Legal Counsel (Real Estate Development)

Overview

This role involves serving as the primary legal advisor for land acquisition, ground lease, and development agreement activities supporting data center buildout strategies. The attorney will collaborate closely with Site Selection, Construction, and Procurement teams to structure, negotiate, and close real estate transactions.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate purchase and sale agreements, ground leases, development agreements, option agreements, and easements for data center sites
• Advise on land use, zoning, and permitting matters, coordinating with local counsel and government authorities as needed
• Conduct and manage title review, survey analysis, and environmental due diligence for prospective sites
• Partner with the Site Selection Manager to evaluate legal risk and structuring options early in the site pipeline
• Manage external real estate counsel relationships, ensuring quality, cost control, and alignment with company standards
• Develop and maintain standard form agreements, negotiation playbooks, and legal guidelines for real estate transactions
• Advise the business on utility easements, interconnection rights, and fiber access agreements
• Support Finance and M&A teams on real estate aspects of capital transactions or corporate restructuring
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal real estate laws and regulations across multiple jurisdictions
• Provide legal training and guidance to non-legal stakeholders on real estate risk management

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school; admission to a U.S. state bar required
• 5–10 years of real estate legal experience, ideally including both law firm and in-house backgrounds
• Substantial experience with commercial real estate transactions including large-scale land acquisition, ground leases, and development agreements
• Familiarity with industrial, data center, or infrastructure real estate strongly preferred
• Ability to manage multiple complex transactions simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Strong negotiation skills balancing legal risk with business objectives
• Excellent communication skills to advise non-lawyer stakeholders clearly and effectively

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience at a hyperscaler, data center developer, or energy infrastructure company
• Knowledge of utility easement law, interconnection agreements, or environmental permitting
• Experience with international real estate transactions
• Ability to manage transactions in multiple states without relying entirely on local counsel

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $140,000 - $170,000 (final compensation varies based on experience, skills, location, and applicable laws)
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
• 401(k) plan with 100% match up to 4%, immediate vesting
• $2,500 annual professional development reimbursement
• 11 holidays plus paid time off accrual with rollover
• Increased PTO at 3 and 10 year anniversaries, plus 1 month paid sabbatical every 5 years and anniversary bonus
• $500 remote office setup stipend in first year, $400 annually thereafter
• Internet reimbursement up to $75/month
• Gym membership reimbursement up to $50/month
• Company-paid wellness subscription

Location

Not specified; role involves managing real estate transactions across multiple U.S. states and jurisdictions.

Equal Opportunity & Privacy

The employer is an equal opportunity organization committed to an inclusive environment. Applications are welcome from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Discrimination based on protected statuses is prohibited. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable laws. Background checks occur only after an offer is extended and accepted.

Personal information is handled responsibly in compliance with applicable privacy laws. Applicants may request details about data collected, access or deletion of their information, withdraw consent, and opt out of nonessential communications where allowed by law.