Senior Lawyer Real Estate Finance

City + Capital; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious real estate finance lender is seeking a confident and knowledgeable Senior Lawyer to join their expanding in-house legal team. The successful candidate will support legal strategy development and optimization of processes, while assisting with complex real estate transactions. This role requires a minimum of 4 years PQE and the ability to negotiate effectively. Competitive salary up to £150k plus bonuses. Mainly based in Central London with some travel required.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Favorable bonus scheme

Qualifications

• Experienced REF Lawyer registered with the SRA.
• Minimum of 4 years PQE.
• Confident in structuring and negotiating complex real estate loans.

Responsibilities

• Assist the GC and Head of Legal with legal strategy.
• Support the development and optimisation of legal processes.
• Negotiate on behalf of the company for optimum results.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Legal Strategy Development

Problem-solving

Real Estate Finance Knowledge

Education

SRA registration

Minimum of 4 years PQE

Job description

City Capital are currently representing a highly respected and fast‑growing real estate finance lender who have retained our services to appoint a confident, knowledgeable and suitably qualified Senior Lawyer to their growing in‑house legal team.

The Company

Our client is renowned for supporting property developers and investors with access to funds for important real estate development and investment projects. They have built a strong reputation for providing fast, flexible and tailored solutions to a broad dynamic of professional borrowers.

Institutionally funded our client is experiencing outstanding growth with big ambitions to be the leading player in their market over the coming years, increasing market reach and doubling the size of their loan book in the process.

The outlined business growth saw the inception of the in‑house legal team in 2023 which is growing at pace to meet the demand of the lender’s funding partners, borrowers and general legal needs internally.

The company invests in its people empowering them with clear progression routes and demonstrating one of the sector’s best and most effective promote‑from‑within lawyers who will join the team to deliver exciting legal projects and activity.

Role Overview

The arriving Senior Lawyer will play a key role at the heart of the team, a blend of legal strategy and hands‑on delivery working closely alongside the Head of Legal and General Counsel.

In term of strategy you will assist with the growth and shape of the department as well as legal policies, strategies and frameworks that both protect and enhance the company, will assist with the optimisation of legal processes, will support the improvement and development of the company’s core legal documentation and drive a culture of legal knowledge and thought across non‑legal members of the business.

Additionally you will devise and execute strategies on a case‑by‑case basis for topical issues that may arise or long‑term legal projects or goals that are to be achieved.

Day‑to‑day you will be integral to the performance of internal teams and the needs of clients and will certainly include supporting the activity of the lending teams as they attempt to structure, assess and execute large and complex REF transactions. Our client has a broad range of new borrowers and existing clients within the portfolio who have complex borrowing needs and situations.

In addition you will play a key role in supporting the funding teams with activity that supports the successful due‑diligence onboarding management and off‑boarding of funding partners and investors as well as the portfolio management function which also includes the collections and recoveries team.

Responsibilities

• Assist the GC and Head of Legal with legal strategy and departmental growth
• Support the development and optimisation of legal processes and policies
• Enhance the company’s legal document portfolio for core areas of activity
• Assist with the management and oversight of the external legal panel
• Undertake negotiations on behalf of the company to achieve optimum results
• Agree commercial relationships with business partners that support the legal strategy
• Ensure the business always complies with the relevant governance requirements
• Horizon scan for changes in laws and regulations & update policies and procedures
• Undertake thorough due‑diligence where required on new or existing relationships
• Support the compliance team where matters of risk blend with legal obligations
• Support the lending teams with deal assessment and transaction execution
• Support the funding teams with legal requirements for institutional funding & investors
• Assist the portfolio management function with loan restructuring or refinancing
• Assist the C & R team with loan strategies for recovery including litigation if needed
• Support broader legal matters effecting the business
• Train and upskill operational units to improve business legal knowledge and reach
• Play a key role in the development optimisation of contracts and legal documents
• Respond to inquiries and assist in preparing legal and regulatory reports
• Assist with the development of the legal culture through upskilling efforts
• Represent the firm in legal circles and drive the brand accordingly

Candidate Requirements

• An experienced REF Lawyer who is registered with the SRA
• A minimum of 4 years PQE
• Highly confident when structuring and negotiating on complex real estate loans
• A good understanding of wholesale funding and investor management
• Experienced in developing legal strategies, policies and processes
• Confident when devising and executing contracts, loan & investor documents
• Outstanding negotiator and an exemplary communicator in all aspects
• Proactive quick to spot and tackle opportunities or issues
• Ambitious and keen to grow with the firm

On Offer

Our client is ideally looking to pay up to c150kas a basic salary of the ideal individual relevant to offers could also be considered for exceptional experience in the space.

Salary will be complemented by access to our client’s favourable bonus scheme too which can significantly boost annual income.

Due to the central nature of this role it will largely be based in our client’s Central London offices with requirements to travel as needed in line with the duties of the role.

Next Steps

There is a reasonable amount of urgency to fill this position in line with objectives.

Due to the nature of the role & opportunity you do not expect it to be on the market for long!

If this role does sound like one that you are both qualified for and interested in then we look forward to your application as soon as possible.

Once we have reviewed your application we will be in touch with an update.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The City Capital Team