Senior Lawyer, Helix

Overview

This role is a permanent position within the Helix department. It reports to the Managing Lawyer or Deputy Managing Lawyer and is intended for an experienced real estate lawyer (PQE 5+).

The position is designed around high-quality commercial property work for major clients, with a flexible, remote working model. You will have meaningful ownership of matters and direct client relationship responsibility while working as part of a team supported by operational specialists.

Responsibilities

• Take day-to-day ownership of a varied portfolio of commercial real estate matters for a small number of significant clients.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with client legal teams, property teams and other business stakeholders, acting as a reliable day-to-day contact.
• Draft, review and negotiate leases, licences, property contracts, title documentation and other real estate documents.
• Provide clear, pragmatic, commercially focused advice on freehold and leasehold matters from both landlord and tenant perspectives.
• Manage multiple matters and workstreams concurrently, prioritising effectively, anticipating deadlines and keeping clients informed of progress.
• Maintain strong matter discipline, including accurate tracking, clear file management, status reporting, financial awareness and prompt escalation of risks or blockers.
• Coordinate input from clients, counterparties, colleagues and other stakeholders to keep matters moving efficiently through to completion.
• Use sound judgement on when to resolve issues independently versus when to involve colleagues or specialist lawyers.
• Support and help develop junior lawyers, paralegals and other team members where appropriate, including through guidance and review of work.
• Collaborate across Helix and the wider Real Estate practice to deliver seamless, consistently high-quality service.
• Use AI, workflow tools, legal technology and data as part of day-to-day delivery to improve efficiency, consistency, quality and client outcomes.
• Identify and implement practical improvements to processes, templates, playbooks, reporting and matter management.
• Understand client priorities and identify opportunities to improve or broaden the support provided over time.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Helix as a modern, technology-enabled legal delivery model.

Requirements

• Qualification as an England & Wales solicitor or equivalent.
• Around 6+ years’ PQE or equivalent relevant experience in commercial real estate.
• Strong commercial real estate experience, particularly landlord and tenant, estate management or other portfolio-based property work.
• Strong drafting, reviewing and legal analysis skills, with the ability to identify the points that matter commercially.
• Ability to provide clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice.
• Excellent organisational and matter-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple matters and competing priorities while maintaining detail and control.
• Proactive approach: anticipate issues, agree priorities, identify next steps and drive progress without waiting to be prompted.
• Strong attention to detail, with a disciplined approach to deadlines, matter administration, tracking and reporting.
• Confidence building direct relationships with clients, the Helix team and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work autonomously while recognising when escalation or specialist input is needed.
• Curiosity about technology and willingness to use AI and other legal tools in day-to-day work (previous legal technology expertise not required).
• Experience supporting, supervising or mentoring junior team members would be helpful, but is not essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in retail, restaurant, infrastructure, energy, electric vehicle roll-out or other multi-site sectors would be helpful, but is not essential.

Compensation & Benefits

Permanent role (role type as stated). Flexible working patterns are open to discussion where compatible with the needs of the role, the team and clients.

Location

Remote working is supported, with collaboration required across the Helix team and the wider Real Estate practice.