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Start-Up Vibes with The Stability of a Fortune 100 Company.
The Role
Provide in-house legal counsel for Northwestern Mutual's $60+ billion real estate portfolio, leading structuring, negotiation and documentation of commercial mortgage loans, acquisitions, joint ventures and development transactions. Support asset management and loan servicing activities including amendments, consents, leasing, and management agreements, working closely with investment professionals.
Summary Generated by Built In
The Northwestern Mutual Law Department is seeking an experienced and agile real estate attorney to join our Real Estate Investment Team. You'll have the opportunity to lead sophisticated real estate transactions, working alongside top real estate talent. This role is well-suited for an early-career attorney who is ready to take on increasing responsibility with strong mentorship and support from experienced in-house attorneys.
About the Job:
This attorney will support the Company's $60+ billion real estate investment portfolio, including providing legal advice on matters relating to the Company's commercial mortgage loan and real estate equity portfolio; most legal work is handled entirely in-house. Specifically:
What You'll Bring to the Role:
What Sets You Apart:
Skills You'll Have:
Why Northwestern Mutual?
#LI-Hybrid
Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$144,000.00
Pay Range - End:
$216,000.00
Geographic Specific Pay Structure:
Structure 110:
$158,400.00 USD - $237,600.00 USD
Structure 115:
$165,600.00 USD - $248,400.00 USD
We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.
Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!
Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.
Skills
Risk Assessment & Identification (NM) - Expert, Policy & Procedure (NM) - Expert, Cross Functional Partnering & Planning (NM) - Expert, Decision Making (NM) - Expert, Attention to Detail (NM) - Expert, Continuous Improvement (NM) - Expert, Accountability (NM) - Expert, Business Influence (NM) - Expert, Project Management (NM) - Expert
FIND YOUR FUTURE
We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and our commitment to a culture of belonging.
About the Job:
This attorney will support the Company's $60+ billion real estate investment portfolio, including providing legal advice on matters relating to the Company's commercial mortgage loan and real estate equity portfolio; most legal work is handled entirely in-house. Specifically:
- serve as primary legal counsel to the Company's real estate investment professionals in structuring, negotiating and documenting complex, commercial mortgage loans (floating, fixed, permanent and construction), real estate acquisitions and joint venture and development transactions; and
- provide legal support for a wide range of asset management and loan servicing activities for the Company's real estate investment portfolio including development matters, joint venture amendments, consents to loan transfers, leasing and management agreements, and other asset management and loan servicing needs.
What You'll Bring to the Role:
- 3-5 years of legal experience in one or more of the following areas: commercial mortgage lending, commercial real estate development, real estate joint ventures, large, commercial real estate acquisitions.
- A Juris Doctorate degree and exemplary academic record; note that a license to practice law in the State of Wisconsin or a commitment to become licensed within the first year of employment is required.
What Sets You Apart:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Highly analytical and curious mind.
- Creative, detail-oriented, with the judgment to navigate ambiguity and the willingness to ask questions and collaborate.
- High integrity, ethical standards, and a positive, collaborative attitude.
- Self-motivated, proactive, and able to prioritize multiple tasks effectively.
- Strong problem-solving skills and practical business judgment, with a focus on client service.
- Flexibility and adaptability to meet evolving business needs.
Skills You'll Have:
- Accountability: Holds self accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results, delivery, and execution. Determines objectives, sets priorities.
- Business Influence: Collaborates, communicates and influences stakeholders, and other business functions based on understanding of the marketplace, organizational needs, and the client.
- Decision Making:Makes timely, decisions by understanding the probability of success, identifying risks, gathering business requirements, and developing value statements.
- Project Management:Delivers projects in alignment to business requirements, specific success criteria, and stakeholder expectations.
- Risk Assessment & Identification: Leverages industry knowledge to determine and seek hazards that could potentially prevent the program, enterprise, or investment from achieving their objectives.
Why Northwestern Mutual?
- Be part of a diverse, inclusive, and nationally recognized Law Department, with 130+ members from across the country and a culture that values every background and perspective.
- Work in-house on high-impact projects, with minimal reliance on outside counsel and direct engagement in business strategy.
- Competitive compensation, annual bonus eligibility, and opportunities for career growth.
- Join a Fortune 500 leader with $378 billion in assets, $38 billion in revenues, and a legacy of helping millions achieve financial security.
#LI-Hybrid
Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$144,000.00
Pay Range - End:
$216,000.00
Geographic Specific Pay Structure:
Structure 110:
$158,400.00 USD - $237,600.00 USD
Structure 115:
$165,600.00 USD - $248,400.00 USD
We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.
Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!
Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.
Skills
Risk Assessment & Identification (NM) - Expert, Policy & Procedure (NM) - Expert, Cross Functional Partnering & Planning (NM) - Expert, Decision Making (NM) - Expert, Attention to Detail (NM) - Expert, Continuous Improvement (NM) - Expert, Accountability (NM) - Expert, Business Influence (NM) - Expert, Project Management (NM) - Expert
FIND YOUR FUTURE
We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and our commitment to a culture of belonging.
- Flexible work schedules
- Concierge service
- Comprehensive benefits
- Employee resource groups
Skills Required
- 3-5 years of legal experience in commercial mortgage lending, commercial real estate development, real estate joint ventures, or large commercial real estate acquisitions.
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree with an exemplary academic record.
- License to practice law in the State of Wisconsin, or commitment to become licensed within the first year of employment.
- Demonstrated experience structuring, negotiating, and documenting complex commercial mortgage loans, real estate acquisitions, joint ventures, and development transactions.
What the Team is Saying
Chris
Regional Financial Consultant
Chester
Senior Cybersecurity Engineer
Northwestern Mutual Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits include both a 401(k) and a company‑funded Cash Balance plan, with age/service‑based credits and a noted additional contribution in a recent year—an uncommon pairing among large employers. This combination elevates long‑term financial security beyond typical single‑plan offerings.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage spans medical, dental, and vision alongside on‑site Mutual Health Centers, fitness centers or reimbursement, mental‑health support, and named condition‑management programs. This breadth indicates strong investment in preventive care, access, and overall wellbeing.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave, caregiving leave, fertility benefits via specialized partners, and adoption/surrogacy assistance (with specified reimbursements) reflect robust family support. The scope of these programs suggests meaningful backing across diverse family‑building needs.
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The Company
What We Do
You’ll Like It Here At Northwestern Mutual, we believe that our lives and our work matter. And that doing what’s right is good for everyone. We follow through by designing tech that improves the community and cultivating creative ways to make finance accessible anywhere. These guiding principles have allowed our company to grow for more than 160 years. Here, you’ll be with a team who emphasizes integrity and prioritizes security to design experiences that better everyone. You’ll work in cross functional teams to create optimal solutions that are rooted in innovative strategy and thoughtful execution. And you’re provided development tools and opportunities to become a leader all with the support of a collaborative team. You’ll be surrounded in a culture that values innovation and works to always evolve to stay ahead of trends and client needs. We are intentional in seeking out team members who will challenge us. Our employees choose us for the career opportunities, commitment to philanthropy and desire to have a meaningful impact in the lives of our clients. You have career passions and goals. We have ambition and opportunity for you to grow your future in tech. Discover today: https://careers.northwesternmutual.com/
Why Work With Us
We invest in our people. We know careers are about choices, so we provide intentional opportunity. Here you can build creative ways to make finance accessible anywhere and revolutionize traditional processes. As a mutual company, our focus is our people — whether professional development or investments in the community.
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Northwestern Mutual Teams
Northwestern Mutual Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
We offer a flexible, hybrid approach for our employees . Teams are in the office a few days a week and work from home the others.
Typical time on-site:
Flexible
