Real Estate Dispute Resolution Senior Associate

The role

A Real Estate Dispute Resolution Senior Associate role has arisen in our Manchester / Birmingham Real Estate team, working on a wide variety of contentious property matters.

• Advising on landlord and tenant disputes (lease renewals, dilapidations, forfeiture)
• Handling development-related issues (rights of light, restrictive covenants, boundary disputes)
• Managing possession claims and trespass actions
• Supporting property insolvency and enforcement work
• Drafting pleadings, witness statements, and instructions to counsel
• Attending court hearings, mediations, and client meetings
• Managing your own caseload with appropriate supervision
• Supporting senior colleagues on complex litigation and ADR matters
• Contributing to team training, knowledge sharing, and mentoring junior team members
• Getting involved in marketing and business development initiatives

You'll be supporting Dawn and her senior fee earners, making this a fantastic opportunity to learn and network with highly experienced professionals.

The team

Our Real Estate Dispute Resolution team, led by Partner Dawn Reynolds, is a specialist group within Gateley Legal's wider Property division. We're known for our straight-talking, commercially focused advice and our ability to resolve complex property disputes with clarity and confidence.

Dawn and the team act for a broad range of clients including developers, investors, landlords, tenants, and public sector bodies. We pride ourselves on being approachable, proactive, and genuinely collaborative, working closely with clients to understand their goals and deliver practical solutions that make a difference.

The person

We are interested in speaking with candidates who are enthusiastic, commercially minded, and have a keen interest in property law and dispute resolution. You should enjoy working in a team, be able to manage your own workload, and have an eye for detail. Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following attributes:

• A qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales (5 years' PQE+ in property litigation preferred)
• Strong technical knowledge of real estate law and dispute resolution processes
• Experience in County Court and First-tier Tribunal proceedings
• An organised and methodical approach
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong attention to detail
• Enthusiasm to learn and develop