Job Description

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why many are incredibly longstanding. And we enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 100 years.



We are where you need us to be. We are in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. Our international footprint is extensive and committed.




We are at our best tackling complexity and navigating change. We work alongside you on demanding contentious matters, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.




We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, ESG, infrastructure and resources. And we're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world, including technology and digitalisation.



All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.



Your goals. Our ambition.

The Opportunity

Key internal relationships

Supervising lawyer, other group partners, solicitors/associates, professional support lawyers, trainees/graduate solicitors, paralegals, secretarial staff

Key external relationships

Clients, peers, contacts, other firms and professions (eg financial advisers, intermediaries and in particular, barristers and clerks, surveyors, managing agents, accountants, valuers, other experts and local lawyers, court clerks and staff)

Practice group/team:

Main areas covered

| We act for investors, developers, landlords, tenants, financiers and anyone else involved in commercial real estate on a range of disputes. We also advise these clients on ad hoc residential issues arising from commercial/mixed use real estate matters.

Recent work

Advising

British Land

on legal solutions to potential development constraints to the redevelopment and refurbishment of sites and buildings within the Broadgate campus around Liverpool Street Station Successfully represented

The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery

both in the High Court and the Court of Appeal in its defence of a claim in private nuisance and human rights brought by several residents of the Neo Bankside development Successfully defending a claim from Macdonald Hotels Limited against our client

Bank of Scotland plc

for alleged breach of good faith terms of lending facilities and alleged forced sale of properties (value: c.120m), including securing an order for indemnity costs. Securing an urgent injunction in under 36 hours from instruction for

Gatwick Airport

to prevent threatened protestor action from environmental activist groups in their so-called "summer of disruption", including successfully obtaining a renewal injunction in July 2025. Representing

Cleveland Potash Limited (ICL Group)

, owner of the only polyhalite mine in the UK (a significant national asset) in a claim for compulsory acquisition of property rights under the rarely used Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966. Acting for a wide range of the strongest names in the real estate sector including Brookfield, URW/Westfield, Canary Wharf Group, Lendlease, Cain International, Almacantar, Hammerson, Blackstone, Logicor, Citi, Federated Hermes, Madison Square Garden, Transport for London/London Underground Limited and Aberdeen on a mixture of matters ranging from the very large through to portfolio/asset management work. Our team is noted for its emphasis on Big Ticket disputes and in recent years that has included acting for Canary Wharf in its dispute with the administrators of Lehman Brothers, TAG Farnborough Airport on a large CPO matter, Native Land on a leading case on Business Rates, and on many other client-critical matters.

Directory rankings include

| Ranked band 2 in the Legal 500 for Property Litigation


As well as big ticket work, our real estate disputes team act on a wide range of areas including development-related matters such as contested site assembly, rights of light and other easements and possession issues, possession claims (trespassers/squatters), insolvency, transactional disputes, professional negligence, restrictive covenants, business rates, disputes on Compulsory Purchase Orders and other compensation issues, Telecommunications Act issues and leasehold enfranchisement, as well as using the full range of alternative dispute resolution processes (e.g., mediations and expert determinations) all of which help to manage disputes for our clients. We also work closely with our transactional real estate colleagues and provide disputes advisory assistance on most acquisitions and disposals.


We can also assist with all types of landlord and tenant disputes, including business lease renewals, rent review issues, lease termination, dilapidations claims and service charge disputes.


Primary objectives:

Deliver excellent client service and manage and deliver discrete pieces of legal work. Make an effective contribution to the firm's work by aiming to meet and exceed target hours. Build a solid foundation of commercial and legal expertise within a chosen area of law and strengthen relationships with clients, frequently acting as a direct point of contact. Be responsible for some management and delegation of work to and support of junior colleagues including paralegal support. Our team is known for its advocacy-focused approach which extends to written documentation. We encourage our team to qualify with Higher Rights and the relevant courses for doing so are carried, to a high quality, in-house as part of the training programme for disputes associates.

Key responsibilities:

Role-specific - this role will entail a broad range of real estate disputes work. Manage work to support optimal utilisation; assist senior lawyers as required, acting as lead lawyer, where appropriate and with supervision; delegate and provide feedback to juniors and communicate progress on tasks to supervisor and team members, consulting and offering solutions on difficult technical client issues; and manage the billing process as appropriate. Manage, develop and strengthen client relationships through anticipating client needs and expectations; and provide prompt responses and updates on progress. Support the firm and others - establish effective relationships with individuals and groups, across the global network; uphold the firm's values; contribute to the firm's initiatives (eg corporate social responsibility and diversity and inclusion activities); mentor and support juniors; raise profile by being involved with external bodies and supporting and attending marketing/industry events; and assist with internal training and preparation of legal precedents. Comply with risk requirements, firm policies and all relevant professional responsibilities and legislation and contribute to billing, engagement and client acceptance processes.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

Excellent academics Ideally 1-2.5 years' PQE in real estate disputes, however we are open to considering candidates with more or less experience Be admitted to practice in England & Wales or having recent disputes experience within the jurisdiction Solid knowledge of chosen area of law and industry sector(s). Strong legal skills, including drafting, negotiation and project management skills; foundation level people management and business development skills. Good understanding of law firm profitability and key drivers for financial efficiency; and ability to help manage costs and budgets.

Team

Real Estate

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

London

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values--Human, Bold, and Outstanding.