Associate Attorney - Real Estate

We are seeking a highly skilled attorney with 5+ years of experience to join our private equity real estate and banking transactions practice. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in real estate and general corporate matters, demonstrated fluency in complex joint venture structures, and hands-on experience negotiating and editing operating agreements. You will manage deal execution from term sheet through closing, lead and participate in deal calls, coordinate multi-disciplinary workstreams, and serve as a direct point of contact for clients, counterparties, and lenders.

Key Responsibilities
You will be responsible for the full life cycle of private equity real estate and finance transactions. This includes structuring and documenting joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, and financings involving a range of asset classes, capital stacks, and ownership structures. You will draft, review, and negotiate core transaction documents, including letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, joint venture agreements and operating agreements, loan documents, intercreditor and subordination agreements, pledge and collateral documents, subscription/credit facilities, and ancillary corporate instruments. You will oversee legal due diligence across title, survey, zoning, environmental, and corporate matters; synthesize findings into clear risk assessments and deal memoranda; and coordinate with tax, regulatory, and other specialist counsel as needed. You will manage closings end-to-end, maintain closing checklists and timetables, and ensure accurate delivery of closing deliverables. You will lead and actively participate in deal calls, facilitate negotiations with counterparties, and provide pragmatic, business-oriented guidance to clients on transaction risks, alternatives, and market norms.

Qualifications
You possess a J.D. from an accredited law school and are in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, with eligibility for admission in Florida. You bring a minimum of five years of relevant experience in private equity real estate, real estate finance, or banking transactions at a law firm and/or sophisticated in-house legal department. You demonstrate mastery of core real estate and corporate documentation, including operating agreements, joint venture agreements, purchase and sale agreements, loan agreements, guaranties, security instruments, and intercreditor agreements. You have proven ability to run transactions independently, manage multiple concurrent workstreams, and drive timely execution under tight deadlines. You are a strong negotiator with excellent drafting, issue-spotting, and judgment, and you communicate clearly and concisely with clients and counterparties. Familiarity with fund structures, REIT considerations, preferred equity, mezzanine financing, and complex waterfalls is strongly preferred.

Preferred Experience
Candidates with experience in large-scale portfolio transactions, development and construction financing, hotel or industrial assets, ground leases, co-GP and programmatic JV structures, and cross-border or tax-sensitive structures will be prioritized. Experience with subscription credit facilities, warehousing facilities, and NAV facilities is a plus. Comfort with project management tools, data rooms, and closing platforms, and proficiency with standard real estate diligence reports and surveys will be beneficial.

Professional Attributes
You are client-service oriented, collaborative, and solutions-focused. You thrive in a fast-paced, deal-driven environment and can translate complex legal concepts into practical recommendations. You are detail-oriented without losing sight of commercial objectives and can build trust with clients and colleagues across seniority levels.

Salary range: $145,000-$165,000/year. This is a good faith estimate for the position based on location and minimum criteria. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and other job-related factors as permitted by law.

Full time employees are also eligible for a year-end bonus and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning the first of the month following hire; immediate eligibility for the firm’s 401(k) and profit sharing plan; firm-arranged parking at our downtown locations; and firm-paid long-term disability coverage for all employees.

Founded in 1965 in Buffalo, New York, Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 17 offices and nearly 230 attorneys. We grow and thrive every day by way of our unique culture, which puts a premium on collegiality, collaboration, and support for our employees at every turn. You’ll quickly notice that we approach law differently at Lippes Mathias—we think ahead and around corners for our myriad regional, national, and international clients in a range of different industries. Rather than providing endless options and choices, we serve as business partners to our clients, delivering them the answers to their legal questions that advance their business outcomes.  

To learn more about Lippes Mathias, visit our recruiting website: https://www.lippescareers.com