Associate (2-5 PQE) - Real Estate Litigation in London

The Department

We have earned a reputation as one of London's largest and best specialist property litigation teams. The team is led by Daniel Levy and all six of the team’s partners are individually ranked in the key directories. The team’s structure allows individuals to take on responsibility early while receiving ongoing support and development in a genuinely collaborative environment. We advise high‑net‑worth individuals, UK property companies, developers, corporate occupiers, and investment funds. Lawyers in the team regularly participate in court and trial work, including in the Appeal Courts, and possess strong commercial and strategic acumen. The team are also renowned negotiators, conducting mediations, arbitrations and other dispute resolution alternatives. The practice covers the full range of real‑estate disputes.

Key areas of practice include:

• Breaches of contract
• Commercial, residential and mixed‑use schemes
• Compensation claims
• Construction disputes
• Development disputes
• Dilapidations claims
• Insolvencies
• Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 matters
• Landlord and tenant issues including rent arrears and forfeiture (both commercial and residential)
• Mixed‑use scheme advice (including tenants' rights of first refusal)
• Party wall disputes
• Possession of land claims (both commercial and residential)
• Professional negligence
• Rights of light claims
• Service charge disputes
• Telecommunications Code strategic advice and disputes

Key clients include:

• Brookfield
• Blackstone Property Management
• Chelsfield
• Shaftesbury Capital PLC
• Delancey
• IWG (Regus)
• TK Maxx

The property litigation team sits within the wider Real Estate department. In addition to property litigation, the department’s core practice areas include construction, development and urban regeneration, fashion and retail, investment, planning and environment, residential, finance and taxation. The department’s clients span both the corporate and private‑wealth sectors, giving us a unique perspective on the market. This role will focus on the former, leveraging our extensive connections and deep understanding of the complex policy landscape.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Manage a varied and complex contentious property caseload.
• Exercise high standards of client care in a professional manner at all times.
• Ensure that all client work is progressed in a timely fashion and that the client is kept regularly informed on progress and costs.
• Ensure the confidentiality and security of all firm client documentation and information.
• Play a key role in the success of both the team and the wider firm.
• Develop client relationships as well as relationships with contacts in the industry.
• Be responsible for achieving agreed levels of billing and time recording.

Skills/Experience

• 2‑5 years PQE, ideally having spent time within a highly rated property litigation practice.
• Strong academic record.
• Excellent technical skills in the field of property litigation, the ability to make considered judgment calls, and a proven history of meeting and exceeding client expectations.
• Assertive, focused, and able to present oneself confidently to clients, particularly high‑net‑worth individuals. Resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure are also key attributes.
• Excellent written and interpersonal skills for drafting, presentation and client communication, with a keen eye for detail.
• Organizational and prioritizing skills essential to meet the demands of challenging internal and external clients.
• Good teamwork skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Pro‑active and take initiative in the development of both client relationships and own professional development.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.