Partner / Director/ Senior Associate – Residential Development – Leeds

Think Legal Recruitment; Leeds; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Think Legal Recruitment is overseeing a strategic Partner-level appointment for a leading national real estate firm in Leeds, focused on Residential Development. The role may suit a Partner, Legal Director or senior Associate with the right network and ambition.

You'll build a local Leeds practice backed by a national platform, with autonomy and support to grow relationships with Yorkshire housebuilders, developers and agents.

Qualifications

• Residential development lawyer with strong technical grounding (land acquisitions, disposals, infrastructure agreements, forward funding, planning-related work).
• Existing relationships with Yorkshire-based agents, developers and housebuilders.
• Autonomy to build a local Leeds practice, not just service one.
• Senior-level or Director capable of leading a regional practice backed by a national platform.

Responsibilities

• Lead Leeds residential development practice within a national platform.
• Develop and manage client relationships with Yorkshire housebuilders and developers.
• Provide strategic leadership and grow the local practice in Leeds.

Skills

Residential development

Land acquisitions

Disposals

Infrastructure agreements

Forward funding

Planning work

Yorkshire network

Leadership

Job description

Partner / Director/ Senior Associate - Residential Development - Leeds

National Real Estate Team | Strong Yorkshire Platform

I'm working with a highly regarded national law firm on a strategic Partner-level hire for their Residential Development team in Leeds - although they're also open to a Legal Director or strong Senior Associate ready to make that step up.

Their Residential Development practice is performing well nationally, with a genuinely enviable client base of housebuilders, developers and land promoters. But there's a clear gap on the ground in Leeds at Partner level, and this is a rare opportunity to fill it.

The opportunity:

This is a genuine "build something" role. The national team is well-resourced, well-regarded in the market, and provides real infrastructure and support - but what's missing is a senior lawyer embedded locally in Leeds who already knows the Yorkshire market: the agents, the housebuilders, the regional developers, and the relationships that make deals happen.

If you're a residential development specialist with strong local connections across the Yorkshire market, this is a chance to take ownership of a growing regional practice, backed by a national platform with genuine scale and reputation in the RESI space.

What they're looking for:

• A residential development lawyer with a strong technical grounding - land acquisitions, disposals, infrastructure agreements, forward funding, planning-related work
• Existing relationships with Yorkshire-based agents, developers and housebuilders
• Someone who wants autonomy to build a local practice, not just service one
• Partner, Legal Director or ambitious Senior Associate/Principal Associate level - the seniority is less important than the right person with the right network and the right ambition

What's on offer:

• The backing of a well-established, nationally respected real estate and development team
• A genuine platform to build your own client base and profile in the Leeds market
• Autonomy and support in equal measure - this isn't a role where you'll be left to sink or swim, but equally you won't be micromanaged
• A collaborative, connected national network already active in the living/residential sector

This is a confidential search - happy to have an initial conversation without revealing the firm's identity at this stage, and can share full details once we've spoken about fit.