Location: Manchester
Type: Full-time, Permanent
Senior Solicitor – Real Estate (Commercial Landlord & Tenant) - 3-10 years PQE
About Hanover Law
Hanover Law is a boutique law firm based in Manchester and specialising in commercial real estate work (both contentious and non-contentious). Hanover Law undertakes the majority of legal work for the Praxis Group — a fast-growing real estate investment and management business with a portfolio of over £1.2bn across office, retail, industrial, and development assets. Our clients also include private high net worth individuals, local authorities and SMEs.
Hanover Law is an SRA-regulated ABS and is structured as a standalone a law firm, but operates much like an in-house practice, working hand-in-hand with the Praxis asset management and investment teams. This creates a unique opportunity to work on complex, high-value real estate transactions while enjoying the balance, collaboration, and culture typically associated with in-house legal roles.
The Opportunity
We’re looking for a Senior Solicitor with around 3–10 years’ PQE to join our Manchester-based team. The role focuses predominantly on non-contentious commercial landlord and tenant work across office and retail assets. You’ll work directly with senior asset managers and the investment team to structure deals, negotiate leases, and deliver practical, commercially focused legal advice.
You will also have the opportunity to work on high-value acquisitions and disposals. You’ll manage your own caseload of day-to-day landlord and tenant matters while supporting on more complex transactions across the wider portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
* Draft, negotiate, and complete agreements for lease, leases, licences, renewals, and other ancillary documentation for office and retail properties.
* Support acquisitions, disposals, and re-gears in collaboration with the investment and asset management teams.
* Provide ad-hoc advice to the wider business on property management matters including service charge disputes, rent deposits, and lease interpretation.
* Attend site visits with the asset management team to gain a first-hand understanding of assets and tenants.
* Provide proactive, commercial legal advice to help structure deals and manage risk.
* Liaise with and manage external solicitors where specialist input is required.
* Contribute to continuous improvement of legal templates, processes, and documentation.
About You
* Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales, with 3–10 years’ PQE (indicative).
* Strong experience in commercial real estate transactions, ideally landlord and tenant work (office/retail focus preferred).
* Experience gained within a leading private practice firm or an in-house real estate team.
* Commercially minded, pragmatic, and able to balance legal risk with business goals.
* Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
* Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple transactions efficiently.
Why Join Hanover Law?
This role offers the best of both worlds — top-tier legal work, without the pressures of traditional private practice.
The Hanover Law team is small yet highly-experienced and rivals large city-centre practices in terms of the work it undertakes.
What makes this opportunity stand out:
* In-house feel: Work directly with the Praxis asset management and investment teams as a trusted legal partner.
* Work-life balance: No billable hours or unrealistic KPIs. The team typically finishes by 5–5.30pm, with no expectation of late working. No business development expectations (although this is not discouraged if candidates wish to bring similar high-level work/clients with them).
* Unique in Manchester: In-house property legal roles are rare; Hanover Law offers a hybrid of in-house collaboration and firm independence.
* High-quality work: Handle transactions comparable to top commercial firms. A few recent examples of the type of work the team regularly undertakes in addition to day-to-day matters:
* Lettings at Brindleyplace, Birmingham (£500k p.a.)
* Lettings at Regent House, Chelmsford (£550k p.a.)
* Lettings at Fusion 1, Fareham (£600k p.a.)
* Sale of a confidential asset to a government department (£11m)
* Disposals at Kings Hill Business Park (£26m)
* Ongoing advisory work across shopping centres, office parks, and development sites across England and Wales
* Growth: As Praxis continues to expand, Hanover Law’s workstream and influence will grow in tandem.
Summary
If you’re a real estate lawyer who enjoys complex, high-value work but values balance, autonomy, and commercial engagement — this is a rare opportunity to have it all.