“Our Real Estate practice is a breath of fresh air. Yes, we do the bread-and-butter conveyancing work, but we also do cutting-edge, innovative structures, development, outsourcing and property finance deals.

“For many of the lawyers we hire, this is different from what they’ve done before. But if they’ve got the right outlook, knowledge and desire, it’s not a problem. After all, who wouldn’t want to work across the full spectrum of real estate law?

“We are a full-service real estate practice. So besides offering quality day-to-day support to the corporate and finance teams, we get involved in high-end complex and high-profile transactions. Our people really enjoy this combination. Because of the broad mix of work, they can develop their network of contacts in the industry and take an active part in marketing the practice.

“Another unusual feature of the practice is that we have our own property tax and funds lawyers – as well as exceptional property support lawyers. It means that we have a well-supported practice where lawyers can get involved in all the deals we have, including the latest trends – such as tax efficient investment vehicles and real estate funds. In fact, the quality of our people is the reason why we’ve been the only firm to be ranked first for commercial real estate expertise in Chambers Guide every year since 1997.

“Aside from the quality of the work and the people, the environment itself is different from what most people expect. They imagine being swallowed up by a huge machine – and that couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a real focus on ensuring that everyone has support. Every associate has a mentor partner that is responsible for his or her career development. You also have a senior associate mentor, whom you can go to with questions or when you need advice. Over time, the type of support may change as people develop their own network of contacts. But it’s always focused on you and your development.”