Senior/Principal Associate - Real Estate in Norwich

Mills & Reeve are hiring an experienced Real Estate Disputes Solicitor to join our growing, national team.

The role involves joining our growing Real Estate Disputes (RED) team in Birmingham, Norwich or Cambridge. You will work alongside Partners Richard New and Sam Maw, being part of a nationally recognised team known for its high-quality work and collaborative culture.

The role offers a varied mix of property advisory and litigation work across complex commercial leasehold and freehold disputes, with opportunities to gain exposure to residential and agricultural matters. Clients include investors, developers, government bodies, universities, hospital trusts and charities.

You will advise clients on preventing and resolving disputes, handling matters through to settlement or trial where required. Typical work includes possession and forfeiture claims, lease renewals, rent reviews, adverse possession, rights of way, option disputes and anti-social behaviour cases, across the High Court, County Court and Tribunals, as well as alternative dispute resolution forums.

You will manage your own caseload, supervise junior lawyers, support partners on larger matters, and contribute to business development, marketing and seminar activities. Experience across a broad range of property disputes is desirable, with opportunities to develop specialist expertise within the team.

The person: You will be 6+ years PQE with a broad spread of hands-on real estate disputes experience and in particular have experience of tribunal and court work.

What skills and attributes would I need?

• Good academics
• Excellent writing style and ability to produce clear, logical drafting
• Excellent technical analysis
• Attention to detail
• Excellent time and paper management skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and desire to be involved in growing the practice
• Willingness to learn and build up a wide range of experience
• Desire to market, to build new and strengthen existing client and agent relationships
• Commitment to and interest in real estate disputes (property law and dispute resolution)
• High level of analytical and forensic/litigation skills with real potential for taking on more complex matters
• A pragmatic approach to problem solving
• Ability to create a good impression with clients (internal and external), potential clients and multipliers
• Ability to work with other fee earners in the team and non-contentious fee earners in other teams, groups and sectors
• Active participant in business development initiatives

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The benefits: As you'd expect, we offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits.

Pre-employment screening: If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening. This screening will include, but is not limited to, a basic DBS, verification of your right to work, a three year employment history and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role.

Use of AI during the recruitment process: Here at Mills & Reeve, we embrace the use of technology and AI and we recognise that candidates may use AI tools to support their applications. As a regulated industry, we expect candidates to use such tools responsibly, honestly and in a manner that allows us to make a fair and accurate assessment of their individual skills, experience and suitability for the role.

The firm: Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our clients and their industries benefit from our knowledge and learning, and receive consistent experiences with no surprises. We build personal relationships, with advice individually tailored to individual need.

By joining Mills & Reeve, you'll have the chance to build your skills and experience within a firm that's not only ranked in the top 50 UK law firms, but also one that truly values their people. We're also ranked in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, and have been awarded Platinum Investors in People.

Our values are the principles that help us fulfil our purpose:

• We're ambitious - We aim high, we embrace new ideas and we're passionate about our work
• We're open - We communicate openly and honestly to build trust, and we do what's right
• We care - We're committed to each other, our clients, our communities and the planet
• We collaborate - We're easy to work with, we offer help willingly and we get things done – together

Everyone at Mills & Reeve brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment, are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, and want to achieve the right balance for both our people and the firm.

To find out more about our diversity and inclusion work, visit our website.

Vacancy Title: Senior/Principal Associate - Real Estate

Office: Birmingham, Cambridge, Norwich

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 30 September 2026