Job Description Real Estate Associate (Dedicated Client Team) Location : Leeds (flexible - office based or primarily home-based with travel to Leeds office at least twice per month) PQE Level : 3 years' PQE Salary : £50,000 - £70,000 Bonus (dependent on experience) Join a Tier 1 Ranked Real Estate Team in an Innovative Dedicated Client Role Are you an experienced Real Estate Associate looking for a unique opportunity that offers genuine work-life balance, innovative ways of working, and the chance to develop deep client expertise? Our client, a leading international law firm with 250 years of heritage and a reputation for award-winning innovation, is seeking two Real Estate Associates to join their Leeds Transactional Real Estate team in an exciting new dedicated client role. This is a rare opportunity to work as part of a new and progressive delivery team model for one of the firm's major institutional landlord clients. You'll be delivering legal services using the latest innovative ways of working and embracing forward-thinking approaches to drive value, all while enjoying a real work-life balance with increased certainty and flexibility in hours. The role offers a reduced chargeable hours target of 1,400 hours per year and can be office based or primarily home-based with travel to the Leeds office at least twice per month (to be agreed depending on your level of experience). There will be additional attendance required initially for training with the team and occasional visits to London to meet with the client. The Firm Our client is a London headquartered, international, full-service law firm that consistently delivers high-quality outcomes for clients globally. With 250 years of heritage, the firm today supports over 5,000 of the world's most respected organisations, helping them in over 50 areas of business law across more than 100 countries. The firm is known for award-winning innovation and delivering impact to clients. The firm has a strong global presence with offices across Asia (Japan, Singapore), Europe (England & Wales, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Scotland, Spain), and the Middle East (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, UAE), plus regional business groups covering Africa, Central & Eastern Europe, India, Korea, Latin America, Nordics, North America, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Recent major deals include advising on the largest UK IPO of 2025 (£300m market capitalisation), the £36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear power station financing (one of Europe's most significant infrastructure projects), and the £275m sale of an iconic London landmark to a luxury international hotel group. The firm is a place where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. The culture of improvement, growth, and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation, and rewards ambition. The firm's success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives. The Team The Real Estate Group is one of the firm's largest, comprising a team of nearly 300 lawyers. In the Leeds office, the Transactional Real Estate team currently consists of 6 partners and 50 other fee earners. The Leeds Transactional Real Estate team is Tier 1 ranked and won both the Yorkshire Property Insider Awards and the Yorkshire Lawyer Awards Real Estate Team of the Year in 2023. The team places a high emphasis on transactional expertise and brings a commercial and business-oriented approach to a wide range of property matters. In delivering transactions, the team uses the latest technology in conjunction with the firm's legal tech team and the wider Innovation Group. The team encourages lawyers to think differently and to test the latest technology, including advances in generative AI. The Role As part of a new and exciting mandate from one of the firm's major clients, you will act as a dedicated resource to one of the firm's major institutional landlord clients within a structured delivery model. This role will allow you to build up in-depth knowledge of the client and its business, but with the benefits of the law firm support and innovation model. You will work as part of a wider team and have all the training and support necessary to ensure you can be successful in your role. This is a unique opportunity to: Focus exclusively on one major client, enabling you to develop deep sector expertise and build strong client relationships Benefit from comprehensive support, training, and career development opportunities Enjoy a real work-life balance with increased certainty and flexibility in hours Work with the latest innovative ways of working and forward-thinking approaches Have a reduced chargeable hours target of 1,400 hours per year (compared to typical 1,600-1,800 hours) Choose to be office based or primarily home-based with travel to Leeds office at least twice per month Your key responsibilities will include: Core Transactional Work: Drafting and negotiating commercial leases (including new, renewal, and reversionary leases) Drafting and negotiating ancillary lettings documents such as licences to alter, rent deposit deeds, etc. Creating and maintaining letting due diligence packs including title, CPSE, property specific documents, etc. Answering tenant due diligence enquiries including liaising with appropriate professional advisers of the client and/or the client Dealing with letting/management applications (such as licences to assign, underlet, deed of variation, etc.) during the term of existing leases Dealing with completion processes such as deeds administration, collection of completion monies, and post completion administration and billing Supervision and Team Leadership: Supervising work carried out by junior lawyers and paralegals who assist with lettings and management matters (e.g., draft CPSE replies) Working closely with the wider client account team to ensure consistency of approach and sharing of best practice knowledge for the client (including assisting with creating and maintaining precedents and client processes) Client Management and Relationship Building: Being principally responsible for your own caseload and compliance with firm policies and processes (under appropriate supervision) Direct contact with client and other professionals engaged by client (including social/networking opportunities) Direct contact with tenant and their own professional representatives Building strong client relationships and developing deep sector expertise Additional Responsibilities: Carrying out other appropriate legal tasks as may be required from time to time for this client or senior members of the team (including assisting with sales, purchases, and other transactions from time to time) Maintaining a worklog/status update for each matter with contemporaneous updates Complying with/maintaining/implementing client specific "admin" requirements such as Horizon inputting, insertion/negotiation of client specific drafting and adopting portfolio positions on certain negotiation points Responsible for managing own personal financials such as WIP, billing, write offs About You Essential Requirements: Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales Ideally 3 years' PQE as an Associate working within commercial property matters in England & Wales Strong technical knowledge of commercial property law, particularly commercial leases and lettings Experience drafting and negotiating commercial leases (new, renewal, and reversionary) Experience with ancillary lettings documents (licences to alter, rent deposit deeds, etc.) Experience with letting/management applications (licences to assign, underlet, deeds of variation, etc.) Strong understanding of landlord and tenant law Excellent drafting and negotiation skills Dedicated to the highest levels of client service, with strong communication and relationship building skills Proactive approach to identifying risks and opportunities, and developing practical, commercially focused solutions Strong organisational skills and ability to manage own caseload Ability to work effectively as part of a wider team Commitment to following processes and utilising legal technology tools Strong attention to detail and accuracy Commercially focused with excellent problem-solving abilities Highly Desirable: Experience of working for institutional landlords Experience managing high volume, fast paced workloads in a client facing role as part of a wider team Experience with CPSE enquiries and due diligence processes Experience with completion processes and post completion administration Experience supervising junior lawyers and paralegals Experience with legal technology tools and innovative ways of working Experience with generative AI and legal tech Experience working in a dedicated client team or secondment environment Strong business development and networking skills Key Attributes: Client-focused with commitment to exceptional service delivery Commercially astute and business-oriented approach Proactive and solutions-focused Strong team player who works well in a collaborative environment Adaptable and flexible approach to work Enthusiastic about innovation and new ways of working Self-motivated with strong work ethic Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships Committed to continuous learning and development Passionate about real estate law What's On Offer Our client is committed to recognising and rewarding great work, with rewards and benefits that are among the best in the business. Benefits include: Competitive salary: £50,000 - £70,000 Bonus (dependent on experience) Bonus scheme Reduced chargeable hours target: 1,400 hours per year (compared to typical 1,600-1,800 hours) Real work-life balance with increased certainty and flexibility in hours Flexible working: office based or primarily home-based with travel to Leeds office at least twice per month International, full-service law firm with 250 years of heritage Support over 5,000 of the world's most respected organisations globally 50 areas of business law across 100 countries Award-winning innovation and reputation for delivering impact Leeds Transactional Real Estate team ranked Tier 1 Yorkshire Property Insider Awards and Yorkshire Lawyer Awards Real Estate Team of the Year 2023 Real Estate Group of nearly 300 lawyers Leeds team: 6 partners and 50 other fee earners Unique opportunity to focus exclusively on one major institutional landlord client Develop deep sector expertise and build strong client relationships Work as part of a new and progressive delivery team model Use the latest innovative ways of working including generative AI Comprehensive support, training, and career development opportunities Work with legal tech team and wider Innovation Group Culture of improvement, growth, and collaboration Supportive and collegiate environment Clear progression pathway Direct contact with client and networking opportunities Occasional visits to London to meet with the client Initial training with the team Manage own caseload with autonomy Supervise junior lawyers and paralegals Work on high-calibre matters with high-character colleagues Access to full-service firm resources (Corporate, Finance, Employment, Dispute Resolution, IP, Tax, Competition, Construction, and more) Employee networks that provide space to discuss differences and celebrate diversity Firm that values people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives Recent major deals: Largest UK IPO 2025 (£300m), £36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear financing, £275m London landmark sale Global offices across Asia, Europe, and Middle East Regional business groups covering Africa, CEE, India, Korea, Latin America, Nordics, North America, Türkiye, Ukraine Location This role is based in the firm's Leeds office but offers flexible working arrangements. The role can be office based or primarily home-based with travel to the Leeds office at least twice per month (to be agreed depending on your level of experience). There will be additional attendance required initially for training with the team and occasional visits to London to meet with the client. The Leeds office is located in the heart of the city's business district with excellent transport links and access to the city's amenities, restaurants, and cultural attractions. How to Apply If you're an experienced Real Estate Associate (ideally 3 years' PQE) looking for a unique opportunity that offers genuine work-life balance, innovative ways of working, and the chance to develop deep client expertise with a major institutional landlord, we'd love to hear from you. Click apply now or contact lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com or 0333 996 2882