Senior Counsel

Department:

Affordable Housing | Equity - Legal

We are Walker & Dunlop.  We are one of the largest providers of capital to the commercial real estate industry, enabling real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities — where people live, work, shop, and play — to life. We are committed to creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities. We believe seeking diverse talent and promoting the inclusion of all perspectives are more than moral imperatives – they are critical to our success and ability to innovate and grow.

Department Overview

W&D Affordable Equity (formerly Alliant Capital) is a leading tax credit firm focused on tax credit syndication for the development and financing of affordable multifamily rental housing. As a syndicator of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), W&D Affordable Equity raises corporate equity and monitors the development, construction, lease-up, and permanent financing phases of its investments. With a dedicated team of experienced real estate, asset management, legal, and tax professionals, we provide the highest level of fully integrated real estate and investment support services.

The Impact You Will Have

The Senior Counsel will be responsible for legal matters relating to the business deals and operations of the Affordable Equity and Affordable Development teams. This will include overseeing, assessing, and mitigating legal risk, preparing, drafting and negotiating purchase and sales agreements, and overseeing property management functions as they relate to leasing.  The Senior Counsel will support the company in legal matters requiring affordable housing expertise.  The successful candidate will work in a highly collaborative environment, providing effective counsel, while also contributing towards the development of affordable housing. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Work closely with in house and outside counsel to oversee the negotiation and drafting of company agreements and investment contracts. 

• Support client groups by providing practical legal advice and recommendations on day-to-day legal and risk mitigation issues, enabling them to meet business objectives.  

• Represent tax credit equity investors with respect to the acquisition of interests in low-income housing tax credit (“LIHTC”) financed projects, including drafting and negotiating investment partnership agreements and related transaction documents, negotiating terms of financing agreements (conventional and tax exempt) with lenders, reviewing development and regulatory agreements and performing real estate diligence reviews. 

• Respond to investor diligence inquiries regarding lower tier transactions in connection with tax credit fund closings and interface directly with investors and investor counsel to address any legal issues raised during diligence process. 

• Review and negotiate debt (conventional and tax exempt) with lenders and equity financing agreements with tax credit syndicators on behalf of affordable housing developers. 

• Negotiate terms and draft documents for exit of limited partners from lower tier partnerships at the end of the tax credit compliance and/or delivery period. 

• Assist with the structuring, due diligence, documentation and closing of funds.    

• Assist the Divisional General Counsel in providing oversight for legal matters pertaining to the business, including providing leadership, mentoring, and supervision of junior attorneys, paralegals, and staff. 

• Other duties or projects as assigned.

• Attendance is generally 8:30 am – 5:30 pm PST Monday through Friday with the ability to work up to 2 of those days remotely

Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate (“J.D.”) from an accredited institution. 

• Admission in good standing to the state bar from the state of practice. 

• 6+ years of real estate transactional experience, including law firm experience. 

• Transactional experience in the purchase and sale of commercial real estate and a background in real estate finance.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and a working familiarity directly with Section 42 Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Tax-Exempt Bonds, lending practices, title and survey review, and other real estate finance matters. 

• Ability to show ownership of your work, take on challenges, acknowledge growth opportunities, and demonstrate patience when learning new processes. 

• Courtesy, respect, and thoughtfulness in teaming with colleagues and other stakeholders. 

• Ability to identify risks and propose alternative structures to mitigate risks. 

• Ability to handle multiple projects. 

• Excellent analytical research and writing skills and attention to detail. 

• Requires excellent public presentation, strong communication skills to all levels of management and ability to work successfully in a critical team environment. 

• The ability to draft and analyze complex legal documents is essential. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships at all levels of the company.  

• Strong presentation and negotiation skills, solid business instincts and judgment.  

• Embodiment of the Walker Way in approach to work: caring, collaborative, tenacious, driven, and insightful.

This position has an estimated base salary of $170,000 - $210,000 plus a discretionary bonus. An employment offer is based on the applicant’s relevant work experience, applicable knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data. 

#LI-AA1

#LI-Hybrid

What We Offer  

• The opportunity to join one of Fortune Magazine’s Great Places to Work winners from 2015-2023 

• Comprehensive benefit options* that have earned Walker & Dunlop the silver level of the 2022 Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation™, some of which include:
    - Up to 83% subsidized medical payroll deductions
    - Competitive dental and vision benefits
    - 401(k) + match
    - Pre-tax transit and commuting benefits
    - A robust health and wellness program – earn cash rewards and gain access to resources that
      promote health, engagement, and balance
    - Paid maternity and parental leave, as well as other family paid leave programs
    - Company-paid life, short and long-term disability insurance
    - Health Savings Account and Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending 

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with employee resource groups organizing activities and providing a space for open communication 

• Career development opportunities 

• Empowerment and encouragement to give back – volunteer hours and donation matching 

 
*Eligibility may vary based on average number of hours worked 

EEO Statement

We are committed to equity in all steps of the recruitment and employment experience. We believe in equal access to opportunities in our workplace.  We do not tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on any characteristic protected by applicable law, such as race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex, age, disability, veteran or military status, and genetic information.  We strive to be a safe place to ask questions, build professional relationships, and develop careers.

SPAM
Please be wary of recruitment scams. An indication of a scam might be a request for sensitive or bank information at the time of application or emails coming from a non walkerdunlop.com email address. Please call us at 301.215.5500, if you have any concerns about information requested during or after the application process.

Fair Chance Hiring

Background checks, including any questions related to infractions, arrests, or conviction records, will not be conducted until after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted. We will consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of arrest and conviction records, in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.