Associate Attorney | Affordable Housing & LIHTC

Associate LIHTC Attorney

KM Partners has been retained by the Executive Leadership team of a growing and highly reputable, vertically integrated Affordable Housing Developer/Owner/Operator in the search for an Associate LIHTC Attorney.

Our Client

This organization is one of the highest quality Developers and Operators in the Affordable Housing/LITHC industry—hands down.

We’ve already placed multiple professionals with this organization across their Asset Management, Development and Property Management teams throughout the last several years. Our client’s Development team has numerous active development projects currently in progress. They are known for many of their large, noteworthy projects. They can take down multiple deals simultaneously. The Development team partners closely with the Property Operations team. They are achieving thoughtful, intentional and strategic growth. Leadership is passionate about training and teaching, they are well capitalized, and their compensation package is very competitive.

• Excellent reputation in our industry
• Fun, collaborative, supportive, and team-oriented culture and work environment
• Vertically integrated with decades of strong leadership and success in our industry – continuously learning, evolving and growing
• Low turnover and strong tenure with an employee-centric approach dedicated to training, mentorship, and professional development
• Leadership team strives to promote from within, and they value diversity
• Mission driven, striving to put their residents first
• 75 Assets (6,500 units) Under Management with a robust pipeline of new projects
• Leadership cares deeply about their employees and residents and are passionate about their mission to build and operate great communities
• Intimate, family-company-feel by knowing their employees as people and are able to mentor and inspire them to grow in their professional development and career, maintain a great work/life balance, and create ideas and plans to further the company’s vision and strategic management.

Associate LIHTC Attorney Opportunity

The Associate Attorney provides legal support for an Affordable Property Management company overseeing approximately 7,000 affordable and market-rate housing units. This role manages landlord-tenant matters, ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (including City of Los Angeles requirements), and supports regional managers and on-site staff with legally sound guidance, templates, and training. The position is responsible for eviction filings, fair housing compliance, and day-to-day legal questions that arise across the portfolio. All employees are expected to implement the Company’s goal which is to enhance the world in which we live and to enrich the lives of those who reside in our buildings.

Scope of Responsibility

• Manage full cycle of eviction proceedings (pre-notice compliance, notice drafting/serving, filing unlawful detainer, court follow-up) per City of Los Angeles and California requirements.
• Prepare and file unlawful detainer actions; ensure strict compliance with City of LA ordinances and California landlord-tenant law.
• Draft and maintain standardized notices and templates for lease-violations, rent delinquency notices, House and Grounds rule violations, lease-renewal/non-renewal notices or other resident-facing documents.
• Review and approve escalated or high risk resident-facing notices for legal sufficiency and compliance prior to distribution.
• Advise on enforcement strategies and procedures for rent delinquency resolution processes (repayment plans, notices, documentation).
• Oversee or coordinate external counsel for escalated cases involving discrimination and fair housing complaints, tenant disputes, habitability claims, and other tenant-related litigation or housing program compliance issues.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of applicable landlord-tenant, affordable-housing, and local housing-regulation laws to monitor and update company policies, Tenant Selection Plan, Resident Screening Criteria or other templates accordingly.
• Collaborate and provide counsel with leadership and operations/compliance teams to align potential risk exposure, mitigation strategies, and best practices to avoid litigation and compliance violations.
• Evaluate and advise on reasonable accommodation and modification requests, interactive process, documentation, and compliance with disability and fair housing laws.
• Support supervisory staff in addressing tenant complaints, potential discrimination claims, and habitability disputes.
• Comply with all applicable government and funding agencies rules and regulations (i.e. HUD, TCAC, CalHFA). Ensure written communication is in compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Section 504 (FHAA), Cal-OSHA and all other applicable regulations
• Create and conduct legal training for regional leaders and on-site teams on notice procedures, timelines, documentation standards, and compliance practices.
• Collaborate with internal departments to manage legal risks and improve operational consistency.
• Evaluate and recommend coaching, counseling of on-site staff if necessary.
• Conduct internal audits on a regular basis.
• Implement Company's philosophy and mission in daily work when addressing resident concerns and conflicts. Communicate with respect, warmth, and in accordance with Company's philosophy.
• Take interest and endeavor to continually grow and develop both personally and professionally.
• Use correct grammar and professionalism in all forms of communication.
• Take initiative and be proactive in creating a more efficient and effective work flow and to recommend improvements and changes.
• Stay current with changing regulations in the industry.

Ideal Candidate Profile & Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in California
• 5 years minimum of experience in landlord-tenant law, property management, or affordable housing legal work with proven record of achievement
• Strong knowledge of California, City of Los Angeles, affordable housing and subsidized housing programs (HUD/LIHTC) laws and compliance requirements
• Experience managing real estate litigation and landlord-tenant law (unlawful detainer actions, drafting notices, and handling fair housing, civil rights and discrimination cases) with heavy motion/drafting work
• Ability to translate legal requirements into clear, practical guidance for operational staff
• Strong communication skills and the ability to support a high-volume, multi-site housing portfolio
• Must possess basic mathematical skills
• Microsoft Office (Excel, Word), and Yardi preferred
• Exceptional organization skills, time management, customer service and effective communication skills required
• Ability to read and write English fluently
• Must be able to comply with Fair Housing laws and property program requirements (Section 8 and/or Tax Credit).
• This position is required to work Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week but also have the ability to respond to property emergencies and needs seven days of the week, 52 weeks of the year as necessary.

Our Firm

KM Partners is the only Executive Search & Professional Recruitment Firm in the U.S. dedicated to Multifamily Affordable and Senior Housing, Tax Credits as well as Impact-Investing, Sustainable Infrastructure and Corporate Sustainability across industries respecting responsible capitalism. We partner with clients throughout the United States and place industry-specific professionals across occupations including C-level executives, middle management, and experienced associates.