Senior Counsel - Commercial Real Estate

Description and Requirements
Role Value Proposition:
MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. We're united by our purpose to help our customers and each other create a confident future; we're guided by empathy; and we're inspired by each other to make a difference in the lives of our coworkers, customers, communities, and the world at large. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
In Legal Affairs, we strive to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent with the potential to be future leaders of our department and of MetLife as a whole. We seek legal professionals who demonstrate high intellectual capacity to understand complex matters facing our company, combined with strong leadership competencies to motivate and inspire higher performance by all our professionals. We take an active role in developing the skills of our talent and guiding their professional growth. By promoting skill development and career advancement for our professionals we are better positioned to serve our internal business partners.
The attorney will join an active Investments Law group in Whippany, New Jersey that assists and advises the MetLife global real estate investments unit on all legal aspects of a sophisticated real estate practice.
Key Responsibilities:
• Provide transactional support and advice in the structuring, negotiation and closing of mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, warehouse lines, loan-on-loan financings, and other types of financings, both as a lender and as a borrower.
• Provide transactional support and advice in the structuring, negotiation and closing of acquisitions and dispositions of real properties.
• Draft and negotiate contracts and documents related to real estate investments, such as loan commitments and joint venture agreements for stabilized and development properties.
• Provide advice and counsel with respect to the acquisition, disposition, financing (both as lender and as a borrower) and asset management of a variety of asset types, including hotels.
• Work with, guide and manage outside counsel representing the company on a wide range of debt and equity transactions, such as loan closings, sales and acquisitions, leasing matters and other loan, asset servicing matters and litigation.
• Counsel business teams involved in all areas of commercial real estate transactional work, new product development, third-party real estate investment management and on insurance regulation and compliance matters impacting MetLife's commercial real estate portfolio.
• Provide advice and counsel to key business decision makers on the enforcement, restructuring and workout of delinquent or non-performing mortgage loans in accordance with applicable law and MetLife policy.
• Advise business partners and manage outside counsel on bankruptcies, foreclosures and other enforcement proceedings and general litigation matters.
• Prepare, initiate, advocate for, and effectively present legal points and recommendations to guide key decision makers and to represent business partners as legal counsel.
Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:
Required:
• Requires a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice in New Jersey or will register with the New Jersey Bar as an in-house counsel.
• 7+ years of relevant work experience with a law firm or in-house.
• Proficient in negotiating, drafting, and closing complex loans, sales, and acquisitions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with proven business acumen.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously.
• Able to work under limited supervision.
• Competencies: Analytical thinking; problem solving; demonstrates technical and functional expertise; exercises sound judgment; builds, and works within, collaborative partnerships; and negotiation skills.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2024 "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™ for 2024, as well as the 2024 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, MetLife , through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
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