Trainee Solicitor And Legal Assistant
Riseam Sharples London
Riseam Sharples is a niche West End firm that deals, primarily, with off-plan investment sales and purchases. Many of its clients hail from the Far East and other offshore bases which gave me great exposure to high-quality, challenging work. While employed at the firm I:•Acted for and advised local and international investment companies on their investments and sales on the London property market, and on their liabilities and responsibilities as Landlord where necessary.•Acted for investors purchasing Apart-Hotels in central London and became very familiar with all the commercial, VAT and tax considerations that went with it. •Advised clients in person, by letter, on the telephone and at sales exhibitions- most notably at Poplar Dock where Galliards held a fire sale and sold all the units of an entire block to investors at half price. There I, together with two of my colleagues, took 42 new instructions in one day.•Drafted contracts, joint venture agreements, leases and transfers, reports on titles and other related legal documents.•Drafted Deeds of Variation, Deeds of Confirmation and Licences for Alterations in relation to commercial leases.•Dealt with all relevant company-related matters and documentation, including the setting-up of BVI companies. •Negotiated, exchanged and completed contracts on sales and purchases of registered and unregistered land; most memorably when a client company’s marketing agreement required us to co-ordinate the purchase of a whole development and simultaneous completion of over 50 sales in less than one month.•Assisted clients with their commercial disputes and initiated proceedings where necessary, working to bring about swift and cost-effective solutions.•Handled all pre- and post-completion matters on each case. •Regularly conducted legal research into changes to applicable law and the potential liability of the firm in respect of certain situations.