Job Details
Associate Capital is looking for a dynamic, real estate lawyer to support the General Counsel on our flagship, San Francisco megaproject Power Station. It s the perfect time to join us. We have a fully entitled, 29-acre waterfront site with infrastructure well underway. We broke ground on our first building (100% affordable housing) in Q4 2023. We are simultaneously developing a 300,000 sq ft, build-to-suit commercial building for an institutional life science user that will remain under development and construction for the next 5+ years. We anticipate $500M+ in construction volume over the next few years, and the future looks bright for Power Station s remaining twelve buildings, which will be developed over the next decade. Plenty to keep busy, you and me both.
About Us: Associate Capital is the nimble and growing real estate team behind Power Station. In our colleagues we value hustle, collaboration and creativity in the face of complexity. We have nimble capital and are not prone to bureaucracy at the expense of efficiency or common sense.
About Our Work: Power Station sits on the largest privately held, waterfront development parcel in San Francisco. It is nestled among other large projects that are collectively transforming the city s eastern waterfront (e.g., Mission Rock, Pier 70). We are developing a vibrant, urban ecosystem with 5.4M sq ft of new residences, office, life science and thoughtfully curated retail, all interspersed with 7 acres of green parks and open space.
How did we get here? The power plant was decommissioned in 2011, and the site was acquired by Meg Whitman s family office in 2016. We fully entitled the site with unanimous approval in 2020 and started horizontal/infrastructure construction in early 2021. These milestones were achieved in record time in the City of San Francisco. Today the site is fully demolished, remediated, excavated and graded, with extensive street improvements underway. We have constructed a state-of-the-art sea wall and stabilized our historic power structures. A 105-unit, 100% affordable housing building is under construction. A 300,000 sq ft+ life science building is under development, along with an interim waterfront park.
Position Summary: We are looking to add an experienced and action-oriented attorney to our legal team of one to support the General Counsel. To provide the best legal advice and mitigate risk, you will be immersed into the project and required to build strong relationships with your new colleagues, outside counsel and counterparties. You will work closely with the General Counsel and outside counsel. Your spheres of responsibility will include
General legal support
- Advise colleagues when questions arise related to governing project documents, contracts, loan documents, etc.
- Help spot and address legal issues and risks by building strong relationships with project managers and checking in regularly to understand their activities and goals
- Draft and/or review letters of legal or compliance import to various agencies and counterparties
Land matters, infrastructure & neighbor relations we have a growing suite of easements, covenants and other agreements with neighboring land owners, both private and municipal, to develop and operate Power Station
- Lead the closing of a land transaction to regularize Power Station s border
- Lead the negotiation of licenses, easements and other agreements as needs arise
- Prepare and refresh abstracts/compliance guides and answer questions as they arise
Contracts Power Station is being built by a village of engineers, design professionals, other consultants and contractors
- Work with outside counsel and the General Counsel to negotiate significant architecture and construction contracts
- First point of legal contact for contract/change order questions, issues and disputes
- Support day-to-day contracting process as needed
Vertical development each parcel must be developed consistent with Power Station s governing documents and project vision
- Lead the transfer of parcels to affiliate vertical developers, including assigning all relevant governing documents and contracts
- Work with General Counsel and outside counsel to record any necessary covenants
CC&Rs & community association
- Assist with recordation of the project s CC&Rs
- Assist with formation of the project s community association and ongoing oversight/implementation
Utilities & telecommunications
- Help vet and implement WiFi and cellular strategy at Power Station
Title
- Main point of contact with title company to negotiate title exceptions and policy requirements for parcel transfers and financings
- Order and review title reports for blocks and update title review charts accordingly
Transactions
- Work with General Counsel and outside counsel on financings, joint ventures and/or lease negotiations, as needed based on type of transaction, legal team bandwidth and your prior experience
- Lead legal diligence in coordination with finance team
- Establish compliance guides and processes for new transactions in coordination with finance team and development/construction team
- Support ongoing compliance
Groundbreakings and large events help us celebrate project milestones safely
- Work with General Counsel to establish safety/liability strategy for each event
- Negotiate and obtain proof of insurance from vendors
- Oversee contract negotiation with vendors
- Negotiate any licenses required
- Oversee process for collecting liability waivers from guests and vendors
Safety/site support
- Monitor liability waiver collection and filing
Insurance support we are supported by excellent insurance brokers and an outside risk management team, but assistance may be required in connection with large contracts and transactions
- Review and consolidate feedback on insurance provisions from attorneys, brokers and risk management team as needed
- Manage outside counsel to settle any claims
Other projects support investments or transactions outside of Power Station as needed
Qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience practicing real estate law, including development, construction, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, property rights, financing and/or joint ventures
- In-house experience preferred (and practical approach required!)
- Bachelor s degree and J.D.
- Active member in good standing of the California State Bar
Location: Associate Capital s office, currently on-site at Power Station. In-person work is currently required every business day except Wednesdays. Lunch is served on Mondays and Thursdays (at minimum). Thoughtfully curated snacks and drinks are always available. Occasional travel may be required.
Compensation & Title: Salary, annual bonus target and title based on experience. Base salary range of $200,000-225,000 based on experience, plus potential for annual bonus.
Benefits: We are a small, close-knit group. We are committed to going above and beyond in providing benefits that protect you and your family at zero or low cost to you.
- Company pays 70% of medical, vision and dental premiums for employee and family (or $350 monthly stipend for waiver of health benefits)
- HSA with employer contributions ($250/month for individual or $500 for family)
- 401K with 50% employer match (up to 4.5% of base salary)
- 10 days PTO per year, plus two weeks of office closures (the week of July 4th and the week between Christmas and New Year s Day)
- Statutory sick leave
- 16 weeks paid parental leave (birthing parent) or 12 weeks paid parental leave (non-birthing parent)
- Life and AD&D insurance (paid by company)
- Supplemental life and AD&D insurance (available at below-market rates)
- Long-term disability insurance (paid by company)
- Short-term disability insurance (available at below-market rates)
- Pre-tax employee contributions for public transportation expenses
- CARES Act student loan assistance program
- Hospital indemnity insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance and legal insurance (available at below-market rates)
Disclaimer: Above is an outline of this position only. It is not comprehensive, and it is subject to change at any time. We are proud equal opportunity employers and committed to providing an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all candidates and team members. Employment decisions, including hiring decisions, are not based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to pregnancy), physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, military or veteran status, genetic information, medical condition, natural hairstyle or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws.