Real Estate Finance Senior Associate

Real Estate Finance Senior Associate | 6+ Years PQE | Leading Independent UK Law Firm

Join one of the UK's largest and most experienced Real Estate Finance teams, advising leading lenders, debt funds, investors and developers on complex, high-value transactions, within a firm repeatedly recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK.

The Firm

This is a top-tier independent UK firm, headquartered outside London with a growing national and international footprint. It combines the scale and deal-flow quality of a major practice with a genuinely progressive, people-first culture. The firm holds the highest Investors in People Platinum accreditation and has been repeatedly voted the best law firm to work at by its own people.

The firm places a strong emphasis on fairness, respect, collaboration and quality, creating an environment that is professional but approachable, with a culture where people are encouraged to work together and support one another. Its commitment to providing the best experience for its people is reflected in its Platinum Investors in People accreditation, alongside a clear focus on inclusion, wellbeing and building long-term careers.

The Team

The Real Estate Finance team is one of the largest and most experienced of its kind in the UK, advising a broad range of major UK and international banks, alternative lenders, debt funds, institutional investors, developers and borrowers.

The team handles sophisticated investment and development financing across a wide range of asset classes, including commercial property, industrial and logistics, residential, student accommodation, hotels and Build to Rent. Work includes acquisition and refinancing transactions, portfolio and multi-asset financings, cross-border matters and more complex borrower and lender-side mandates.

You will work closely with colleagues across Real Estate, Construction, Planning, Tax and Corporate, providing clients with an integrated service and developing a strong understanding of the wider commercial context behind each transaction.

The team is led by a highly regarded Real Estate Finance partner with extensive experience across UK and cross-border transactions, advising both lenders and sponsors on investment and development deals across the capital stack. The practice is recognised for its commercial, pragmatic approach and ability to provide technically excellent advice while understanding the wider objectives of each transaction.

The Role

As a Senior Associate, you will take a leading role on complex Real Estate Finance transactions, acting for a mix of lenders, borrowers, sponsors and investors. You will have significant responsibility for managing matters, with the opportunity to develop strong client relationships and play an active role in the continued growth of the practice.

Your work will include investment and development financings, acquisitions and refinancings, portfolio transactions and cross-border matters. You will have the opportunity to take ownership of transactions from inception through to completion, while working alongside experienced partners and colleagues across the wider Built Environment practice.

The role will also involve supervising and mentoring junior lawyers, contributing to business development initiatives and developing your own profile within the team and wider market.

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified solicitor with 6+ years' PQE and strong Real Estate Finance experience
• Experience acting for lenders, borrowers or ideally both
• Strong technical, drafting and negotiation skills
• Commercially minded, with the ability to manage transactions with a high degree of autonomy
• Confident in developing client relationships and working collaboratively with colleagues
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior lawyers
• A proactive approach and genuine interest in developing your career within a leading Real Estate Finance practice

What's on Offer

• A senior role within one of the UK's largest and most experienced Real Estate Finance teams
• High-value, sophisticated work across a broad range of asset classes and financing structures
• Significant client exposure and the opportunity to develop long-term relationships
• Excellent opportunities for progression and profile-building within the practice
• A genuinely collaborative and supportive culture with approachable senior lawyers
• Hybrid working and a strong commitment to work-life balance
• Market-leading salary and comprehensive benefits package
• The opportunity to join a firm recognised as one of the UK's best places to work

Apply now for immediate consideration or contact Charlie Simpkin at Charlie@jmc-legal.com