At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal expertise on land acquisitions, development finance, and commercial contracts.
- Company: Dynamic real estate development firm in London with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £100K-£130K plus bonuses and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Work independently in a deal-driven atmosphere with a supportive team.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment where your legal skills can drive impactful projects.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor with strong property law background and experience in finance.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.
You will be the primary legal resource for land acquisitions, development finance, and commercial contracts providing fast, pragmatic, high-quality commercial legal advice that enables the business to move decisively.
Key Responsibilities
- Land & Property
- Lead legal due diligence and transaction management on land acquisitions, option agreements, conditional contracts, and promotion agreements
- Advise on title matters, planning obligations (s106 agreements), overage, clawback, and restrictive covenants
- Review and negotiate heads of terms, purchase contracts, and ancillary documentation
- Manage external solicitors on complex or high-value transactions, ensuring quality and cost efficiency
- Support joint venture structuring and documentation alongside the investment team
- Banking & Finance
- Act as the primary in-house legal contact on development finance facilities, including senior debt, mezzanine, and equity arrangements
- Review and negotiate facility agreements, security documentation, and intercreditor arrangements
- Manage conditions precedent processes and drawdown mechanics in coordination with the operations and development team
- Liaise with lenders' solicitors and maintain strong working relationships with banking counterparties
- Commercial Contracts
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements including construction contracts (JCT), professional appointments, consultant agreements, and NDAs
- Advise on contractor and consultant terms, warranties, collateral warranties, and novation agreements
- Support the development team with procurement and contract administration queries
- Maintain and develop a suite of standard-form templates and precedents for use across the business
- General In-House
- Provide timely, commercially focused legal advice to senior stakeholders across the business
- Identify and manage legal risk across the development and investment pipeline
- Manage the external legal panel, instruct and oversee specialist advisers, and control legal spend
- Keep the business informed of relevant legal and regulatory developments
Requirements
- Qualified solicitor
- Strong grounding in property law and ideally experience across banking/finance and commercial contracts
- Background in a reputable private practice real estate team, with in-house experience a plus
- Solid experience of land acquisition transactions — including conditional contracts, options, and s106 negotiations
- Exposure to development finance documentation and lender-side or borrower-side finance transactions
- Comfortable working at pace in an entrepreneurial, deal-driven environment
- Pragmatic and commercial — able to give clear, direct advice rather than purely academic legal analysis
- Strong drafting skills and meticulous attention to detail
- A self-starter who can manage multiple workstreams independently and prioritise effectively
Legal Counsel (development finance & land acquisitions) - Real Estate Development firm in London employer: Robert Half
As a leading real estate development firm based in London, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. With competitive salaries and a robust bonus structure, we offer exceptional benefits alongside ample opportunities for professional growth and development within the fast-paced property sector. Join us to be part of a collaborative team where your legal expertise will directly influence impactful projects and drive the success of our business.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel (development finance & land acquisitions) - Real Estate Development firm in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the real estate and legal sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals for informational chats. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance to meet potential employers or network, make sure to highlight your experience in land acquisitions and development finance. Share specific examples of how you've navigated complex transactions or provided valuable legal advice. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Interviews
Do your homework on the company and its recent projects. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their needs, especially in areas like commercial contracts and property law. Practise common interview questions and prepare some insightful questions to ask them too – it shows you're genuinely interested!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to check out our website for the latest job openings! Applying directly through us not only gives you access to exclusive roles but also shows your commitment to joining our team. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel (development finance & land acquisitions) - Real Estate Development firm in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Legal Counsel. Highlight your experience in land acquisitions, development finance, and commercial contracts. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your legal expertise and how you can add value to our team at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Legal Skills:In your application, don’t forget to showcase your strong grounding in property law and any relevant experience in banking/finance. We’re looking for someone who can provide fast, pragmatic legal advice, so make that clear!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Robert Half
✨Know Your Legal Stuff
Make sure you brush up on property law, development finance, and commercial contracts. Be ready to discuss specific cases or transactions you've worked on that relate to land acquisitions and financing. This shows you’re not just familiar with the theory but have practical experience too.
✨Show Your Pragmatic Side
During the interview, highlight your ability to provide clear, actionable legal advice. Use examples where you’ve helped a business make quick decisions by simplifying complex legal issues. This will demonstrate your commercial awareness and how you can add value to their team.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations related to land acquisitions or finance agreements. Think through how you would handle negotiations or manage external solicitors. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Understand Their Business
Research the firm’s recent projects and any legal challenges they might be facing. Being able to discuss how your skills can specifically help them navigate these issues will show that you’re genuinely interested and invested in their success.
