Legal Counsel - Investment Management & Real Estate Development

Full Job Description

About us

Places for everyone. That’s our mission. To shape cities, create connected communities and deliver workplaces of the future, right around the world.

As a globally integrated real estate group, we draw on decades of experience and the latest thinking in development, design, placemaking, construction and investments to deliver iconic and enormously successful places.

The role

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel to join the team to support our Investment Management and Development businesses. Lendlease is a leading property development company, and uniquely, has a funds management business with £2.5b in fund under management in Europe.

It’s an exciting time to join our team. We have a pipeline of investment management deals and looking to grow our FUM across the UK and EU. We look to leverage our property knowledge to partner with investors to acquire new assets under various legal structures and in a number of jurisdictions.

We also support the UK property development business on high profile urban regeneration projects. The team currently supports projects in London including Elephant & Castle (Elephant Park – 3200 apartments; 45,000 sqm office), North Tottenham (High Road West – 2,600 apartments), Stratford Cross (240,000 sqm office; 680 apartments) and Silvertown Quays (6,280 apartments; 103,000 sqm office). Lendlease operates across the UK and Europe, with further projects in Birmingham and Milan.

You’ll get experience of a wide range of projects and legal issues – most of our developments encompass residential and commercial property. This is an opportunity for a strategic thinking and agile funds lawyer who either has or is willing to learn property development.

You will report into and work closely with the Head of Legal to support the business deliver the European Regional strategy.

What will you do?

• Provide legal support for significant transactions for Investment Management Europe and Development UK. This includes structuring of transactions and documenting transactions to accurately reflect the commercial objectives and drivers.
• Provide legal advice and support on investment management activities, including fund structuring, fund formation and ongoing operations.
• Review and negotiate investment management agreements, fund documents and other legal contracts.
• Provide legal advice and support on property development projects, including title review, planning, land assembly, funding, leasing and sales.
• Support the strategy & business plan for the legal function within Investment Management and Development.
• Deliver outcomes which are solutions focussed, commercially astute, aligned to business strategy and most efficiently delivered using internal and external resources.
• Be customer and client focussed (both internal and external).
• Work proactively and collaboratively with the business and other legal teams to add value to the business.
• Support change management processes, driving efficiencies and best practice.
• Focus on teamwork and fostering a collaborative approach to decision making.
• Work closely with Lendlease Finance, Tax, Accounting, Treasury, Risk and Compliance and all other relevant functions to ensure that transactions are delivered in an efficient and effective manner.
• Champion the Legal Panel for Lendlease and other process improvements from time to time.

You will bring

• Minimum 5 years PQE as a solicitor in the UK or equivalent in other common law jurisdiction, preferably in a major law firm and/or in-house.
• Legal practicing certificate.
• Experience in all aspects of investment management legal issues.
• Demonstrated expertise and skill in investment structuring, regulatory issues, equity raising and debt financing.
• Experience of working collaboratively with the senior management team.
• Collaborative and supportive team player.
• Ability to work autonomously, exercise discretion and sound judgment, to escalate issues appropriately.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Ideally knowledge of legal issues associated with property development, or a willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills and track record in closing transactions.
• Confident, good communicator.
• Commercially astute.

What we provide

• Car allowance
• Flexible and hybrid work options
• Industry leading pension scheme
• Private medical health benefit and dental plan options
• Enhanced parental leave
• Life assurance
• 25 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell additional days
• Wellbeing leave
• Health and wellbeing support and initiatives
• 24/7 confidential Employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership to over 2,500 gym’s nation wide

Want to find out more about our benefits? Click here .

Belong at Lendlease

We offer workplaces that unite diverse minds; where respect, equal treatment and equal opportunity are just the norm.

We are a disability inclusive employer. Click here to see our standard recruitment process. If you need any adjustment or changes to the process, email us to let us know if you have a preferred communication method.

We build careers, develop skills, and invest in people. Imagine what more you can do here.