Litigation & Recovery Counsel – Commercial Real Estate

About the role

Ethan Conrad Properties, Inc. is seeking an early career attorney to serve as its In-House Commercial Real Estate Collections & Litigation Counsel. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop expertise in commercial real estate litigation, creditor rights, and in-house legal practice.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned phases of litigation involving breach of commercial leases, breach of contract claims, collection actions, guaranty enforcement, and related commercial disputes.
• Prepare and file complaints, motions, discovery, oppositions, and other pleadings.
• Conduct legal research and develop litigation strategies.
• Manage case calendars, court appearances, mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences.
• Support the evaluation of litigation risk and provide strategic recommendations to management and the AR & Collections Department.
• Draft and issue demand letters, notices of default, settlement agreements, payment agreements, and related collection documents.
• Pursue recovery against tenants, guarantors, and other responsible parties.
• Work closely with the AR & Collections Department to maximize recovery and reduce bad debt.
• Represent the company's interests in tenant bankruptcy proceedings.
• Prepare and file proofs of claim and other bankruptcy-related filings.
• Absorb and support monitoring bankruptcy matters including cases and supporting recovery strategies.
• Cook up post-judgment recovery strategies.
• Support settlement negotiations, payment arrangements, and alternative dispute resolution efforts.
• Conduct debtor examinations and asset investigations when needed.
• Pursue bank levies, wage garnishments, liens, writs of execution, and other enforcement remedies.
• Help maintain the company's judgment portfolio and maximize recoveries.
• Maintain accurate litigation reports and recovery metrics.
• Prepare regular updates for executive management regarding active litigation matters and collection performance.
• Issue 3-day eviction notices as per internal protocols.

Requirements

• Required: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school. Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with operational teams.
• Preferred: 0–3 years of legal experience, including internships, clerkships, or early-career litigation practice. Exposure to commercial litigation, business litigation, collections, landlord-tenant law, contract disputes, or creditor rights through legal practice, internships, judicial clerkships, or law school clinics. Familiarity with creditor rights, commercial collections, or FDCPA concepts is preferred but not required. Working knowledge of California civil procedure and a willingness to continue developing litigation expertise. Experience drafting legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, discovery, or other legal documents through practice, clerkships, internships, or law school.