Real Estate Litigation Senior Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment represents an international firm seeking a Real Estate Disputes Senior Associate in Manchester to take on a senior role within a leading disputes team.

You will handle high-value, complex litigation for prestigious corporate clients while leading matters with autonomy and close collaboration with partners. The role offers hybrid working and a clear pathway to seniority.

Qualifications

• 6+ years PQE in real estate disputes at a reputable national or international firm.
• Technically strong across commercial property litigation with experience acting for corporate clients.
• Commercially minded, client-focused and ready to operate with genuine autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Take on genuine responsibility within the team, running your own complex matters with autonomy while working with partners on significant instructions.
• Handle complex dilapidations claims for major landlords and corporate occupiers across large commercial portfolios.
• Manage contested and uncontested lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, including High Court proceedings.
• Advise on rent review disputes and arbitration for landlords and large corporate tenants.
• Handle break notice disputes including validity challenges and reinstatement issues across sectors.
• Oversee development disputes involving overage, covenants, rights of light and access for developers and landowners.
• Liaise on property-related professional negligence claims on behalf of corporate clients and financial institutions.
• Engage in insolvency-related property disputes including issues in administration and liquidation.
• Contribute to High Court and appellate work on behalf of FTSE 100 clients and institutional investors.

Skills

Real estate disputes

Property litigation

Autonomy

Client focus

Job description

Real Estate Disputes Senior Associate | 6+ Years PQE | Leading International Firm | Manchester

A standout opportunity for an experienced Real Estate Litigator to join a market-leading disputes team in Manchester, taking on a senior role within a nationally recognised practice that handles high-value, complex litigation for some of the most significant corporate clients in the country.

The Firm

This leading international firm has a significant UK presence and a well-established reputation for technical excellence, commercial insight and innovation. The firm advises a broad range of FTSE 100 and equivalent clients across sectors including retail, financial services, energy and transport, and is consistently recognised for its strong culture, genuine commitment to development and ambitious growth strategy.

The environment is collaborative and forward-thinking. Lawyers are given real investment at every stage of their careers through mentoring, leadership training and structured progression, and the firm's track record of developing senior talent from within is one of its most compelling attributes.

The Team

The Real Estate Disputes team operates as a standalone function within the firm, working closely with the wider general disputes practice and maintaining a strong collaborative relationship with the transactional Real Estate team.

That connectivity gives the team a natural and consistent pipeline of work, with disputes arising directly from the firm's transactional activity as well as from its long-standing corporate client relationships.

The team handles the full spectrum of contentious property work and is known for acting on some of the most technically complex and high-profile instructions in the market, including reported cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. The client base is impressive and corporate-heavy, spanning major landlords, institutional investors, corporate occupiers, retail portfolio holders, developers, banks and insolvency practitioners.

The Role

At Senior Associate level you will take on genuine responsibility within the team, running your own complex matters with a good degree of autonomy whilst working closely alongside partners on the most significant instructions. Work includes:

• Complex dilapidations claims for major landlords and corporate occupiers across large commercial portfolios
• Contested and uncontested lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, including High Court proceedings for significant retail and office occupiers
• Rent review disputes and arbitration acting for institutional landlords and large-scale corporate tenants
• Break notice disputes including validity challenges and reinstatement condition disputes across retail, logistics and office sectors
• Development disputes involving overage, restrictive covenants, rights of light and access for major developers and corporate landowners
• Property-related professional negligence claims against solicitors, surveyors and valuers on behalf of corporate clients and financial institutions
• Insolvency-related property disputes including disclaimer issues and property claims in administration and liquidation scenarios
• High Court and appellate work on behalf of FTSE 100 clients and institutional investors

Business development is actively encouraged at this level, with real opportunities to develop client relationships and contribute to the continued growth of the practice.

The Ideal Candidate

• 6+ years PQE in real estate disputes at a reputable national or international firm
• Technically strong across commercial property litigation with experience acting for corporate clients
• Commercially minded, client-focused and ready to operate with genuine autonomy

What's on Offer

• High-value, technically complex work including reported cases at the highest court levels
• A clear pathway towards partnership with mentoring and leadership development
• Hybrid working, competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package