Record 50 hours of marketing and business development activity per annum
• Assist with the development and progression of the department and the fir
• Record 1,200 chargeable hours per annum
• Meet the financial billing target set by the head of department for the role

Person Specification Essential

• NQ – 2 years’ PQE.
• Strong working knowledge of practice management software commonly used in law firms, such as Actionstep or Advanced Legal
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly given the compliance-critical nature of legal work
• Confident communicator, comfortable communicating with clients and third parties
• Willingness and ability to work across all office locations as required

What the Firm Offers

• Competitive salary
• Working hours: Monday to Thursday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Discretionary Bonus Scheme.
• 25 days’ holiday per year, plus bank holidays and additional time off at Christmas
• Birthday off work
• Private healthcare
• Death in service cover
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Local shop discount card, currently the TN card
• Social events
• Charity events

‍Location: Flexible across our Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood offices, with occasional travel between offices.

How to apply?

Please send a CV and covering letter to Mandy Kettle at mkettle@berryandlamberts.co.uk

About the Firm

Berry & Lamberts is a three-office firm of solicitors based in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood. The firm provides private client, commercial property, litigation, family, residential property and company commercial services to individuals and businesses across West Kent, East Sussex and beyond. As the firm continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Private Client Solicitor to join our expanding private client team.

Role Overview

The role will involve handling wills, LPAs, probate matters and trusts.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducting interviews with clients at any of the firm’s offices or at the client’s premises.
• Assessing legal problems.
• Advising clients on the likely cost of the legal advice they require and ensuring that adequate funding is in place.
• Conducting legal research.
• Drafting papers including, but not limited to: Wills, Trusts, applications for Grants of Probate, Letters of Administration, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications
• Meeting deadlines for the submission of probate and tax papers, and responding to clients and other parties.
• Maintaining client confidentiality
• Ensuring that adequate funds are held on account to cover solicitors’ costs.
• Preparing regular invoices for clients.

Compliance

• Ensuring that cases are handled in accordance with the departmental manual and the professional rules governing your conduct, including, without limitation, the SRA Regulations.
• Understanding and correctly applying the law and practice relating to Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and following firm and departmental guidance.
• Maintaining files to the required ISO 9001 standard and the Department's standard format.
• Ensuring that you comply with all relevant firm policies including but not limited to those on Client Care, Undertakings and Key Dates.
• Participating in team meetings.
• Attending internal and external courses.
• Keeping up to date with law and practice, and developing knowledge in specialist and technical areas.

Business Development and Role Requirements

• Contributing to marketing and business development activity.
• Assisting with the development and progression of the department and the firm.
• Meeting the financial billing target set by the Head of Department for the role.
• Ideally STEP qualified or working towards the accreditation.

Person Specification

Essential

• 4–6 years’+ PQE, ideally with trust experience.
• Strong working knowledge of practice management software commonly used in law firms (e.g. Actionstep, Advanced Legal).
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly given the compliance-critical nature of client account work.
• Confident communicator, comfortable communicating with clients and third parties.
• Willingness and ability to work across all office locations as required.

What the Firm Offers

• Competitive salary.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme.
• Discretionary Bonus Scheme.
• 25 days’ holiday per year, plus bank holidays and additional time off at Christmas.
• Birthday off work.
• Private healthcare.
• Death in service cover.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Local shop discount card, currently the TN card.
• Social events.
• Charity events.

How to Apply

Please send a CV and covering letter to Mandy Kettle at mkettle@berryandlamberts.co.uk

About the Firm

Berry & Lamberts is a three-office firm of solicitors based in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood. The firm provides private client, commercial property, litigation, family, residential property and company commercial services to individuals and businesses across West Kent, East Sussex and beyond. As the firm continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Family Solicitor to join our expanding family team.

Role Overview

The role will involve handling a broad range of family law matters, with a particular focus on financial remedy cases on divorce, including mid to high-net-worth matters. The successful candidate will also advise on pre-nuptial agreements, cohabitation disputes involving jointly owned property, private children matters concerning care arrangements, and divorce proceedings.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct client interviews at the candidate’s base office, the firm’s other offices, or the client’s premises.
• Assessing legal problems
• Advising clients on the likely cost of the legal advice and assistance that they require and ensuring that adequate funding measures are in place; reviewing costs throughout matter and updating costs estimates given where required.
• Ensure adequate funds are held on account to cover solicitors’ costs and Counsel’s fees, or that other appropriate funding is in place.
• Preparing regular invoices to clients
• Identifying where clients may be entitled to Legal Aid and signposting to Community Legal Advice Team.
• Conduct legal research.
• Devise case strategy.
• Drafting case papers
• Obtaining evidence from witnesses and experts
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the client’s case and the opponent’s case.
• Briefing barristers
• Negotiating settlements
• Meet deadlines for submitting court papers and responding to clients and other parties.
• Issuing proceedings in the appropriate venue
• Attending interim hearings and representing clients at such hearings where appropriate
• Maintaining client confidentiality
• Ensure each case is handled in accordance with the departmental manual, the professional rules governing your conduct, the requirements of any third-party funding provider, or as otherwise directed.
• Completing time recording

Compliance

• Ensuring that adequate funds are held on account to cover solicitors’ costs and Counsel’s fees or that other appropriate funding is in place
• To understand and correctly apply the law and practice in relation to Anti-Money Laundering Regulations
• Preparing regular invoices to clients
• Ensuring that the case in handled in accordance with the departmental manual, the professional rules governing your conduct, the requirements of any third-party funding provider or as otherwise directed.
• Completing time recording
• Maintaining files so that they comply with the required ISO 9001 standard, the office manual and the Specialist Quality Mark if appropriate.

Business Development and Role Requirements

• Networking record 50 hours marketing/business development
• Assist with the development and progression of the department and the firm
• Attend internal and external courses
• Record 1200 chargeable hours per annum
• Meet the financial billing target set by the head of department for the role

Person Specification

Essential

• 2-5 years’ PQE.
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly given the compliance-critical nature of client account work.
• Confident communicator, comfortable with communicating with clients and third parties
• Willingness and ability to work across all office locations as required.

What the Firm Offers

• Competitive Salary
• Hours – Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. and Friday 9 – 5 p.m.
• Potential to work from home (no more than 2 days per week)
• Discretionary Bonus Scheme
• Auto enrolment pension scheme
• 25 days holiday a year plus bank holidays, plus additional time off at Christmas
• Birthday off work
• Private healthcare (after probation period)
• Death in Service cover
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Local shop discount card (currently TN card)
• Social Events
• Charity Events

How to Apply

Please send a CV and covering letter to Mandy Kettle at mkettle@berryandlamberts.co.uk

About the Firm

Berry & Lamberts is a three-office firm of solicitors based in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood. The firm provides private client, commercial property, litigation, family, residential property and company and commercial services to individuals and businesses across West Kent, East Sussex and beyond. As the firm continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Company & Commercial Solicitor to join our expanding company and commercial team.

Role Overview

This is a transactional company and commercial role supporting the wider team in advising business owners, companies, partnerships and LLPs. The successful candidate will assist with a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, with particular emphasis on business sales and purchases involving both small and larger businesses.

• Business and share sales and purchases, including transactions with values typically ranging from £500,000 to £20,000,000.
• Share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements and related ancillary documents.
• Due diligence exercises and the preparation, review and organisation of disclosure materials.
• Shareholders’ agreements, partnership agreements and LLP agreements.
• Terms and conditions of business and other commercial contracts.
• Share buybacks, reorganisations and other corporate transactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with and lead the conduct of transactional company and commercial matters from initial instruction through to completion and post-completion.
• Take instructions from clients, identify the relevant legal and commercial issues and provide clear, practical advice.
• Draft, review and negotiate share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements and ancillary documents, including disclosure letters, board minutes, shareholder resolutions, stock transfer forms and Companies House forms.
• Undertake and manage legal due diligence exercises, review data rooms, identify key issues and prepare due diligence reports or enquiries.
• Draft, review and negotiate shareholders’ agreements, partnership agreements, LLP agreements, terms and conditions of business and other commercial agreements.
• Advise on and prepare the documentation required for share buybacks, share issues, transfers, reorganisations and other corporate transactions.
• Conduct legal research and keep up to date with developments in company and commercial law and practice.
• Communicate promptly and professionally with clients, accountants, other advisers and solicitors acting for other parties.
• Manage agreed timetables, conditions precedent, completion deliverables and post-completion matters with close attention to detail.
• Provide clients with appropriate information about costs and ensure that adequate funds are held on account where required.
• Maintain client confidentiality, accurate records and well-organised files.
• Prepare regular invoices and assist with effective financial management of matters.

‍Compliance

• Ensure that matters are handled in accordance with the departmental manual and the professional rules governing conduct, including the SRA Standards and Regulations.
• Understand and correctly apply anti-money laundering requirements and follow firm and departmental guidance.
• Maintain files to the required ISO 9001 standard and the department’s standard format.
• Comply with all relevant firm policies, including those relating to client care, undertakings and key dates.
• Participate in team meetings and attend relevant internal and external training.
• Keep up to date with law and practice and continue to develop knowledge in specialist and technical areas.

Business Development and Role Requirements

• Carry out appropriate marketing and business development activities to support the development of the company and commercial team and the wider firm.
• Attend relevant networking and business events and build effective relationships with clients, intermediaries and professional contacts.
• Contribute to the firm’s profile by writing articles, preparing updates and participating in other appropriate marketing initiatives.
• Record 1,200 chargeable hours per annum.
• Meet the financial billing target set by the head of department for the role.

‍

Person Specification

Essential

• 3-5 years’ PQE, with at least 3 years’ experience in company and commercial work.
• Demonstrable experience of working on corporate transactions with values ranging from approximately £500,000 to £20,000,000.
• Experience of preparing and negotiating share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements and the associated ancillary documents.
• Experience of undertaking legal due diligence exercises and identifying and reporting on key legal and commercial issues.
• Experience of preparing shareholders’ agreements, terms and conditions of business and other commercial agreements.
• Experience of company share buybacks and other corporate transactions.
• A confident and accurate drafter, capable of producing clear, commercially focused documents.
• Excellent attention to detail, including the ability to maintain accurate definitions, schedules and cross-references across transaction documents.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines, organise transaction documents and progress matters efficiently.
• Confident and professional communicator, comfortable dealing with clients, accountants, other advisers and third parties.
• Strong working knowledge of practice management software commonly used in law firms, such as Actionstep or Advanced Legal.
• Willingness and ability to work across all office locations as required.

‍

What the Firm Offers

• Competitive salary.
• Working hours: Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.30pm, Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme.
• 25 days’ holiday per year, plus bank holidays and additional time off at Christmas.
• Birthday off work.
• Private healthcare.
• Death in service cover.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Local shop discount card, currently the TN card.
• Social events.
• Charity events.

How to Apply

Please send a CV and covering letter to Mandy Kettle at mkettle@berryandlamberts.co.uk

‍About the Firm

Berry & Lamberts is a three-office firm of solicitors based in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood. The firm provides private client, commercial property, litigation, family, residential property and company commercial services to individuals and businesses across West Kent, East Sussex and beyond. As the firm continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Residential Property Fee Earner to join our expanding property team.

Role Overview

The role will involve handling sales, purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity and general advice work on property law.

Key Responsibilities

• Client-focused conveyancer prioritising quality of service over volume
• Commercially astute and technically strong
• Practical skills in communication, organisation and client relations
• Ability to work collaboratively within a strong and supportive team
• Deal with all registrations (either directly or by supervising support staff), SDLT payments, billing, collection of costs and closing files within the applicable time periods
• Assist other fee earners as directed by the Head of Department or other partners including general assistance and covering absences
• An understanding of and willingness to embrace the firm’s values

Compliance

• Ensuring that the cases are handled in accordance with the departmental manual, the professional rules governing your conduct including, without limitation, the SRA Regulations, and the Council of Mortgage Lender's Handbook or any other SRA compliant instructions from a lender client.
• To understand and correctly apply the law and practice in relation to Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and specifically to follow firm and departmental guidance
• Maintaining files to the required ISO 9001 standard and the Department's standard format.
• Ensuring that you comply with all relevant firm policies including but not limited to those on Client Care, Undertakings, Key Dates and Mortgage Fraud.
• Participate in team meetings
• Attend internal and external courses
• Keep up to date with law and practice and to develop knowledge in specialist and technical areas
• Whilst the firm is accredited under the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), to apply the standards required by the CQS and to conduct cases in accordance with the Protocol.

Business Development and Role Requirements

• Networking - record 50 hours marketing/business development per year
• Assist with the development and progression of the department and the firm
• Meet the financial billing target set by the head of department for the role

Person Specification

Essential

• Newly Qualified to 3 years’ PQE.  Licenced Conveyancer or Legal Executive will be considered
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly given the compliance-critical nature of client account work.
• Confident communicator, comfortable with communicating with clients and third parties
• Willingness and ability to work across all office locations as required.

What the Firm Offers

• Competitive Salary
• Hours – Monday to Thursday 9am – 5.30pm and Friday 9 – 5pm
• Auto enrolment pension scheme
• 25 days holiday a year plus bank holidays, plus additional time off at Christmas
• Birthday off work
• Private healthcare
• Death in Service cover
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Local shop discount card (currently TN card)
• Social Events
• Charity Events

How to Apply

‍

Please send a CV and covering letter to Mandy Kettle at mkettle@berryandlamberts.co.uk