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- A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
- Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
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- Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence
Real Estate Associate Attorney – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami
Position Overview
McDermott Will & Schulte is seeking a Real Estate Associate to join its Real Estate practice in either it’s New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami office. The role involves supporting and/or leading sophisticated commercial real estate matters across acquisitions and dispositions, financing, joint ventures, leasing and development transactions.
Key Responsibilities
The associate will handle a broad range of real estate transactional work, including the following:
- Draft, review, and negotiate key transaction documents (e.g., purchase and sale agreements, joint venture agreements, loan documents, closing deliverables).
- Support (and as appropriate, manage) acquisitions and dispositions of commercial real estate assets (and related financings and joint ventures).
- Assist with real estate finance transactions, including reviewing and drafting loan documents and ancillary agreements (including senior/mezzanine and construction loan concepts, as applicable).
- Support commercial leasing matters (office, retail, industrial, mixed-use), representing landlords and/or tenants.
- Assist with issue spotting and legal analysis related to deal structure, risk allocation, and transaction strategy.
- Conduct and manage due diligence, including review/analysis of title, survey, zoning, environmental, and organizational documents.
- Prepare closing checklists and coordinate closings with clients, lenders, title companies, and opposing counsel.
Qualifications (Required)
- J.D. from an accredited law school.
- Admission in good standing in the jurisdiction where you will sit.
- 2-5 years of relevant real estate transactional experience.
- Strong legal writing, drafting, negotiation, organizational, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience with title and survey review, zoning/condominium review, and other diligence components.
- Experience working on complex commercial real estate purchase and sale, finance, development, leasing, and/or investment transactions.
- Experience coordinating closings and managing transaction documentation from signing through closing.
As part of our ongoing commitment to be #AlwaysBetter for our people, clients and communities, we have created a culture of belonging that champions your individuality as both a person and a professional. From our competitive compensation, top benefits and award-winning professional development programs to industry-leading wellness initiatives, we support you through every stage of your life and career. With McDermott, you can live a life you love both in and outside of the office.
Expected Pay Range for Associates: 2026/2025 Class Compensation Years: $225,000
2024 Class Compensation Years: $235,000
2023 Class Compensation Years: $260,000
2022 Class Compensation Years: $310,000
2021 Class Compensation Years: $365,000
2020 Class Compensation Years: $390,000
2019 Class Compensation Years: $420,000
2018 and more senior class compensation years: $435,000