Commercial Real Estate Attorney

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Transactional Real Estate Attorney to join our in-house legal team at a commercial real estate company. This position will focus heavily on structuring, drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and closing a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing arrangements, and commercial leasing.The ideal candidate will have a strong background in transactional commercial real estate law, with extensive experience handling complex real estate agreements, conducting legal due diligence, negotiating transaction terms, and managing deals from initial negotiations through closing. Experience with retail properties, shopping centers, office buildings, and large commercial real estate portfolios is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial real estate transaction documents, including purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent (LOIs), assignments, assumption agreements, easements, and other property-related contracts.
• Manage commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions from initial negotiations through due diligence, financing, and closing.
• Conduct legal due diligence, including reviewing title reports, surveys, zoning matters, environmental reports, existing leases, and other property documentation to identify potential risks.
• Handle commercial real estate financing and refinancing transactions, including reviewing and negotiating loan agreements, mortgages, guarantees, security agreements, and related financing documents.
• Prepare and review closing documents, coordinate with transaction parties, and ensure all contractual requirements and deadlines are met.
• Draft and negotiate commercial leases, amendments, renewals, assignments, subleases, SNDAs, estoppel certificates, and lease termination agreements for retail, office, and other commercial properties.
• Review and negotiate complex lease provisions involving rent structures, operating expenses, CAM charges, maintenance obligations, tenant improvements, and termination rights.
• Identify legal and financial risks associated with transactions and provide practical recommendations that protect the company's interests while supporting business objectives.
• Negotiate directly with buyers, sellers, lenders, brokers, outside counsel, and other parties to resolve contractual issues and facilitate transactions.
• Work closely with acquisitions, asset management, property management, accounting, and executive leadership to provide legal guidance on transactions and portfolio operations.
• Independently manage multiple transactions simultaneously, ensuring timely execution, proper documentation, and effective communication with all involved parties.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active admission to the New York State Bar or eligibility for admission by waiver.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in transactional commercial real estate law, preferably with a law firm specializing in real estate transactions or an in-house legal department.
• Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial real estate purchase and sale agreements, financing documents, commercial leases, and other transactional agreements.
• Demonstrated experience handling commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, due diligence, and closings.
• Strong understanding of commercial real estate financing, title matters, surveys, and contractual obligations.
• Ability to independently manage transactions from initial negotiations through closing.
• Excellent contract drafting, legal analysis, and negotiation skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex transactions and competing deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with executives, internal departments, outside counsel, and other transaction parties.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, and capable of working independently in a fast-paced commercial real estate environment.