Senior Legal Counsel

Kerwin Associates; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerwin Associates is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to join a lean, high-performing team in San Francisco. The role spans commercial contracting, debt and equity financings, real estate development, governance, and portfolio company matters.

You will partner with the GC, advise business teams, and help optimize legal processes in a fast-paced environment requiring independence and sound business judgment.

Qualifications

• JD required and active admission to the California Bar.
• Broad corporate or commercial practice experience (8–10+ years).
• Ability to draft, negotiate, and advise on a wide range of agreements and corporate matters.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements.
• Develop and maintain contract templates and playbooks.
• Support acquisitions, financing, and development projects; coordinate diligence and closings.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Commercial agreements

Corporate matters

Business judgment

Communication

Discretion

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Our client is a sophisticated asset management office managing a diverse portfolio of businesses, assets, investments, and development projects.

Their environment is fast-paced, sophisticated, and highly collaborative. The legal team supports a broad range of matters - from complex financings and commercial transactions to real estate development, corporate governance, hospitality, portfolio companies, and strategic business initiatives. They value thoughtful legal judgment, practical problem-solving, and exceptional execution.

The Role:

Our client is seeking a versatile Senior Legal Counsel to join a small, high-performing legal team supporting legal, development, investment, and business operations.

Unlike many in-house roles that focus on a single specialty, this position offers exposure across nearly every aspect of the legal function. You’ll partner directly with the General Counsel on matters ranging from commercial contracting and debt and equity financings to real estate development, governance, compliance, portfolio companies, and strategic business initiatives.

No two days look the same, making this an ideal opportunity for a seasoned attorney who enjoys variety, intellectual challenge, and solving complex legal issues across multiple disciplines. The successful candidate will thrive in a lean environment where independence, adaptability, and sound business judgment are valued as highly as technical legal expertise.

Responsibilities:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements, including vendor agreements, NDAs, professional services agreements, consulting agreements, and other strategic business contracts.
• Develop and maintain template agreements and contract playbooks to improve efficiency across the organization.
• Support acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and development projects, including construction and development-related agreements.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and outside counsel throughout transaction lifecycles.
• Assist with debt and equity financings, including drafting and reviewing transaction documents, coordinating diligence, and supporting closings.
• Support corporate and transactional matters involving portfolio companies and other strategic ventures.
• Partner with the Senior Paralegal on entity management, formations, dissolutions, board and shareholder approvals, resolutions, and other governance matters.
• Advise internal business teams – including accounting, finance, tax, estate management, development, and operations – on day-to-day legal issues and business decisions.
• Support compliance initiatives, including KYC processes, policy development, internal training, and regulatory filings.
• Help optimize legal processes and workflows across the department.
• Assist the General Counsel in overseeing the in-house legal support team to ensure high-quality, timely legal services across the organization.

Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (JD) and active admission to the California Bar.
• Approximately 8-10+ years of relevant legal experience in a broad corporate or commercial practice, whether in a law firm, in-house, or a combination of both. More senior candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Strong experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on a broad range of commercial agreements and corporate matters.
• Excellent business judgment and the ability to independently provide practical, risk-balanced advice to business stakeholders.
• Proven ability to independently manage sophisticated matters and multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity when handling confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in a lean, fast-paced in-house legal department.
• Experience with corporate governance, entity management, and compliance matters.
• Familiarity with legal operations, process improvement, or contract management best practices.