Legal Counsel – Real Estate Dispute Resolution

Aviva Employment Services; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment firm in Norwich seeks a Legal Counsel specializing in real estate dispute resolution. You’ll deliver critical legal advice to support strategic goals, manage a caseload, and supervise junior staff. The role requires strong collaboration skills and experience in commercial dispute resolution. The firm offers a flexible work environment and generous benefits including a pension scheme and performance bonuses.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

Annual performance bonus

Family-friendly parental leave

Generous holiday entitlement

Aviva-funded Private Medical Benefit

Flexible benefits including electric cars

Aviva Matching Share Plan

Volunteering hours per year

Qualifications

• Post‑qualification experience in commercial real estate dispute resolution.
• Experience of handling complex litigation with external firms.
• Understanding of risk management and escalation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality legal advice to support business goals.
• Manage own caseload and oversee litigation handled by external firms.
• Supervise junior team members and support their development.

Skills

Commercial real estate dispute resolution

Client management at senior level

Collaboration and problem-solving

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent

Admitted as solicitor in England or Wales

Job description

Legal Counsel Real Estate Dispute Resolution

This is a great job for someone with good technical knowledge of all aspects of commercial real estate dispute resolution advice with an understanding of the needs of an institutional investor.

We are open to full time / part time workers.

About the job

We’re looking for a skilled legal professional to join the Aviva Investors Private Markets Legal team supporting our Direct Real Estate. This role you’ll deliver high‑quality legal advice that enables the business to achieve its strategic goals while maintaining strong governance and risk management. You’ll be a key contributor to the Private Markets team advising on a broad range of real‑estate dispute resolution matters related to assets held within UK property funds. As part of our in‑house legal function you’ll manage your own caseload and provide oversight on complex litigation handled by external panel firms. You’ll also play a leadership role by supervising junior team members and supporting their development. Your responsibilities will include making sound technical decisions on dispute resolution matters and offering commercially focused legal advice that helps maximise fund performance while mitigating legal and reputational risks.

Skills and Experience

• Relevant degree or equivalent experience / Admitted as a solicitor in England or Wales or ILEX fellow.
• Post‑qualification experience within commercial real‑estate dispute resolution.
• Demonstrate a consistently positive attitude effectively resolving challenges through collaboration and maintaining a solutions‑oriented mindset to achieve the best outcomes for clients and the business.
• Experience of dealing with clients at senior management level, including an understanding of when matters need to be escalated to senior stakeholders from a risk perspective.
• Knowledge and experience of residential leasehold matters would be desirable but not essential.

Benefits

• Generous pension scheme – Aviva will contribute up to 14% depending on what you put in.
• Eligibility for annual performance bonus.
• Family‑friendly parental and carers leave.
• Generous holiday entitlement plus bank holidays, with the option to buy/sell up to 5 additional days.
• Up to 40% discount for Aviva products.
• Aviva‑funded Private Medical Benefit to help you get expert support when you need it.
• Brilliant flexible benefits including electric cars.
• Aviva Matching Share Plan and Save As You Earn scheme.
• 21 volunteering hours per year.

Inclusion

We’re inclusive and welcome everyone. We want applications from all backgrounds and experiences, and if you’re excited but not sure you tick every box, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part‑time and job shares. We flex locations, hours, and working patterns to suit our customers' business and you. Most of our people are smart‑working, spending around 50% of their time in our offices every week – combining the benefits of flexibility with time together with colleagues.

We interview every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job. Once you’ve applied please send us an email stating that you have a disclosed disability; we will arrange an interview with you.

We love it if you could submit your application online. If you require an alternative method of applying please send an email to [company email].

To find out more about working at Aviva, take a look here.