Legal Counsel - Real Estate Finance (12 Month Contract) (12336) | London, UK

Investec; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist bank in London is seeking a Legal Counsel for a 12-month contract to provide legal advice on real estate finance. Responsibilities include managing legal documentation, liaising with stakeholders, and supporting transactions while ensuring compliance. Ideal candidates will have strong knowledge of real estate law and an entrepreneurial spirit. The role promotes a collaborative environment with a flexible working model.

Benefits

Wellbeing Subsidy

Corporate Gym Membership

Life Assurance

Discretionary Bonus

Qualifications

• Qualified real estate banking & finance lawyer.
• Strong understanding of real estate lending and loan documentation.
• Experience in delivering concise and practical legal advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice on real estate finance law.
• Manage external legal counsel for timely execution.
• Draft and maintain standard documentation.

Skills

Qualified real estate banking & finance lawyer

Experience in syndicated/club lending

Strong understanding of real estate lending

Commercial awareness

Excellent technical knowledge of legal documentation

Proactive mindset

Job description

Legal Counsel - Real Estate Finance (12 Month Contract) (12336)

Legal Counsel - Real Estate Finance (12 Month Contract) (12336)

Legal Counsel - Real Estate Finance (12 Month Contract) (12336)

Investec is a distinctive Specialist Bank serving clients principally in the UK and South Africa. Our culture gives us our edge: we work hard to find colleagues who'll think out of the ordinary and we put them in environments where they'll flourish. We combine a flat structure with a focus on internal mobility. If you can bring an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to learn and collaborate to your work, this could be the boost your career deserves.

Legal Counsel - Real Estate Finance (12 Month Contract)

Team Description

The Real Estate team supports property entrepreneurs and businesses-both HNW and corporates/funds-in wealth creation through property activities. It provides senior debt development and investment funding solutions across:
- Residential
- Commercial
- Mixed-use
- Logistics
- Student accommodation sectors

Role Overview & Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice on real estate finance law and regulation.
• Balance commercial drivers and risk appetite with legal compliance.
• Manage external legal counsel to ensure timely transaction execution.
• Deliver ad hoc legal support on emerging issues.
• Draft and maintain standard documentation in collaboration with the GC, Head of Legal.
• Liaise with Lending colleagues and other stakeholders on legal risk matters.
• Ensure segregation of duties in legal documentation review and execution.
• Drive efficiency and enable business through legal issue resolution.
• Engage with GC and credit forums to ensure transactions meet credit authority.
• Stay informed on changes in the Bank's activities relevant to the role.
• Develop a strong understanding of the business through close collaboration.

Core Skills & Knowledge

• Qualified real estate banking & finance lawyer.
• Experience in syndicated/club lending and LMA documentation.
• Strong understanding of real estate lending, loan/security documentation, and due diligence.
• General lending experience.
• Commercial awareness and ability to see the broader business context.
• Clear, concise, and practical legal advice delivery.
• Receptive to feedback and committed to continuous improvement.
• Decisive and pragmatic approach.
• Excellent technical knowledge of legal documentation and financial services regulation.
• High attention to detail.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset.

Desirable Attributes

In-house legal experience is a plus.

As part of our collaborative & agile culture, our working week is 4 days in the office and one day remote.

Investec offers a range of wellbeing benefits to make our people feel healthier, balanced and more fulfilled in their lives inside and outside of work.

Here is a selection of what we offer;

Wellbeing

Wellbeing Subsidy, Corporate Gym Membership, Virtual GP, Peppy Health App (Fertility, Menopause and Early Parenthood), Optional Private Medical & Dental Insurance

Monetary

Non-contributory Pension & Discretionary Bonus

Life & Income Protection

Life Assurance, Critical Illness & Income Protection

Travel

Season Ticket Loan & Electric Vehicle Scheme

Embedded in our culture is a sense of belonging and inclusion. This creates an environment in which everyone is free to be themselves which helps to drive innovation, creativity and ultimately business performance. At Investec we want everyone to find it easy to be themselves, and to feel they belong. It's a responsibility we all share and is integral to our purpose and values as an organisation.

Research shows that some candidates can be reluctant to apply to a role unless they meet all the criteria. We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit here and welcome you to do the same - if the role excites you, please don't let our person specification hold you back. Get in touch!

Recite Me

We commit to ensure that everyone is fairly assessed during our recruitment process. To assist candidates in completing their application form, Recite Me assistive technology is available on our Careers pages. This can be accessed by clicking on the 'Accessibility Options' link at the top of the page.

The Recite Me tool includes a screen reader, styling and customisation options, a series of reading aids, a translator and more.

If you have any form of disability or neurodivergent need and require further assistance in completing your application, please contact the Careers team at [email protected] who will be happy to assist.