Trainee Update: Third Seat in Commercial Real Estate

As I approach the (near enough) halfway mark of my third seat, I’ve had a chance to fully reflect on the busy, fast-paced, and rewarding few months I’ve had so far within our Commercial Real Estate team. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have worked with this amazing team before – as an Administrative Assistant prior to starting my traineeship – so moving back to Real Estate again as a trainee felt very much like a “Welcome Home”.

I’ve been exceptionally lucky with my experience thus far, as expected. This seat has offered me exposure to a wide range of transactions and given me the chance to develop both my technical skills and commercial understanding. Teamwork has been central, and I’ve had the privilege of working closely with partners, solicitors and fellow trainees who have all been generous with their time and guidance. The team fosters an environment where questions are encouraged, and I’ve found that every task presents an opportunity to learn.

One of the aspects I’ve appreciated most is how much we all learn from each other, despite us all being at different levels in our careers. Everyone in the team brings different areas of expertise and experience, and this creates a collaborative environment where knowledge is constantly shared. No question feels too small, and no challenge is faced alone. I really have enjoyed this culture of collective learning.

One of the highlights of this seat has been the level of client exposure I’ve gained. Having my own workload and responsibilities naturally means working closely with clients and these interactions have given me a much clearer understanding of what truly matters to them. For instance, the Commercial Real Estate team works very closely with a well-known lender, and I have been lucky enough to have direct contact with their team. It’s become clear that the role isn’t just about identifying the legal position – it’s about finding solutions that make commercial sense. Watching that balance play out in real time has been one of the most valuable lessons of my training so far.

This seat has been a real learning curve, but an immensely rewarding one. I’ve developed my legal and analytical skills, but just as importantly, I’ve come to really appreciate the collaborative and commercially minded approach that defines successful real estate work.

As I look to moving into my final seat, I’m excited to build on these experiences and continue developing as a trainee – with a renewed appreciation for the teamwork and client focus that lie at the heart of what we do. My time in Commercial Real Estate has shown me how much impact our work can have, and I’m excited to keep building on that foundation as my training continues.

The information and opinions contained in this blog are for information only. They are not intended to constitute advice and should not be relied upon or considered as a replacement for advice. Before acting on any of the information contained in this blog, please seek specific advice from Gilson Gray.