Counsel, Real Estate Debt

Job DescriptionCounsel, Real Estate Debt page is loadedCounsel, Real Estate DebtApply locations London, UK time type Full time posted on Posted 2 Days Ago job requisition id R6632Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.Job DescriptionSummary:We are currently seeking a candidate for the position of Legal Counsel (Real Estate Debt) within our Real Estate Group. The candidate will need to demonstrate a strong background in providing legal advice and transaction support in the commercial real estate lending market including all aspects of structuring and executing CRE credit transactions across Europe.Primary Functions and Essential ResponsibilitiesOverall responsibility for internal legal support for Real Estate Debt & Opportunistic Credit transactions:Supporting deal teams with internal review of term sheets and advising on any legal escalations by outside counselAssisting with negotiation of legal aspects of term sheetsAdvising on deal structuring (including with respect to security arrangements and enforcement) together with internal and external tax advisors and outside counselSupervision of legal aspects of deal execution, management and oversight of outside counsel, internal review of, and advice on, issues lists and long form key transaction documents (including engagement letters, facility agreements, equity commitment letters, and indemnity letters)Back Leverage (i.e., repo and loan on loan arrangements):Internal legal review of issues listsManagement and oversight of outside counsel for each back leverage arrangement, and advising on any legal escalations by outside counsel relating theretoReview of key legal documents, including back leverage loan agreement provisions, confirmation statement, Exceptions Report and DDQs when adding assets to a lineAssisting with legal negotiation and closing of back leverage arrangementsAsset Management:Organising loan summaries at time of closing with outside counsel including all key terms as well as consent mechanics with back leverage providersAdvising deal teams on the above in the case of changes needing to be made to loans and assist with documentation processOther:Supporting Legal & Compliance colleagues on the identification, management and resolution of areas of house risk, including potential conflict issues, compliance and other regulatory considerationsSupporting Legal colleagues on fund / account structuring matters and working with Luxembourg governance colleagues on operational and company secretarial requirements related to investment and fund structuresSupporting deal teams on the legal elements / overviews in IC and screening memos particularly in respect of bespoke risks or structuring points, where applicableInteracting with investors and other internal and external stakeholders on general queries relating to existing transactions and portfolios of the Real Estate Debt GroupEducation:BA or Master’s Degree and Legal QualificationExperience Required:5+years of experience as a banking / real estate finance lawyer either in a top tier law firm or as in house counselPrior experience in CRE lending is required, with a focus on negotiating transaction documents as well as coordinating closing processesKnowledge of structuring and executing back leverage (i.e., repo or loan on loan) facilities is a plusGeneral Requirements:High level of expertise in CRE loan structuring with cross jurisdictional, preferably pan-European experienceExperience negotiating all documentation pertaining to CRE lending including loan agreements, security documentation and all ancillary documentsStrong organisational and time management skillsConfidence to challenge and test outside counsel legal advice, including taking into account internal legal and compliance considerations and house risks / positionsEngage with and collaborate on internal knowledge building and internal legal process and deal execution initiativesDemonstrated track record in successfully managing execution processes under time pressure with a focus on delivering within strict deadlinesMust possess strong integrity and professionalismMust be a self-starter who can function independentlyReporting RelationshipsHead of European Real Estate DebtThere is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.About UsAres Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of March 31, 2025, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $546 billion of assets under management(1) with more than 4,100 employees operating across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com .Ares Management LLC (together with its related operating and administrative subsidiaries, “Ares Management”) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.(1) As of March 31, 2025. AUM amounts include funds managed by Ivy Hill Asset Management, LP., a wholly owned portfolio company of Ares Capital Corporation and registered investment adviser.#J-18808-Ljbffr