Senior Lawyer, Helix

Reports to: Managing Lawyer or Deputy Managing Lawyer

Reference number: 10860

Join Dentons Helix as an experienced real estate lawyer and combine high-quality commercial property work for major clients with a genuinely flexible, remote working model. You will have significant ownership of your matters and client relationships, while working as part of a team that is designed around modern, sustainable legal delivery.

This role is particularly suited to lawyers who enjoy taking responsibility for their work and building trusted client relationships, but who are looking for greater flexibility and a more sustainable working pattern than is typically associated with transactional private practice. We are open to discussing different working patterns where they are compatible with the needs of the role, the team and our clients.

You will work directly with a small number of significant clients, becoming a trusted extension of their legal and property teams. You will also be encouraged to use AI, legal technology, data and streamlined delivery processes as part of day-to-day delivery, supported by operational specialists within Helix.

Dentons Helix is an innovative legal delivery model within Dentons, combining high-quality legal capability, technology, process efficiency and data-led delivery to provide effective, commercially focused support to a roster of high-quality clients.

You will manage a varied portfolio of commercial real estate matters, including leases, licences, land and title investigations, estate management work and support for major projects or transactions. The work offers substantial autonomy and regular direct contact with clients, business stakeholders, counter parties and colleagues across the Helix team and Dentons.

Success in the role depends on more than technical legal ability. You will need to be highly organised, comfortable managing multiple matters at the same time and proactive about priorities, deadlines, client expectations and next steps. Strong matter management is an important professional skill in Helix and is central to delivering a responsive, reliable service.

Flexibility does not mean reduced responsibility. You will be trusted to keep matters moving, identify issues early, communicate clearly and escalat complex, unusual or high risk matters when appropriate. The role will suit someone who is practical, commercially minded and comfortable taking ownership.

You will collaborate with Dentons' Band 1 ranked UK Real Estate team, giving you access to specialist expertise, training and mentoring when required, while retaining the flexibility, autonomy and close client relationships that distinguish the Helix model.

You will:

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 and commercially focused advice on freehold and leasehold matters from both landlord and tenant perspectives.

Manage multiple matters and work streams concurrently, prioritising effectively, anticipating deadlines and keeping clients informed of progress.

Maintain excellent matter discipline, including accurate tracking, clear file management, status reporting, financial awareness and prompt escalation of risks or blockers.

Coordinate input from clients, counter parties, colleagues and other stakeholders to keep matters moving efficiently through to completion.

Exercise sound judgement about when to resolve issues independently and when to involve colleagues or specialist lawyers across Dentons.

Support and help develop junior lawyers, paralegals and other team members where appropriate, including through guidance and review of work.

Work closely with colleagues across Dentons Helix and the wider Real Estate practice to provide a seamless and 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 we provide over…