In-House Legal Counsel (Leases & Portfolio Operations)

Our client entrepreneurial residential property investment and development group operating an extensive portfolio of several hundred residential units alongside a completed student accommodation facility. Known for a lean, fast-paced approach, they manage their portfolio actively and commercially.

They are seeking an In-House Legal Counsel to join their team in North London on a full-time or part-time, permanent basis (flexible working arrangements considered for the right candidate). Working directly alongside the business principals, this is a high-impact, standalone role where you will act as the primary internal legal expert, taking end-to-end ownership across lease management, portfolio operations, licences, and general commercial contracts.

(Note: The primary focus of this role is heavily weighted toward lease agreements, estate management administration, and portfolio operations, rather than heavy court litigation or transactional buying and selling).

Key Responsibilities

• Leases & Commercial Agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate residential leases, commercial lease renewals, tenancy agreements, and licence documents (including alterations, sub-letting, and assignments).

• Portfolio Legal Operations: Ensure all portfolio management operations align strictly with current residential housing legislation, handling lease extensions, variations, covenants, and freehold/leasehold administration.

• Financial Oversight & Ledgers: Oversee internal loan account ledgers, issue monthly statements, execute late payment recovery strategies, and reconcile arrears ledgers in coordination with finance.

• Pre-Litigation & Dispute Support: Handle baseline pre-litigation correspondence and minor tenancy inquiries, seamlessly instructing and managing external legal teams for any complex court or tribunal proceedings.

• Operational Legal Support: Handle day-to-day legal correspondence and liaise directly with external managing agents, surveyors, local authorities, estate agents, utility providers, and partners.

Your Profile

• Core Background: Qualified Solicitor, Legal Executive (CILEx), or experienced practitioner with a solid background in lease drafting, landlord and tenant estate management, or commercial/residential property operations.

• Standalone Capability: Confident, self-sufficient, and comfortable operating as a standalone in-house advisor without traditional firm support structures or billable hour targets.

• Commercial Approach: Practical, robust, and commercially minded with strong organizational skills for managing portfolio leases and operational contracts simultaneously.

• Technical & Numerical Proficiency: Highly proficient across standard office IT suites (MS Excel, Word, Outlook) with excellent numerical accuracy for managing loan ledgers, completion statements, and transactional finances.