Corporate Real Estate Lawyer - UK

About M7

M7 is a European real estate investment management firm with approximately €5 billion of assets under management. We specialise in urban and last-mile logistics, leveraging local expertise and active asset management to maximise performance. We take a value-oriented investment philosophy combined with a hands-on asset management platform, creating spaces that maximise value and meet the evolving needs of occupiers.

Our culture is entrepreneurial, collaborative and performance-driven. We believe our people are critical to our success and are committed to supporting employee wellbeing, development and career growth across our European business.

About the role

M7 is seeking a commercially minded Corporate Real Estate Lawyer to join its Legal team and support the business across a broad range of real estate investment, asset management and corporate legal matters. Reporting to the Legal Director, this role will play a key part in supporting M7's European real estate platform.

The successful candidate will have a foundation in corporate or transactional law, ideally with exposure to real estate investment matters, and will be looking to develop into a broad in-house legal adviser. Whilst the role has a significant focus on real estate investment and transactional work, it also offers exposure to corporate, finance, regulatory and operational matters across a leading real estate investment management business.

The role will involve close collaboration with the transactions, investment, asset management, finance, tax and compliance teams across Europe, supporting matters from deal execution through to portfolio and asset management, financing and restructuring.

Working as part of a lean team, the role will give the opportunity to take increasing ownership of matters, while receiving appropriate supervision and support.

Responsibilities

• Support M7's European real estate platform across investment, asset management and corporate legal matters
• Advise on transactions and strategic projects involving corporate structures, joint ventures, financing arrangements and investments across multiple European jurisdictions
• Draft, negotiate and review legal documentation with appropriate supervision
• Identify legal and commercial risk within real estate transactions
• Support and manage corporate governance processes
• Provide compliance and regulatory support
• Handle legal matters arising from the operation of an investment platform
• Support legal processes, precedent documents, knowledge management and other initiatives to improve the effectiveness of the legal team
• Manage relationships with external legal advisers and challenge advice where appropriate
• Communicate legal concepts effectively to non-legal stakeholders

Skills and Knowledge

Experience

• Experience gained within a respected corporate, real estate or corporate real estate legal practice
• Exposure to a broad range of investment and corporate matters across the investment lifecycle, from acquisition and financing through to ownership, governance, restructuring and disposal
• Strong commercial awareness and an interest in the investment and asset management drivers behind transactions
• Understanding of legal and commercial risk identification within real estate transactions
• Ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously with excellent organisational skills
• Experience of European real estate transactions would be advantageous but is not essential
• Experience of real estate finance would be advantageous but is not essential

Technical Skills

• Ability to draft, negotiate and review legal documentation with appropriate supervision
• Strong drafting, analytical and negotiation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate legal concepts effectively to non-legal stakeholders

Behaviours and Ways of Working

• Commercially minded: focuses on practical solutions that support business objectives while managing risk appropriately
• Adaptable: comfortable working across different legal disciplines and responding to changing business priorities
• Curious and ambitious: actively seeks opportunities to broaden technical knowledge and develop into a well-rounded in-house lawyer
• Relationship focused: builds strong working relationships across the business and with external advisers
• Proactive: takes ownership of matters and identifies issues before they become problems
• Confident communicator: capable of engaging effectively with senior stakeholders, investors, asset managers and external counsel
• Collaborative: enjoys working as part of a lean, high-performing team and contributes positively to team objectives
• Detail oriented: produces accurate, high-quality work and maintains strong attention to detail in transaction execution
• Resilient: performs effectively in a fast-paced transactional environment with competing priorities

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales or equivalent recognised legal qualification
• Approximately 1–3 years' post-qualification experience
• Experience gained within a corporate, corporate real estate or broader commercial real estate practice, whether in private practice or in-house
• Ability to build effective relationships with a range of stakeholders, both internally and externally

Desirable

• Experience advising real estate investment managers, funds, REITs, institutional investors or private equity real estate clients
• Exposure to cross-border transactions and multi-jurisdictional legal matters
• Experience of corporate transactions involving real estate assets
• Experience managing external legal advisors

Working Arrangements

• Reports to: Legal Director
• Location: London, United Kingdom
• Working arrangements: Office-based with hybrid flexibility in line with M7 policy