Real Estate Finance Associate solicitor

A leading international law firm is seeking an experienced Real Estate Finance Associate to join its growing and highly regarded finance practice in London. This is an excellent opportunity for a real estate finance lawyer to join a team with a strong presence in the upper mid-market, working on increasingly complex and high-value transactions for a diverse range of domestic and international clients.

The successful candidate will join a dedicated Real Estate Finance team within a broader Debt Finance practice and will work across a wide range of sophisticated financing transactions. The role will offer exposure to both lender-side and borrower-side mandates, with clients including:

• Domestic and international banks
• Private capital and alternative lenders
• Sponsors
• Corporates
• Other institutional and commercial borrowers

You will work on a broad range of matters, including:

• Real estate acquisition financings
• Development financings
• Investment and asset-backed financings
• Cashflow lending secured against operational real estate assets
• Financings involving sectors such as hotels and care homes
• Cross-border financing transactions
• Complex and high-value real estate finance matters

There will also be opportunities to broaden your experience by supporting the wider Debt Finance practice on matters including leveraged finance, asset-based lending, corporate lending, restructurings and special situations.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing and contributing to a range of real estate finance transactions from inception through to completion
• Advising on both lender-side and borrower-side mandates
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating financing and security documentation
• Coordinating transaction workstreams and managing deal processes efficiently
• Working closely with colleagues across real estate, planning and construction to deliver integrated advice
• Navigating cross-border aspects of transactions and coordinating with overseas counsel where required
• Taking responsibility for client relationships and delivering commercially focused advice
• Supporting junior lawyers and contributing to the continued growth and development of the practice

Candidate Profile

• Strong, in-depth experience in real estate finance, ideally within the upper mid-market
• Experience acting on both lender-side and borrower-side transactions
• A solid track record of acquisition, development and other real estate-backed financings
• Excellent drafting, technical and analytical skills
• The ability to manage transactions and multiple workstreams effectively
• Strong commercial awareness and a practical, solutions-focused approach
• Experience of cross-border transactions or an interest in developing international finance experience
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across different practice areas
• The ambition to take on increasing levels of responsibility and develop a long-term career within a growing practice

Candidates should be comfortable handling sophisticated matters while also taking ownership of more straightforward transactions.

What the Role Offers

• High-quality exposure to complex and increasingly high-value real estate finance transactions
• A broad mix of lender and borrower work
• Significant cross-border exposure
• The opportunity to work closely with specialist real estate, planning and construction teams as part of an integrated transaction team
• Early responsibility and direct involvement in client matters
• Opportunities to broaden experience across the wider debt finance practice
• A supportive and informal team culture focused on both excellence and career development
• Genuine long-term progression opportunities, including a potential partnership track for the right candidate
• A team at the forefront of the adoption and development of AI and legal technology within transactional practice
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious Real Estate Finance lawyer looking to join a growing international practice with a strong pipeline of complex, high-value work and genuine opportunities for long-term career progression. For a confidential discussion about the opportunity, please get in touch.