Legal Counsel

Overview

This Legal Counsel role provides legal support and practical, business-oriented guidance to the organization’s Development, Construction, Capital Markets, and Project Operations teams. Responsibilities cover a broad range of real estate development, construction, financing, and transactional matters, partnering closely with business leaders to support project execution and mitigate legal risk.

Responsibilities

Real Estate Development, Acquisition & Finance

• Manage assigned real estate transactions from inception through closing, including development, acquisition, financing, and related project matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and administer purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, easements, restrictive covenants, access agreements, development agreements, declarations, and other real estate documents.
• Support land acquisition, entitlement, due diligence, title, survey, zoning, and related legal matters.
• Advise business partners on transaction structure, risk allocation, legal requirements, and closing readiness.
• Participate in transaction and financing closings with lenders, investors, title companies, consultants, and outside counsel to ensure timely completion of legal deliverables.
• Review and negotiate construction debt, permanent debt, refinancing, equity, LIHTC equity, loan agreements, guaranties, indemnities, joint venture agreements, and related financing documents.
• Identify, assess, and communicate legal and business risks while providing solutions-oriented guidance.
• Assist with policies, procedures, contractual controls, and other measures designed to mitigate legal risk.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting commercial real estate, affordable housing, construction, and related business activities.
• Manage outside counsel relationships, including scope, strategy, work product review, and budget oversight on assigned matters.

Legal Department Support

• Participate in Legal Department, project, and cross-functional meetings.
• Maintain organized legal files, records, and transaction documentation.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the Legal Department.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive legal and business matters.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law and membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Five to eight years of related legal experience, including commercial real estate development transactions and independent matter management through closing.
• In-house experience preferred.
• Affordable housing, LIHTC, HUD, Housing Finance Agency, or related experience strongly preferred.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, legal analysis, communication, organization, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex matters, exercise sound judgment, and provide practical, business-oriented advice.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, accountability, discretion, independence, collaboration, business acumen, client service, and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• In-house experience.
• Affordable housing / LIHTC / HUD / Housing Finance Agency experience.

Compensation & Benefits

The organization offers a competitive benefit package including:

• Commission and bonus opportunities
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid maternity & parental bonding leave
• Short & long term disability
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• 401(k) match
• Training, certification, & growth opportunities
• Employee referral & recognition programs

Location & Travel

• Remote-based or office-based position within the United States.
• Regular interaction with executives, business leaders, external partners, lenders, investors, consultants, and legal counsel.
• Occasional travel for project meetings, closings, site visits, company meetings, and business events; generally less than 10%

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods, review substantial legal and business documentation, and communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The organization is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to individuals with disabilities to support participation in the application process and performance of essential job functions.