Associate (Real Estate)

Withers KhattarWong LLP

Job title: Associate 

Practice Group:  Corporate Real Estate 

Location: Singapore

About Withers KhattarWong LLP 

Withers KhattarWong LLP, a Singapore law practice, is a member of Withers, and one of Singapore's longest established and largest full-service leading law firms. As one of the largest international law firm in Singapore, clients have access to lawyers who are qualified to practice a wide range of jurisdictions including Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, UK and U.S. amongst others. We work closely with our Hong Kong and Tokyo offices to cover the region. 

Our Singapore Real Estate practice group is ranked amongst Singapore's best in current market surveys and leading legal journals.  We are well-positioned to advise clients on both the acquisition and financing aspects of some of the largest and most complex real estate transactions in the market.   Working closely with our market-leading Private Client and Tax practice group, we advise some of the most prominent successful people in the world.   We also work closely with our Dispute Resolution practice group to advise the leading banks and financial institutions on real estate enforcement matters.

What are we looking for? 

We are looking to hire a junior to mid-level Singapore-qualified Associate to join our Real Estate practice group in our Singapore office. 

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated lawyer who is keen on challenging transactional and advisory corporate real estate work in a collegiate and highly regarded team within a leading international firm. 

The ideal candidate is a team player with at least one year of good experience working in an established corporate real estate teams handling, among other transactions, whole property investment transactions across various property asset classes; hospitality and leasing work advising landlords and tenants, and the candidate should also have real estate financing experience. 

You can expect frequent exposure to high end corporate real estate work including whole property acquisitions and divestments; master leases and "built-to-suit" transactions; real estate financing work, with top clients including S-REITS, hotel owners, global property funds and HNWI/private property investor clients.  You will also have the opportunity to work and collaborate alongside other practice groups within the Firm including the Disputes Resolution, Private Client & Tax and Corporate/M&A teams on major transactions involving real estate elements.  

The role will at times be demanding and fast paced so you will need to be adaptable, efficient and task-focused, committed to excellence and client service, and can prioritise, multi-task and remain calm under pressure. 

Areas of focus and responsibilities

We service a very broad client base on real estate and financing transactions and advisory, and they include S-REITS, hotel owners, global property funds, private property investor clients, financial institutions and government authorities.  We also serve an exceptional client base of ultra-high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs and their families, family offices, trustees, businesses and philanthropic endeavours, both locally and internationally. 

Key skills and experience

• Singapore qualified with between 1 - 4 years post qualification experience
• Candidates with corporate real estate and real estate financing experience gained in an established Singapore law firm would be a distinct advantage.
• Be able to work as part of a cross-departmental team and also with colleagues from other offices in the Withers network
• Commitment to technical excellence and delivering excellent client service
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent research skills
• Keen interest in the real estate sector
• Keen awareness of surroundings
• Positive attitude and willingness to work hard and be a team player

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

About Withers 

A law firm focused on people, performance, and collaboration.

For the past 125 years, we have supported some of the world’s most remarkable people and organizations at defining moments in their lives.

As the global private client firm, we are trusted advisors to families, founders, fiduciaries and businesses – and more than this, to governments, charities and financial institutions.

We structure, grow and preserve capital. We protect reputations and relationships, ideas and innovations. We secure our clients’ legacies across generations.

We are united in our commitment to integrity, quality and collaboration. We have a culture of high performance and deliver excellent service consistently across the firm. We provide tailored solutions built on trust and partner with our clients to achieve their goals.

Many of our clients are shaping the future, and creating solutions to tackle many of the world’s problems. It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice.

Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, buying a home or protecting and defending their interests.

To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. And we are agile – focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy.

We are delighted that we have been awarded Mansfield Certification Plus in relation to our recruitment and leadership progression efforts in the US and UK. This certification is an encouraging milestone as we continue to champion diversity within our organization and in the wider legal sector.

Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withers endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement 

It is the policy of Withers to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion. Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.

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