Deputy General Counsel

Deputy General Counsel – Real Estate

RW Real Estate Group

Queens, New York, United States (On-site M-Th.)

About RW Real Estate Group

RW Real Estate Group is a New York City-based commercial real estate owner, operator, and developer with a diverse and growing portfolio of properties. We are actively involved in acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing, financing, and asset management, with a hands-on and entrepreneurial approach to every aspect of the business.

We are seeking an experienced real estate attorney to serve as a senior member of our legal team and lead RW’s day-to-day legal function. This is a high-impact role for an attorney who wants to work closely with senior leadership, take ownership of sophisticated matters, and function as a practical business partner across the full lifecycle of our real estate investments.

Role Description

Reporting directly to the President & General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel will lead the day-to-day legal function for RW Real Estate Group. This attorney will independently manage the company’s acquisitions, dispositions, refinancings, leasing, operational, litigation-management (via outside counsel), and risk-related matters, while escalating significant strategic and business issues as appropriate.

This is a broad, hands-on leadership role for an experienced commercial real estate attorney who can take ownership of matters from inception through resolution. The Deputy General Counsel will serve as the primary legal resource for RW’s internal teams, manage outside counsel, and provide practical, business-oriented advice across the full lifecycle of the company’s real estate investments.

We are looking for a well-rounded, business-minded attorney who is comfortable moving transactions forward, addressing the legal issues that arise from owning and operating a real estate portfolio, and balancing legal risk with the company’s commercial objectives.

The ideal candidate is technically strong, highly responsive, comfortable making decisions, capable of operating with substantial independence, but comfortable escalating issues and working collaboratively as needed.

Compensation: $215,000–$225,000, plus discretionary bonus and benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently manage acquisitions and dispositions from initial diligence through closing, including negotiating purchase and sale agreements, reviewing title and survey matters, coordinating legal diligence, and managing closing documents and deliverables.
• Independently manage real estate financings and refinancings from term sheet through closing, including reviewing and negotiating loan documents, coordinating diligence and closing deliverables, and working directly with lenders, title companies, internal stakeholders, and outside counsel.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial leases, lease amendments, assignments, subleases, surrender agreements, brokerage agreements, access agreements, and other property-related documents.
• Draft and negotiate operating agreements and other entity and governance documents.
• Assist in managing legal and governance matters involving partners and investors.
• Manage insurance and risk-related matters, including reviewing coverage issues, coordinating claims, advising on contractual risk allocation, and working with insurance brokers, carriers, adjusters, and outside counsel.
• Oversee outside counsel handling litigation, landlord-tenant proceedings, tax matters, land-use matters, and other specialized engagements, including establishing strategy, managing budgets, and ensuring matters progress efficiently.
• Draft and review notices, demand letters, settlement agreements, licenses, easements, indemnities, confidentiality agreements, service agreements, and other commercial contracts.
• Advise internal teams on tenant matters, including defaults, disputes, rent and lease interpretation issues, renewals, terminations, enforcement strategies, and negotiated resolutions.
• Provide day-to-day legal guidance regarding property operations, construction matters, vendor relationships, ownership structures, and other matters affecting the portfolio.
• Partner closely with ownership, asset management, property management, finance, accounting, and leasing teams to provide practical and timely legal advice.
• Identify legal, operational, and reputational risks and recommend commercially reasonable solutions.
• Develop and improve legal processes, templates, tracking systems, and internal controls as the company continues to professionalize and scale.
• Handle other legal matters affecting RW Real Estate Group as needs arise.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice and in good standing in the State of New York.
• 7+ years of relevant legal experience at a law firm, real estate company, investment firm, or in-house legal department.
• Meaningful experience handling commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financings, refinancings, and leasing matters.
• Ability to independently draft and negotiate sophisticated real estate and commercial agreements.
• Experience advising property owners or operators on tenant disputes, insurance matters, litigation strategy, and day-to-day portfolio issues strongly preferred.
• Experience supervising and effectively managing outside counsel.
• Strong legal judgment and the ability to translate complex issues into practical, business-oriented advice.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple active matters, prioritize effectively, and remain responsive in a fast-moving environment. Excellent organizational skills are a must.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and willingness to take ownership beyond a narrowly defined set of responsibilities.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.

Why Join Us?

• Lead the day-to-day legal function for an entrepreneurial real estate organization.
• Serve as a key legal and strategic partner to ownership and senior business leaders.
• Take meaningful ownership of matters rather than operating within a narrow specialty or layered approval structure.
• Gain broad exposure across the full lifecycle of commercial real estate investments.
• Join a collaborative organization that rewards an entrepreneurial approach and values sound judgment, initiative, efficiency, and practical problem-solving.
• Help shape the legal function, improve internal processes, and support the company’s continued growth.

RW Real Estate Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital or familial status, veteran or military status, citizenship status, genetic information, caregiver status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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