Real Estate Associate - JV / REF - Senior / Mid-Level

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nREAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE Joint Ventures & Real Estate Finance Mid-Level to Senior Associate Top-Tier AmLaw Firm • Multiple U.S. Offices FIRM TYPE AmLaw 50 EXPERIENCE 4–8 Years COMPENSATION Top of Market OFFICES 6 Markets Boston • New York • Washington, DC • San Francisco • Los Angeles • Santa Monica THE FIRM A globally recognized, Chambers-ranked AmLaw 50 law firm is expanding its Real Estate Joint Ventures and Real Estate Finance practices across six major U.S. markets. The firm is consistently ranked among the top real estate practices nationally by Chambers USA and has been recognized as a leader in structuring complex transactions for institutional investors, private equity sponsors, developers, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). The firm recently posted record annual revenue exceeding $2.5 billion, driven by double-digit year-over-year growth. Real estate is designated as one of the firm’s core strategic industries, meaning the practice benefits from significant investment, deep cross-practice integration with the firm’s private equity, investment funds, and capital markets teams, and a long-term commitment to growth. This is not a backfill for a departing associate. This is a strategic expansion driven by increased deal activity and a growing client base that demands deeper bench strength across all six offices. THE OPPORTUNITY The firm is seeking a highly qualified mid-level to senior associate to join its real estate transactions practice, with a primary focus on joint ventures and real estate finance. This role offers the chance to work on some of the most sophisticated real estate transactions in the market, alongside nationally recognized partners, for a blue-chip client base. The successful candidate will step into an active deal pipeline and immediately contribute to complex, high-value matters. The firm’s collaborative structure means associates regularly work across practice groups — a joint venture transaction, for example, may involve coordination with fund formation, tax, and capital markets attorneys, providing unusually broad exposure for a real estate associate. Representative Transaction Types The associate will handle sophisticated transactions across the full lifecycle of real estate investments, including: • Joint Ventures: Structuring, negotiating, and closing single-asset joint ventures, development joint ventures, portfolio and programmatic joint ventures, roll-ups and recapitalizations (including redemptions), and preferred equity investments across all asset classes. • Real Estate Finance: Representing lenders and/or borrowers in complex real estate financings, including mortgage loans, mezzanine financings, bridge and construction loans, syndicated credit facilities, CMBS originations, and preferred equity structures. • Acquisitions & Dispositions: Managing the full transaction lifecycle for acquisitions and dispositions of individual assets and portfolios, including due diligence, purchase and sale agreement negotiation, title and survey review, and closing coordination. • Development: Advising on ground-up development and redevelopment projects, including joint venture structuring, construction financing, entitlement coordination, and development agreement negotiation. • Recapitalizations: Structuring recapitalization transactions including partial interest sales, redemptions, promote crystallizations, and capital stack restructurings. • Fund-Level Work: Collaborating with the firm’s investment funds practice on real estate fund formation matters, co-investment structures, and GP/LP negotiations as they relate to specific real estate assets and portfolios. Asset Classes The firm’s real estate practice spans all major commercial asset classes. The successful candidate should have experience across multiple categories, which may include: • Office (including life sciences/lab conversions) • Multifamily (market-rate and affordable housing) • Industrial and logistics (warehousing, distribution, data centers) • Retail (shopping centers, mixed-use, single-tenant net lease) • Hospitality (hotels, resorts, extended-stay) • Mixed-use developments • Student housing and senior living CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS Required Qualifications • Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school. Graduates of top-50 nationally ranked law schools are strongly preferred. • 4 to 8 years of substantive experience in real estate transactional practice at a major law firm (AmLaw 100 or equivalent). • Substantial experience with some combination of complex real estate financings (lender and/or borrower representation), joint ventures, acquisitions, and dispositions. • Experience across multiple real estate asset classes (e.g., office, multifamily, industrial, retail, hospitality). • Active bar admission (or eligibility for admission) in the jurisdiction corresponding to the candidate’s preferred office location. • Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage deal processes independently while working under partner supervision. • Excellent academic credentials and strong written and verbal communication skills. Strongly Preferred Qualifications • Experience representing both lenders and borrowers in real estate financings, demonstrating the ability to understand and advocate from both sides of the transaction. • Programmatic or portfolio-level joint venture experience (beyond single-asset JV transactions). • Exposure to CMBS, CLO, or other structured real estate debt products. • REIT-related transactional experience, including REIT formation, qualification, and compliance considerations in the context of real estate transactions. • Preferred equity, mezzanine, and subordinated debt structuring experience. • Cross-border or multi-jurisdictional real estate transaction experience. • Experience working with institutional investors, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, or insurance company real estate divisions. • Track record of managing junior associates and contributing to professional development within a team. WHAT THE DAY-TO-DAY LOOKS LIKE This is an active, deal-driven role. The associate will typically be running multiple transactions simultaneously, ranging from financing closings on tight timelines to longer-duration joint venture negotiations. A typical week might include: • Leading the drafting and negotiation of a joint venture operating agreement for a programmatic multifamily investment partnership, managing all ancillary documents and coordinating with tax counsel on REIT structuring. • Representing a borrower in a $200M+ construction loan financing, reviewing and negotiating the loan agreement, guaranty, environmental indemnity, and intercreditor arrangements. • Managing due diligence and closing coordination for a multi-property portfolio acquisition across three states, including title and survey review, estoppel collection, and transfer tax analysis. • Preparing first drafts of preferred equity investment documents for partner review and participating in client calls to discuss deal structure and negotiation strategy. • Coordinating with the firm’s fund formation team on the real estate components of a new discretionary fund, reviewing side letter provisions related to co-investment rights and property-level reporting obligations. Associates at this level are expected to take meaningful ownership of transactions, interface directly with clients, and serve as the primary point of contact for opposing counsel on most deal matters. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Top-of-Market Compensation This firm pays at or above the prevailing Cravath scale for associates at all levels. The comprehensive compensation package includes: • Base Salary: Competitive with Cravath scale, currently ranging from approximately $345,000 to $435,000+ depending on class year. • Bonus: Year-end merit bonus consistent with market standards, with additional discretionary bonuses for exceptional performance. • Benefits: Full medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with employer match; generous PTO policy; parental leave; mental health and wellness programs; professional development budget. • Signing Bonus: May be available for exceptional candidates (discussed during the offer stage). • Bar & CLE: All bar dues, CLE requirements, and professional association memberships fully covered. • Relocation: Relocation assistance available for candidates moving to a new market. OFFICE LOCATIONS This position is available in any of the following six offices. Candidates should indicate their preferred market, though the firm may also discuss alternative locations during the interview process: MARKET PRACTICE NOTES Boston Firm headquarters; deep institutional investor and REIT client base; strong local market for multifamily, life sciences, and mixed-use development. New York Largest real estate team; full-spectrum JV, finance, and acquisitions practice; access to the broadest deal flow nationally. Washington, DC Focus on institutional capital deployment, government-adjacent development, public-private partnerships, and hospitality transactions. San Francisco Growing practice with significant opportunity for immediate impact; Bay Area development boom in life sciences, data centers, and mixed-use projects. Los Angeles Major market for entertainment-adjacent RE, multifamily, hospitality, and large-scale development transactions. Santa Monica Boutique West Coast office with an emphasis on real estate investment management clients and PE-backed transactions. Lifestyle-oriented alternative to Downtown LA. WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY STANDS OUT • Chambers-Ranked Practice: The firm’s real estate group is nationally ranked by Chambers USA with individually recognized partners across multiple offices. Associates work directly with recognized leaders in the field. • Strategic Industry Focus: Real estate is not a secondary practice here — it is one of the firm’s six designated core industries, ensuring sustained investment, headcount growth, and leadership attention. • Integrated Platform: Associates gain exposure beyond traditional real estate work through built-in collaboration with the firm’s private equity, investment funds, tax, and capital markets practices. This cross-pollination produces more sophisticated deal experience than a standalone RE practice. • Growth Trajectory: The firm’s double-digit revenue growth and strategic plan signal long-term stability and expanding opportunities for associate development and advancement. • Multi-Market Flexibility: With six office options, candidates can choose the market that best fits their personal life and career goals without sacrificing deal quality or compensation. • Client Base: The firm represents institutional investors, PE sponsors, REITs, developers, and lenders on transactions regularly exceeding $100M+ in value. Associates engage directly with sophisticated clients on high-stakes matters. • Path to Partnership: The firm has a demonstrated track record of promoting associates to partnership from within, including in the real estate practice group across multiple offices. HOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST This is a retained, confidential search. All inquiries are handled through Optimum Results Staffing, LLC. Your interest and materials will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with the hiring firm without your express written permission. To learn more or discuss this opportunity: