Reporting to partners and the head of real estate, you will join our Central London real estate finance team, to provide high‑quality legal services on secured lending transactions and real estate‑backed financings. You will manage a transactional caseload, support clients and lenders through all stages of the lending lifecycle, and ensure matters progress efficiently and in line with firm and regulatory requirements.
Key responsibilities:
Manage a portfolio of real estate finance matters, including commercial mortgage lending, development finance, refinancing, bridging loans, mezzanine and unitranche facilities, and loan restructurings; take ownership of files from instruction to completion under partner supervision.
Draft, review and negotiate transaction documents such as facility agreements, security documents (mortgages, charges, debentures), intercreditor agreements, guarantees, legal opinions and ancillary documentation; ensure all documentation is accurate, clear and commercially practical.
Conduct and co‑ordinate legal and factual due diligence on real estate assets and borrower groups; prepare completion checklists, disclosure schedules and report material issues to supervising solicitors promptly.
Liaise with clients, lenders, borrowers, surveyors, valuers, trustees, other law firms and regulatory bodies by telephone, email and in person to progress matters and maintain professional client relationships.
Manage and progress pre‑completion conditions, title defect remediation, priority searches, third‑party consents and completion logistics; prepare completion bundles and ensure post‑completion filings and registrations (e.g. Land Registry, Companies House) are completed accurately and on time.
Provide commercially focused advice on security structures, enforcement risk, covenants, financial covenants and intercreditor mechanics, explaining legal implications clearly and proposing pragmatic solutions aligned to clients’ commercial objectives.
Support completion and post‑completion processes including escrow arrangements, release of security, distributions, redemption mechanics and drafting post‑completion correspondence; ensure deadlines and statutory requirements are met.
Supervise and mentor junior solicitors and paralegals on files; allocate tasks, review work and provide constructive feedback to ensure adherence to the firm’s standards.
Support billing and business development activities by recording time and disbursements promptly and accurately, preparing fee estimates, assisting with fee notes and contributing to pitches, proposals and client care initiatives.
Comply with professional and firm regulatory obligations including client identification, anti‑money laundering checks, confidentiality and data protection requirements; escalate compliance issues to line management when necessary.
Qualified solicitor with demonstrable post‑qualification experience in real estate finance or banking and finance within a law firm or in‑house legal team, with experience of managing secured lending transactions.
Proven experience drafting, negotiating and completing facility agreements, security documents and intercreditor arrangements on commercial real estate matters.
Strong commercial awareness, excellent legal judgement and the ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice to clients and lenders across different sectors.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with high attention to detail and accuracy when preparing client documentation and correspondence.
Confident user of case management systems, electronic document management and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel); experience with document automation tools and Land Registry/Title registration portals is desirable.
Well organised with the ability to prioritise competing demands, manage deadlines and supervise junior team members while maintaining a client‑focused approach.
Good numeracy and an understanding of commercial and financial aspects of lending transactions, including familiarity with valuation, loan to value and security enforcement considerations.
Awareness of confidentiality, data protection, regulatory and anti‑money laundering requirements relevant to real estate finance practice and the competence to follow firm compliance procedures.
