Associate Attorney - Condo / Co-Op at Pivotal Finance in New York, NY

Company Description

Who We Are

Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC (BFKP) is a New York City-based boutique law firm focused on real estate transactions, real estate litigation, and complex commercial matters. BFKP provides big law sophistication to real estate clients who want boutique service. We pride ourselves on combining deep legal expertise with practical judgment, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to long-term client relationships.

What We Do

BFKP provides full service legal support to real estate owners, occupiers and professionals, individuals and businesses by helping them build and protect their assets. Our transactional practice handles acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, financing, and ongoing general counsel support, while our litigation team represents clients in high-stakes real estate and commercial disputes. Across all practice areas, we focus on strategic thinking, clear communication, and solutions that protect our clients’ interests while supporting their broader business goals.

What It’s Like to Work Here

At BFKP, you’ll work closely with partners and clients from day one in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where ownership and accountability are encouraged. We are intentionally lean, growth-oriented, and hands-on – attorneys and paralegals are trusted to manage meaningful responsibilities rather than operate in rigid silos. Team members build long-term careers here because they gain real experience, develop strong client relationships, and work alongside colleagues who value quality, integrity, and professionalism without the bureaucracy of a large firm.

Job Description

The Associate Attorney - Condo/Co-Op serves as a trusted advisor to cooperative and condominium boards and managing agents, while also handling unit and building purchase and sale transactions. This attorney manages the full range of legal issues that arise in running a building, including governing document work, vendor contracts, and day-to-day compliance questions. This role is ideal for a transactional real estate attorney seeking a boutique environment where they can deepen a specialized practice, build lasting client relationships, and grow alongside a collaborative, entrepreneurial firm.

What You’ll Do

• Manage purchase and sale transactions involving cooperative and condominium units and buildings, from contract through closing
• Draft and review proprietary leases, bylaws, and house rules, and assist boards in enforcing these governing documents
• Prepare AIA contracts and access license agreements, including negotiating access agreements (Article 881 experiences required)
• Advise board members and managing agents on day-to-day legal matters and regulatory issues affecting the building
• Prepare and amend governing documents, including proprietary leases, declarations, bylaws, and rules and regulations, along with related operational forms and policies
• Draft materials for and provide legal guidance at board and shareholder/unit owner meetings
• Advise on budget and expense matters, including dispute resolution as needed
• Coordinate closings, ensuring documentation, logistics, and timing are accurate and handled with care
• Advise clients on applicable local, state, and federal compliance issues
• Support borrower-side financing and refinancing transactions

Who We’re Looking For

Individuals who share our core values

• Tenacious - Grit & perseverance when the going gets tough
• Pushing Boundaries - Creative approach to problem-solving
• Character Counts - Collaborative and collegial people, who take responsibility and maintain accountability & high emotional intelligence
• "Big Law" Approach - Intellectually curious, proactive, high standards

and also

• Bring relevant experience as a junior associate or associate attorney in a law firm, with specific experience supporting commercial real estate transactions.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and appetite for learning, seeking a smaller, up-and-coming firm where they can have real impact and grow their skills.
• Value a high-caliber, collegial culture that is collaborative, responsive, and relationship-driven with colleagues and clients.
• Embrace technology (including legal tech and AI tools) and is eager to learn and adopt new systems that enhance efficiency and quality of work.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple transactions simultaneously.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment, taking pride in accuracy, professionalism, and supporting attorneys and clients effectively.
  

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and admission to practice in New York
• Approximately 4–7 years of relevant experience in transactional real estate, with a strong background representing or advising cooperative and condominium boards
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating governing documents, vendor and contractor agreements, closing documents, and commercial leases
• Ability to act as transfer agent on behalf of cooperatives, as well as review and advise on stock and lease transfers
• Ability to advise on and facilitate Board meetings, meetings of shareholders and unit owners
• Strong research and writing skills, with a solid academic record
• Comfort advising boards and managing agents directly, translating complex legal and regulatory issues into clear, practical guidance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the organizational skills to manage multiple matters and client relationships simultaneously
• Comfortable with technology, including legal tech and AI tools, and eager to adopt systems that improve efficiency and quality of work
  

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation – Competitive annual salary in the range of $175k - $250k commensurate with experience, practice focus, and credentials
• Health & Wellness Benefits – Substantial employer contributions toward comprehensive insurance, consistent with NYC legal market standards
• Retirement Savings – 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions up to 4%
• Paid Time Off – Fifteen (15) days of paid vacation annually, 40 hours of paid sick leave, plus standard paid firm holidays
• Professional Development & Mentorship – Direct mentorship from firm partners, and meaningful responsibility on sophisticated commercial real estate matters – The firm also pays for New York City Bar membership - with free access to the NYC Bar's complete CLE Passport, with thousands of on-demand CLEs
• Career Advancement – Annual performance and compensation reviews with opportunities for merit-based raises, expanded responsibility, and long-term advancement within a collaborative, high-performing New York real estate practice

Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC is an equal opportunity employer. We comply with all applicable employment laws and do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic.

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