VA & NC General Counsel

Company Description:

Priority Title & Escrow is headquartered in Virginia Beach. Our experienced professionals take pride in delivering efficient, accurate, and market-priced real estate solutions. We are leading the settlement services industry across the country with our local expertise and national reach. Priority Title & Escrow blends the latest technology with local insight and nationwide expertise to produce settlement solutions our clients can count on. Fast. Efficient. Accurate. Smart.

Work with people who share your priorities – the best in the business – and gain an advantage over the competition. Become a part of Priority Title & Escrow’s Team today!

Role Description:

The General Counsel serves as a chief legal officer for Priority Title & Escrow, overseeing all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters across the company’s multi state operations. This role provides strategic legal advice to senior leadership, manages risk, ensures adherence to federal and state title/settlement regulations, and oversees all legal aspects of business relationships, transactions, and corporate governance.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Virginia & North Carolina real estate law, title insurance regulations, and multi state compliance , with strong business acumen and the ability to partner with leadership in a fast paced, growth oriented environment.

Responsibilities:

Legal Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as the company’s primary legal advisor to the CEO and executive team
• Develop and manage the organization’s legal strategy aligned with business goals
• Oversee outside counsel relationships and manage legal budgets

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations including CFPB, RESPA, ALTA Best Practices, and state title insurance laws
• Develop and maintain company policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks
• Oversee licensing requirements across all operating states

Real Estate, Title & Settlement Law

• Provide guidance on title insurance matters, settlement practices, escrow procedures, and real estate transaction risks
• Respond to complex legal questions from clients, partners, and internal departments
• Oversee title claim response, dispute resolution, and regulatory inquiries

Contracts & Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including lender agreements, vendor contracts, NDAs, employment agreements, and partnership agreements
• Support corporate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships

Risk Management

• Identify potential legal risk areas and develop strategies to mitigate exposure
• Oversee litigation management, including claims handling and coordination with external counsel
• Establish internal training programs on compliance, ethics, and risk mitigation

Corporate Governance

• Advise leadership on corporate structuring, governance, and enterprise policies
• Ensure that company practices align with legal and ethical standards
• Support HR on legal aspects of employment matters and internal investigations

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in Virginia and North Carolina (required)
• 7–10+ years of experience in law, with substantial expertise in:
• Real estate, title insurance, escrow, and settlement law
• State and federal regulatory compliance
• Contract drafting, review, and negotiation
• Experience in a title insurance company, settlement agency, mortgage lending, or related real estate industry is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience advising executives and supporting a rapidly evolving business environment

Key Competencies:

• Strong business judgment and ability to balance risk with operational needs
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and problem solving skills
• Ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization
• Strategic thinker with hands on execution capability
• High integrity, discretion, and commitment to ethical practice

Note: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities or qualifications.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Schedule:

• Core business hours are 8:30am-5:30pm
• Monday through Friday

Work Location

• This is a remote position with priority given to candidates currently residing in our active payroll states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, & WY.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
• Candidates local to Virginia Beach, VA may have the option to work in-office or hybrid.

Job Type:

Full-time Exempt