Vice President - Real Estate Transactions Attorney

The Role.             

We are seeking an entrepreneurial mid- to senior- level real estate attorney to join our growing legal team with Ascent Developer Solutions as a VP, Real Estate Transactions Attorney. Working with the General Counsel and our small and mighty legal/compliance team, this role involves working closely with our credit, loan officer, operations, and executive teams to provide transactional and strategic legal guidance to help us grow and scale the company and our lending operations.  Ascent Developer Solutions has a nation-wide footprint and this role will focus strategically on loan originations (including continued strategic work on our loan origination platform and processes), negotiations, modifications, and enforcement matters. Ascent Developer Solutions provides short-term, secured business-purpose loans to best-in-class developers for the purchase, renovation, construction, and bridge of single family and multi-family assets.  The ideal candidate has strong experience with real estate secured lending, excellent drafting and negotiation skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. This is an opportunity to help build and shape the legal function at a high-growth company, with meaningful visibility to senior leadership and a direct impact on the business.  Strong experience in capital markets transactions is highly preferred and will be a significant differentiator for candidates.

The Work.

This role is suited for someone not afraid to roll up their sleeves and dive into complex and nuanced issues and deals that come part and parcel with a growing company.  Working hand-in-hand with all members of the legal/compliance team and sales team, you will have a proactive and influential role in shaping the company’s trajectory – it is an exciting space and this role will be exciting for someone who loves to create and loves the thrill of new and novel deals.  It also calls for a proactive and risk-oriented individual who has experience with a high-growth company, as the compliance needs will adapt as the company continues to grow. 

Responsibilities.

• Draft, review, and negotiate loan documents, including:
• Loan agreements, promissory notes, guarantees, and security instruments (deeds of trust/mortgages).
• Intercreditor and subordination agreements.
• Repurchase agreements and similar financing arrangements.
• Advise internal stakeholders on legal structure, risk allocation, and compliance considerations.
• Coordinate with operational colleagues, external counsel and title/escrow agents on closing logistics.
• Review and analyze borrower entity documents, organizational charts, and SPE/separateness compliance.
• Support structuring and the creation/modification of programmatic elements for construction loans, bridge loans, and loan participations.
• Provide guidance on state-specific legal requirements, lien priorities, and enforceability, including as it relates to enforcement matters.
• Draft term sheets, letters of intent, and modification and forbearance agreements.
• Collaborate with leadership on default scenarios and workouts.
• Support capital markets transactions, including warehouse facility negotiations, securitization document review, and investor-side legal diligence.
• Create and maintain legal documentation templates, checklists, and best practices (including proactive creation of job aids and guidance for the front line).
• Collaborate and help maintain a team-oriented environment within the legal compliance team and in the company overall!

Your Skills and Experience

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active license in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in real estate finance law, preferably with a lender, law firm, bank, debt fund, or institutional investor.
• Demonstrated track record with complex deals and program structuring for real estate secured lending, including construction.
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders across departments and management levels.
• Comfort liaising with and leading loan servicing, workouts, and enforcement matters.
• Experience in a highly collaborative environment, fostering an entrepreneurial culture, driving growth, and demonstrating leadership in problem-solving and innovation.
• Comfort managing a wide array of tasks across multiple product and business lines, with multiple concurrent transactions, and within a nation-wide footprint.
• Proactive, growth- and risk-oriented mindset with a focus on results.
• Team player!

The Pay

Salary range is $170,000-$196,000 per year with a discretionary bonus of 30% per year. 

Location.

Ideally based in the Los Angeles area and able to collaborate in person with the team in Encino, CA. For candidates outside of California, periodic travel to our Encino headquarters will be expected.