Head of Real Estate

JMC Legal Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment is seeking a Senior Real Estate Partner to assume Head of Real Estate duties in the North West, Manchester area. This role focuses on leadership, strategic development, and proactive business development within a growing Legal 500 firm backed by strong resources.

You will oversee landlord/tenant, commercial leasing, and transactional real estate work, while guiding junior lawyers and expanding the department's client base.

Qualifications

• Qualified Real Estate Partner with 8+ years PQE and leadership experience across landlord and tenant, commercial leasing and transactional work.
• Proven ability to drive growth opportunities and manage key client relationships.
• Strong track record of mentoring teams and building cross-department referral networks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Real Estate department, setting strategy and development plans.
• Drive growth opportunities, business development and profile-raising activities.
• Manage a high-value caseload of complex transactional work while mentoring the team.

Skills

Real Estate

Leadership

Business Development

Job description

Head of Real Estate | Legal 500 Ranked | Complex Transactional Work | North West

A standout opportunity for a senior Real Estate lawyer to take on a Head of Department role at an entrepreneurial and expanding Legal 500 firm, with strong financial backing, excellent cross-departmental referral networks and a genuine culture of support and growth.

The Firm

A modern, commercially focused firm with Legal 500 recognition and an outstanding track record of onboarding senior lawyers and investing in their long term success. Many of its current partners have joined from Top 100 and Legal 500 ranked firms, attracted by the chance to build thriving practices with genuine financial and strategic backing behind them.

The firm places particular emphasis on giving partners autonomy, realistic targets and the resources needed to grow, with a proven model that has enabled multiple partners to significantly expand their client bases and teams. With a growing presence across the North West the firm continues to go from strength to strength, offering a collaborative and ambitious platform for senior lawyers who want to make a real impact.

The Role

This is not simply a fee-earning partner position. As Head of Real Estate you will take overall responsibility for the leadership, strategy and development of the department, driving its commercial direction, identifying growth opportunities and playing a central role in business development and profile raising activity alongside managing your own caseload of complex transactional work.

Your caseload will span commercial lease renewals and extensions, landlord and tenant matters, corporate support and real estate elements of transactional work, and general commercial property portfolio management.

You will also take responsibility for team management, mentoring and succession planning, ensuring the department continues to grow in both capability and reputation. The platform, infrastructure and full marketing and business development support are already in place for you to hit the ground running from day one.

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified Real Estate Partner with 8+ years PQE and demonstrable leadership experience across landlord and tenant, commercial leasing and transactional support work