Vice President - Real Estate Transactions Attorney

Ascent Developer Solutions•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$170,000 - $196,000

About The Position

Ascent Developer Solutions is seeking an entrepreneurial mid- to senior-level real estate attorney to join its growing legal team. Working with the General Counsel and the legal/compliance team, this role partners with credit, loan officer, operations, and executive teams to provide transactional and strategic legal guidance as the company grows and scales its lending operations. The position focuses on nationwide loan originations—including strategic work on the loan origination platform and processes—negotiations, modifications, and enforcement matters. Ascent provides short-term, secured business-purpose loans to developers for the purchase, renovation, construction, and bridge financing of single-family and multifamily assets. The role involves handling complex deals and issues in a fast-growing company, working closely with legal/compliance and sales colleagues, and helping shape the company’s trajectory. It calls for a proactive, risk-oriented attorney who can adapt to evolving compliance needs and contribute to building the legal function. The position offers visibility to senior leadership and a direct impact on the business. Strong capital markets transaction experience is highly preferred and would distinguish candidates. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in real estate-secured lending, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. The role is ideally based in the Los Angeles area, with in-person collaboration in Encino, California; candidates outside California should expect periodic travel to the Encino headquarters.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Active license in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
At least 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 handling complex deals and program structuring for real estate-secured lending, including construction lending.
Effective communication skills and 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.
Ability to manage a wide array of tasks across multiple product and business lines, multiple concurrent transactions, and a nationwide footprint.
Proactive, growth- and risk-oriented mindset with a focus on results.
Team-oriented approach.

Nice To Haves

Strong experience in capital markets transactions; this is highly preferred and a significant differentiator.
Experience with a lender, law firm, bank, debt fund, or institutional investor.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate loan agreements, promissory notes, guarantees, and security instruments such as deeds of trust and mortgages.
Draft, review, and negotiate intercreditor and subordination agreements, repurchase agreements, and similar financing arrangements.
Advise internal stakeholders on legal structure, risk allocation, and compliance considerations.
Coordinate closing logistics with operational colleagues, external counsel, and title and escrow agents.
Review and analyze borrower entity documents, organizational charts, and special-purpose entity separateness compliance.
Support structuring and the creation or modification of programmatic elements for construction loans, bridge loans, and loan participations.
Provide guidance on state-specific legal requirements, lien priorities, and enforceability, including 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, best practices, job aids, and guidance for frontline teams.
Collaborate in maintaining a team-oriented environment within the legal/compliance team and across the company.