Associate - Real Estate Finance

Associate – Real Estate Finance

Location: Chicago, IL or New York, NY

Employment Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

Compensation: $235,000 – $310,000 per year

Position Overview

HireNow Staffing is confidentially partnering with a nationally recognized business law firm to identify a Real Estate Finance Associate with 3–5 years of substantive transactional experience.

This opportunity is reserved for attorneys currently practicing at AmLaw 120 firms (or equivalent peer firms) with demonstrated experience handling sophisticated real estate finance transactions. Candidates must show clear career progression and long-term tenure in prior roles. Attorneys with patterns of short-term employment will not be considered.

The role involves meaningful responsibility in complex financing transactions and direct interaction with lenders, borrowers, and institutional stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

Transaction Execution & Deal Management

• Draft and negotiate commercial mortgage loan documents, credit agreements, security instruments, intercreditor agreements, and related financing documentation.

• Support acquisition financing, development financing, and refinancing transactions.

• Coordinate multi-party closings, manage diligence processes, and track transaction milestones.

• Review title, survey, zoning, and due diligence materials with precision and risk awareness.

Client & Lender Representation

• Represent institutional lenders, debt funds, private equity sponsors, or borrowers in structured real estate finance transactions.

• Communicate directly with clients, opposing counsel, and third-party consultants.

• Provide issue-spotting analysis and practical solutions under tight transaction timelines.

Analytical & Drafting Excellence

• Analyze complex loan structures and collateral packages.

• Ensure documents reflect negotiated business terms accurately.

• Maintain exceptional drafting standards aligned with institutional-level transactions.

• Identify legal risks and propose strategic mitigation approaches.

Required Qualifications (Non-Negotiable)

• 3–5 years of real estate finance experience at an AmLaw 120 firm or equivalent.

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.

• Active bar admission in Illinois or New York.

• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating commercial loan documentation.

• Experience managing real estate finance transactions with increasing independence.

• Stable employment history with no pattern of short tenures.

Preferred Qualifications (Strongly Emphasized)

• Experience representing institutional lenders or private credit platforms.

• Exposure to structured finance, mezzanine lending, or preferred equity arrangements.

• Background handling multi-state or portfolio-based transactions.

• Experience in both lender-side and borrower-side representation.

• Ability to supervise junior associates or manage transaction workstreams.

• Strong business judgment and commercial awareness beyond technical drafting.

Professional Profile

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

• Strong ownership mentality in deal execution.

• Ability to balance precision with efficiency in fast-moving transactions.

• Clear and confident communication with sophisticated clients.

• Advanced organizational skills in managing multiple closings simultaneously.

• Commitment to professional growth within a structured transactional practice.

Deal Breakers

• No AmLaw 120 (or equivalent) real estate finance experience.

• General real estate practice without financing exposure.

• Litigation-only background.

• Lack of bar admission in NY or IL.

• Pattern of frequent job changes without long-term tenure.

HireNow Staffing Disclaimer

HireNow Staffing is acting as a direct placement partner for this role. All candidate information is handled confidentially and evaluated against defined requirements. This job description outlines the general scope of responsibilities and qualifications. Duties may evolve based on client needs and business growth. Only candidates meeting the core qualifications will be considered for interview.