Real Estate Finance Associate

Our Banking Group is seeking an Associate with a strong real estate finance background to join their real estate finance sub-group within their banking and finance team currently led by 3 partners. The broader banking and finance team currently comprises 10 partners, 2 knowledge lawyers and 25 associates and trainees. Duties include:

• Advising clients on a mix of real estate finance related matters, real estate related special situations and also a wide range of non-real estate related matters. Transactions in the team are mostly cross-border involving multiple jurisdictions but will also involve some UK focused transactions. Associates work in a collegiate environment and can expect a good variety of work.
• Associates are given regular and direct contact with clients, with a culture based on associates being given the level of responsibility they are ready for, rather than a PQE based method of work allocation.
• Developing relationships with clients including gaining a good knowledge of the client's businesses, economic drivers, market and sector requirements in order to ensure advice is relevant and commercial.
• There are regular opportunities for secondments with clients.  Posting to other offices under the firm's associate transfer programme is also a possibility.
• Engaging in business development activities and being active in the promotion of the firm and seeking opportunities for new work.

Working as part of a team and taking an active role in sharing knowledge and experience with the team.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate all or the majority of the following:

• A qualified lawyer with excellent academic credentials
• Current experience in the real estate finance team of the banking department of a leading firm
• Experience focused in real estate finance
• First rate technical skills needed to support the client work of the department
• Commerciality and demonstrable business development experience
• Excellent written communication and drafting skills
• Initiative and proactivity
• Maturity and gravitas
• Strong service orientation - a "client first" culture
• Ability to develop strong relationships with clients and to take responsibility for this relationship
• High work standards
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to adapt style as required
• Ability to work well in both a team and individually
• A keenness to learn

Respects and enjoys the diversity of cultural, social and academic backgrounds found in the Firm 

The Team

Real Estate Finance sits within the firm's broader Banking & Finance Practice serving our global client base.   

Our Real Estate Finance team blends real estate, finance, corporate and tax expertise to create a fully coordinated service. We assist arrangers, financial institutions as well as borrowers including developers, funds, REITs, sponsors and other institutional investors with respect to complex domestic and cross-border property and portfolio financing transactions. Our ability to offer genuine cross-border in-depth expertise in the real estate finance world is what truly differentiates us from other firms.

We are able to advise financial institutions and other lenders, sponsors, borrowers and other corporate entities on all aspects of financing transactions – from origination, negotiation and documentation to closing. We also advise clients on enforcement situations, workouts and reorganisations and the full breadth of structured and capital markets offerings. As a firm, we are noted for our expertise in acquisition finance, securitisation, bank lending, financial regulatory work and project finance, especially advising on bespoke complex transactions and those involving emerging markets.

The London team are an integrated part of the Firm's Global Finance group of over 500 lawyers who cover the world's key financial money centres, many of whom are regularly featured in the top tier of rankings in both Legal 500 and Chambers for Banking and Finance. 

Why Join us?

Baker McKenzie is a truly global law firm. Founded in 1949, we advise many of the world's most dynamic and successful business organisations through our 13,200 people in 74 offices in 45 countries. Yet big does not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows their role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave in a collaborative and fulfilling way.

In London you will be part of a 950 person office, which is also our largest office globally. Originally opened in 1961, Baker McKenzie London is well established in the UK as a leading international law firm and is regularly involved in some of the country's most high-profile legal matters. We can offer you the work, pride and experience of being part of a leading law firm but in a local office environment that is hardworking, yet friendly and supportive.

The strength of the firm and our culture is evidenced by a number of recent awards, including:

• Ranked in 's 2024 UK A-List of best firms to work at
• Included in The Times 2024 list of Best Law Firms
• Ranked in the Financial Times Most Innovative Law Firms in Europe 2024 list
• Listed in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
• International Employment Lawyer - Elite Firm 2025
• Winner: Client Management Innovation Award, Legal Innovation & Technology Awards, 2024
• Winner: Employment & Labour Law Firm of the Year, Lexology European Awards 2025
• Winner: Pro Bono Initiative of the Year – The Lawyer Awards 2024
• Winner: Finance Team of the Year – Legal Business Awards 2024

To Apply

At Baker McKenzie we welcome direct applications.

Please click on the Apply icon to start the online application process for this role. We will then be in touch with you once we have reviewed your application. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the Recruitment Team on either or 

For more information about this position or to discuss any adjustments you may require during the process please contact in confidence, Samantha Mann, Recruitment Manager, on or 

Please review our Applicant Privacy Notice
here
NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Please note Baker McKenzie does not accept unsolicited CVs. Please click 

here

for details of our Agency Policy and commitment to sourcing directly.