Location: London
Job Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Our client is a fast-growing London-based real estate developer and investor with an active pipeline across residential, mixed-use, and build-to-rent schemes. The business has expanded significantly in recent years and continues to scale its development and investment platform.
The Role
They are seeking a commercially focused In-House Counsel to support across land acquisitions, development finance, and commercial contracts. This is a broad, high-impact role working closely with investment, development, and finance teams, providing pragmatic legal advice in a fast-paced, deal-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
Land & Property
- Lead legal due diligence and transaction management on land acquisitions, option agreements, and conditional contracts
- Advise on title matters, planning obligations (Section 106), overage, and restrictive covenants
- Review and negotiate heads of terms, purchase agreements, and associated documentation
- Manage external solicitors on complex transactions, ensuring quality and cost efficiency
- Support joint venture structuring and documentation
Banking & Finance
- Act as the lead legal contact on development finance transactions, including senior, mezzanine, and equity arrangements
- Review and negotiate facility agreements and security documentation
- Manage conditions precedent processes and drawdowns alongside internal teams
- Liaise with lenders and their legal advisers
Commercial Contracts
- Draft and negotiate a wide range of agreements, including construction contracts (JCT), professional appointments, and NDAs
- Advise on contractor and consultant terms, warranties, and novation agreements
- Support procurement and contract administration queries
- Maintain and develop standard templates and precedents
General In-House
- Provide clear, commercially focused legal advice to senior stakeholders
- Identify and manage legal risk across the development and investment pipeline
- Manage external legal panel and oversee legal spend
- Monitor regulatory developments and advise the business accordingly
Candidate Profile
- Qualified solicitor with 4–8 years’ PQE
- Strong grounding in real estate law, particularly land acquisition
- Experience with development finance and/or banking transactions
- Background in a reputable private practice environment
- Strong drafting skills and attention to detail
- Commercial and pragmatic approach to legal advice
Desirable
- Previous in-house experience
- Exposure to both borrower and lender-side finance transactions
- Experience across commercial contracts within a development or investment business
…