Commercial Real Estate Finance Associate

Jobot; Madison (NJ); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobot is seeking a Commercial Real Estate Finance Associate for our AmLaw‑level practice, focusing on lender‑side transactions with meaningful responsibility and hands‑on deal experience.

The ideal candidate has 3–6 years of substantive CRE finance experience, strong loan‑document drafting, due diligence, and closing skills, and is eligible to work in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of substantive commercial real estate finance experience.
• Strong lender-side representation experience preferred.
• Experience drafting and reviewing commercial real estate loan documents.
• J.D. from an accredited law school.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial real estate loan documents.
• Assist with acquisition, bridge, construction, permanent, mezzanine, and other real estate financing transactions.
• Conduct and manage legal due diligence for real estate finance transactions.
• Review title, survey, organizational, environmental, insurance, and other due diligence materials.
• Review opinion letters and other third‑party documentation.
• Identify and analyze legal and transactional issues and communicate recommendations to senior attorneys and clients.
• Prepare and manage closing checklists.
• Coordinate closing logistics with clients, lenders, borrowers, title companies, consultants, and other transaction parties.
• Communicate directly with clients and other deal participants throughout the transaction.
• Take ownership of significant portions of transactions while working with the broader team.
• Assist with loan modifications, extensions, workouts, restructurings, and other real estate finance matters.

Skills

Real estate finance

Drafting loan documents

Due diligence

Closing deals

Client communication

Team collaboration

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Commercial Real Estate Finance Associate

$250000 - $300000 per year | New York, NY | Hybrid | Permanent

AmLaw firm | Sophisticated Real Estate Finance practice | Lender‑side transactions, meaningful responsibility & hands‑on deal experience

A bit about us:

We are a highly respected firm with a sophisticated Real Estate Finance practice representing institutional lenders, financial institutions, investment funds, loan servicers, and other sophisticated market participants in complex commercial real estate transactions.

The practice handles a broad range of commercial real estate financing matters, including acquisition and bridge financing, construction loans, permanent and interim financing, mezzanine loans, portfolio financings, syndicated and co‑lending transactions, and other structured real estate finance matters.

The team also advises clients on loan workouts, restructurings, modifications, enforcement matters, and other issues involving distressed or troubled real estate assets. Attorneys work with clients throughout the lifecycle of a loan, from origination and due diligence through closing, servicing, workouts, and enforcement.

The practice is particularly focused on providing practical, business‑oriented advice while handling sophisticated transactions. Attorneys work closely with clients and other members of the deal team to identify issues, manage risk, and efficiently move transactions toward closing.

The firm combines the resources and capabilities of a sophisticated national platform with a collaborative, relationship‑driven culture. Teams are intentionally structured to allow attorneys to work closely with experienced partners while taking meaningful ownership of their assignments.

For attorneys looking to build a strong career in commercial real estate finance, this is an opportunity to gain substantive lender‑side experience, work on sophisticated transactions, and develop both technical and client‑facing skills within a supportive environment.

Why join us?

Sophisticated Real Estate Finance work

Work on complex commercial real estate financing transactions involving sophisticated institutional clients, financial institutions, investment funds, and other market participants.

Meaningful deal responsibility

This is a role where associates are expected to take ownership. Rather than simply supporting a transaction from the sidelines, associates can manage significant portions of deals and become deeply involved in the process from due diligence through closing.

Strong lender‑side experience

The practice provides substantial exposure to lender‑side commercial real estate finance, including loan documentation, diligence, negotiations, closing mechanics, and ongoing financing matters.

Work directly with clients

Associates have opportunities to communicate directly with clients and other transaction participants, allowing them to develop not only technical legal skills but also the relationship‑management skills necessary to build a long‑term practice.

Lean, collaborative deal teams

The team structure provides associates with meaningful access to partners and senior attorneys. Smaller deal teams can mean more hands‑on experience and greater visibility into how sophisticated transactions are structured and negotiated.

Broad transactional exposure

Gain experience across acquisition financing, bridge loans, construction financing, permanent financing, mezzanine transactions, portfolio financings, syndications, and other sophisticated real estate finance structures.

Exposure beyond origination

The practice also handles loan workouts, restructurings, modifications, enforcement, and distressed real estate matters, providing a broader understanding of the full lifecycle of commercial real estate finance.

AmLaw resources with a more personal culture

The firm offers the resources and sophistication of an AmLaw platform while maintaining a collaborative environment where attorneys can work closely with one another and with clients.

Genuine mentorship

Professional development is taken seriously. Associates work alongside experienced attorneys who are invested in helping them develop technically, take on greater responsibility, and build their careers.

A strong fit for attorneys who want to be in the deal

For a real estate finance associate who wants to move beyond a highly segmented BigLaw experience and have greater ownership of transactions, the leaner team structure can provide more direct involvement and visibility.

Job Details

The ideal candidate will have approximately 3–6 years of substantive commercial real estate finance experience, preferably representing lenders in financing transactions. Candidates should have a strong foundation in loan‑document drafting, due diligence, deal management, and closing processes.

This is an opportunity to work alongside experienced real estate finance attorneys on sophisticated transactions while taking meaningful ownership of substantive portions of each deal.

The position is open to candidates in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial real estate loan documents
• Assist with acquisition, bridge, construction, permanent, mezzanine, and other real estate financing transactions
• Conduct and manage legal due diligence for real estate finance transactions
• Review title, survey, organizational, environmental, insurance, and other due diligence materials
• Review opinion letters and other third‑party documentation
• Identify and analyze legal and transactional issues and communicate recommendations to senior attorneys and clients
• Prepare and manage closing checklists
• Coordinate closing logistics with clients, lenders, borrowers, title companies, consultants, and other transaction parties
• Communicate directly with clients and other deal participants throughout the transaction
• Coordinate with partners, senior attorneys, associates, paralegals, and other members of the deal team
• Manage multiple workstreams and deadlines within a transaction
• Take ownership of significant portions of transactions while working collaboratively with the broader team
• Assist with loan modifications, extensions, workouts, restructurings, and other real estate finance matters as appropriate

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of substantive commercial real estate finance experience
• Strong preference for lender‑side representation experience
• Experience gained at a major law firm, sophisticated real estate practice, financial institution, or institutional lender preferred
• Strong experience drafting and reviewing commercial real estate loan documents
• Strong understanding of commercial real estate financing transactions
• Experience conducting and managing transactional due diligence
• Excellent legal drafting and analytical skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and competing deadlines in a fast‑paced transactional environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients and other transaction participants
• Self‑starter who is comfortable taking ownership of significant portions of a transaction
• Strong team‑oriented approach and ability to collaborate effectively
• J.D. from an accredited law school

Equal Opportunity and Background Check

Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

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