Real Estate Finance Associates – International Firm London
A leading City law firm is continuing the strategic expansion of its Real Estate Finance & Structured Debt practice in London, with a clear mandate to hire high-calibre associates across the junior to mid-level range.
This is a team with significant scale, strong internal momentum, and a clear growth trajectory, offering an excellent opportunity for lawyers looking to deepen their expertise in complex, high-value real estate finance transactions within a supportive and well-resourced environment.
The team sits at the intersection of real estate, finance, and structured debt, advising on a wide range of sophisticated transactions across the real estate sector. With a large partner bench and deep associate cohort, it offers both breadth and depth of experience.
Lawyers joining the team can expect:
* Exposure to high-quality real estate finance transactions, including investment and development financings
* Involvement in structured debt and more complex financing arrangements, often with cross-border elements
* The opportunity to work with major financial institutions, sponsors, and real estate investors
* A steady pipeline of top-tier work, reflecting the firm’s strong market position
* Close collaboration within a large, well-integrated team, providing strong support and development
The team is particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate genuine depth and sophistication in real estate finance work, rather than purely general banking experience.
This includes:
* Hands-on experience advising on investment and development financings, acting for lenders and/or borrowers
* Strong understanding of security structures, including property-backed lending and multi-asset portfolios
* Exposure to LMA-style documentation, intercreditor arrangements, and structured lending frameworks
* Familiarity with complex deal structuring, including mezzanine financing, preferred equity, and layered capital stacks
* Experience working on transactions involving institutional lenders, private debt funds, and real estate sponsors
* An appreciation of the commercial drivers behind real estate investments, including asset performance, risk allocation, and market dynamics
* Ideally, some exposure to cross-border transactions, though this is not essential
The team values lawyers who are not only technically strong but also able to engage commercially with clients, understand the underlying assets, and contribute meaningfully to deal execution.
Profile Wanted
* Junior to mid-level associates (up to 7 PQE)
* Strong background in real estate finance
* Open to candidates from Magic Circle, US, and other strong international firms
* Flexibility on background for high-quality candidates with the right experience
* Individuals who are ambitious, collaborative, and keen to develop within a growing platform
This is a chance to join a large and well-established team with significant partner support and a clear and active growth strategy, with multiple hires planned. Alongside this they have a proven track record of successful hires and integration and access to top-tier, complex work in the real estate finance space.
Culture and Compensation
* Target of 1,800 hours to achieve bonus
* A more sustainable approach to working hours relative to the top end of the market
* Hybrid working model (approximately 50% office presence over a two-week period)
* Emphasis on team collaboration, support, and consistent performance
* Highly competitive salary structure
* Approx. £150k at NQ level
* Around £188k at 5 PQE
* Bonus aligned with achievable hours targets
The team is actively looking to build on recent successful hires and remains open to meeting strong candidates who are keen to develop their careers within a high-performing and growing real estate finance practice.
For a confidential discussion, please feel free to get in touch directly.