Vice President, Legal Counsel

U.S. Realty Advisors (“USRA”) is seeking a transactional attorney to join its legal team in a broad in-house role with significant responsibility and direct exposure to the firm's investment activities and senior leadership.

USRA is a New York-based real estate investment manager with more than $7 billion of assets under management and a history of more than 35 years investing in single-tenant net lease real estate. The position offers an opportunity for an attorney with strong transactional training to move into or advance within a principal-side role, work across the full life cycle of institutional real estate investments and develop a broad in-house practice. Target total annual cash compensation is approximately $275,000–$350,000, with potential opportunities to participate in fund promote and invest alongside the firm.

The attorney will work directly with USRA's General Counsel, investment professionals and asset management team on acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing, joint ventures and portfolio matters. The role will also include private equity fund, corporate, securities and regulatory, compliance, employment and other legal work arising across the business.

The attorney will be expected to take ownership of day-to-day legal matters and assume increasing responsibility for larger and more complex transactions based on experience and demonstrated ability.

Responsibilities

• Real Estate Transactions: Work on acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and joint ventures from initial structuring and negotiation through closing, including drafting and negotiating transaction documents and working directly with investment professionals, counterparties and outside counsel.
• Real Estate Finance: Participate in property-level financings, refinancings and other debt transactions, including negotiating loan documents and working directly with lenders, investment professionals and outside counsel.
• Asset Management: Advise the asset management team on lease interpretation, tenant requests, amendments, consents and other portfolio matters, evaluating both legal and business considerations and developing practical solutions.
• Fund, Corporate and Other Legal Matters: Work on private equity fund and investment management matters, securities and regulatory issues, commercial contracts, entity formation and governance, compliance, employment matters and other legal issues affecting the business.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3–7 years of transactional legal experience at a law firm, investment manager, private equity firm, developer, REIT or other sophisticated organization. Commercial real estate experience is preferred but not required; candidates with strong backgrounds in corporate/M&A, private equity, finance, investment funds or other transactional practices will also be considered. Prior in-house experience is not required.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and analytical skills.
• Sound legal and business judgment, including the ability to assess risk and recommend practical solutions.
• Ability to take ownership of matters, work independently and exercise good judgment about when to involve senior members of the team.
• Interest in understanding the business beyond the legal issues, including how a real estate investment manager evaluates and manages investments, raises and deploys capital, manages funds and operates as a business.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a practical, collaborative approach.
• J.D. from an accredited law school.

Why USRA

For attorneys coming from private practice or a more specialized in-house role, the position offers the opportunity to broaden their practice while working closely with the investment and business sides of an institutional real estate manager.

USRA's lean organizational structure gives attorneys substantial responsibility, direct access to investment professionals and senior decision-makers, and the opportunity to develop as both legal advisors and business partners.

Location

This is a New York City-based, primarily in-office position.

Compensation

Target total annual cash compensation is approximately $275,000–$350,000, consisting of base salary and annual discretionary bonus, depending on experience, qualifications and performance. The anticipated base salary range is $175,000–$275,000. The position may also provide opportunities to participate in fund promote economics and investment opportunities alongside the firm.