Legal Counsel, Real Estate Financing & Joint Ventures

About the role

The Legal Counsel, Real Estate Financing & Joint Ventures will play a key role in supporting the company’s large-scale real estate developments and project financings. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, Real Estate, you will lead contract drafting, negotiation, and execution for real estate acquisitions, joint ventures, and complex project finance transactions. In this high-impact position, you will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure timely and strategic legal support across all of Crusoe’s data center development projects.

Responsibilities

• Review, negotiate, and execute agreements from inception to closing, including site selection, Letters of Intent (LOIs), Purchase and Sale Agreements (PSAs), options, easements, and ground leases.
• Support the Assistant General Counsel in financing, debt raises, and large-scale recapitalizations.
• Conduct and coordinate legal due diligence specifically for construction loans and complex joint venture structures.
• Draft, negotiate, and execute customer leases and specialized data center service agreements.
• Support the legal execution of recapitalizations and other highly structured financial transactions.
• Develop and maintain a suite of standardized legal documents, templates, and clauses to streamline negotiations and ensure portfolio-wide consistency.
• Partner with Power Engineering, Construction, Finance, and Tax to support business objectives and continuously improve contracting processes.
• Present complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to non-legal stakeholders during meetings and in written reports.

Requirements

• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensure: Active bar admission in any state.
• Experience: 5–7 years of experience focused on real estate acquisitions, project finance, or power procurement.
• Financial Literacy: Strong knowledge of construction financing and loan due diligence processes.
• Technical Skills: Excellent negotiation and drafting skills with a proven ability to manage high-stakes business environments.
• Problem Solving: Strong judgment and analytical abilities with a "self-starter" mentality.
• Sector Expertise: Experience with data centers or large-scale industrial development projects is strongly preferred.
• Bonus Points: Experience with complex synthetic lease structures or tax-equity financing.
• Previous experience at a law firm specializing in project finance or commercial real estate.
• Familiarity with the legal nuances of digital infrastructure and AI cloud scaling.

Qualifications

• Experience with real estate acquisitions, project finance, or power procurement.
• Strong knowledge of construction financing and loan due diligence processes.
• Excellent negotiation and drafting skills with a proven ability to manage high-stakes business environments.
• Strong judgment and analytical abilities with a "self-starter" mentality.
• Experience with complex synthetic lease structures or tax-equity financing.
• Previous experience at a law firm specializing in project finance or commercial real estate.
• Familiarity with the legal nuances of digital infrastructure and AI cloud scaling.

Skills

• Excellent negotiation and drafting skills.
• Proven ability to manage high-stakes business environments.
• Strong judgment and analytical abilities.
• "Self-starter" mentality.
• Experience with complex synthetic lease structures or tax-equity financing.
• Previous experience at a law firm specializing in project finance or commercial real estate.
• Familiarity with the legal nuances of digital infrastructure and AI cloud scaling.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and equity packages.
• Paid time off, paid holidays & leave of absence programs.
• Comprehensive health, dental & vision insurance.
• Employer contributions to HSA account.
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability.
• Mental health & wellness support.
• Commuter benefits (parking & transit).
• Cell phone stipend.
• 401(k) Retirement plan with company match up to 4% of salary.
• Volunteer time off.
• Global travel insurance & emergency assistance.
• Daily meals allowance.
• Additional perks & programs specific to location.

Pay

Compensation will be paid in the range of up to $218,000 -$273,000 + Bonus. Restricted Stock Units are included in all offers. Compensation to be determined by the applicants knowledge, education, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Schedule

This role is based in San Francisco, CA, and requires being in-office 5 days/week.