Real Estate Attorney Associate - California

Job Description

Job Description

Direct Counsel is seeking an experienced Real Estate Associate with 6+ years of transactional experience to join a sophisticated and well-established real estate practice in California.

This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who enjoys handling complex commercial real estate transactions while representing a diverse client base that includes public entities, private developers, corporate clients, property owners, and nonprofit organizations . The role offers meaningful responsibility, a collaborative environment, reasonable billable expectations, and strong opportunities for long-term professional growth.

Location

• California – Firmwide (Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire, Palm Desert, San Diego, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Oakland, Marin County)
• Hybrid work arrangement available

Responsibilities

• Handle sophisticated commercial real estate transactions from inception through closing.
• Advise clients on:
  • Acquisitions and dispositions
  • Commercial leasing
  • Real estate development
  • Title matters
  • Real estate financing
  • Public-private partnership transactions
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex transactional documents, including:
  • Purchase and Sale Agreements (PSAs)
  • Commercial leases
  • Statutory development agreements
  • Disposition and development agreements
  • Reimbursement agreements
  • Other real estate and development agreements
• Represent public agencies, private developers, corporations, property owners, and nonprofit organizations in sophisticated real estate matters.
• Independently manage multiple transactions and competing deadlines.
• Collaborate with experienced attorneys on complex and multidisciplinary matters.
• Provide practical and strategic advice throughout the lifecycle of real estate transactions.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant commercial real estate transactional experience.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar .
• Significant experience with acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, title, financing, and development matters.
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating sophisticated real estate agreements.
• Ability to independently manage transactions from inception through closing.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management abilities.
• Collaborative and client-focused approach to practice.

Preferred Experience

• Representation of public agencies and municipalities in real estate matters.
• Public-private development transactions.
• Complex development agreements.
• Experience representing developers, corporate clients, property owners, or nonprofit organizations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $190,000–$225,000 , depending on experience.
• Annual performance-based bonuses.
• Discretionary and billable-hours bonus opportunities.
• Reasonable billable-hours requirement.
• Hybrid work arrangement available.
• Competitive health insurance benefits.
• 401(k) with partial employer match.
• Strong mentorship and professional development opportunities.

Why This Opportunity

This role offers a compelling combination of sophisticated real estate work, meaningful autonomy, reasonable billable expectations, and long-term career development . The successful attorney will have the opportunity to handle complex transactions for both public and private-sector clients while working alongside experienced practitioners in a collaborative environment that prioritizes mentorship and professional growth.

Interested? Apply through Direct Counsel or reach out to learn more.