Legal Counsel

Puma Property Finance are looking for a Legal Counsel to join our Legal team in London. Puma Property Finance facilitates development loans from £10 million to £100 million to finance residential, commercial and specialist sector projects such as hotels, student accommodation and care homes. We have provided over £2bn of funding to property developments since inception and continue to grow both our retail and institutional capital sources.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated lawyer with a strong background in UK real estate development finance to join our Legal team within Puma Property Finance. Reporting to the Head of Legal and working closely with one other Legal Counsel, you will utilise your transactional experience within a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment and take on a business facing role.

This role requires a self-motivated and resourceful team player with demonstrable communication skills, who can work under pressure. You will be required to protect and enhance our reputation for excellence.

• Supporting the origination team, primarily assisting on the execution of development lending transactions, together with external counsel
• Providing internal advice on all matters relating to Puma Property Finance transactions, from the inception of deals through to repayment of loans
• Supporting the wider Puma Property Finance business, providing sound advice to colleagues on legal issues both from a strategic and operational perspective
• Developing and managing relationships with external counsel
• Working with the business operating teams across the group (primarily Compliance; Finance) on Puma Property Finance related matters

• Training and post qualification experience gained in a reputable real estate finance practice, around 3 years’ PQE, with in-house financial services experience being advantageous
• Proven experience of structuring and leading the execution of transactions from inception to close, with the ability to work across multiple matters simultaneously
• Direct experience of drafting and leading negotiations on key transaction documents such as term sheets, facility agreements, intercreditor agreements and security documents etc., in the LMA form
• Proven ability to communicate ideas clearly and succinctly in jargon-free language to colleagues with no legal background
• Commercially minded lawyer who maintains high standards and attention to detail, makes clear decisions, and makes commercial recommendations to deal teams
• Demonstrable experience of working well within a team and negotiating independently and effectively
• Appetite to learn and develop new approaches, and expand legal and commercial knowledge
• Ability to translate legal skills and experience into successful execution of transactions in a commercially-minded organisation
• Experience in general finance, restructuring, real estate, construction, would be beneficial but not essential
• Familiarity with ancillary real estate finance documentation such as certificates of title, broker letters and construction contracts would be beneficial but not essential

• Kind
• Values-driven
• Excellent communicator
• Adaptable and willing to get stuck into whatever needs doing
• Depth of character and gravitas but operating with humility
• The drive and attitude to excel in a high performing environment whilst maintaining high levels of integrity
• Energy, dynamism, and passion for complex business challenge
• Organised, rigorous and disciplined
• Pragmatic and practical

At Puma, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, we consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reassignment, family or parental status, national origin, veteran status, neurodiversity, or disability status.