In-House Legal Counsel (Leases & Portfolio Operations)

Overview

In-House Legal Counsel in North London acts as the primary internal legal expert for a residential property investment and development group. You own lease management, portfolio operations, licences, and commercial contracts, with a focus on leases and estate administration rather than litigation. You work directly with business principals in a lean, fast-paced environment, supporting ongoing portfolio delivery and compliance. This standalone role offers broad influence across the portfolio and opportunities to shape how the business manages leases and contracts. You will leverage your legal expertise to enable commercial growth while ensuring housing legislation compliance.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate residential leases, commercial lease renewals, tenancy agreements, and licences (alterations, sub-letting, assignments).
• Manage portfolio legal operations: lease extensions, variations, covenants, and freehold/leasehold administration.
• Oversee loan account ledgers, issue monthly statements, implement late payment recovery, and reconcile arrears with finance.
• Handle pre-litigation correspondence and manage external legal teams for complex court or tribunal proceedings.
• Provide day-to-day legal support and liaise with managing agents, surveyors, local authorities, estate agents, utility providers, and partners.

Key requirements

• Qualified Solicitor, Legal Executive (CILEx), or experienced practitioner with lease drafting, landlord and tenant estate management, or commercial/residential property operations experience.
• Standalone capability: able to operate independently without traditional firm support or billable hour targets.
• Commercial approach with strong organizational skills for managing portfolio leases and operational contracts.
• Technical & numerical proficiency with MS Office and accuracy in managing loan ledgers and transactional finances.

• commercial acumen
• self-motivation
• strong organizational skills
• MS Excel
• MS Word
• MS Outlook

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