Real Estate Finance Mid-Level Associate

Holland & Knight LLP; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 279,000 - 341,000; Full time

Job summary

Holland & Knight LLP in Charlotte is seeking a real estate finance attorney with 4+ years of experience, including CMBS platform work for lenders. The candidate should be familiar with securitization requirements, structure loan documents, perform due diligence, and coordinate closings.

North Carolina bar admission or waiver into NC is required; salary starts at $310,000+ commensurate with class year and experience.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in real estate finance with institutional lenders or CMBS platforms.
• Experience with CMBS/CLO loan origination across commercial real estate assets.
• Familiar with rating agency criteria and securitization requirements.
• North Carolina Bar License or ability to waive into NC.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate loan documents (agreements, notes, mortgages, guarantees).
• Conduct due diligence including zoning, leases, and third-party reports.
• Structure transactions to meet CMBS securitization requirements.
• Advise on securitization eligibility and marketability.
• Coordinate closings and manage transaction timelines.
• Support post-closing matters and loan reviews related to securitization.

Skills

Real estate finance

CMBS securitization

Due diligence

Drafting loan documents

Legal writing

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Job description

Holland & Knight's Charlotte office has an immediate opening for a real estate finance attorney with at least 4 years of experience, including significant experience representing institutional lenders, investment banks, or CMBS platforms in connection with the origination of CMBS and/or CLO loans across a variety of commercial real estate asset classes, including office, retail, multifamily, hospitality, and industrial.

The ideal candidate will be familiar with rating agency criteria and securitization requirements, including treatment of ground leases, cash management, and structural features.

• Draft, review, and negotiate loan documents, including loan agreements, promissory notes, mortgages/deeds of trust, guarantees, and ancillary documents.
• Conduct and oversee due diligence, including review of zoning reports, leases, organizational documents, and third-party reports.
• Structure transactions to comply with CMBS securitization requirements, including coordination with originators, underwriters, and securitization counsel.
• Advise clients on structural and legal issues affecting securitization eligibility and marketability.
• Coordinate closings and manage transaction timelines, including interaction with clients, borrower’s counsel, and third-party service providers.
• Support post-closing matters and prepare with loan reviews in anticipation of securitization.
• Strong academic background with excellent writing skills and attention to detail.

Salary is $310,000+ commensurate with class year and experience. Holland & Knight’s Charlotte office follows the New York salary and bonus scale.

Holland & Knight’s Chambers-ranked real estate practice group cultivates a collegial atmosphere and provides its attorneys with tangible opportunities for professional growth and advancement. The successful candidate would be joining a team of diverse individuals who enjoy working in a high-performance environment rooted in a culture of mutual respect and teamwork.

North Carolina Bar License required (or ability to waive into North Carolina).