Senior Associate / Counsel

Simpson Judge USA; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpson Judge USA is seeking a real estate finance attorney to join our team in New York or Chicago. You will represent banks, insurers, and institutional lenders in sophisticated real estate finance transactions across multifamily, hotel, energy, mixed-use, and medical office projects.

You will draft mortgages, loan agreements, and related documents while coordinating title/survey reviews and due diligence to close.

Qualifications

• 3–8 years of real estate and/or finance experience.
• New York Bar or Illinois admission preferred.
• Experience with commercial real estate finance transactions.
• Experience drafting and negotiating mortgages, loan agreements, guaranties, and related documents.
• Experience with title and survey review and real estate closings.
• Working knowledge of environmental issues affecting real estate.
• Strong writing, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Good judgment and the ability to manage transactions from start to finish.
• Lender-side or investor experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Represent banks, insurance companies, institutional lenders, and corporate finance groups in real estate finance transactions
• Work on construction and permanent financing for multifamily, hotel, energy, mixed-use, and medical office projects
• Draft and negotiate mortgages, loan agreements, guaranties, and other real estate documents
• Review title and surveys and help manage due diligence through closing
• Work through environmental issues related to real estate transactions
• Assist with acquisitions, development projects, refinancings, amendments, and extensions
• Work directly with clients, borrowers, lenders, and other deal professionals
• Take ownership of transactions and work closely with senior attorneys and clients

Skills

Real estate finance experience

Drafting mortgage documents

Title & survey review

Environmental issues knowledge

Legal writing & communication

Negotiation skills

Transaction management

Bar admission (NY/IL)

Lender/investor experience

Developer/owner collaboration

Job description

Must be located within New York or Chicago

Join a highly regarded real estate finance practice representing leading banks, insurers, institutional lenders, and investors in commercial real estate transactions.

The team focuses on financing across a range of property types, including multifamily, hotels, energy, mixed-use, and medical office projects.

Attorneys work closely with clients and have the opportunity to see transactions from both the lender/investor and developer/owner perspectives. The practice offers strong exposure to sophisticated deals, while giving attorneys meaningful responsibility throughout the transaction.

What You'll Do

• Represent banks, insurance companies, institutional lenders, and corporate finance groups in real estate finance transactions
• Work on construction and permanent financing for multifamily, hotel, energy, mixed-use, and medical office projects
• Draft and negotiate mortgages, loan agreements, guaranties, and other real estate documents
• Review title and surveys and help manage due diligence through closing
• Work through environmental issues related to real estate transactions
• Assist with acquisitions, development projects, refinancings, amendments, and extensions
• Work directly with clients, borrowers, lenders, and other deal professionals
• Take ownership of transactions and work closely with senior attorneys and clients

What You'll Need

• Ideally 3–8 years of real estate and/or finance experience
• New York Bar or Illinois admission preferred
• Experience with commercial real estate finance transactions
• Experience drafting and negotiating mortgages, loan agreements, guaranties, and related documents
• Experience with title and survey review and real estate closings
• Working knowledge of environmental issues affecting real estate
• Strong writing, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills
• Good judgment and the ability to manage transactions from start to finish
• Lender-side or investor experience preferred
• Experience working with developers, owners, or landlords is a plus

What Else?

• Work with sophisticated institutional clients, including major banks, insurers, and lenders
• Exposure to a wide range of real estate finance transactions and property types
• Experience with both construction and permanent financing
• The opportunity to build expertise across real estate finance and broader commercial lending
• Exposure to both the lender/investor and developer/owner sides of transactions
• Meaningful responsibility and involvement throughout the life of each deal
• Opportunity to join at the Associate or Senior Counsel level, depending on experience

If you're a real estate finance attorney looking for sophisticated work, strong institutional clients, and the opportunity to take real responsibility on complex transactions, we'd like to hear from you.