Senior Lawyer, Helix

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. 

The role 

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, counterparties 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 escalate 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. 

What you will do 

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 workstreams 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, counterparties, 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 time. 

• Contribute to the continued development of Dentons Helix as a modern, technology-enabled legal delivery model. 

What we are looking for 

We are primarily interested in capability, judgement and approach rather than a rigid career path. We expect the successful candidate to demonstrate: 

• Qualification as an England & Wales solicitor or equivalent. 

• Around 6+ years’ PQE or equivalent relevant experience in commercial real estate; the quality and breadth of your experience are more important than a precise number of years. 

• 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. 

• The ability to provide clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice. 

• Excellent organisational and matter-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple matters and competing priorities without losing control of detail. 

• A proactive approach: anticipating issues, agreeing priorities, identifying next steps and driving progress without waiting to be prompted. 

• Strong attention to detail and a disciplined approach to deadlines, matter administration, tracking and reporting. 

• Confidence in building direct relationships with clients, your Helix team and other stakeholders. 

• The ability to work autonomously while recognising when a matter should be escalated or specialist input is needed. 

• Experience supporting, supervising or mentoring junior team members would be helpful, but is not essential. 

• Curiosity about technology and a willingness to use AI and other legal tools in day-to-day work; previous legal technology expertise is not required. 

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

Who will thrive in this role 

You will probably enjoy this role if you: 

• Enjoy taking ownership of your matters and becoming someone clients trust and contact directly. 

• Are highly organised and get satisfaction from keeping a busy portfolio of matters controlled, prioritised and moving. 

• Prefer taking a practical approach and are happy to get involved in both the legal and practical delivery aspects of a matter.  

• Communicate clearly and proactively, particularly when priorities, deadlines or expectations need to be managed. 

• Are personable, constructive and easy to work with across clients, colleagues and counterparties. 

• Are curious about AI, technology and better ways of delivering legal work, even if you do not consider yourself a technology specialist. 

• Like improving how work is delivered and are willing to engage with process, data and operational aspects of legal service delivery. 

• Can work independently in a remote environment while staying connected to the team and escalating or seeking help where appropriate. 

• Value flexibility and a sustainable working pattern, while remaining committed to high standards, responsiveness and client service. 

• Enjoy collaborating with lawyers, paralegals and operational specialists across Helix and the wider Dentons Real Estate practice.