Location: Manchester
Practice Area: Real Estate / Commercial Property
PQE Level: 5+ PQE
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Overview
A leading national and international law firm is seeking a Real Estate Managing Associate (5+ PQE) to join its highly successful and expanding Real Estate team in Manchester. This is a strategic senior role that offers the opportunity to manage your own caseload, work closely with partners on major transactions, develop a specialism, and play a key part in mentoring junior team members.
The team handles some of the most high-profile real estate projects in the UK, advising major developers, investors, funders and national household-name clients on landmark transactions. This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious real estate lawyer seeking leadership, visibility and progression within a top-performing team.
About the Real Estate Team
The Real Estate division is one of the firm’s largest and best-known practice areas, comprising nearly 200 real estate specialists across the UK.
The Manchester team includes:
- 7 Partners
- ~30 fee earners
- A strong reputation for commerciality, innovation and technical excellence
The team advises on major commercial property matters including:
- High-profile office, retail, leisure and mixed-use developments
- Regeneration and strategic land projects
- Large-scale acquisitions and disposals
- Property management and landlord/tenant mandates
- Multi-site leasing and easement roll-outs
- Major UK development and investment schemes
The team uses cutting-edge legal technology, including Orbital Witness and HighQ, and encourages lawyers to adopt and test the latest tech solutions including generative AI tools.
What to Expect in This Role
Manage High-Quality Real Estate Work
- Handle your own caseload of commercial property matters
- Work with partners on large-scale, high-value projects
- Advise on landlord and tenant matters, property management, acquisitions, disposals and development transactions
- Support major projects involving leasing roll-outs, easements and strategic property issues
Lead and Support Junior Lawyers
- Supervise, mentor and develop trainees, paralegals and junior fee earners
- Support their technical development and contribute to the team’s long-term growth
Client Relationship Development
- Help build and deepen relationships with key clients
- Contribute to business development, networking and wider team initiatives
- Represent the team in internal and external meetings
Collaborative, Technology-Enabled Work
- Work closely with paralegals, partners and colleagues across departments
- Use cutting-edge legal tech to enhance efficiency and client delivery
- Contribute to innovation and continuous improvement within the team
About You
You will be:
- A UK-qualified lawyer with 5+ PQE in commercial property / real estate
- Technically strong with experience across a broad range of real estate matters
- Confident managing your own caseload and delivering high-quality, commercial advice
- A collaborative team player who enjoys mentoring junior colleagues
- Highly organised with strong diary and task management
- A confident communicator with proven stakeholder management skills
- Curious, commercially aware and enthusiastic about understanding client drivers
- Committed to continuous learning, development and innovation
Why Join This Firm?
The firm is known for:
- A supportive, ambitious and collaborative culture
- High-calibre work with leading UK and global clients
- A strong focus on career progression and professional development
- Innovative working practices and investment in legal tech
- A commitment to diversity, inclusion and creating a positive workplace
- A reputation for excellence, integrity and client-focused service
You will work alongside high-performing colleagues who care deeply about the work they do, the clients they serve and the success of their team.
Why This Role?
- Senior-level opportunity with real responsibility
- Direct access to partners and major UK clients
- Leadership role shaping junior talent
- High-value, high-profile work
- Clear progression routes and internal support
- Exposure to some of the largest and most exciting real estate projects in the UK