Legal Counsel - Real Estate

This role offers exposure to complex transactions and the chance to shape the Legal function’s digital evolution. It combines front-line real estate finance work with the opportunity to drive smarter, tech-enabled ways of working that support the Bank’s long-term growth strategy.

To provide timely, commercially focused legal advice on real estate finance transactions, ensuring the Bank’s objectives are delivered within its risk appetite. While primarily a legal position, the role carries a mandate to work with business and technology stakeholders to embed AI, self-help frameworks and digital tools, making legal support more efficient, scalable and sustainable as the Bank grows.

Key Responsibilities

Transactional Support

• Advise on a wide range of real estate finance and development finance matters.

• Together with external counsel, supporting the business with the review and negotiation of facility agreements, security documentation and ancillary contracts.

• Deliver clear, pragmatic advice that balances legal risk with commercial priorities.

• Support ad hoc lending matters across the wider portfolio requiring specialist legal input.

Operational Efficiency and Change

• Partner with business and tech stakeholders to digitise legal workflows and automate standard documentation.

• Develop and implement self-help frameworks and guidance to enable business teams to manage lower-risk activities independently.

• Drive adoption of AI and digital tools that enhance responsiveness and streamline processes.

• Identify and deliver continuous improvements that professionalise and future-proof Legal support.

Governance and Risk Management

• Ensure advice and documentation align with the Bank’s governance standards, policies and risk appetite.

• Manage relationships with external counsel, ensuring value for money and consistency of approach.

  Collaboration and Culture

• Work closely with colleagues in the lending businesses and Technology teams to deliver joined-up solutions.

• Contribute to knowledge sharing and the development of playbooks, templates and standard precedents.

• Model the Bank’s values of building an exceptional customer franchise, fostering an innovative mindset to drive growth, and maintaining robust and sustainable platforms.

Key Capabilities

• Commercial judgement: pragmatic and outcome-oriented.

• Analytical strength: able to evaluate complex legal and structural issues.

• Collaboration: works effectively across teams and functions.

• Change orientation: proactive in identifying and delivering improvements.

• Accountability: takes ownership for delivery and standards.

Experience and Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales)

• Strong background in real estate finance gained in a leading law firm or financial institution.

• Proven ability to manage complex secured lending transactions independently.

• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with a solutions-driven, commercial mindset.

• Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and managing competing priorities.

• Experience in process improvement, legal operations or technology-enabled change is desirable

Your Wellbeing - We take your health and well-being very seriously by providing a range of benefits to give you and your family peace of mind. These include:

• Market leading family friendly policies such as access to our Maternity, Adoption and Paternity policies from Day 1 of your employment
• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness & meditation digital health app
• Free access to Peppy digital health app that offers personalised support through fertility treatment becoming a parent or menopause
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) - Offering you support on a wide range of subjects including financial concerns, mental wellbeing and more general queries around family, work, housing, and health
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on gym membership
• Contributory pension scheme & death in service

Your Lifestyle - It’s important you strike the right balance between your work and personal life. We provide benefits to support you when at work and when you’re enjoying your leisure time.

• Minimum of 27 days holiday per year
• Option to buy or sell holiday days through our flexi-holiday scheme
• Discounts on gym membership nationwide
• Access to discounts on a range of high street and online brands
• Community support and charitable giving

Your Contribution - We’re focused on rewarding those that go the extra mile in helping us achieve our goals.

• Participation in our annual discretionary bonus scheme designed to reward your contribution to our success
• Proudly Shawbrook recognition scheme focused on recognising our role models and thanking our colleagues for a job well done