Banking & Finance (Real Estate and Development), Senior Associate/Legal Director

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced banking lawyer to join our growing Banking & Finance team in Scotland at Senior Associate or Legal Director level, with a focus on real estate and development finance. The team is led by Partner Andrew Ronald, the team has a strong and growing lender-side practice, with particular expertise in real estate finance, development finance and secured lending. The team acts for a broad mix of banks, alternative lenders and other funders on transactions ranging from bilateral Scottish financings to larger and cross-border matters. It is an ambitious and collaborative team, offering genuine scope for a senior lawyer to take responsibility for transactions, build direct client relationships and play an important role in its continued growth

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to do high-quality transactional work, but also wants something more than simply servicing transactions generated elsewhere. You will have the opportunity to build direct client relationships, develop your own market profile and play a meaningful part in the future growth of the practice.

Role:

The role will have a particular focus on real estate and development finance, acting principally for lenders on:

• investment and development facilities;
• acquisition and refinancing transactions;
• bridging and alternative lending;
• bilateral and more complex secured lending transactions;
• Scottish security packages, including standard securities, floating charges and share security; and
• transactions involving cross-border finance teams and English-law facility documentation.

There will also be opportunities to work across the team's wider corporate and commercial banking practice.

Skills & experience required:

You will ideally be an established Senior Associate, Managing Associate or Legal Director with a strong grounding in banking and secured lending.

You do not need to arrive with a substantial client following. More important is that you:

• can run transactions confidently and commercially;
• understand Scots law security and real estate finance;
• are comfortable dealing directly with lenders, borrowers and other advisers;
• enjoy supervising and developing junior lawyers; and
• have the ambition to develop your own client relationships and become a recognised figure in the Scottish banking market.

A strong real estate finance background would be particularly attractive.

Let your ambitions grow with ours

At Harper Macleod, ambition is what drives us forward. We are a firm that cares about doing great work and making a real impact for our clients and for each other. We believe in progress, not standing still. That means sharing ideas, supporting growth and creating opportunities for everyone to shine. If you want to work somewhere that values curiosity and collaboration, you’ll feel right at home here.

Our story so far includes recognition as Scotland’s Firm of the Year 2025, ESG Firm of the Year 2024 and a place in the Legal 500’s Green Guide for two years running. But we’re not done yet. The best is still to come. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, active colleague engagement, wellbeing, sustainability & CSR programmes and the opportunity to develop your career.

If you’re ready to shape the future with us, we would love to hear from you.

Harper Macleod LLP is committed to promoting equal opportunities and developing a diverse workforce.

To apply please send your CV to hrdept@harpermacleod.co.uk