Solicitor - Real Estate Finance

Shakespeare Martineau; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Shakespeare Martineau is seeking an enthusiastic NQ–2PQE Solicitor to join the Real Estate Finance team in the UK. You will support a broad range of Property Finance transactions across investment and development matters, liaising with lenders, borrowers and third parties to progress high-value deals with a strong client service mindset.

You will work closely with Partners, Associates and clients, developing technical and commercial expertise in a fast-paced environment while providing guidance

Qualifications

• NQ–2 PQE Solicitor with Real Estate Finance experience.
• Exposure to commercial and residential property transactions.
• Experience with acquisitions, refinances and secured lending.
• Knowledge of City of London Certificates of Title.
• Strong organization, attention to detail and ability to manage a high-volume caseload.
• Excellent communication and client liaison skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist senior lawyers on a diverse portfolio of Property Finance work.
• Manage a caseload with high-complexity deals and straightforward matters.
• Run cases efficiently, meeting client SLAs.
• Engage professionally with clients and third parties.
• Maintain impeccable file management, both electronic and paper.
• Provide guidance to junior fee earners within the team.
• Handle queries, manage calls, and liaise with clients on routine enquiries.
• Take charge of admin tasks including opening/closing/maintaining case files and scanning.

Skills

Real Estate Finance experience

Client communication

Legal research

Attention to detail

Education

2:1 degree in Law or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Legal case management software

Document management systems

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and driven NQ – 2PQE to join Shakespeare Martineau's Real Estate Finance team.

Working closely with Partners, Associates and clients, you will support a broad range of real estate finance transactions across both investment and development matters.

This role offers the opportunity to gain exposure to a unique and highly regarded practice area, working with a diverse client base including banks, financial institutions, developers, investors and corporate occupiers.

You will be part of a collaborative and supportive team, developing your technical and commercial expertise while contributing to complex and high-value transactions.

This position would suit someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in delivering a high standard of work and is keen to build a long-term career within Real Estate Finance.

What you will be doing:

• Assisting senior lawyers on a diverse portfolio of Property Finance work
• Managing a caseload that includes both high-complexity deals and more straightforward matters
• Running cases efficiently and cost-effectively, meeting client-mandated service level agreements
• Engaging professionally with clients and third parties, ensuring consistent and proactive communication
• Maintaining impeccable file management, both electronically and on paper, along with archiving and filing
• Providing support and guidance to more junior fee earners within the team
• Handling queries, managing phone calls, and liaising with clients on routine enquiries
• Taking charge of essential administrative tasks, such as opening, closing, and maintaining case files, as well as scanning and document management

What you will need:

• A strong academic background, ideally with a minimum of 2:1 degree in Law or a related discipline.
• An NQ–2 PQE Solicitor with experience in Real Estate Finance, ideally with exposure to both commercial and residential property transactions.
• Experience in managing commercial and residential property portfolio transactions, including acquisitions, refinances and secured lending transactions.
• Experience in preparing, reviewing and reporting on City of London Certificates of Title.
• A sound understanding of property law, secured lending and relevant company law principles, including corporate structures, authorities and security arrangements.
• Experience in reviewing and reporting on property due diligence, identifying legal risks and resolving title issues.
• Exposure to Islamic finance transactions, or a willingness to develop expertise in this area, would be advantageous.
• Excellent organisational and file management skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage a high-volume caseload.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.
• A proactive, commercially minded approach, with the ability to take ownership of transactions, anticipate issues and progress matters with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to liaise directly with lenders, borrowers, solicitors and other stakeholders.
• Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel, together with experience using legal case management and document management systems.

Benefits, Agile Working and Additional information

We embrace agile working and offer a blended approach to where and how we work.

We appreciate that people have different needs and preferences and we’re keen to be flexible, after all, we value what you do, not where you do it.

We have the following hubs across the UK: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stratford upon Avon & Tunbridge Wells.

Want to find out more about our amazing benefits?

Additional information:

Please be aware, for some vacancies, where we receive high numbers of applications we may need to bring the close date forward.

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Equal opportunities

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

About Shakespeare Martineau

Shakespeare Martineau is part of Ampa Group, a leading house of brands in legal and professional services. Ampa Group brings together complementary firms - including Lime Solicitors, Mayo Wynne Baxter, Marrons and others - connected by shared values and a modern, people-first culture.

As a group, we’re focused on unlocking potential. We believe in the power of &: corporate & human, purposeful & profitable, ambitious & inclusive. Ampa Group provides the shared infrastructure, development programmes, culture, values and empowered working framework that enable our brands, and our people, to thrive.

For you, that means access to award-winning learning, flexibility built on trust, and opportunities to collaborate across a diverse network of specialists.

Shakespeare Martineau remains its own distinctive brand with its own clients and markets. Ampa Group gives our people the strength of the group and the freedom to grow their careers in the way that works for them.