Real Estate Associate (3+ years experience)

Van Ness Feldman LLP; Lafayette (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

401(k) profit-sharing plan.

Paid time off and parental leave.

Job summary

Van Ness Feldman LLP in California seeks a real estate attorney with at least 3 years of relevant experience to join our team. This role involves drafting and negotiating transactional documents, managing due diligence, and leading closings. The ideal candidate has strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

The firm offers a competitive salary between $180,000 and $200,000, along with comprehensive benefits and a focus on work-life balance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience in real estate law.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent research, drafting, and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate transactional documents.
• Lead due diligence and manage closings.
• Proactively identify issues and propose solutions.

Skills

Experience representing buyers, sellers, and/or developers in sophisticated real estate transactions

Experience in commercial, industrial, and/or residential development

Experience negotiating and closing financing

Experience performing due diligence

Ability to identify issues early and propose solutions

Education

Graduated with a JD or LLM from an ABA-accredited law school

Active admission or eligibility for admission in relevant jurisdiction

Job description

Van Ness Feldman is seeking a real estate attorney with at least 3 years of relevant experience to join our Environmental, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Real Estate team. The ideal candidate will be based in our Seattle office, but we are open to candidates based in another of our offices, including the Bay Area, Houston, or Washington, DC. The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, a strong work ethic, an ownership mindset, and close attention to detail. This role supports a fast‑paced, partner‑led practice handling complex, high‑value real estate transactions from inception through closing.

Who We Are

Our small real estate team is well regarded for assisting a wide range of clients, including colleges and universities, public housing authorities, public and private developers, transit authorities, publicly traded companies, utilities, and municipalities. We handle a broad spectrum of interesting real estate matters, including assisting with one of the nation’s largest agricultural land purchases, leading one of the largest acquisitions in an urban core, and negotiating property rights underlying a 16 city‑block transit‑oriented development. We pride ourselves on delivering practical, thoughtful counsel and excellent execution across complex transactions and diverse asset types, with a focus on responsiveness, accountability, and efficient execution.

What You’ll Do

No two days in our real estate practice are the same! The attorney in this role will draft and negotiate transactional documents for acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, easements, licenses, and financing matters across a range of asset types and industries.

The role will also include leading due diligence, reviewing title and survey, and managing closings to ensure workstreams are coordinated and completed accurately and on time.

This role requires proactively identifying issues, proposing solutions, and advancing transactions with minimal oversight, with an understanding of the business deal and the ability to provide practical, well‑reasoned recommendations.

Skills and Qualifications

Role Specific Skills and Experience

• Experience representing buyers, sellers, and/or developers in sophisticated real estate transactions
• Experience in commercial, industrial, and/or residential development, including drafting and negotiating complex documents related to property acquisition, disposition and development
• Experience representing clients in negotiating and closing on financing
• Experience coordinating and performing due diligence (including title and survey)
• Experience coordinating and performing closings including managing multiple workstreams and ensuring accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to identify issues early, analyze risk in context, exercise sound judgment, and offer practical, business‑minded solutions
• Ability to independently identify issues and present proposed solutions

Basic Qualifications

• Graduated with a JD or LLM from an ABA‑accredited law school
• Active admission or eligibility for admission in the jurisdiction in which the candidate will practice
• 3+ years of experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong academic credentials
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent research, drafting, and writing skills, and ability to produce high‑quality work on tight timelines
• Excellent oral communication skills including the ability to communicate clearly, directly, and practically with clients and colleagues
• Ability to manage matters independently and proactively drive work forward
• Ability to quickly learn new issues and apply that understanding in practice

About Us

Van Ness Feldman is a nationally recognized law firm focused on energy, environmental, and natural resources law and policy. Home to 100 attorneys and policy professionals, the Firm has offices in Washington, DC; Seattle; the Bay Area; Houston; and Louisiana. For nearly 50 years, the Firm has provided strategic business advice, legislative and policy advocacy, legal and regulatory compliance counsel, representation in administrative proceedings and litigation, and support for project development, permitting, and transactions.

In addition to joining an active and highly collaborative team, the candidate will be part of a Firm that is committed to supporting a healthy work/life balance. Attorneys are expected to be in the office at least three days a week / twelve days a month, but scheduling is flexible. With a 1,700 annual billable hour requirement (including up to 100 hours of pro‑bonu or business‑development activities), attorneys are encouraged to work hard while maintaining balance outside the office. The Firm rewards attorneys who exceed the target with a generous bonus. The culture at VNF relies on mutual respect, appreciation, and support. A focus on professional development is central, including regular feedback and training opportunities. VNF seeks individuals who share this approach and bring a collaborative mindset and take pride in thoughtful, high‑quality work.

Van Ness Feldman is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For this position, the good‑faith annual base salary range is $180,000 to $200,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and office location. In addition to base salary, compensation may include a bonus based on hours and other applicable criteria. The Firm also offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) profit‑sharing plan, paid time off, paid holidays, parental leave, life and disability insurance, employee assistance resources, and professional development opportunities.