Freeths
Strategic Development Director/Partner - Oxford
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
About the Freeths Team
Our specialist Agricultural Property team advises clients with interests in rural, agricultural, and strategic development matters. When it comes to strategic development, the team uniquely only acts for landowners including landed estates, institutions, and private individuals in respect of a wide range and high value development matters such as option and promotion agreements, conditional contracts, landowner collaboration structures, and complex development land sales.
We act for some of the largest estates in the UK and are ranked in the top tier of both The Legal 500 and Chambers as nationally recognized experts.
The Agricultural Property team is largely based in our Oxford office and is widely recognized as the leading and largest standalone team in the region. The team comprises 2 Partners, 2 Directors, 1 Managing Associate, 4 Senior Associates, and 2 Legal Assistants, together with a Trainee Solicitor. The team is led by Katherine Burge, Head of Agricultural Property. This highly specialized group forms a core part of the wider Freeths Real Estate department, the largest department within the firm.
The team is also supported by the wider Agricultural Group, which includes specialist tax, trusts, agricultural litigation, environmental, planning, commercial, and partnership lawyers, enabling the team to offer a fully integrated service for complex development and estate matters.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About the Role
Due to sustained and growing demand for strategic land advice, we are seeking an experienced Strategic Development Director/Partner to join our expanding team. This role is ideally suited to a senior lawyer with at least 8+ years’ experience gained within a respected regional or City firm, with a strong background in strategic development work.
Your experience will align with the team’s focus on acting for landowners, landed estates, Oxford colleges, farmers, and high-value private clients on all aspects of strategic development work, including promotion agreements, option agreements, hybrid agreements, collaboration structures, equalization arrangements, and long-term development strategy.
You will play a key role in further developing the practice, driving business development initiatives, and helping shape the long-term strategy of the team.
Examples of Recent Strategic Development Work
- Leading on significant strategic land sales to national housebuilders and developers, involving detailed negotiation of overage, infrastructure obligations, and long-term land value capture.
- Advising multiple landowners on major Promotion Agreements and multi-party Collaboration Agreements for large-scale settlement and Garden Village schemes, often involving complex equalization, phased disposals, and infrastructure requirements.
- Acting for landowners on hybrid Option/Promotion Agreements involving hundreds of acres of potential development land, including overage, minerals, tenancies, and complex title issues.
- Advising Oxford colleges and major estates on long-term development strategy, land assembly, and the release of land for strategic growth, including multi-phase residential and mixed-use developments.
- Leading on significant strategic land sales to national housebuilders and developers, involving detailed negotiation of overage, infrastructure obligations, and long-term land value capture.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
SMART. BOLD. TOGETHER. WE ARE FREETHS.
Become part of the team at Freeths.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will be happy to support you.
View some of our recent highlights on our website here [https://www.freeths.co.uk/about-us/].
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location