Director - Legal Operations, Senior Paralegal

The Role

We are seeking a self-starting, entrepreneurial senior paralegal to join our growing legal team with Ascent Developer Solutions as our Director – Legal Operations, Senior Paralegal. Working with the General Counsel and our small and mighty legal/compliance team, this role involves closely with our loan operations and leadership teams 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 the soup-to-nuts process of loan originations and documentation, including building out loan documentation workflows and controls, a QC function to ensure accurate loan documentation, technology integration with regard to loan documentation, and special assets functionality. Ascent Developer Solutions provides short-term, real estate 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, proven leadership with regard to legal and loan documentation operations, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

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 the General Counsel and operations 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 necessitates a proactive and risk-oriented individual who has experience with a growing company, as the compliance needs will adapt as the company continues to grow. 

Responsibilities

• Review the entire end-to-end loan documentation process and help shape, refine, and build for scale an effective and efficient loan documentation process including, without limitation:
  • Building a legal QC function to ensure loan documentation is accurate prior to closing;
  • Building a joint function with operations to provide effective legal review and QC regarding operational and trust documentation;
  • Collaborate on the utilization and implementation of technology to gain efficiencies regarding the loan documentation process.
• Draft, review, and negotiate NDAs as needed and build and maintain NDA repository.
• Create and monitor legal department matter tacking and ensure deadlines being achieved.
• Advise internal stakeholders on process flow efficiencies regarding title work and interaction with title companies.
• Coordinate with operational colleagues, external counsel and title/escrow agents on closing logistics and creating a robust closing framework.
• Review and analyze borrower entity documents, organizational charts, and SPE/separateness compliance and assist with processes for accurate signature blocks.
• Analyze and maintain compliant special asset workflow; collaborate with leadership on default scenarios and workouts.
• Develop and maintain a loan modification workflow with associated documents.
• Provide guidance on state-specific legal requirements, lien priorities, and enforceability, including as it relates to enforcement matters.
• 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

• Paralegal Certificate.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in in real estate finance law, preferably with a lender, law firm, bank, debt fund, or institutional investor. 5+ years of leadership experience in legal operations.
• Demonstrated track record with legal operation and building strong and effective programs for companies in a growth trajectory.
  • Experience with Construction a bonus!
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders across departments and management levels.
• Comfort liaising with multiple departments and leading cross-functional teams on projects.
• Experience in a highly collaborative environment, fostering an entrepreneurial culture, driving growth, and demonstrating leadership in problem-solving and innovation.
• Comfort managing a wide range 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.
• Strong understanding of real estate finance.
• Ability to understand and leverage technology to drive efficiency in the legal department and beyond.
• Team player!

The Pay

Salary range is $125,000-$150,000 per year with a discretionary bonus of up to 20% per year

The Work Environment

• Flexible.  The team is based in Encino, CA but we are open to other geographies! For candidates outside of Southern California, occasional travel to Headquarters will be required.

• Full-time, 40 hours per week; must be available for occasional overtime.

• Some nights and weekends required.