General Counsel- Real Estate

A highly successful, multi-billion-dollar national real estate development and investment firm is seeking an exceptional, business-minded General Counsel to serve as its chief legal officer and strategic partner to the executive leadership team. The firm commands a high-profile portfolio spanning ultra-luxury high-rise residential towers, hospitality projects, innovative master-planned co-living brands, and mixed-use commercial properties.

The incoming General Counsel will manage all legal, regulatory, and risk functions across a fast-paced development pipeline, safeguarding the firm's capital investments while actively facilitating complex transactions and joint venture developments.

Key Responsibilities

Transactional & Structural Legal Strategy

• Agreement Architecture: oversee the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of complex, multi-party commercial real estate transactions.
• Financing & Capital Structuring: advise on capital stack formation, including senior construction loans, mezzanine financing, preferred equity, and institutional capital partner negotiations.
• Joint Venture Partnerships: structure and manage sophisticated joint venture (JV) arrangements with landowners, financial institutions, and equity partners.

Development & Land Use Operations

• Zoning & Entitlements: collaborate with development teams to navigate municipal zoning, land use permissions, environmental compliance, and entitlement processes for large-scale vertical developments.
• Construction & Development Law: handle construction contracting, architectural agreements, GMP contracts, and dispute resolution framework to mitigate project delays.

Corporate Governance & Risk Management

• Corporate Architecture: direct the firm's overall corporate structure, parent-subsidiary relations, and specialized entity management (LLCs, LPs) for distinct asset portfolios.
• Risk Mitigation & Litigation: proactively insulate the company from operational vulnerabilities by designing comprehensive litigation avoidance strategies and managing external trial counsel when necessary.
• Insurance & Liability: manage the corporate insurance program, wrap-up policies, and liability coverage tailored to high-density construction and asset management.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

• Education & Licensure: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school with active bar admission.
• Experience: Minimum of 10–15 years of sophisticated real estate legal experience, ideally combining major AmLaw firm training with senior in-house roles at a prominent developer or investment fund.
• Vertical Development Domain: Proven track record executing large-scale, high-density vertical real estate projects (e.g., luxury condominiums, high-end hospitality, or master-planned developments).
• Technical Skills: Mastery of complex real estate financing mechanisms, complex joint venture negotiations, and sophisticated corporate structures.
• Leadership Style: Exceptional business acumen; an executive who offers commercial solutions rather than just identifying legal risks.