This role is aimed at lawyers who want genuinely interesting, varied private funds work, early responsibility, and a clear path to long-term progression — without the intensity or narrow specialism often found at some teams in the City.

The Opportunity

You will play a leading role in advising fund managers and institutional investors on sophisticated private capital structures across the full fund lifecycle, including:

• Fund structuring and formation
• International fundraising
• Secondaries and continuation vehicles
• Investor negotiations
• Ongoing operational and governance advice

The practice has a strong international footprint, working seamlessly across the UK, Europe and beyond, with close collaboration between London, Scotland, Ireland and Luxembourg.

Work That Stands Apart

This is not a “plain vanilla” private equity funds role.  The team is particularly well known for its work across infrastructure and energy, climate, sustainability and impact funds .

Much of the work involves development finance institutions, impact investors and emerging-market fund managers, including Africa-focused mandates and innovative sustainability-driven vehicles.

For lawyers motivated by purpose-led investing alongside technical excellence, this practice offers something genuinely distinctive.

Profile Sought

This role is targeted at a Managing / Senior Associate level.  You will likely be someone who:

• Has a strong track record in private capital funds work - private equity, infrastructure, real assets, debt or impact
• Confident runs transactions and manages client relationships well
• Enjoys mentoring and developing junior lawyers
• Is commercially minded, proactive and collegiate
• Wants to be visible and valued within a growing team

Prior experience must be in private funds — this role is not focused on hedge fund, retail or listed fund work

No following required; the team has a strong pipeline of work.

Why This Role May Appeal

• Breadth of work
• Meaningful responsibility, in terms of client and transactions, and developing junior lawyers in the team
• Strong partner-track visibility, in a team with a track record for internal promotions
• A more sustainable lifestyle than many City teams
• Supportive, collaborative culture with no sharp elbows

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please get in touch:

📞 07376 288 737
✉️ jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This role offers exposure to premium lender and borrower work, excellent partner access, and the chance to develop a well-rounded real estate finance skillset within a supportive and collegiate environment.

The Team

The practice is consistently recognised as a leading real estate finance team, advising across the full lifecycle of property-backed lending. The partners are known for their technical strength, calm commercial approach and hands-on involvement with associates.

The team acts for a broad and sophisticated client base, including:

• UK and international banks
• Alternative and challenger lenders
• Debt funds and investment vehicles
• Property developers, investors and asset managers

Work is typically high-value, often complex, and frequently cross-border in nature.

The Work

You can expect to be involved in a wide range of real estate finance matters, including:

• Investment and development finance transactions
• Acting for lenders and borrowers on secured lending
• Refinancing and restructuring of existing facilities
• Drafting and negotiating facility agreements, security documents and intercreditor arrangements

Apply Now

For a confidential discussion about this role, or to explore whether it could be the right next step for you, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or via jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This the perfect opportunity to work on vital UK energy and infrastructure projects at a pivotal moment in the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.

The team is nationally recognised for its work across renewables, decarbonisation and similarly complex public-sector energy & infrastructure initiatives, combining deep sector knowledge with a practical, delivery-focused approach.

The Team

You will join a well-established team led by a deep bench of partners dedicated to the sector, each recognised in the legal directories for their expertise in energy, infrastructure and high-profile projects.

Each of these working locations offers a compelling opportunity, either to work closely alongside several colleagues or to be a key lawyer in one of the offices with fewer specialists at present.

The Work

This role offers exceptional breadth and responsibility, advising on the procurement, development and delivery of a wide range of innovative energy and infrastructure projects, including:

• Energy-from-waste and resource management projects
• District heating and local decarbonisation programmes
• Solar PV and battery storage developments
• Electric vehicle and smart energy infrastructure
• Hydrogen and carbon capture projects
• Onshore and offshore wind
• Grid connection and upgrade projects

You will work closely with clients across both the public and private sectors, including local authorities, developers, utilities and investors.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Hands-on responsibility and client exposure
• A practice recognised for its work in renewables and sustainability
• High-quality, varied mandates without the intensity of many larger international teams
• A genuinely supportive and collegiate culture
• Transparent progression and structured development support
• Hybrid working and a strong focus on wellbeing and flexibility

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, or the energy, infrastructure & projects market more generally, please get in touch:

📞 07376 288 737
✉️ jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This is an excellent opportunity for a banking lawyer looking to work on high-quality, varied finance transactions, within a genuinely supportive and progressive environment, to join the team in any of the above locations in the North, Midlands or South.

The Opportunity

You will join a well-established, client-facing banking practice known for its commercial insight and pragmatic approach. The team is widely recognised as a trusted adviser on complex and fast-moving transactions and is instructed by a strong roster of UK financial institutions, challenger banks, specialist lenders, private equity houses and corporates.

Scope of Work

The role offers exposure to a broad and interesting mix of banking and finance matters, including:

• General banking and corporate lending transactions
• Acquisition and leveraged finance, acting for sponsors, management teams and funders
• Real estate finance, including investment and development work
• Project finance and structured finance matters
• Asset-based lending and alternative funding structures

You will be encouraged to take ownership of matters, manage key workstreams, and play an active role in building long-term client relationships.

Why This Role?

• A highly rated banking practice within a UK Top 50 firm whose culture has been described as friendly, collaborative and non-hierarchical, with a strong emphasis on teamwork
• Genuine commitment to work-life balance, flexible working and hybrid arrangements
• Excellent training, mentoring and long-term career development opportunities

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, or the banking & finance market more generally, please get in touch:

📞 07376 288 737
✉️ jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced private client lawyer to work within a top-rated, full-service private client team, advising a sophisticated domestic and international client base on complex wealth, tax and succession matters.

The Opportunity

You will join a large, specialist private client group with a strong reputation for technical excellence, sensitivity and long-term client relationships. The team advises UK and non-UK individuals and families, family offices, trustees and others on a wide range of private wealth matters, often with a significant cross-border element.

The role offers meaningful responsibility on high-quality, intellectually engaging work, with close partner and client interaction, within a genuinely supportive and collegiate environment.

Scope of Work

The successful candidate can expect to be involved in:

• UK and international tax, trust and succession planning
• Advising high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals and families
• Estate planning, wills, trusts and lifetime structuring
• Cross-border wealth and succession issues, including residence and domicile matters
• Asset protection and long-term family governance planning
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across tax, disputes, family and other related practice areas
• Developing trusted client relationships and contributing to business development initiatives

Working Environment

This is a firm widely recognised for its supportive culture, with an emphasis on training and genuine work-life balance, including the freedom to work remotely for a significant proportion of the week.

For a confidential discussion

About this opportunity, or the wider market, please get in touch:

07376 288 737

jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

Overview:
A leading London-based law firm is seeking an ambitious and technically strong Associate to join its highly regarded Commercial Real Estate team. This is an exceptional opportunity to work on complex, high-value transactions for prestigious clients while taking a visible role in client relationships and business development.

The Role:

• Acting for two senior partners who collaborate closely on major mandates, often within the same sectors and for shared clients.
• Taking a lead role on day-to-day client matters, including managing transactions and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams (construction, planning, litigation).
• Supervising junior colleagues and sharing responsibility for team development.
• Supporting active business development initiatives, particularly within the Central London estates sector.

Key Clients & Work:

• Blue-chip UK asset managers (funds c. £2bn): full spectrum of asset management, acquisitions/disposals, financing, and complex agreements for lease across retail, industrial, office, and hospitality sectors.

What We’re Looking For:

• Ideally 3–4 years’ PQE in commercial real estate, though strong candidates at 5–6 years’ PQE will be considered.
• Proven experience in high-value transactions and client-facing roles.
• Strong technical skills combined with commercial awareness and a collaborative mindset.
• Interest in building long-term client relationships and contributing to sector-focused business development.

Why Join?

• Work with market-leading partners on complex, high-profile matters.
• Opportunity to take ownership of client relationships and play a strategic role in growth initiatives.
• Collegiate team environment with clear progression prospects.
  
  For more information about this position or to discuss other similar opportunities please contact Jon Kennedy
  Jon.Kennedy@ardentrecruit.com 
  07376 288 737

The Firm advises on significant infrastructure projects, redevelopment and regeneration schemes, and acquisition and disposal projects for clients from a diverse range of sectors. In recent years, they have advised clients from industry sectors including energy, waste management, water and utilities, and hotels and leisure. 

The Firm is committed to being at the cutting edge of legal practice, investing heavily in AI and its own internal tech systems as part of initiatives designed to increase efficiency and collaboration amongst its lawyers. This investment has formed a key pillar of the Firm's ongoing growth strategy. 

The role would suit an established partner, ideally with some previous experience in a managerial role within a recognised Construction offering. A clear track record of winning and maintaining client relationships and origination of new business is also something that the Firm would be keen to see evidence of. The Firm are prepared to support and invest in an incoming partner and to collaborate on a sensible and sustainable growth strategy for the department to ensure that it remains competitive as they strive towards their goal of making the Construction offering one of the leading lights of the London market.

If you would like a confidential chat about this role and to understand more about the opportunity, please contact Jonathan Smyth. Jonathan will be able to provide you with further information about this position and an overview of active and more discreet opportunities available in the market.

Jonathan has over 15 years' experience in legal recruitment and has been dealing almost exclusively with partner-level individuals since 2019. Jonathan operates across a number of sectors, but with a particular focus on Real Estate, Construction, and Litigation/Arbitration. 

Jonathan.Smyth@ardentrecruit.com

This role is ideally suited to an ambitious associate looking for high-quality, big-ticket work, genuine responsibility, and the chance to develop within a high-performing yet collegiate environment.

The Opportunity

You will join a large, nationally recognised construction practice with a strong brand domestically and abroad, working alongside leading partners and specialists across the UK and overseas.

The team advises across the full lifecycle of complex construction and engineering projects, spanning both the private and public sectors.  The work is varied, sophisticated and commercially focused, with regular exposure to flagship developments, infrastructure projects and major real estate-led schemes, typically involving several stakeholders and multiple jurisdictions.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Advising on a broad range of non-contentious construction matters, supporting clients across diverse sectors, including commercial and residential development, living accommodation, energy, infrastructure, transport and utilities
• Advising developers, funders, sponsors, employers, contractors, consultants and professional teams on procurement strategies, various construction contracts, risk allocation and dispute avoidance
• Working closely with clients to build trusted relationships and deliver pragmatic, commercially astute advice
• Collaborating with colleagues in Real Estate, Banking, Projects and Energy on complex, multi-disciplinary mandates

Why Consider This Role?

• Exposure to market-leading, high-profile construction work typically associated with top-tier City of London practices, while being based in the North West or Yorkshire
• A strong reputation for training, development and progression, with real investment in mid and senior-level lawyers
• A culture consistently described as supportive, down-to-earth and non-hierarchical
• Access to excellent internal support, legal tech and knowledge resources
• A genuinely sustainable platform offering high-quality work without sacrificing work-life balance

For a confidential discussion

About this opportunity, or the wider market, please get in touch:

07376 288 737

jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This role offers early responsibility, exceptional training and exposure to market-leading insolvency litigation, alongside some non-contentious restructuring work for those candidates keen to retain a mixed work profile.

The Opportunity

You will work closely with highly regarded practitioners, with deep connections in the R&I market, supported by a well-resourced international team.

The practice sits at the cutting edge of the distressed cycle, advising on landmark cases that frequently involve cross-border elements, novel legal issues and strategic litigation.

The role is ideal for a solicitor keen to develop their own profile, through exposure to high-value litigious restructuring & insolvency mandates.

The Work

The team advises across the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency, including contentious insolvency litigation and investigations, related fraud, misfeasance and asset recovery claims, distressed M&A and restructuring transactions, and formal insolvency processes (administrations, liquidations, bankruptcies and voluntary arrangements).

Much of the work is multi-jurisdictional, often involving offshore structures, complex funding arrangements and coordination with overseas counsel.

The practice acts for an impressive client base including insolvency practitioners, asset-based finance providers, banks and alternative lenders, private equity, corporates, company directors.

Platform & Culture

You will join a globally integrated disputes and restructuring platform, with access to colleagues across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The wider firm has invested heavily in its disputes capability and continues to grow internationally, while maintaining its key weighting in London.

The culture is described as collaborative, supportive and intellectually rigorous, with a strong emphasis on learning, knowledge-sharing and long-term career development.

For a confidential discussion

About this opportunity, or the wider R&I/legal market, in London or elsewhere in the UK, please get in touch:

07376 288 737

jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Real Estate lawyer to join a market-leading residential development practice in Bristol, advising on some of the most significant affordable housing and Build-to-Rent schemes in the UK.

This is a senior hire within a nationally recognised team, offering exposure to high-value, complex residential development work, early responsibility, and the chance to play a visible role in a growing, strategically important practice.

The Opportunity

You will join a highly regarded residential development team that advises developers, investors and registered providers across the full lifecycle of major residential schemes — from site acquisition through to delivery, funding, management and exit.

This senior role focuses on affordable housing and BTR/PRS transactions, including joint ventures, s106 arrangements and large-scale portfolio acquisitions, with scope to shape client relationships and influence the direction of the practice.

The team works seamlessly across offices, supported by leading specialists in construction, planning, tax, litigation and infrastructure.

The Team & Platform

You’ll be part of a large, well-resourced commercial real estate department with deep expertise. The residential development practice is supported by:

• Dedicated affordable housing specialists
• Site set-up and plots teams
• An award-winning in-house legal technology and innovation function

The wider firm has made sustained investment in growth, innovation and international expansion, while maintaining a reputation for being approachable and collaborative.

Career Development

This firm is known for investing heavily in its lawyers’ careers. You can expect:

• Clear progression criteria based on contribution and potential, not just PQE
• Meaningful role in client development
• High-quality technical training and tailored skills development
• A culture that encourages long-term careers rather than risk short-term burn

Culture & Working Environment

• Inclusive, down-to-earth and low-hierarchy culture
• Strong focus on wellbeing, sustainability and flexible working
• Modern offices with excellent facilities
• Hybrid working model that balances collaboration with autonomy
• Consistently praised for work/life balance relative to peer firms

For a confidential discussion

About this opportunity, or the wider market, please get in touch:

07376 288 737

jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This role sits within a contentious offering that is expanding rapidly following a series of strategic hires and continued growth in high-value instructions.

You will work at the forefront of construction disputes, advising on complex, technically challenging matters for top-calibre clients across the UK and internationally, while enjoying genuine responsibility and ownership from an early stage.

The Team

You will join a contentious construction team that forms part of one of the UK’s largest construction law practices, consistently recognised as a market leader by the Legal 500 and Chambers directories.

The team advises across a broad range of sectors including infrastructure projects, energy & utilities, transportation, commercial real estate

Work is often high-value and strategically important, offering associates exposure to headline-making disputes and long-term client relationships.

Representative Experience

Recent matters include advising on:

• Project delivery challenges under a £100m+ contract relating to upgrades across multiple power plants
• One of the UK’s first PFI projects to be handed back to the public sector
• Alleged defects at a £100m+ wind farm for a major renewable energy generator
• Defence of a UK-listed company facing multiple claims under parent company guarantees across energy, maritime and defence sectors
• EPC disputes concerning a large ground-mounted solar PV project
• Final account disputes arising from the construction of a THP Plant
• Settlement of disputes relating to complex fire-safety technology at a manufacturing plant
• Claims for defective works linked to a multi-million-pound theatre refurbishment

Nature of the Work

The team supports clients through the full spectrum of construction dispute resolution, including:

• Adjudication
• Domestic and international arbitration
• Technology and Construction Court litigation
• Pre-Action Protocol processes
• Strategic project-life-cycle advice and dispute avoidance
• Expert determination and conciliation
• Mediation

You will gain exposure to a wide range of dispute resolution techniques, supported by experienced practitioners recognised as leaders in their field.

Culture

The firm offers a highly professional, progressive working environment, combining top-quality work with a genuine focus on wellbeing and career sustainability.

Collaboration is embedded in the culture, and lawyers are trusted, supported and encouraged to thrive.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, or the construction disputes market more generally, in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK, please get in touch:

07376 288 737
jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This role offers exposure to high quality, varied non-contentious restructuring and insolvency work, within a collaborative and growing team.

The team is known for being friendly and highly commercial, with a strong reputation among insolvency practitioners, lenders and corporates.

The Opportunity

You will join a specialist team advising on complex, time-critical and strategically important matters, often involving several stakeholders and cross-border elements.

The practice acts for lenders, companies, directors, insolvency professionals, investors and individuals, offering genuinely rounded exposure to the restructuring and insolvency landscape.

Amongst others, you will work closely with a senior practitioner with a broad background spanning cross-border restructurings, high-profile insolvencies and risk advisory work, providing exceptional technical training and commercial insight for associates looking to deepen their expertise.

Representative Work Examples

• Corporate restructurings of solvent and insolvent companies
• Debt restructurings, refinancings, debt-for-equity swaps and distressed investing
• Distressed M&A, loan-to-own strategies and strategic acquisitions from insolvency practitioners
• Schemes of arrangement and restructuring plans
• Pre-formal insolvency advice and contingency planning
• Directors’ duties and liability advice in distressed scenarios
• Formal insolvency processes (CVAs, administrations, liquidations and bankruptcies)
• Security reviews and enforcement strategy

The team regularly advises on high-profile and sensitive mandates across sectors including retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and professional services.

About You

• England & Wales qualified solicitor, 2+ PQE
• Proficiency assisting with all stages of restructuring and insolvency matters
• Experience predominantly in non-contentious R&I work
• Trained at a large regional, national or City firm
• Strong technical skills combined with commercial awareness
• Confident communicator with excellent drafting and organisational skills
• Willing to take on early responsibility and develop client relationships
• A collaborative team player, comfortable working across offices

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, or the restructuring and insolvency market more generally (in London or elsewhere in the UK), please get in touch:

07376 288 737
jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This is a senior-level hire, working closely with one of the market’s most respected real estate finance partners on some of the most sophisticated property-backed financings in the UK market.

The Opportunity

This role offers exposure to premium, big-ticket real estate finance work across a broad range of asset classes, acting for a blue-chip client base that includes institutional lenders, debt funds, developers and real estate investors.

The practice advises on both development and investment finance, handling transactions on a bilateral and syndicated basis, and is equally strong on lender-side and borrower-side mandates.  Recent work includes multi-hundred-million-pound development facilities, acquisition financings for major logistics and retail assets, and complex refinancing and portfolio restructurings for specialist real estate investors.

You will be trusted with a high degree of autonomy, while also benefiting from close collaboration with a partner known for a highly commercial, pragmatic and delivery-focused approach.

About You

• England & Wales qualified with significant post-qualification experience in real estate finance gained with a highly-regarded firm
• Strong technical grounding across development and investment lending
• Comfortable running complex matters and interfacing directly with sophisticated clients
• Keen to take on a visible role within a highly ranked, growing team

The Platform

This is a firm with a deep real estate heritage, a strong UK presence and an international outlook. It offers the stability of an established brand combined with the agility of a modern, sector-focused practice.  Lawyers are encouraged to take ownership of their careers, build client relationships and contribute meaningfully to the wider business.

For a confidential discussion about this role, and/or the market in general, in London or elsewhere in the UK, please get in touch:
07376 288 737
jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This is a growth hire, driven by increasing demand across infrastructure, energy and regeneration projects nationwide.

The role offers the chance to work on some of the most complex and high-profile planning matters in the UK, within a collaborative, progressive environment that genuinely values both quality of work and quality of life.

The Team

The planning team operates at the pinnacle of the legal market, advising both public and private sector clients across the full lifecycle of major development and infrastructure projects.

The group works on a fully integrated, cross-office basis and is widely recognised for its strategic input on nationally significant and politically sensitive schemes.

Lawyers in the team are known for combining deep technical expertise with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach.

The Work

You will be involved in a broad mix of advisory and contentious planning work, which may include:

• Town and country planning and development consenting
• Compulsory purchase matters
• Nationally significant infrastructure projects
• Environmental impact assessment and related regulations
• Inquiries, judicial review and related public law challenges

The practice is particularly active across energy, transport, utilities and the built environment, including major infrastructure, regeneration and net-zero related projects.

Backgrounds Considered

The team is open-minded on background and welcomes applications from lawyers currently in private practice, local government, in-house roles and from leading planning teams in relevant overseas jurisdictions.

What They’re Looking For

• 3+ years’ PQE in planning law or closely related public law work
• Experience managing complex, high-value matters
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset
• Intellectual curiosity and a desire to work on nationally important projects

Why This Role?

• Exposure to nationally significant, often precedent-setting projects
• Clear, transparent progression framework
• Hybrid and flexible working as standard
• A professional but genuinely supportive culture where people stay long-term

For a confidential discussion about this role, and/or the market in general, in Bristol or elsewhere in the UK:
07376 288 737
jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

The Opportunity

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Housing Management Solicitor / Associate to join the highly regarded and growing Housing team at one of the UK’s leading public sector and commercial law firms, in Birmingham, Leeds or Bristol.

Housing is a core area for the firm, and the team is recognised nationally for its depth of expertise and quality of work.

This role offers exposure to a wide range of registered providers and public sector clients, alongside genuine career progression and flexible working.

The Team

You will join one of the largest Housing Management teams in the UK, operating as a national team across multiple offices. The team advises many of the country’s largest housing associations, as well as local authorities, care providers, NHS bodies, universities and charities.

The Role

You will advise social landlords and other clients on a broad range of housing management matters, including:

• Possession proceedings
• Breach of tenancy
• Injunctions (including access for gas and electrical safety)
• Disrepair claims
• Equality Act and Mental Capacity Act issues
• Leasehold management advice
• Service charge disputes

About You

You are likely to be:

• A qualified solicitor or associate with experience in housing management
• Confident managing your own caseload and working directly with clients
• Organised, with attention to detail
• A strong communicator with excellent drafting and analytical skills
• Collaborative, commercially minded and committed to the housing sector

Candidates from local authority or in-house housing backgrounds who are keen to move into private practice are also encouraged to apply.

Why Apply?

• Join a top-tier, nationally recognised housing practice
• Hybrid working with genuine flexibility
• Clear progression framework and strong learning & development support
• Supportive, values-led culture with a real emphasis on wellbeing

For more information, please get in touch via 07376 288 737 or jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

The Opportunity

You will join a leading Energy & Infrastructure team advising on some of the UK’s most significant and innovative energy and decarbonisation projects. The team is experiencing sustained growth, driven by increased demand across renewables, net-zero infrastructure and public-private energy initiatives.

The role offers exposure to complex, high-value projects across the full project lifecycle, with meaningful responsibility and the chance to build deep sector expertise.

Work You’ll Be Doing

You can expect a broad and stimulating workload, including:

• Advising on renewable energy projects (solar, wind, battery storage and emerging technologies)
• Supporting district energy, heat networks and energy-from-waste schemes
• Drafting and negotiating project and commercial contracts, including development agreements, supply and offtake arrangements
• Advising on project structuring, procurement and delivery models
• Working with public sector bodies, developers, investors and utilities
• Collaborating closely with specialists in planning, property, procurement, finance and regulatory law

This is a genuinely end-to-end projects role, ideal for lawyers who want variety, responsibility and sector depth rather than being siloed into a narrow area.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Top quality work: Advising on nationally important and often pioneering energy projects
• Strong reputation: A well-ranked team recognised in leading legal directories
• Real career progression: Clear pathways to senior associate and partnership, supported by structured development and mentoring
• Early responsibility: Direct client contact and involvement in strategic decision-making
• Collaborative culture: A friendly, collegiate team where expertise is shared and contributions are valued
• Hybrid working: Sensible flexibility with a strong Birmingham office base
• Purpose-driven practice: A focus on sustainability, decarbonisation and responsible infrastructure

Who We’re Looking For

You will be:

• A solicitor with experience in energy, projects, infrastructure or commercial contracts
• Between 2–5 years PQE, or a senior associate with strong technical foundations
• Comfortable handling complex documentation and managing multiple workstreams
• Commercially minded, with a genuine interest in the energy transition and net-zero agenda
• A strong communicator who enjoys working as part of a team and building client relationships

What’s On Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• High-quality, intellectually engaging work
• Long-term career investment and visibility within the team
• A supportive, inclusive and forward-thinking working environment
• The chance to play a meaningful role in shaping the UK’s energy future

Interested?
Please get in touch in confidence via 07376 288 737 or jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This is a genuinely strategic role for a real estate development lawyer who wants to work at scale, advising many of the UK’s best-known housebuilders alongside experienced, highly respected partners, with a clear pathway for long-term progression.

The Opportunity

This is a broad, high-quality residential development and land acquisition role, offering exposure to complex, high-value projects across England and Wales. You will advise both national and niche developers on the full lifecycle of residential schemes, from strategic land acquisition through to disposal and regeneration.

The team operates as a dedicated residential development unit, working exclusively with housebuilders and supported by specialist planning, construction and litigation colleagues. Importantly, plot sales are handled by a separate, large specialist team — allowing you to focus on land, strategy and development work, rather than volume transactions.

The Work

You can expect to be involved in:

• Large-scale land acquisitions for nationally recognised housebuilders
• Strategic land projects, including options, conditional contracts and promotion agreements
• Collaboration and joint venture agreements between developers
• Urban regeneration and mixed-use development schemes
• Funding arrangements linked to site acquisition and development
• Disposals of serviced parcels to housing associations and third-party developers

Projects frequently involve significant site sizes and long-term development horizons, including schemes delivering hundreds or thousands of new homes.

The Team

You’ll be joining a market-leading residential development group with national reach and exceptional depth. The wider team comprises hundreds of specialists across the UK and acts for the vast majority of the UK’s top housebuilders, promoters and institutional landowners.

The Nottingham practice is well established and led by a highly regarded residential development specialist known for handling complex, large-scale and strategically sensitive schemes.

About You

This role would suit a lawyer who:

• Is an England & Wales qualified solicitor with 5+ years’ PQE
• Has experience in commercial or residential development, land acquisition or strategic land work
• Is comfortable running matters independently while collaborating within large project teams
• Enjoys working closely with clients and taking a solutions-focused, commercial approach
• Is ambitious and interested in long-term career progression within a growing national platform

Direct housebuilder experience is advantageous, but strong commercial development lawyers looking to specialise further in residential work are very welcome.

Why This Role Stands Out

• One of the largest and strongest residential development practices in the UK
• Exposure to household-name developers and complex, high-value schemes
• Clear evidence of career progression — associates regularly progress to partnership
• Significant investment in training, leadership and professional development
• A genuinely supportive culture with an excellent reputation for work-life balance

Next Steps

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This team focuses on high-value, technically sophisticated non-contentious construction work, largely related to commercial real estate development, financings, and high-risk buildings.

Key Responsibilities

• Wide range of construction drafting, negotiation and advice in regard to commercial developments.
• Supporting clients and internal teams on legal strategy, risk mitigation and compliance throughout the lifecycle of development projects.
• Working collaboratively with real estate, finance and project teams across the firm to advise contractors, lenders, developers and investors.
• Supporting junior and senior team members alike, and contributing to business development initiatives.

About You

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) with sound grasp of construction law commensurate with pqe, including experience on commercial real estate development and financings gained with a reputable commercial firm.
• Ability to manage complex legal issues in fast-paced environments, balancing accuracy and responsiveness.

Why Join This Team & Firm

Work with a Respected Specialist
You’ll work closely with a respected specialist in construction law, with extensive experience advising developers and investors on high profile non-contentious construction matters.

Career Growth & Development
This leading practice fosters professional growth, supporting you with access to client-facing roles, mentoring from senior lawyers, and opportunities to broaden your expertise.

Next Steps

For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Jon Kennedy at Ardent Recruitment via 07376 288 737 or jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

The Team

This is a multi award-winning, top-tier construction and projects team, widely regarded as a global market leader. The group advises across the full lifecycle of major projects and developments, acting for employers, sponsors, funders, developers, contractors and public-sector bodies.

The practice is genuinely international in scope, with close collaboration across offices and jurisdictions, and is trusted by heavyweight clients to deliver their most strategically important projects.

The Work

The role is broad and intellectually challenging, with exposure to work including:

• Advising on non-contentious construction matters across real estate, infrastructure and public-sector developments
• Supporting major real estate developments and real estate finance-related construction work, including higher-risk buildings and building safety considerations
• Acting on nationally and internationally significant projects, ranging from major transport and energy infrastructure to complex mixed-use and commercial developments
• Drafting and negotiating construction documentation, project agreements and related contracts
• Working closely with colleagues in real estate, finance and projects to deliver joined-up advice on sophisticated transactions
• Developing client relationships and supporting business development initiatives within a global team

The pipeline of work means there is genuine scope to shape your practice and gain exposure to both construction and broader projects work, depending on your experience and interests.

About You

You are likely to be:

• A qualified solicitor with 5+ years’ PQE in non-contentious construction law
• Experienced in working on large-scale developments or infrastructure-related projects within a rated commercial firm
• Technically strong, commercially minded and comfortable advising on complex, high-risk matters
• Confident supervising junior lawyers and contributing to team leadership
• Client-focused, collaborative and keen to build long-term relationships

Why This Role Is Exceptional

• One of the best construction and projects practices globally, consistently ranked at the very top of the legal directories
• Entrusted with iconic, market-defining projects across infrastructure, energy, transport and real estate
• Exposure to an unparalleled breadth of work — from mega-projects to innovative smaller-scale schemes
• A large, collegiate specialist team where construction and projects is a core strategic priority
• Excellent training, career development and early responsibility
• Flexible and agile working arrangements within a genuinely global practice

Apply Now

If you are a senior construction or projects lawyer looking to work at the very top of the market, on matters few teams can match in scale or complexity, this is a rare and compelling opportunity. For a confidential discussion, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or via jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

The team is known for its friendly, close-knit culture and collaborative environment. With just over 100 people in the office, there is a genuine sense of community while still benefitting from the resources, breadth and cross-border work of a large international platform.

The Role

You will join a well-established Real Estate team that handles sophisticated development matters, often involving large-scale residential-led schemes and strategic land projects.

The role will involve working closely with specialist partners whose practice centre on complex regeneration and high-value development acquisitions. You will take on meaningful responsibility, supported by a well-structured team of partners, senior associates, associates, trainees and paralegals.

About You

• A qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 4+ PQE in commercial real estate development
• Experienced in regeneration and development, ideally including work for housebuilders
• Confident working autonomously while also contributing effectively within a team
• Highly organised and capable of managing multiple files
• Skilled at communicating clearly, managing stakeholders and delivering client-centred service

Apply Now

For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or via jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

The team has deep, long-standing relationships with many of the UK’s leading clearing banks and alternative lenders, alongside a strong flow of work from corporate, private equity, venture capital and real estate clients.

The Team & Practice

This is a sizeable, well-resourced national banking practice with a strong London hub. The team is known for its commercial approach, technical depth and ability to support clients across the full spectrum of UK and cross-border financing transactions.

Clients include:

• Major UK banks and challenger lenders
• Asset-based and fund-backed lenders
• Corporate borrowers, management teams and growth companies
• Private equity and venture capital sponsors
• Property developers, investors and asset managers

The Work

You can expect to advise on a broad range of financing matters, including:

• General corporate lending and revolving credit facilities
• Acquisition and leveraged finance
• Real estate investment and development finance
• Asset-based lending and structured facilities
• Project and growth finance
• Refinancings, amendments and restructurings

Associates are involved end-to-end, from drafting and negotiation through to completion, with meaningful client contact and increasing autonomy as seniority grows.

Apply Now

If you are a banking & finance lawyer looking for breadth of work, quality clients and a supportive environment with clear progression prospects, this is a role well worth exploring.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or via jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

The Opportunity

The firm has a well-established, finance practice with solid bench strength handling a wide variety of transactional matters. Around two-thirds of the group’s work centres on real estate finance, but this role sits within the part of the team that focuses on other sorts of financings, giving you exposure to a diverse and stimulating mix of deals.

You will work closely with partners and senior associates who are recognised for expertise in leveraged and acquisition finance in particular, in addition to general corporate lending, receivables financing and asset-based lending. The practice advises a blend of financial institutions, funds, sponsors and corporate borrowers.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Drafting and negotiating facility documentation, intercreditor agreements and related finance documents
• Handling complex, bespoke financing structures across a range of sectors
• Acting for private equity sponsors, banks, alternative lenders and corporates
• Contributing to business development and helping to drive forward team initiatives
• Collaborating with colleagues across the wider finance and corporate teams

About You

• A UK-qualified solicitor with approximately 1–4 PQE and solid banking & finance experience
• Strong drafting skills and the ability to pick up complex structures quickly
• Good commercial instincts and an interest in developing client relationships
• Confidence in managing your own workstreams and driving transactions forward
• A proactive, engaged approach to continued learning and career development

Apply Now

For a confidential discussion or to request further details, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or via jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This leading UK commercial law firm is looking to recruit a Construction Solicitor (1+ PQE) to join its nationally recognised non-contentious construction team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious lawyer to work on high-profile, complex and socially impactful projects across the UK.

Why this role?

You’ll work alongside experienced partners advising on some of the UK’s most significant development programmes, spanning:

• Healthcare (NHS and private providers)
• Housing (including social housing and build-to-rent)
• Education (schools and universities)
• Local authority regeneration and highways
• Major central government programmes

This is a role where technical excellence meets real-world impact — from hospitals and care facilities to large-scale residential regeneration.

The work

You’ll be advising on the delivery of major construction projects, gaining hands-on experience with:

• Drafting and negotiating construction and engineering contracts
• Advising on industry standard forms, particularly JCT and NEC, as well as bespoke documentation
• Supporting clients on complex, high-value developments from inception to delivery
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines

While the role is primarily non-contentious, candidates with a mixed contentious/non-contentious background who are keen to pivot towards non-contentious work are encouraged to apply.

Locations & flexibility

This role can be based in Birmingham, Bristol or Leeds, with a hybrid working model and genuine openness to flexible working patterns.

Why Join?

• Consistently recognised as one of The Times Best Law Firms
• Stable practice with consistent revenue and profit growth
• Strong commitment to learning, development and progression
• A people-first culture — regularly cited by employees as a particular strength
• Industry-leading responsible business and ESG credentials

This leading UK law firm with a national real estate practice, seeks to recruit real estate associates and senior associates (residential development / housebuilding) to join their dynamic team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work across a breadth of high-profile land acquisition, development and structuring matters for household name national and regional housebuilders.

About the Role

Working within the firm’s specialist housebuilding team, under the leadership of recognised experts, you’ll support clients throughout the lifecycle of residential and mixed-use projects, from strategic land acquisition and planning through to conditional acquisitions and disposals. You’ll be part of a nationally integrated team recognised for its deep sector expertise and practical, commercial approach.

Location

These roles can be based in a number the firm’s regional UK offices, reflecting the national scope of the practice and its clients. Key locations include:

• Birmingham — core Midlands base with plenty of client demand
• Manchester — strategic northern centre with established offering
• Leeds — on of the firm’s key northern real estate team location
• Edinburgh — key office within the national network

What You’ll Do

• Advise national and regional housebuilders on strategic land and development acquisitions
• Support conditional and negotiated deals across residential projects
• Collaborate with senior colleagues on complex structures and client-facing strategy
• Contribute to relationship development and sector growth

Why Join?

You’ll work with a nationally recognised team, supported by a culture that values collaboration, innovation and professional growth. You’ll have a real opportunity to advance your career by working on meaningful projects that shape housing delivery across the UK

Find Out More

Contact Jon Kennedy in confidence via jon.kennedy@ardentrcruit.com or 07376 288 737

Our client is one of London’s leading law firms in the real estate and private wealth industries, with a long-established reputation for excellence in property, dispute resolution and private wealth legal advice.

The firm is now looking to recruit an experienced Associate or Senior Associate to join their top-tier Real Estate Disputes team, with a particular focus on contentious residential property matters.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a large, market-leading property disputes practice, working on some of the most complex and high-profile residential property matters in the UK.

The Team

The firm's Real Estate Disputes team is one of the largest and most respected in London, acting for a broad client base that includes institutional investors, developers, landed estates, managing agents, landlords, leaseholders and high-net-worth individuals.

The team is particularly well known for its strength in residential property litigation, including work at the highest levels of the court system.

Members of the team have been involved in landmark cases, and the practice is consistently ranked highly by Chambers UK and Legal 500.

The Role

The role will involve a broad and stimulating mix of contentious residential property work, including:

• Landlord and tenant disputes, including possession claims and lease enforcement

• Service charge disputes and recovery

• Disputes concerning long residential leases, breach of covenant and forfeiture

• Residential development-related disputes

• Neighbour and boundary disputes, nuisance claims and Party Wall Act matters

• Strategic advice on risk management and dispute avoidance

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a lawyer who:

• Has 3+ years’ PQE in real estate disputes or property litigation, gained with a highly reputable practice

• Has strong experience in residential property litigation, including landlord and tenant matters

• Is technically strong, commercially aware and solutions-focused

• Enjoys working closely with clients and taking ownership of matters

• Is keen to contribute to business development and the continued growth of the team

Why This Opportunity?

• A market-leading real estate disputes practice with genuine depth and breadth

• High-quality, intellectually challenging residential litigation work

• A partner-led, collaborative culture with real responsibility and visibility

• Strong emphasis on pragmatic, commercial advice

• Excellent career development prospects within a growing and highly regarded team

• A supportive, collegiate working environment and the opportunity to build a long-term career at a firm that is consistently recognised for excellence in property law.

This opportunity sits within an internationally recognised practice with an outstanding reputation for advising on complex built environment and infrastructure mandates. The firm is consistently ranked at the top end of the Legal 500 and acts for an impressive portfolio of household-name contractors and industry participants, ensuring a steady flow of high-quality, sophisticated work.

The Role

The successful candidate will advise on a wide range of major domestic and international projects, spanning:

• Transport and infrastructure

• Energy and utilities

• Landmark commercial real estate developments and regeneration schemes

The work is genuinely front-end and advisory, including:

• Drafting and negotiating complex construction contracts (FIDIC, JCT, NEC)

• Advising on procurement routes and project delivery strategies

• Consultants’ appointments and collateral warranties

• Security packages and project documentation

• Joint venture, PPP and PFI arrangements

The Firm

The firm is known not only for its technical excellence, but also for its collegiate and inclusive culture. Partners and associates work closely together, with lawyers at all levels encouraged to take an active role in client relationships and business development.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• A deeply specialist construction practice with a strong market profile

• Supportive, approachable partners and genuine mentoring

• Exposure to high-profile, multi-jurisdictional projects

• Consistently high-quality work from long-standing client relationships

This role would suit a construction lawyer with strong non-contentious experience, looking to develop their career within a firm that combines market leadership with a collaborative working environment.

For a confidential discussion or further information, please get in touch with Jon Kennedy via 07376 288 737 or jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This is a high-profile role, advising on matters that sit at the intersection of public law, economic regulation and major public investment.  The role is open to candidates based in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds or London, with flexible and hybrid working fully embedded.

The Opportunity

You will join a well-established and growing specialist team advising public bodies and delivery partners on the lawful design, funding and procurement of major projects. The work is rarely siloed — instead, it is multi-disciplinary, strategic and often politically sensitive, requiring close collaboration with colleagues across energy, construction, infrastructure, regeneration and commercial practices.

A significant and expanding part of the workload relates to energy and net-zero projects, where the team plays a key advisory role on subsidy structures, funding mechanisms and procurement strategy.

The Work

Your role will include advising on:

• Subsidy control and legacy State aid issues for public bodies and project sponsors
• Public procurement law, including strategy, compliance and challenge risk
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating grant funding agreements
• Structuring projects to align with regulatory, commercial and policy objectives
• Multi-disciplinary advisory work supporting complex regeneration, infrastructure and energy schemes

Sector exposure includes:

• Energy and decarbonisation projects (e.g. waste-to-energy, heat networks, EV infrastructure, solar and battery storage)
• Regeneration and housing
• Infrastructure and outsourcing
• Education, research and healthcare

There is also scope to become involved in broader competition law related work, depending on interest.

About You

You are likely to be:

• A UK-qualified solicitor with 5+ years’ PQE
• Experienced in subsidy control / State aid, public procurement and grant funding
• Comfortable advising public sector clients and navigating complex regulatory frameworks
• Commercially minded, pragmatic and solutions-focused
• Interested in policy-driven, high-impact work with real societal outcomes

Experience across energy, infrastructure or regeneration projects would be attractive.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Market-leading expertise in subsidy control and procurement
• Work that is front-page relevant, advising on major public investment and policy-driven projects
• A genuinely collaborative and collegiate culture
• Strong commitment to flexible and hybrid working
• Clear investment in learning, development and progression
• A values-led firm with a serious commitment to wellbeing, inclusion and sustainability

Next Steps

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or via jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com

This is a standout opportunity for a lawyer who wants to handle high quality construction litigation without the long-hours culture typically associated with the London market.

The Practice

The construction disputes team is recognised in the legal directories for the calibre of its work and its technical strength. It advises on complex, high-value disputes arising from major development and investment projects, regularly acting for sophisticated commercial and institutional clients.

The team sits closely alongside a leading real estate practice, resulting in a steady flow of disputes linked to:

• Commercial and mixed-use developments
• High-value residential schemes
• Regeneration and investment assets
• Portfolio-level and strategically important projects

The Work

You can expect exposure to a broad and stimulating mix of contentious construction matters, including:

• Adjudication, arbitration and TCC litigation
• Claims relating to defects, delays, variations and professional negligence
• Disputes arising out of development agreements, building contracts and consultant appointments
• Strategically significant matters involving complex stakeholder and public-sector dynamics
• Working closely with real estate and property litigation colleagues on joined-up disputes

The work is hands-on, with meaningful responsibility and client exposure from an early stage, supported by highly experienced senior lawyers.

Hours, Flexibility & Culture

This role is particularly attractive for lawyers seeking sustainability alongside quality:

• Annual target hours of c.1300, genuinely reflective of reality
• Hybrid working, typically 2–3 days from home
• Competitive London salary that compares very favourably with many national firms
• Collegiate, down-to-earth culture with a strong emphasis on trust and autonomy
• Modern, well-designed offices and a calm, professional working environment

Who This Would Suit

You are likely to be:

• England & Wales qualified with 3–6 years’ PQE in construction disputes
• Experienced in at least some of adjudication and litigation
• Comfortable working on technically complex matters with commercial sensitivity
• Looking for top-quality work, without the burnout, to develop a sustainable practice

Interested?

For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Jon Kennedy on 07376 288 737 or via jon.kennedy@ardentrecruit.com