About The Role
Senior Associate – Real Estate Disputes
Thames Valley | Ideally 5+ years’ PQE
The opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Senior Associate to join our Real Estate Disputes team in the Thames Valley. This is a brand-new role within a busy, ambitious national practice and an excellent opportunity to take on interesting, complex work, build a strong internal and external profile and become an indispensable part of the team.
As a Top 50 UK law firm, HCR offers the platform, client base and support to help talented lawyers develop their careers. Our Real Estate Disputes lawyers work as one national team, with six partners across the practice. In Thames Valley, the team also acts for clients across the London market, giving you genuine scope to broaden your network, grow your reputation and develop your career with the firm.
You will advise investors, developers, owners and occupiers on how best to avoid, manage and resolve real estate issues and disputes. Working closely with colleagues in our transactional property, construction and planning teams, you will help provide clients with a seamless, commercially focused real estate service.
Our fee earners are supported by modern technology and pioneering AI-enabled tools designed to improve efficiency, insight and client service, giving you more time to focus on high-value legal work and relationships.
The work
You will work with a broad client base that includes international, national and regional businesses, property developers, banks and lenders, Insolvency practitioners, NHS organisations, local government, charities, universities and colleges, schools and high net worth individuals. You will manage your own varied caseload, with support from experienced colleagues across the national practice.
The types of dispute may include:
- A wide range of landlord and tenant matters, including portfolio management, enforcement of lease obligations, forfeiture, lease renewal, service charge disputes, security and possession issues, dilapidations, breaches of lease covenant, recovery of possession (both commercial and residential) and the effective exercise of lease break rights;
- Issues arising from land sale and purchase transactions, development agreements, options and overage provisions;
- Rights of light, adverse possession, restrictive covenants, nuisance, beneficial ownership, rights of way, easements, boundary disputes and trespass;
- Strategic advice on obtaining vacant possession of development sites.
- Professional Negligence claims
What you will do
- Take instructions, advise clients and build trusted, long-term relationships
- Run your own caseload of complex and strategically important matters
- Support and supervise other fee earners across a range of cases
- Manage the financial performance of your matters, including forecasting, billing and recovery
- Keep your technical knowledge current and share insight across the national team
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across HCR to deliver joined-up advice and identify opportunities for clients
- Ensure all work meets the firm’s risk management and data protection requirements
- Contribute to business development, profile-raising and wider marketing activity in Thames Valley, London and nationally
About You
About you
You will ideally be a solicitor with at least five years’ PQE and substantial experience of real estate disputes. You will be comfortable taking ownership of matters while working collaboratively as part of a national team.
- Strong experience as a litigator and trusted adviser on real estate disputes
- Experience of the County Court, High Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and First-tier Tribunal, as relevant to your practice
- A commercial, practical approach and the confidence to manage complex matters
- Strong client relationship, teamwork and business development skills
- The ability to prioritise, organise and progress a busy caseload
- A proactive approach, sound judgement and close attention to detail
- An existing following or referral network would be welcome, but is not essential
About Us
Benefits of working with us:
- Income Protection
- Private MedicalInsurance
- Sight tests / Glasses discounts
- Bonus scheme
- Electric vehicle scheme
- Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
- 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
- Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life Assurance
- 1/3 gym membership contribution
- Flu vaccinations
Is HCR the smart move for you?
HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.
Why HCR people love their jobs
Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive.
What career progression will HCR offer you?
HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams.
What does HCR believe, achieve and stand for?
As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them. We have more than 1000 lawyers and support staff, including more than 180 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards.
With 13 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly across all our regions, and are well-respected as a regional firm with a strong London and international presence.
With solid connections in the communities we work in, and a track record of delivering legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the areas we base ourselves in, our clients continue to value our approach to providing legal advice, in the way they need, when they need it.
As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation.
We also want you to achieve your absolute best during the recruitment process. Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application.
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Senior Associate - Real Estate Disputes employer: PT group
HCR Law is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment in the heart of London. With a strong focus on professional development, employees are encouraged to grow their skills and advance their careers while working on complex and rewarding cases. The firm's commitment to fostering a high-performing culture ensures that every team member can contribute meaningfully to the success of both clients and the firm.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Associate - Real Estate Disputes
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like PT group.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like PT group? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit PT group's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Senior Associate - Real Estate Disputes role at PT group, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at PT group
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where PT group operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to PT group. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at PT group.
