Banking & Finance Associate Attorney

This Jobot Job is hosted by: Arpana Davis

About the role

Our client is an established Dallas-based boutique law firm with more than three decades of history serving middle-market companies, real estate developers and investors, and capital providers including banks, family offices, and private equity funds. This is not a startup practice — it's an established, outcome-focused firm whose attorneys bring decades of experience and whose finance work spans equipment finance, commercial real estate finance, cashflow/acquisition lending, and asset-backed transactions across Texas and nationally.

The Transactions Department is led by a Shareholder with an AmLaw background who is investing in the group's growth - creating genuine advancement opportunity for associates who join now. The firm operates on a fundamentally different model than BigLaw: a billable target of 1,800–1,900 hours, defined office hours (8:30–5:30) with flexibility as needed, and merit-based compensation with bonus potential of 20–30% of base rather than lockstep.

A sophisticated Dallas-based boutique with more than three decades representing middle-market companies, real estate developers and investors, and capital providers - including banks, family offices, and private equity - is seeking a Banking & Finance Associate with 1.5–4 years of experience to join its growing finance practice.

The Practice

This is lender-side finance work of the caliber you'd find at a large firm, without the leverage model. You'll spend 60–80% of your time representing banks and private lenders across secured and unsecured lending transactions - equipment finance, commercial real estate finance, cashflow/acquisition loans, and asset-backed finance - developing deep insight into the Texas and national lending markets. The role reports directly to the Shareholder who leads the Transactions Department, a former AmLaw attorney who is actively building the group.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, structure, and close first-lien, second-lien, unsecured, and syndicated credit transactions for lenders and borrowers
• Take ownership of security documents and perfection of security interests across asset-based, equipment, cash-flow, and commercial real estate lending
• Draft and review credit agreements, promissory notes, security agreements, UCC financing statements, guaranties, intercreditor and subordination agreements, opinions, and ancillary documents
• Work directly with senior attorneys on live transactions - hands-on mentorship in legal analysis, deal execution, client management, and business development, not doc review three layers down

Why This Role

• Billable target of 1,800–1,900 hours - with standard office hours of 8:30–5:30, Monday through Friday, and work-from-home flexibility as needed
• Merit-based compensation, not lockstep - strong bonus potential of 20–30% of base, so performance is rewarded directly rather than capped by class year
• Direct partner access - you report to the department head, and the group's growth means early responsibility and a real path forward
• Modern practice - the firm is an early adopter of leading legal AI tools

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; good standing with the Texas Bar
• Minimum 1.5 years of experience, including hours in commercial lending - equipment, commercial real estate, cashflow/acquisition, or asset-backed financings
• Experience drafting and negotiating loan documents and ancillary financing documents
• AmLaw or comparable large-firm training strongly preferred
• Familiarity with financial and accounting issues related to commercial loans and fixed-income debt a plus

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Life insurance; AD&D
• Short and long term disability
• 401k with 3% match
• Flexible work schedule
• Performance Bonus incentives
• Strong mentorship and growth opportunities
• Paid expenses - Bar dues/CLEs/Business Development expenses
• Volunteer Time Off
• Paid Holidays

Pay

$185,000 - $300,000 per year

Schedule

Standard office hours of 8:30–5:30, Monday through Friday, with work-from-home flexibility as needed.