SENIOR IN-HOUSE GENERAL COUNSEL

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The General Counsel serves as the company's chief legal officer and principal advisor on all legal matters affecting the organization's real estate portfolio, corporate structure, and business operations. This senior executive will provide strategic legal counsel to the Owner and executive leadership, ensuring that all activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The General Counsel leads and manages the legal department, outside counsel relationships, and risk mitigation strategies across a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate and operating companies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Real Estate Transactions & Acquisitions

• Draft, review, and negotiate purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, option agreements, and all related real estate transaction documents

• Oversee due diligence processes including title review, survey analysis, environmental assessments, and zoning compliance

• Manage closing processes for acquisitions, dispositions, and refinancing transactions, coordinating with lenders, title companies, and outside counsel

• Advise on 1031 exchanges, joint venture structures, and complex ownership arrangements

• Review and negotiate broker agreements, listing agreements, and commission disputes

• Draft commercial leases, lease amendments, subleases and assignments

• Support ground lease financings, sale-leaseback transactions, and tax credit investments (LIHTC)

• Advise development teams on zoning, permitting, variances, conditional use permits, and regulatory approvals

Fund Formation & Governance

• Advise on the formation and structuring of real estate funds

• Draft and negotiate limited partnership agreements, operating agreements, subscription documents, and side letters for fund vehicles

• Counsel on GP/LP governance matters, investment committee processes, and fiduciary obligations to fund investors

• Advise on management company structures, carried interest arrangements, and fee mechanics

• Ensure compliance with SEC registration exemptions under Regulation D, Regulation S, and Rule 506(b)/(c) for private fund offerings

• Review and negotiate loan documents and preferred equity structures

Operating Company Legal Support

• Provide broad general corporate legal support to operating company subsidiaries across diverse industries, including distribution and professional services platforms

• Draft and negotiate management agreements, operating agreements, and intercompany service contracts

• Advise on employment law matters affecting operating company personnel, including offer letters, executive compensation arrangements, equity incentive plans, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, and separation arrangements

• Advise on commercial contracts including vendor master service agreements (MSAs), supply chain contracts, and distribution agreements

• Coordinate with outside counsel across relevant practice areas and jurisdictions to deliver efficient, cost-effective legal support to each operating company

Litigation, Disputes & Risk Management

• Manage all litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution proceedings, including selection and oversight of outside litigation counsel

• Maintain corporate records, entity formation documents, operating agreements, and partnership structures

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Licensure

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school required

• Active bar membership and good standing required; multi-state licensure strongly preferred

• LLM in Real Estate, Tax, or Business Law a plus

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of legal experience with at least 3 years focused on commercial real estate transactions

• In-house experience at a real estate developer, REIT, private equity firm, or institutional owner-operator preferred

• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-jurisdictional real estate portfolios or funds

Technical & Subject Matter Expertise

• Deep expertise in commercial real estate law: acquisitions, financing, leasing, development, and dispositions

• Strong knowledge of real property law, title insurance, and survey matters

• Proficiency with real estate finance structures including construction loans, permanent financing, and preferred equity

• Familiarity with affordable housing programs, tax credit transactions, and tax credit investments a plus

• Working knowledge of environmental law, land use regulations, and permitting processes

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

We offer a competitive, market-based compensation package commensurate with experience and qualifications,

You’ll be part of a disciplined, high-performance team executing institutional-scale projects across Florida. Every team member is expected to think strategically, act urgently, and manage with ownership mentality.

If you’re passionate about seeing projects go from concept to construction - and you bring both planning insight and project management discipline - this role offers a clear path to becoming a Project Manager or Development Associate within one of Florida’s most ambitious private real estate firms.

Company Description

You’ll be part of a disciplined, high-performance team executing institutional-scale projects across Florida. Every team member is expected to think strategically, act urgently, and manage with ownership mentality.\r\n\r\nIf you’re passionate about seeing projects go from concept to construction - and you bring both planning insight and project management discipline - this role offers a clear path to becoming a Project Manager or Development Associate within one of Florida’s most ambitious private real estate firms.