Partner Kay Hobbs heads up TLT’s corporate clean energy team in Bristol. She shares her career journey and offers useful advice to trainees and future lawyers about building a legal career.

Full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau LLP has expanded its footprint in Edinburgh to accommodate its “rapidly growing team”. 

Ahead of my vacation scheme this year, I was asked to rank a list of departments in order of preference. Despite it not being my first choice, I spent the week with the construction team. I’d never formally learned about this area of law, but – in hindsight – I'm incredibly glad that I had the chance to try it

The first two apprentices to join Withers have started at the firm’s London office in its real estate and corporate departments.

Commercial property (or real estate) lawyers act for a variety of domestic and international clients – including investors and developers, governments, landowners and public sector bodies – on a wide range of transactions, involving everything from offices to greenfield and retail developments, infrastructure projects and the management of shopping malls.

Several top law firms have signed up to a London-based hybrid internship scheme that offers the chance to gain a rounded introduction to commercial property.

What are the tax issues arising from individual ownership of cryptoassets?

Experience, whether legal or not, is invaluable Ugo Ebhogiaye, an associate at Trowers & Hamlins LLP, tells us. Learn about Ugo’s time as a paralegal, her remote placement in Oman during the pandemic and what her role as chair of the firm’s Race Ethnicity and Heritage Network involves.

What’s all the buzz around data centres?

In this LCN Says, graduate partner Trish McCarvill discusses her journey into tax law, the growth of Winston Taylor’s Dublin office and what aspiring solicitors can expect from its new trainee programme. She also shares practical advice on making a strong training contract application and building a successful legal career.

What does a business client need to know about the new 'REITs' (real estate investment trusts)?

Leading South East firm Cripps and London firm Pemberton Greenish will merge on 1 December to create a leading practice focusing on real estate, private wealth and growing businesses. The merged firm will be ranked in the top 70 of UK law firms with revenues of c£45 million and create a firm of 465 people, including 66 partners.

City firm Fladgate LLP has introduced a voluntary scheme offering approximately 30 real estate lawyers the option to work a four-day work week from January to March this year.

William Jay, an associate at Morrison Foerster, outlines what it was about the leading global law firm that stood out to him when he was making training contract applications, as well as what makes it a great place to work. 

DAC Beachcroft is expanding its apprenticeship programme by recruiting two new legal apprentices into its real estate team.

Asia Munir talks Legally Blonde, securing a training contract and becoming director, and outlines her career in real estate and housing litigation.

To the surprise of myself and everyone around me (including my professor!), I've really enjoyed my land law module so far this term. The structure and organisation of the module itself, coupled with the range of clients we get to work with in our problem questions – from residents with personal or familial issues, to businesses selling commercial properties – showcased just how varied this area of law can be.

Nearly 100% of senior commercial property law professionals said it will be ‘very likely’ or ‘quite likely’ that administrative tasks involved in commercial real estate transactions will be fully automated in the next three years, according to a report published by SearchFlow.