Job Description

Senior Associate – Property Disputes (Residential Leasehold Management)

Location: Manchester (hybrid working)

Salary: £75,000 to £95,000 plus bonus and benefits

Experience: 5+ years’ PQE (or equivalent)

A strong opportunity for an experienced residential property disputes lawyer to step into a senior role within a busy Property Disputes team, supporting growth in the North-West market.

The role suits someone who enjoys technically varied work, clear client advice, and mentoring junior fee-earners, with the chance to get involved in wider real estate disputes over time.

You will focus on residential leasehold management and wider residential landlord and tenant disputes, advising clients across the private, public and social housing sectors. The team handles a broad spread of contentious real estate work, with scope to develop into most areas that touch property disputes.

Key Responsibilities

• Advising on residential landlord and tenant disputes, including service charge disputes, repossessions and forfeiture

• Handling leasehold management issues, including Right to Manage and enfranchisement-related matters

• Advising on development-related disputes and strategic advice, including rights to light issues for developers and insurers

• Managing disputes concerning property contracts and property-related insolvency (real property and landlord and tenant)

• Advising on wider real property disputes such as rights of way, adverse possession and restrictive covenants

• Potentially supporting commercial landlord and tenant matters over time (including 1954 Act issues, alienation, break rights and dilapidations)

• Building and maintaining strong client relationships and market intermediary relationships, with a focus on the North-West

• Contributing to business development activity at individual, team and office level

• Delegating effectively to junior fee-earners and supporting their development

• Participating in team and firm-wide meetings, training sessions and wider office activity

• Ensuring files are managed in line with Lexcel procedures and compliance requirements

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales

• 5+ years’ relevant PQE (or equivalent) gained within a reputable firm

• Strong experience of complex residential property disputes and residential leasehold management

• Strong technical skills and sound commercial judgement

• Confident supervising and developing junior members of the team

• Able to manage deadlines and run matters with minimal supervision

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to advise in plain English

• Client-facing confidence, with strong interpersonal and presentation skills

• Interest in marketing and business development

What’s On Offer

• Salary of £75,000 to £95,000

• Attractive bonus scheme

• Hybrid working (where the role allows)

• 25 days’ holiday, with the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave

• Pension scheme with employer contribution

• Private medical insurance

• Wellbeing benefits and discounts (including gym discounts and health assessments)

• Income protection and life assurance (subject to eligibility)

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Staff referral scheme

• Supportive culture with a strong focus on equity, diversity and inclusion

Next Steps

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.