Principal Associate - Housing Development & Regeneration - Leeds

Gowling WLG; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Free private medical insurance

Pension allowance

Life assurance

Sabbatical after five years

Health and wellbeing programmes

Training and personal development opportunities

Job summary

Gowling WLG in Leeds is seeking a Principal Associate to join their Housing Development and Regeneration team. The role involves providing specialist advice on residential development and maintaining strong client relationships.

Ideal candidates will be experienced solicitors with strong technical skills and a collaborative mindset, able to manage caseload effectively and contribute to business development.

The position offers hybrid working, generous annual leave, and various employee benefits including private medical insurance and a pension scheme.

Qualifications

• Experience in residential development law is preferred.
• Strong commercial awareness and collaborative approach.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice on residential development and housing-led work.
• Develop and maintain client relationships.
• Handle title due diligence and land acquisition tasks.

Skills

Managing a caseload to tight deadlines

Working well in a team

Supervising and developing junior staff

Providing practical advice

Negotiating effectively

Clear communication

Business development contributions

Management functions and projects

Education

Qualified Solicitor (specific qualification not stated)

Job description

Job Description

We are looking for a Principal Associate to join our Housing Development and Regeneration (HDR) team based in Leeds.

Main Purpose of the Role

The purpose of this role is to provide specialist advice on all aspects of residential development and housing-led work, develop and maintain strong client relationships, and immerse yourself in the residential development market. You will handle work streams such as title due diligence, land acquisition (short and long term), and nuanced elements of residential development that add real value to client relationships and projects. This role offers an experienced solicitor the opportunity to advance their career within one of the country’s largest residential development teams.

About the Team

The HDR team is part of the Real Estate Group, the third largest Real Estate practice in the UK. The team in Leeds is the regional leader in residential development across the north, headed by Partner Julia Field with eight other fee earners. We advise house builders, mixed‐use developers, affordable housing providers, landowners, and investors.

About You

We welcome experienced and ambitious residential lawyers with strong technical skills, commercial awareness, and a collaborative approach. Key skills include:

• Managing a caseload to tight deadlines and prioritising workload effectively
• Working well in a team and supporting colleagues, including within multi‑specialist project teams
• Supervising and developing junior staff
• Providing clear, practical advice with sound commercial judgment and accurate implementation of instructions
• Negotiating effectively and delivering commercial solutions for clients
• Communicating appropriately at all levels within the team, the wider business, clients, agents, and other parties
• Collaborating with Gowling WLG team members, clients, local authorities, agents, surveyors, consultants, accountants, and others
• Contributing to business development and marketing
• Assisting on tenders to prospective clients and participating in pitch teams
• Taking responsibility for management functions and projects appropriate to your experience

What We Can Offer You

• A hybrid approach to office and remote working
• Generous annual leave, with the option to buy up to a week’s extra leave
• Free private medical insurance, with the option to add family members
• A generous pension allowance
• Life assurance covering four times your annual salary
• A three‑month sabbatical every five years
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave schemes
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• State‑of‑the‑art offices in the heart of Birmingham City Centre with an onsite restaurant
• Opportunities for training and personal development

Equal Opportunities

Gowling WLG is committed to promoting equality and diversity in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, marital status, or pregnancy and aims to attract and retain talented people from diverse backgrounds.

Contact

For queries about this position, please contact Arun Kainth at [e-mail].