Commercial Property Solicitor

We are looking for an experienced Commercial Property Solicitor (5+ Years PQE) to join our client's established real estate team. The successful candidate will manage a varied caseload of commercial property matters, providing pragmatic legal advice and robust case management across their broad client portfolio. This role offers the opportunity to work within a supportive firm that values professional development and a collaborative approach to client work. The position will involve supervising junior team members and, in time, may include mentoring a trainee.

This role will provide exposure to a broad range of commercial property matters including acquisitions and disposals of commercial real estate, commercial leasing (acting for landlords and tenants), portfolio transactions, landlord and tenant litigation, property development and construction-related real estate work, site acquisitions for development, easements and restrictive covenants, option agreements and conditional contracts.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage a busy commercial property caseload from initial instruction through to completion, ensuring transactions progress efficiently and clients are kept informed at every stage.

• Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice on commercial property issues including lease drafting and negotiation, licences, surrenders, dilapidations, assignment and underletting, and property disposals and acquisitions.

• Draft, negotiate and review commercial leases, sale and purchase agreements, option agreements, overage agreements, licences and ancillary property documentation ensuring commercial objectives are reflected and legal risks are managed.

• Conduct property due diligence, prepare title reports, requisitions on title, searches and completion documentation in accordance with firm and client requirements.

• Advise on landlord and tenant disputes, possession claims, lease enforcement, forfeiture and rent recovery, instructing counsel or other specialists where appropriate and managing litigation processes.

• Advise on planning, environmental, rights of way, easement and covenant issues insofar as they impact commercial property transactions, liaising with planning or environmental advisers as required.

• Liaise with clients, landlords, tenants, agents, surveyors, valuers and other professional advisers to ensure timely completion of transactions and resolution of issues.

• Ensure compliance with client verification and anti‑money laundering (AML) procedures and firm file opening/closing checks, maintaining audit‑ready files and accurate financial records.

• Manage billing, fee estimates and client care letters, supporting timely billing and fee recovery in line with firm policies.

• Supervise and mentor junior solicitors, paralegals and trainee staff where required, contributing to training, knowledge sharing and quality assurance within the team.

• Identify opportunities to improve processes and precedents, support the adoption of technology and digital working practices to improve efficiency and the client experience.

Key skills and experience required:

• Qualified solicitor (SRA) with relevant PQE in commercial property; experience in both transactional and contentious landlord and tenant work is desirable.

• Proven experience drafting and negotiating commercial leases, sale and purchase contracts, licences and related property documentation.

• Confident in managing complex property transactions, conducting legal due diligence and preparing robust completion and post‑completion documentation.

• Experience handling landlord and tenant disputes and possession proceedings, with the ability to instruct and work with counsel where necessary.

• Good commercial awareness with the ability to identify and manage legal and commercial risks, providing pragmatic solutions for clients.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients, agents, surveyors and multi‑disciplinary professionals.

• Demonstrable commitment to maintaining compliance with AML and client identification requirements, producing audit‑ready files and clear file records.

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing workloads, manage deadlines and maintain attention to detail across multiple matters.

• Proactive, client-focused and commercially minded with a willingness to contribute to business development and team initiatives.

• Proficiency with case management systems and common office IT applications; willingness to learn firm systems and promote efficient digital workflows.

Desirable (Not Essential)

• Experience acting on higher-value or complex development and finance transactions

• Exposure to lender-side real estate finance work

• Interest in business development, networking, and client relationship management