Real Estate Development Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment seeks a Real Estate Development Solicitor in Manchester with 2–5 years PQE to join a leading commercial property team. The role covers the full lifecycle of development work, from land assembly through to completion, with close client collaboration.

You will work on project-led matters, with strong mentorship from partners, and enjoy a varied workload, a competitive salary, and hybrid working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with 2–5 years PQE in Real Estate development.
• Experience handling development lifecycle matters from early-stage to completion.
• Strong knowledge of planning agreements, site assembly, and development documentation.

Responsibilities

• Counsel on development projects from site acquisition to completion.
• Advise on infrastructure set-up, planning agreements, and statutory obligations.
• Draft and negotiate construction documents for development workflows.
• Manage planning applications and avoid delays through proactive strategy.
• Support sales/lettings once development progresses, and coordinate with cross-disciplinary teams.

Skills

Real Estate

Development work

Client management

Education

Solicitor qualification

Job description

Real Estate Development Solicitor | 2-5 Years PQE | Legal 500 & Chambers Ranked | Manchester

A strong opportunity for a Real Estate lawyer with a development focus to join one of Manchester's most well-known and established commercial property teams, at a firm that has recently made a significant investment in its office footprint to accommodate an exciting next phase of growth.

The Firm

This firm is a Manchester household name. With a reputation built over many years in the city, it has become one of the most recognisable and well-regarded practices in the North West, consistently attracting lawyers from Top 30 international practices who want better work-life balance, a quality of work that matches or exceeds what they were doing before and a culture that actually lives up to what it promises.

The firm has recently made a significant investment in its Manchester office space, expanding its footprint considerably to accommodate an ambitious next phase of growth. That investment in space reflects a broader investment in people, and the firm's plans for further expansion make this an exciting moment to be joining. Most of the partners have been with the firm for over ten years, staff retention is excellent and the environment is collegiate, accessible and genuinely supportive of long-term career development.

The Team

The Commercial Property team is one of the largest and most established parts of the practice, with significant strength and depth across a number of specialist areas. The development offering is a core part of what the team does, working with commercial and residential developers from the earliest stages of a project through to completion and beyond.

This is distinct from a purely transactional Real Estate role. The work here is project-led, longer-term in nature and involves close collaboration with clients who need a lawyer who understands the full lifecycle of a development, not just the individual transactions within it.

The Role

You will join a team with real expertise in development work and take on a varied caseload spanning the full range of development, planning and infrastructure matters. The work is hands-on and project-focused, requiring a lawyer who is comfortable advising across multiple workstreams simultaneously and building genuine relationships with developer clients over the long term.

Work includes:

• Site investigation, acquisition and assembly of development sites
• Advising on infrastructure set-up and documentation including planning agreements and statutory obligations with local and other appropriate authorities
• Drafting and negotiating construction documents to support development
• Managing planning application processes and advising on strategy to avoid unnecessary delays
• Dealing with sales and lettings once the development phase is underway
• Supporting clients in resolving conflicts between development interests and land protection obligations
• Collaborating with colleagues across construction, finance and wider commercial property on complex multi-disciplinary projects

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified Solicitor with 2 to 5 years PQE in Real Estate with a focus on or strong interest in development work
• Comfortable advising across the lifecycle of a development project rather than on isolated transactions
• Strong technical knowledge of planning agreements, site assembly and development documentation
• Commercially minded with good client relationship skills and the ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously

What's on Offer

• A varied and project-led development caseload within one of Manchester's most established commercial property teams
• A firm that has recently expanded its office footprint significantly with clear and ambitious plans for further growth
• Direct mentorship from experienced partners in a firm where people choose to stay
• Competitive salary, hybrid working and a dress-for-your-day policy
• A dedicated marketing function to support your profile and business development activity

To find out more, contact Joe Bryant at [e-mail] or call 07441 937590