Overview

A leading international law firm is seeking to appoint a Senior Associate into its London office, with a focus on real estate finance. The team advises on sophisticated, non‑standard real estate financings where asset‑level understanding, thoughtful structuring and commercial judgement are central to delivery.

The practice has a strong and expanding presence in the real estate finance market, advising lenders, borrowers and alternative capital providers on high‑value, complex transactions. The role offers Senior Associates meaningful responsibility, strong visibility and the opportunity to play a genuine role in the continued growth of the practice.

About the Opportunity

The role sits within a technically strong real estate finance team advising on complex, structured and bespoke real estate backed debt transactions across the capital stack. The work spans direct lending, senior, mezzanine and whole‑loan financings, as well as portfolio, platform, warehouse and take‑out structures secured against commercial, residential and mixed‑use assets.

Senior associates are front and center on deals, trusted to run workstreams, negotiate key documents and advise directly on structuring and risk, with close partner access and meaningful client exposure. As the real estate structured finance and credit practice continues to scale, the role offers a clear step‑up in responsibility, genuine autonomy and the opportunity to help shape a growing, market‑facing practice.

Responsibilities

• Advising on real estate finance and real estate‑backed structured debt transactions
• Acting on complex and non‑standard real estate financings, including direct lending and alternative credit structures
• Advising on portfolio, platform, warehouse and investment‑led real estate financings
• Structuring and negotiating senior, mezzanine and whole‑loan facilities
• Working on real estate structured finance and asset‑backed funding arrangements
• Leading transaction workstreams from term sheet through to completion
• Coordinating multi‑jurisdictional aspects of real estate finance matters
• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers
• Liaising directly with borrowers, lenders, investors, arrangers and internal specialists
• Supporting transaction strategy, structuring analysis and issue resolution

Required Qualifications

• UK (England & Wales) Qualified Solicitor
• 4+ years’ post qualification experience in real estate finance, with exposure to structured debt
• Solid technical grounding in real estate lending structures and capital stacks
• Interest in, or growing exposure to, structured or alternative real estate finance
• Comfortable operating with increasing autonomy on sophisticated transactions
• Commercial, detail‑focused and a confident communicator with strong drafting skills