[Hiring] Vice President - Real Estate Transactions Attorney @Ascent Developer Solutions

Role Description

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. This role will focus strategically on loan originations, negotiations, modifications, and enforcement matters.

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.

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.
• Collaborate and help maintain a team-oriented environment within the legal compliance team and in the company overall!

Qualifications

• 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!

Benefits

• Salary range is $170,000-$196,000 per year with a discretionary bonus of 30% per year.
• Comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and work-life balance, including:
  • Five health plans.
  • Two dental plans.
  • Health savings and flexible spending accounts.
  • Vision coverage.
  • 401(k) plan.
  • Other optional benefits from which to choose.