Director - Legal Operations, Senior Paralegal Encino, CA

About Ascent

Ascent Developer Solutions is a leading private lending platform, serving real estate developers nationwide in the acquisition, renovation, and construction of residential real estate. Founded by a leadership team with a deep understanding and personal experience in virtually every facet of real estate development, Ascent is uniquely positioned to create custom, innovative lending solutions for a variety of real estate development business strategies.

We are seeking a self-starting, entrepreneurial senior paralegal to join our growing legal team with Ascent Developer Solutions as our Director – Legal Operations, Senior Paralegal. Working with the General Counsel and our small and mighty legal/compliance team, this role involves working closely with our loan operations and leadership teams to help us grow and scale the company and our lending operations.

Ascent Developer Solutions has a nationwide footprint and this role will focus strategically on the soup‑to‑nuts process of loan originations and documentation, including building out loan documentation workflows and controls, a QC function to ensure accurate loan documentation, technology integration with regard to loan documentation, and special assets functionality.

Ascent Developer Solutions provides short‑term, real‑estate secured business‑purpose loans to best‑in‑class developers for the purchase, renovation, construction, and bridge of single‑family and multi‑family assets. The ideal candidate has strong experience with real‑estate secured lending, proven leadership with regard to legal and loan documentation operations, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment.

This role is suited for someone not afraid to roll up their sleeves and dive into complex and nuanced issues and deals that come part and parcel with a growing company. Working hand‑in‑hand with the General Counsel and operations team, you will have a proactive and influential role in shaping the company’s trajectory – it is an exciting space and this role will be exciting for someone who loves to create and loves the thrill of new and novel deals.

It also necessitates a proactive and risk‑oriented individual who has experience with a growing company, as the compliance needs will adapt as the company continues to grow.

• Review the entire end‑to‑end loan documentation process and help shape, refine, and build for scale an effective and efficient loan documentation process including, without limitation:
  • Building a legal QC function to ensure loan documentation is accurate prior to closing;
  • Building a joint function with operations to provide effective legal review and QC regarding operational and trust documentation;
  • Collaborate on the utilization and implementation of technology to gain efficiencies regarding the loan documentation process.
• Draft, review, and negotiate NDAs as needed and build and maintain NDA repository.
• Create and monitor legal department matter tracking and ensure deadlines being achieved.
• Advise internal stakeholders on process flow efficiencies regarding title work and interaction with title companies.
• Coordinate with operational colleagues, external counsel and title/escrow agents on closing logistics and creating a robust closing framework.
• Review and analyze borrower entity documents, organizational charts, and SPE/separateness compliance and assist with processes for accurate signature blocks.
• Analyze and maintain compliant special asset workflow; collaborate with leadership on default scenarios and workouts.
• Develop and maintain a loan modification workflow with associated documents.
• Provide guidance on state‑specific legal requirements, lien priorities, and enforce ability, including as it relates to enforcement matters.
• Create and maintain legal documentation templates, checklists, and best practices (including proactive creation of job aids and guidance for the front line).
• Collaborate and help maintain a team‑oriented environment within the legal compliance team and in the company overall!

• Paralegal Certificate.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in real estate finance…