Real Estate Finance Legal Director in Cardiff

About Acuity Law

We are a leading UK law firm renowned for our commitment to excellence, client service, and delivering innovative legal solutions. Our firm is recognised for its collaborative and dynamic working environment, offering high-quality legal advice to a diverse range of clients, from multinational corporations and financial institutions to SMEs, start-ups and high-net-worth individuals. We pride ourselves on fostering professional growth, encouraging innovation, and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture.

About The Role

Reporting to the Partners and working with the other members within Acuity’s highly specialist and industry-leading Real Estate Finance team, you will assist on a broad range of funding for real estate investment, operation and development matters. As a key member of the team, you will assist in advising lenders and borrowers on all aspects of a transaction, drawing on the specialist expertise from Acuity real estate, construction, planning and corporate colleagues providing advice on real estate backed debt transactions, a diverse range of asset types, debt sizes and tiers of debts for a wide range of clients including commercial and private banks, alternative lenders, building societies, funds developers, listed corporates, owner-operators and HNW investors.

About The Team

Acuity Law specialises in real estate finance, with a veteran team advising both lenders and borrowers on a wide range of real estate backed debt transactions, covering various asset classes and debt sizes. We pride ourselves on our exemplary client service and transactional nous. We offer end‑to‑end transactional services, drawing on expertise in real estate, construction, planning, and corporate law. Our clients include commercial and private banks, alternative lenders, building societies, funds, developers, listed corporates, owner-operators and high-net‑worth investors. We handle complex transactions across a broad spectrum of properties, including commercial/residential mixed‑use, shopping centres and retail parks, hotels, and other leisure facilities to student accommodation, offices, care homes and industrial properties, as well as large‑scale transformational developments and refurbishments works.

Key Responsibilities

• Transaction Leadership: Lead on high‑value and complex real estate finance transactions, including development, investment, acquisition, portfolio refinancing and alternative finance structures. Draft, review and negotiate all core finance and security documentation, ensuring a commercial, solutions‑led approach. Coordinate due diligence, manage all workstreams and ensure transactions progress efficiently, on time and within scope.
• Client Engagement: Act as a senior point of contact for clients, providing clear, pragmatic advice and anticipating client needs. Build strong, long‑term relationships with lenders, investors, developers and borrower clients. Represent the firm in negotiations, client meetings and external presentations.
• Technical Excellence & Risk Management: Maintain an up‑to‑date understanding of legal, regulatory and market developments affecting real estate finance. Ensure robust risk management across all matters and adherence to Acuity’s policies and procedures.
• Team Leadership & Development: Support the development of associates and junior lawyers through supervision, mentoring and constructive feedback. Lead internal know‑how sessions and contribute to precedent development and knowledge sharing. Assist with resourcing and workflow allocation to ensure high‑quality output across the team.
• Business Development: Contribute to the continued growth of Acuity’s Real Estate Finance offering, supporting the team’s strategic objectives. Lead and support on pitches, panel tenders, thought leadership and client development initiatives. Build market profile through participation in events, networking and insight‑led content.
• Financial & Operational Responsibility: Manage matters effectively, ensuring appropriate scoping, pricing and fee management. Support the delivery of team and firm‑wide financial targets, with a focus on profitability and efficient matter management. Assist in driving operational improvements, including strengthening processes around billing, WIP and lock‑up.
• Collaboration Across the Firm: Work closely with colleagues across Real Estate, Construction, Corporate, Banking & Finance, and Tax to deliver a seamless client experience. Support cross‑selling opportunities and contribute to firm‑wide initiatives and sector‑focused projects.

About You

• Experience & Qualifications: Qualified solicitor with a minimum of 8 years’ post‑qualification experience. Strong Real Estate Finance experience gained at a reputable national, regional or City firm. Demonstrable track record of leading high‑value, complex development, investment and refinancing transactions. Strong technical understanding of finance documentation, security structures, inter‑creditor arrangements and lending priorities.
• Technical & Commercial Skills: Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with the ability to deliver clear, concise and commercially focused advice. Strong grasp of due diligence processes and ability to manage multi‑disciplinary workstreams. Confident in identifying risks, proposing pragmatic solutions and guiding clients through strategic decisions. Commercially astute with an ability to scope, price and manage matters efficiently.
• Client Relationship Skills: Proven ability to build trusted, long‑term client relationships. Comfortable acting as a senior point of contact for lenders, developers, investors and borrowers. Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical issues into practical outcomes.
• Leadership & Team Contribution: Experienced in supervising, mentoring and supporting junior lawyers. Collaborative working style with the ability to contribute positively to team culture and wider firm initiatives. Committed to knowledge sharing, precedent development and continuous improvement across the team.
• Business Development & Profile: Demonstrated interest in business development, with experience preparing pitches, tenders and client materials. Confident engaging in networking and market‑facing activity to support team growth. Ability to generate new opportunities and strengthen existing client relationships.
• Personal Attributes: Professional, confident and approachable, with strong personal integrity. Proactive and highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities. Solutions‑focused mindset with a commitment to delivering exceptional client service. Strong alignment with Acuity Law’s values of collaboration, quality, commerciality and innovation.

Why Join Us?

Join a fast‑growing, modern law firm with a strong national presence and an entrepreneurial culture. Be part of a market‑leading Real Estate Finance practice acting for high‑quality lender, investor and developer clients. Work on complex, high‑value transactions with the autonomy to lead matters and shape client relationships. Collaborate with dynamic, expert colleagues across Real Estate, Construction, Corporate, Banking & Finance and Tax. Benefit from a flat, inclusive structure where ideas are encouraged and senior lawyers can genuinely influence growth. Access clear pathways for career progression, leadership opportunities and personal development. Enjoy a supportive, high‑performing environment that values quality, commerciality and client service excellence. Leverage strong internal infrastructure – dedicated BD support, sophisticated finance systems, and proactive operational teams. Join a firm that invests in technology, process improvement and innovative ways of delivering legal services. Be part of a culture that prioritises wellbeing, flexibility and a modern approach to working life.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in the role and looking to take the next step in your career, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application detailing your experience and suitability for the role. For a confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment team. We look forward to welcoming a talented professional to our growing team.