Real Estate Associate

Orionplacement; Lafayette (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Vision insurance

Job summary

Orionplacement in Lafayette, CA is seeking a licensed attorney with 3+ years of experience in commercial real estate transactions. You will work on complex transactions such as high-value agricultural land purchases and urban developments. Join a firm with a culture of collaboration and strong commitment to work-life balance.

The role offers competitive compensation starting from $180,000, with flexible scheduling and a generous benefits package including health, dental, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in commercial real estate transactions.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing documents.
• Proficiency in coordinating due diligence and title review.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate transactional documents for various asset types.
• Lead due diligence and coordinate closings.
• Proactively identify legal and business issues.

Skills

Strong drafting

Research skills

Written communication skills

Excellent oral communication

Organizational skills

Education

JD or LLM from an ABA-accredited law school

Active California bar admission or eligibility to waive in

Job description

Pay: $180,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year

Why this is a great opportunity

• Join a nationally recognized, mid-sized law firm with nearly 50 years of focused experience at the intersection of business and government — and a reputation for outperforming larger competitors on quality and outcomes
• Work on genuinely complex, high-value real estate transactions — from one of the nation's largest agricultural land purchases to multi-block urban transit‑oriented developments — no routine work here
• Collaborate directly with experienced partners in a small, well‑regarded real estate group where your contributions are visible and your development is prioritized
• 1,700-hour annual billable requirement (including up to 100 hours of pro bono or business development) — a realistic target that supports work/life balance without sacrificing career growth
• Generous bonus structure for attorneys who exceed the target
• Flexible scheduling within a hybrid model — 3 days/week or 12 days/month in‑office, with autonomy over how you structure your time
• Competitive compensation plus a comprehensive benefits package: medical, dental, vision, 401(k) profit‑sharing, paid time off, paid holidays, parental leave, life and disability insurance, EAP resources, and professional development support
• Regular feedback, training opportunities, and a firm culture built on mutual respect and genuine investment in its people

Location

This role is based out of our Lafayette, CA office. We operate on a hybrid schedule.

Note

Candidates must be a licensed attorney with 3+ years of direct experience in commercial real estate transactions, including drafting and negotiating acquisition, disposition, leasing, and/or financing documents. Active bar admission or eligibility to waive into California is required.

About Us

We are a nationally recognized law firm with nearly 50 years of focused experience helping clients navigate the complex intersection of business and government. Our collaborative team of attorneys and policy professionals provides legal counsel, regulatory compliance guidance, legislative and policy advocacy, and transactional support across the energy, environment, natural resources, and real estate sectors. With more than 100 professionals across offices in Washington, DC; Seattle; the Bay Area; Houston; and Baton Rouge, we've built a reputation for delivering sophisticated, high‑quality results — even in difficult situations. Client service and value are our endgame. Confidential Employer.

Job Description

• Draft and negotiate transactional documents for acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, easements, licenses, and financing matters across a wide range of asset types and industries
• Lead due diligence, review title and survey, and coordinate closings to ensure all workstreams are completed accurately and on time
• Proactively identify legal and business issues, analyze risk in context, and propose practical, well‑reasoned solutions
• Advance transactions independently with minimal oversight, exercising sound judgment and an ownership mindset
• Collaborate directly with partners and clients, providing responsive, business‑minded counsel on complex matters
• Manage multiple concurrent workstreams with close attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy under deadline

Qualifications

• JD or LLM from an ABA‑accredited law school
• Active California bar admission or eligibility to waive in
• 3+ years of experience in commercial real estate transactions
• Experience representing buyers, sellers, and/or developers in property acquisition, disposition, leasing, or financing
• Experience coordinating due diligence, including title and survey review
• Demonstrated ability to manage closings, coordinate workstreams, and drive matters forward independently
• Strong drafting, research, and written communication skills
• Excellent oral communication skills and ability to interact clearly and directly with clients and colleagues
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail and accuracy

Why you will love working here

Our real estate team is small, collegial, and widely respected for handling sophisticated work that most attorneys only read about. You won't be lost in a bureaucracy — you'll be known, supported, and rewarded. The firm has built something rare: a high‑performance culture that genuinely values balance, invests in feedback and development, and trusts its attorneys to manage their own time. Our people take pride in thoughtful, high‑quality work — and the firm takes pride in taking care of them.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance