Partner

Hawkstone Search; New York (NY); On-site; USD 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawkstone Search represents a confidential client, an entrepreneurial boutique law firm in New York City, seeking an experienced Counsel/Partner-level Attorney for its Real Estate Finance practice. The role emphasizes independent deal leadership, portfolio management, and equity-focused progression within a growing platform.

The firm values autonomy, mentorship, and a transparent path to partnership, with a strong emphasis on senior-level client relationships and sophisticated financing matters.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of commercial real estate finance experience.
• Experience representing lenders (institutional or private).
• Strong negotiation and client-facing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex real estate finance transactions from inception to closing.
• Originate and expand relationships with lenders and borrowers.
• Collaborate with partners to mentor and grow practice.

Skills

Real Estate Finance

Lender representation

Borrower representation

Negotiation

Business development

Job description

Our client is a well-regarded, entrepreneurial boutique law firm in New York City with a excellent reputation for sophisticated commercial real estate finance work. Rather than high-volume, agency-style lending work, this firm's practice is built on complex, bespoke transactional matters.

The firm is growing deliberately. Several recent lateral hires, a move underway into a larger, newly designed and more collaborative office, and leadership that's hands-on and invested in each attorney's development.

Unlike Big Law, where high performers can get lost in the crowd, this platform offers individualized mentorship, transparent compensation and title reviews, and a real, structured pathway to partnership.

With Attorney headcount recently surpassing 25 heads and a newly appointed COO brought in to steer and accelerate the firm's growth, this is a rare moment to join at an inflection point and hit the ground running.

They're now looking to add an experienced Counsel/Partner-level Attorney to their Real Estate Finance practice, focused on either lender or borrower side financing matters across commercial real estate.

What's on offer:

• A genuine, structured pathway to equity partnership, not a two-tier title with no real ownership
• Full autonomy running deals from inception to closing, for an already established roster of institutional and private lender clients
• A meaningful fee share on realized collections for business you generate or bring to the firm
• Hands-on leadership that invests in your growth, with transparent salary/title review
• A close-knit, collegial culture on a platform that's actively growing, including a move into a larger, newly designed office
• Flexibility on deal structure (compensation, title, and path to equity - for the right candidate)

What they need:

• 8+ years of commercial real estate finance experience, with substantial time representing lenders (institutional and/or private) rather than borrowers.
• Big Law or sophisticated boutique training, with the ability to run complex financing transactions independently
• A portable or partially portable book of business is strongly preferred; strong originators without a fully portable book will be considered for a Counsel-track role with a clear path to Partner
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable operating with autonomy on a smaller, more intimate platform than Big Law
• Excellent client-facing and negotiation skills, with a demonstrated ability to originate or expand client relationships

This search is being conducted on a confidential and exclusive basis for one of our repeat clients. All conversations are treated in strict confidence, and no information is shared with the hiring firm without your explicit permission.