Real Estate Special Counsel

Kelley Drye; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 370,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life insurance

Disability income protection

Paid parental leave

Retirement savings

College coaching

Child and elder care

Job summary

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP seeks an experienced commercial real estate attorney to join its Real Estate Practice Group as Special Counsel in the New York, NY office. The ideal candidate will handle sophisticated transactions and lead deal execution with substantial responsibility for client relationships.

Required are a JD from an accredited law school, NY-strong bar admission, and 8+ years in CRE transactional work at a national firm. This role is based in New York with a hybrid work policy.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of sophisticated commercial real estate transactional experience.
• Experience guiding acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, leases and financings.
• Knowledge of tax-structured transactions including DST platforms.
• Ability to run deals independently under tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Structure, negotiate, document, and close CRE acquisitions and dispositions.
• Structure and negotiate joint ventures for sponsors and capital partners.
• Handle leasing, sale-leaseback, and net lease transactions for landlords.
• Lead and manage a range of financings including construction loans and CTL financing.
• Oversee due diligence and manage closings and post-closing obligations.
• Supervise and mentor associates and paralegals on transaction teams.
• Build and deepen client relationships and assist in business development.

Skills

8+ years CRE transactions

Deal execution and closing

Client relationship management

Leadership and mentoring

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Bar admission (NY preferred)

Job description

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is looking for an experienced commercial real estate attorney to join its Real Estate Practice Group as Special Counsel in the New York, NY office. The ideal candidate is a deal-focused transactional lawyer with at least 8 years of experience in sophisticated acquisitions, joint ventures, leasing, and financings, and with substantial experience in tax-structured transactions, including Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) platforms. The Special Counsel will carry significant responsibility for client relationships and deal execution, and will work closely with the practice’s partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Structure, negotiate, document, and close acquisitions and dispositions of commercial real estate across asset classes and jurisdictions nationwide.
• Structure and negotiate joint ventures, representing both sponsors and capital partners.
• Handle commercial leasing, sale-leaseback, and net lease transactions for landlords.
• Represent borrowers and other parties in a wide range of financings. These include construction loans, mortgage and mezzanine financing, leasehold financing, and credit tenant lease (CTL) financing.
• Oversee due diligence, including title, survey, and zoning, and manage closings and post-closing obligations.
• Supervise, train, and mentor associates and paralegals on transaction teams.
• Build and deepen client relationships and contribute to business development efforts.

Required Qualifications

• A JD from an accredited law school, with strong academic credentials.
• Bar admission in the attorney’s resident and/or affiliated office. We work seamlessly across office lines and are open to considering experienced candidates in any Kelley Drye office but have a strong preference for the candidate to be based in New York, NY.
• At least 8 years of sophisticated commercial real estate transactional experience, gained at a nationally recognized law firm.
• Substantial experience leading acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and leasing transactions across multiple asset classes.
• The ability to run deals independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage several transactions on tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation, and client-relations skills.

Kelley Drye offers competitive compensation and benefits packages. Our programs include health benefits, life insurance and disability income protection, paid parental leave, retirement savings and planning, college coaching, and child and elder care offerings. We currently have a hybrid work policy.

The salary range shown applies only to hires who will work or reside in New York, NY if selected for the role. Any salary offered is based on internal equity, internal salary ranges, market data, and the applicant’s skills and relevant experience. New York Salary Range: Low: $300,000 – High: $370,000.

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).