Associate, Commercial Property/ Rural Development
Overview
A long‑established London law firm with a strong reputation in private client and real estate work is seeking a talented Real Estate Associate (3-5 PQE) to join its specialist Property team. This role offers the chance to work with rural estates, landed families, trustees, and high‑value landowners, providing expert advice on development, strategic land, asset management, and broader property matters.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys a mix of development, rural land, and private client‑driven property work, and who values a close‑knit, high‑quality team environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Advising owners of rural and landed estates on a broad range of real estate matters, with a strong focus on development and strategic land projects.
- Working on option agreements, promotion agreements, conditional contracts, overage arrangements, collaboration agreements, and development‑related documentation.
- Acting for families, trustees, estate owners, and private landholders on the sale, purchase, and management of rural and high‑value residential land.
- Supporting estate management work, including leases, tenancy matters, easements, covenants, access rights, agricultural considerations, and occupation arrangements.
- Handling title investigation, due diligence, and risk assessment on complex rural assets and development land.
- Liaising closely with planning, tax, agriculture, and private client teams on multi‑disciplinary matters.
- Contributing to client relationship management, including supporting long‑standing estate clients and assisting with new business development.
- Mentoring junior colleagues and helping to maintain high team standards through knowledge sharing.
About You
- Qualified solicitor with 3-5 years PQE in real estate, ideally with exposure to rural land, estates, or development projects.
- Strong understanding of strategic land and development transactions, including negotiation of key documents.
- Experience acting for private clients, estate owners, or family offices is advantageous.
- Excellent drafting, technical, and organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
- A personable communicator who builds trusted relationships with long‑term clients.
- Comfortable managing files independently while working collaboratively within a team.
- Commercially aware, proactive, and keen to develop expertise in the rural estates and landed property sector.
What the Firm Offers
- High‑quality work with historic estates, private landowners, trustees, and UHNW/HNW families.
- A warm, collegiate culture with a genuine focus on work‑life balance and strong partner engagement.
- Clear development opportunities and long‑term progression potential.
- Competitive remuneration and benefits package.
- Exposure to a diverse caseload combining development, rural, residential, and mixed property matters.
Please note our advertisements use PQE/salary levels purely as a guide. However we are happy to consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the skills necessary to fulfil the role.
Please note that your personal information will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
