Chief Lawyer - Property Division

Please apply online via the link provided.

Salary: £75,010 - £85,170 plus Non-contractual MFS of £10,560
Contractual Hours: 35 hours
Basis: Full time, Permanent
Workplace category: Workplace based

The City of London Corporation is seeking an accomplished Chief Lawyer to lead a section in our Property Division within the Comptroller and City Solicitor’s Department. This is a key leadership role that combines high-level legal expertise with people management and strategic advisory responsibilities.

About the Role

As Chief Lawyer, you will oversee a team of Principal Lawyers and support staff, providing expert legal advice on complex and high-value property matters. You will play a pivotal role in advising on commercial property transactions, open spaces, and charity law, including development agreements, acquisitions, disposals, and lease negotiations.

You will lead on significant legal projects, collaborating closely with colleagues across the Corporation to ensure well-coordinated outcomes. The role also includes regular engagement with senior stakeholders, committees, and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal advice on commercial and property law, open spaces, and charity law.
• Lead and manage a team of lawyers and support staff, ensuring effective performance and professional development.
• Advise on complex and high-value transactions, including development agreements, leases, acquisitions, and disposals.
• Prepare and present committee reports and represent the department at meetings when required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of work.

About You

You will be a qualified solicitor or barrister with at least 10 years’ post-qualification experience and a strong background in commercial property law. You’ll have proven leadership skills, the ability to manage a diverse caseload, and a track record of providing pragmatic, strategic advice on complex property matters.

Excellent communication and negotiation skills are essential, as is experience in advising senior stakeholders and managing a professional legal team.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary between £75,010 and £85,170 per annum.
• Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with an employer contribution rate of 21%.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days, plus bank holidays, with increases linked to service.
• Learning and development opportunities, including financial support for professional qualifications.
• Access to exclusive employee benefits and volunteering opportunities.

If you are an experienced property lawyer ready to lead a dedicated legal team and make a significant impact within one of London’s most historic and respected institutions, we would like to hear from you.

Apply now to join the City of London Corporation and help shape the legal framework behind some of the City’s most important property projects.

Closing date: 12 Noon on Monday 3rd November 2025

To apply online please click the apply online button.

Alternatively, please contact 020 7332 3978 (24 hr answerphone) quoting reference number OCOM899 if you experience any difficulties. A minicom service for the hearing impaired is available on 020 7332 3732.

If this role is advertised as a secondment, secondments are subject to the agreement of your department releasing you, therefore, you need to discuss this with your line manager prior to applying. The purpose of this will be to discuss what, if any, impact your secondment might have on the service and service delivery should your application be successful, and how this might be addressed.

The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

We reserve the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications.

Because our roles are so varied, we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ policy for workplace attendance. How many days a week you’ll be required to attend your workplace will depend on the requirements of your role. It’s important that you understand the requirements before applying to ensure you are able to meet them. We are committed to considering requests to work flexibly and job share. Requests will be considered by the recruiting manager in line with our policies and business needs.

For more information on our categories for workplace attendance, please view our guide here.

We will be reviewing this policy and approach at regular intervals to ensure we’re meeting our attendance needs.

The City of London Corporation is currently undergoing a programme to ensure that our pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable across the whole organisation, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the work that we do.