Property Litigation Associate / Senior Associate

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd; Bristol; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Hays Specialist Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of a highly regarded commercial law firm to hire an Associate or Senior Associate for its Bristol Real Estate Disputes team. This role offers exposure to high-value matters and a collaborative, ambitious environment.

You will manage a broad range of complex property disputes, work closely with partners, and develop client relationships across sectors while mentoring junior lawyers and contributing to strategic disputes.

Qualifications

• Experience in a recognised real estate disputes practice.
• Strong technical and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage complex matters with autonomy.
• Experience supervising junior lawyers.
• Strong commercial awareness and practical problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Handle commercial landlord and tenant disputes, including lease renewals.
• Manage possession claims and applications for injunctive relief.
• Advise on disputes arising from development agreements and property contracts.
• Handle land-related disputes (restrictive covenants, rights of way, land registration).
• Supervise junior lawyers and mentor colleagues.
• Build and maintain long-term client relationships and work collaboratively across teams.

Skills

Real estate disputes

Autonomy

Client relationships

Mentoring juniors

Commercial awareness

Job description

Property Litigation Associate / Senior Associate

Employer:

Hays Specialist Recruitment

Location:

Bristol, Bristol, BS1 6AD

Pay:

£70,000 to £85,000 per year, Competitive

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

24/10/2026

About this job

Your new firm Our client is a highly respected commercial law firm with a strong presence in the UK and an established reputation for handling complex, high-value disputes.

Recognised for the quality of its work and collaborative approach, the firm advises an impressive client base spanning investors, developers, major occupiers, hospitality businesses, financial institutions and international organisations.

Due to continued growth within its Real Estate Disputes team, an opportunity has arisen for an Associate or Senior Associate to join the Bristol office.

Your new role You will become part of an ambitious and growing Property Disputes practice, acting on a broad range of complex and commercially significant real estate litigation matters.

Working closely with experienced partners and senior lawyers, you'll manage your own caseload while contributing to larger, strategic disputes across a variety of sectors.

The work will include: Commercial landlord and tenant disputes, including lease renewals and related proceedings.

Possession claims and applications for injunctive relief.

Disputes arising from development agreements, joint ventures and other property contracts.

Restrictive covenants, rights of way and other land-related disputes.

Land registration and adverse possession matters.

Supporting and supervising junior members of the team.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and professional contacts.

What you’ll need to succeed

You will be an experienced Associate or Senior Associate with experience gained within a recognised real estate disputes practice.

To be successful, you should have:

Strong experience advising on a broad range of commercial property disputes.

Excellent technical and analytical skills.

The ability to manage complex matters with a high degree of autonomy.

Experience supervising or mentoring junior lawyers.

Strong commercial awareness and a practical approach to problem-solving.

Confidence working directly with clients and developing long-term professional relationships.

A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively across teams and practice areas.

Experience gained within a national, international or similarly high-calibre commercial law firm environment.

What you’ll get in return

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly regarded disputes team undertaking top-quality work for an impressive client portfolio.

You’ll benefit from a supportive and inclusive culture, genuine opportunities for career progression, and the chance to work alongside recognised experts in the field.

The firm offers a flexible and modern approach to working, significant investment in professional development, and the opportunity to be part of an ambitious business that continues to grow both nationally and internationally.