About Us
Today Dandara is one of the UK's largest independent property development companies, with more than 100 industry awards for design and quality – and it's all thanks to the vision and passion of our dedicated team.
Our attention-to-detail and commitment to excellence are second to none - since 1988 we've received over 100 industry awards for architecture, design and quality.
Role Overview
We are looking for an in-house lawyer (4–8 PQE) to join a busy in-house property development legal team. This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role supporting the business across the full development lifecycle—from site acquisition and planning through construction, funding, sales/lettings and asset management. You will manage multiple matters concurrently, advise stakeholders at pace, and help keep transactions moving while ensuring risks are identified, explained and appropriately managed.
We are advertising this role in Altrincham and the Isle of Man for one role.
What You Will Do
Development/Real Estate
Run and support site acquisitions and disposals (freehold and leasehold), including title review, due diligence, conditions precedent management, and completions.
Review and negotiate conditional contracts, options, overage agreements, development agreements, and associated ancillary documentation.
Support lettings/sales workstreams including agreements for lease, variations, licences, and general landlord and tenant issues.
Provide pragmatic advice on property risk (title defects, easements/rights, restrictive covenants, access, utilities, environmental), escalating higher-risk issues appropriately.
Supporting plot sales workstreams including site set up, preparation and settling precedent form sales documents and providing general support for the in-house plot sales team.
Planning
Support planning workstreams by coordinating legal input on planning conditions/obligations and liaising with external counsel where required (e.g., section agreements), ensuring risks and dependencies are understood by the project team.
Commercial
Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts relevant to a developer (e.g., professional services, agency/broker, marketing, NDAs).
Provide governance/execution support: approvals, execution formalities, and document management.
External Counsel & Operational Excellence
Instruct, manage and challenge external counsel; control cost and ensure quality and responsiveness.
Triage and prioritise incoming work; set realistic timelines; proactively communicate status and next steps.
Contribute to continuous improvement: templates, playbooks, checklists, and ways of working.
What You Will Have
Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with 4–8 years PQE.
Strong experience in real estate transactions with meaningful exposure to property development work (private practice and/or in-house).
Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with sound commercial judgment.
Ability to manage a high volume of matters under time pressure with good organisation and attention to detail.
Strong stakeholder management—able to influence non-lawyers and give clear, pragmatic advice.
Exposure to BTR, residential development, regeneration/mixed-use, or portfolio asset management.
Prior in-house experience.
What We Will Offer You
Dandara was established in 1988 from the desire to provide innovative homes and commercial properties, which would offer real value for money without compromising on design, durability, or quality. Today Dandara is one of the UK's largest independent property development companies, with over 10,000 happy customers and more than 100 industry awards for design and quality – and it's all thanks to the vision and passion of our dedicated team. Our benefits include:
£Competitive basic salary
Car Allowance
Discretioanry Bonus Scheme
33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
Private Medical Insurance
Employee Assistance Programme - EAP
Health Hero digital doctor - 24 hr virtual help and appointments
Health Assured Wisdom App
Competitive parental leave
3x salary life assurance (paid option to increase to x4)
Cycle to Work Scheme
Employer matched pension scheme of up to 5%
Flexible benefits including shopping vouchers, airport parking and reduced gym membership
If you would like to have a discreet chat with our Head of Recruitment, Ross Davies, you can reach him on Linkedin.
Important note for Recruitment Agencies
Please do not send, by any means, unsolicited Resumes (i) in response to any of our roles, (ii) to any of our employees or any person engaged by us, or (iii) to any of our regional businesses, including our head office. Any unsolicited Resumes received by us shall be deemed to be our property.
Any candidate submitted to us by an Agency via an unsolicited Resume shall be deemed to have been referred by that Agency free of commission, fee or any other charge (Fees). We are not liable for any Fees relating to the engagement of any person resulting from an unsolicited Resume