Partner / Legal Director – Real Estate (Manchester)

Opportunity

A leading UK law firm is seeking to appoint a senior Real Estate Partner or Legal Director into its Manchester office as part of a major national growth strategy.

The firm has ambitious plans to significantly expand its real estate offering over the next few years, with substantial investment committed to strategic lateral hiring across key sectors and regions.

This is a high-profile opportunity for an established senior lawyer with a strong market reputation, particularly in:

• Investment
• Development
• Energy & Infrastructure
• Property Finance
• Logistics & Industrial
• Data Centres

The role would suit an individual looking to play a visible part in shaping and growing a market-leading platform in Manchester while operating as part of a well-connected national real estate team.

The Platform

The firm has identified Real Estate as a core strategic growth area and is targeting significant expansion nationally.

The wider business has ambitious long-term growth plans, with a strong financial performance and increasing profitability creating further flexibility around investment into strategic hires.

The firm is particularly interested in individuals who can:

• Add profile and credibility in the Manchester market
• Bring or develop strong client relationships
• Lead and grow specialist sector offerings
• Collaborate effectively within a national team structure

Existing Client Base

The real estate team acts for an established roster of clients including:

• Major national housebuilders
• Institutional and regional developers
• Investor and occupier clients
• Infrastructure and regeneration organisations

The platform already includes recognised names across the development, regeneration, hospitality and logistics sectors.

Growth Areas

The business has detailed growth plans already mapped out across several areas, including:

Logistics & Industrial

• Significant projected revenue growth over the next two years
• Increasing focus on logistics, warehousing and data centre work

Energy & Infrastructure

• Major investment and growth targets in energy and infrastructure-related real estate work

Development & Investment

• Strong appetite to grow development and investment capability within the Manchester market

The Team Structure

• Operates as a genuinely national real estate practice
• Strong collaboration between offices
• Open and flexible approach to senior hiring
• Willing to structure packages competitively depending on sector fit, business case and following

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is likely to:

• Be an established Real Estate Partner or senior Legal Director
• Have a strong reputation in the Manchester market
• Possess expertise in investment, development, energy, infrastructure or property finance work
• Enjoy business development and team growth
• Be looking for a platform with genuine strategic backing and long-term growth ambitions

Portable business is welcomed, but the firm is equally interested in high-quality individuals with strong market relationships and clear strategic alignment.

Next Steps

Informal and confidential discussions are welcomed in the first instance, including introductory coffee meetings.

For more information, please contact Joe Gregory confidentially - joegregory@thinklegalrecruitment.com