NQ Associate - Real Estate, Dispute Resolution

Howard Kennedy; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in London seeks a Junior Associate to join its Real Estate Dispute Resolution team. You'll assist in various cases, gaining breadth of expertise and exposure to diverse clients. Ideal candidates will have previous experience in real estate disputes, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work under tight deadlines. This role offers a collaborative environment with opportunities for development and business initiatives.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in Real Estate Dispute Resolution is highly advantageous.
• Excellent organizational skills to handle tight deadlines.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritize workloads.

Responsibilities

• Assist with all stages of contentious matters from review to settlement.
• Instruct and liaise with Counsel and experts as necessary.
• Attend client meetings and assist in strategic advisory work.

Skills

Real Estate Dispute Resolution

Sound judgment

Commercial problem solving

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Law degree or equivalent

Job description

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Client:

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

6cead1addf86

Job Views:

7

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

The role

We have an excellent opportunity for a newly qualified or junior Associate to join our growing collegiate and well regarded Real Estate Dispute Resolution team. The team advise funders, landlords, tenants, developers, investors, high net worth individuals, hoteliers and retailers on a wide range of commercial and residential issues.

The team's strategy rests on 4 workstreams:

• Development and Neighbourly rights – Building Safety, Party Wall etc. Act 1996, Boundary disputes, trespass and adverse possession, Rights of Light, Access to Neighbouring Land Act, Restrictive covenants, Easements and interruption/diversion, Defective Premises Act 1972, Nuisance, Utilities
• Residential - Individual enfranchisement, Collective enfranchisement, Right to manage, Right of first refusal, Breach of user covenants, Landlord possession claims, Chargee possession claims and exercising power of sale, Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, Residential service charge disputes and dispensations, Consumer rights and protections, Co-ownership and estoppel, Enforcement of residential tenancies and leaseholds, Compliance with residential tenancy regulations
• Commercial asset management -Business lease renewal, Forfeiture and relief from forfeiture, Dilapidations claims, Site clearance and vacant possession, Break notices, Contested alienation (assignment and underletting), Contested alterations and improvements, Rent review arbitrations, Property insolvency (inc. CVAs, administrations, liquidations, disclaimer, dissolution and bona vacantia), Commercial service charge disputes, Guarantees and AGAs, Commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR)
• Property Contract Disputes - Contested completion and deposit disputes, Specific performance, Injunctions, Building defects claims, Professional negligence, Misrepresentation, Mistake and rectification, Rectification of the Register

This role will span each of the work-streams to gain a breadth of expertise as well as exposure to lots of different types of client.

You will be responsible for assisting the Partners, Senior Associates, and Associates in the department, as well as taking a role (which will be limited at first) in supervising more junior members of staff and assisting in the development of those staff, including Trainees and Paralegals. In addition, you will also handle cases on your own (with the supervision of more Senior members of the team).

Role responsibility

You will be involved in tasks including but not limited to;

• Assisting the team in responding to a wide range of urgent and time critical queries from clients;
• Assisting with all stages of the life-cycle of a contentious matter from the review of initial information upon first instruction to the conclusion of a matter, including the preparation of pre-action correspondence, issuing of court proceedings where necessary, preparation of witness evidence and all other work required on a matter to bring it to trial or to settlement;
• Instructing and liaising with Counsel and other experts where necessary;
• Undertaking advisory work and strategic advice
• Attending meetings with clients, Counsel or opposing parties;
• Assisting with tasks relating to costs and fees, including preparing fee estimates for clients, preparing costs schedules during proceedings, and liaising with costs draftsmen and ATE insurers; and
• Contributing to sector and focus groups as required.

The team and wider Dispute Resolution Department has a very open and collegiate team structure and you will be encouraged to be involved in business development initiatives and also to assist in training and development. You will be an integral member of the team and your opinions and insights will be valued.

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;

• Previous experience in Real Estate Dispute Resolution and the type of work carried out. Previous experience and understanding of the type of work caried out is highly advantageous.
• Sound judgment with the ability to deal with complex problems.
• A commercial approach to problem solving and providing innovative solutions.
• Excellent organisational skills: working to tight deadlines where the input of others is often required, keeping a diary, organising files and carrying out all necessary administrative tasks.
• The ability to manage and prioritise workloads.
• Thoroughness and attention to detail.
• A confident and effective advocacy/communicationstyle, acting as facilitator but also be able to take the lead when required.
• The ability to build relationships with clients and other colleagues at all levels.
• The ability to see matters as a whole and to be able to identify what it takes to get the job done/consider settlement/best solutions for client.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to perform in a high volume, deadline-orientated role.

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative. If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.