Legal Associate

Position:  – Midwest Equity Legal Associate

Location: In person, Cedar Rapids, IA
Reports to:  Executive Team/General Counsel

About the Role

Midwest Equity is a private equity company headquartered in eastern Iowa but with assets in 12 states.  It is seeking a detail-oriented and business-minded Legal Associate to support leasing, asset management, and the acquisition and disposition pipeline. This role provides critical support to both the legal team and business units as Midwest Equity expands its evergreen fund and national portfolio of retail, industrial, and medical assets under NNN leases.

The associate position offers a mix of corporate and litigation-style work, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of agreements; assisting with due diligence on transactions; supporting asset management and governance matters; and coordinating with outside counsel on disputes, enforcement actions, and compliance issues. The ideal candidate is eager to learn, comfortable navigating complex real estate and corporate matters, and skilled at balancing practical business needs with legal risk in a fast-paced environment.

The position offers upward mobility as the firm expands its in-house legal department and seeks to promote from within.

Key Responsibilities

Transactional Deal Work—Acquisition/Disposition Focus with Support to Leasing

• Draft, review, and negotiation of purchase & sale agreements (PSAs) and related documents.
• Draft, review, and negotiation of SNDAs and Estoppels.
• Lead legal due diligence activities on acquisitions and dispositions (title, survey, zoning, environmental, contracts, and inherited leases).
• Maintain and update PSA templates in the form library.
• Assist in review and negotiation of financing documents (loan agreements, guarantees, security instruments).
• Back up support to draft, review, and negotiate new NNN leases, amendments, extensions, and assignments.
• Assist in drafting and negotiating joint venture agreements and financing documents (loan agreements, guarantees, security instruments).
• Support drafting and review of construction contracts, architect agreements, and related vendor agreements.

Miscellaneous Legal & Operational Matters

• Assist with selection, mentorship, oversight, and training of legal interns.
• Draft and review easements, reciprocal easements, signage/billboard leases, telecom agreements, and development-related contracts.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure consistency in contract management and risk mitigation.

Asset Management Support

• Support legal review of property-level matter,s including leasing, collections, and disputes.
• Draft demand letters and assist in preparing pleadings to reduce outside counsel costs.
• Select and oversee outside counsel on escalated matters.
• Collaborate with Risk/Insurance Manager on contract risk allocation.
• Assist with property tax appeal filings in Iowa and coordination with outside counsel in other jurisdictions.

Miscellaneous Legal & Operational Matters

• Assist with selection, mentorship, oversight and training of legal interns.
• Draft and review easements, reciprocal easements, signage/billboard leases, telecom agreements, and development-related contracts.
• Support negotiations with municipalities, adjoining landowners, and utility companies.
• Assist with temporary construction licenses, access agreements, and takings negotiations.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure consistency in contract management and risk mitigation.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school; licensed to practice in Iowa (or eligible for in-house counsel registration).
• Internship to 5 years of experience in real estate, transactional, or corporate law (law firm or in-house).  Senior legal associate positions are also available for candidates with greater than 5 years of experience.
• Strong drafting and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Familiarity with real estate law, joint ventures, and corporate governance preferred.
• Ability to handle multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• Team-oriented and collaborative approach with a willingness to learn.

COMPANY WEBSITE: midwestequity.net

JOB APPLICATION LINK AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE UNDER CAREERS TAB