Real Estate Lawyer (embedded in Finance) - Associate, NQ - 3PQE, Leeds

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• As part of our continued significant growth, we are looking to recruit strong real estate lawyers, to join our Housing and Transition Finance Group

THE TEAM

• The team is widely regarded as a market leader in the social housing sector, with consistent recognition from Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
• This is a fantastic opportunity for ambitious lawyers who are looking to take the next step in their career by joining a well-established and thriving team with a strong reputation for excellence in the sector.
• The team works with a diverse range of clients, including housing associations, developers, registered providers, funders and investors, advising on most of the complex and high-value transactions across the UK aimed at solving the housing crisis

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ROLE

Due tounprecedented growth, we are seeking to hire an Associate into the Leeds team. The work you can expect to get involved with on a day to day basis might include:

• Carrying out real estate due diligence on large property portfolios, including:
  • preparing and reviewing both NHF social housing certificates of title and CLLS certificates of title;
  • reviewing, analysing and reporting on title documentation, leases, easements, restrictions, charges etc affecting the security;
  • identifying and clearly articulating title and other issues, and proposing practical, commercial solutions and risk mitigants for funders and borrowers.
• Assisting on complex multi funder and multi tranche transactions in excess of £1bn+, including:
  • coordinating real estate due diligence and reporting requirements across multiple funders;
  • managing and reconciling differing funder requirements and funder specific conditions precedent;
  • supporting senior fee earners and ensuring consistency with property and security documents.
• Acting for a broad range of predominantly funder side clients, including:
  • UK and international banks, institutional investors, bondholders and security trustees;
  • building long term working relationships with in house legal teams and deal/relationship teams;
  • understanding and applying funder risk appetites, internal policies and credit requirements to the structuring and documentation of transactions.
• Drafting and negotiating security and transaction documents, including legal charges, security trust deeds, accession deeds, and conditions precedent/conditions subsequent relating to property and security matters;
• Reviewing and reporting on real estate documentation, including:
  • leases, agreements for lease (including development and forward funding agreements), nominations agreements and management agreements;
  • development agreements, option agreements, overage arrangements and joint venture documentation;
  • preparing clear, concise and commercially focused reports on title issues and risk levels for funders.
• Managing the real estate workstream on transactions, including:
  • coordinating the collection and delivery of property related conditions precedent and due diligence;
  • maintaining and updating CP checklists and transaction trackers;
  • liaising with borrowers' solicitors, our clients and other advisers to progress and close transactions efficiently.
• You will have the opportunity to join a vibrant team and get involved in each of these transactions. In addition to the underlying finance transactions, our Housing and Transition Finance Group also supports many clients on product development and government / regulatory engagement in relation to policy shifts across these areas.

YOUR AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

• To thrive in our team, you need to be entrepreneurial and a self-starter: confident with clients, collaborative across transactions, proactive in driving deals forward and market facing with a hunger to drive your own development and network.
• This is a place where we enable ambition and talent to flourish.
• You also need to be someone who understands the underlying fundamentals of a transaction and the key part which the real estate assets play. Familiar with market standard forms of certificates of title, but without being wedded, you need to be solutions-focused, ready to learn and confident (at the more senior end of the range) with bespoke drafting. You will need to be confident with technology, whilst ready to demonstrate the unique value add which lawyering can still bring on the complex transactions you work on.

OUR FIRM

Our story of international growth is built on a performance mindset, innovation and true collaboration. We believe results follow relationships, so we work closely with each other, and develop deep client connections to deliver.

Our award-winning culture balances high standards and hard work with genuine care – looking out for each other, supporting professional development, in a down to earth and inclusive environment. We do the right things in the right ways, combining commercial excellence and innovative thinking with teamwork. Together, we deliver excellence, achieve stand out solutions, and enable career-defining opportunities.

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