Associate / Senior Associate - Real Estate

Associate / Senior Associate - Real Estate

Location: Leeds, Sheffield or Manchester
PQE: 5+ years

LHH Leeds Legal

Join a leading regional real estate practice with high-quality work and genuine progression opportunities

An established and highly regarded real estate team is seeking an experienced Associate or Senior Associate to support its continued growth across Northern England. This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-balanced, collaborative team delivering complex, high-value work while maintaining a strong focus on work-life balance and career development.

The Team

The real estate practice operates across several northern offices as one integrated team, comprising around 20 lawyers, including multiple partners. The team works collaboratively across locations, with a structured but flexible hybrid working model (typically three 'anchor' days in the office).

The team has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality work comparable to leading international firms, supported by a stable platform and a consistently strong pipeline of instructions.

The Opportunity

Due to increased demand and continued growth, the team is looking to recruit at the mid-to-senior level. The successful candidate will play a key role in supervising junior lawyers, managing transactions, and supporting the development of client relationships.

This position offers a broad mix of advisory and transactional real estate work, with scope to lead matters while contributing to larger, multi-lawyer projects.

Work & Clients

The team advises on a wide range of commercial real estate matters, with a strong regional client base and minimal reliance on London-generated work.

Key sectors include:

• Industrial and logistics
• Residential and housing development
• Student accommodation
• Clean and renewable energy (growing area)
• Retail and corporate occupiers
• Sports-related development

Clients include developers, housebuilders, investors, and occupiers, as well as organisations involved in large-scale regeneration and infrastructure projects.

Role Responsibilities

• Managing and advising on a range of commercial real estate transactions
• Drafting and negotiating development, acquisition, and disposal documentation
• Supervising and mentoring junior team members
• Working collaboratively across offices and disciplines on larger matters
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships
• Contributing to business development and networking initiatives

The team actively supports career progression, with clear frameworks and a strong track record of internal promotion based on merit rather than tenure.

Candidate Profile

The team is looking for individuals who are:

• Commercially minded and technically strong
• Personable and confident in client-facing situations
• Motivated to build relationships and contribute to business development
• Interested in sustainable and long-term career progression

Experience in residential or commercial development work is particularly valuable.

Culture & Benefits

The firm is known for its supportive and collaborative culture, with a genuine commitment to maintaining work-life balance. Long hours and weekend working are actively discouraged.

Additional benefits include:

• Competitive and transparent salary structure
• Individual performance-related bonuses
• Private medical insurance (enhanced at senior levels)
• Optional holiday purchase scheme (with adjusted targets)
• Parking and other senior-level benefits

Performance & Progression

Performance expectations are balanced and tailored to level, encompassing:

• Fee-earning
• Supervision and mentoring
• Business development
• Training and knowledge sharing

Targets are flexible and adjusted based on factors such as annual leave or absence. Work allocation is centrally managed to ensure fairness and efficiency.

Career progression is clear and merit-based, with no rigid timelines. The team has a strong track record of promoting individuals based on overall contribution, including progression to senior leadership roles.

Why Apply?

• High-quality real estate work without reliance on London
• Supportive team with strong work-life balance
• Clear, meritocratic progression framework
• Growing practice with genuine opportunity to step up
• Strong emphasis on client exposure and business development