Overview

A well-capitalized real assets investment and lending platform active in the UK market, focused on providing bespoke real estate lending and investment solutions across development and transitional assets. The business partners with experienced sponsors and institutional capital and has built a strong track record through disciplined underwriting and pragmatic execution.

As transaction volume and complexity continue to grow, the platform is investing in its in-house legal capability to support the next phase of expansion.

The Role

The Managing Counsel will head the in-house legal team and support the platform's real estate lending and investment activity. Working closely with senior management and the investment team, the role sits at the centre of transaction structuring and execution, rather than operating as a back-office function.

This is a hands-on position suitable for a commercially minded lawyer seeking long-term involvement in a growing private credit and real assets business, with responsibility for both complex transactions and oversight of a junior lawyer.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the senior legal lead within a real assets lending and investment platform, partnering closely with senior management and investment teams
• Lead the legal structuring, negotiation, and execution of real estate lending and investment transactions, including development finance, whole loans, mezzanine facilities, preferred equity, and joint venture structures
• Advise on transactions from initial structuring and term-sheet stage through to completion, providing pragmatic guidance on risk allocation, documentation strategy, and execution
• Draft, review, and negotiate core legal documentation, including facility agreements, intercreditor arrangements, security packages, and joint venture and investment management agreements
• Support institutional capital raising and funding arrangements, including co-investment partnerships and platform-level or fund-level leverage facilities
• Manage and mentor a junior in-house lawyer, ensuring appropriate delegation while retaining oversight of complex or higher-risk matters
• Instruct, coordinate, and supervise external legal advisers, ensuring efficient execution, quality of advice, and cost discipline
• Provide legal support across the life-of-loan, including amendments, waivers, extensions, refinancings, and workout or restructuring scenarios, alongside oversight of relevant regulatory and compliance matters

Required Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 6 to 12 years' PQE
• Strong experience in real estate finance, private credit, or structured real assets, gained in-house or within a leading private practice team
• Proven track record advising on complex, institutional real estate transactions
• Comfortable operating in a lean, fast-moving investment environment with direct exposure to senior stakeholders
• Commercial, solutions-focused, and confident balancing legal risk with business objectives
• Prior experience mentoring or managing junior lawyers is advantageous