Our Client is seeking an experienced legal professional to oversee and manage the legal and transactional functions within their growing commercial real estate development, investment, and management firm.  The individual in this role will provide strategic oversight, leadership, and management for all transactions across the firm, including purchase and sale agreements, leases, financings, and closing processes to advance transaction flow and manage risk.

The successful Senior Legal Counsel is an ambitious professional who enjoys document preparation combined with deal making negotiations, possesses skills to make effective, creative decisions, and is a goal-oriented problem solver. There is an emphasis on value alignment, clear communication, organizational skills, creativity, positive personality, and technical skills for this position.  Above all, they are looking for a strong fit within the fabric of the firm’s culture.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contract Management - Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, operating agreements, declarations and easement agreements, partnership agreements, lender documents, and vendor contracts.
• Due Diligence Management – legal review and due diligence process management for development site acquisitions and investment property acquisitions alongside the due diligence teams, including direct responsibilities for title, survey, entitlement, regulatory, investor documents, and lender review.
• Transaction Leadership – provide leadership and management of transactional flow including:
• Leases – ensuring all critical dates are accurately captured for team to execute accordingly and maintaining documentation as needed per the lease.
• Purchase and Sale Agreements – managing the critical dates and amendment documentations.
• Closings – Manage all closing processes, required documentation and act as closing attorney for each, including acquisitions, dispositions, and financings.
• Risk Management & Compliance – designing and implementing company policies to mitigate risk and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
• External Counsel – liaison and supervision of external counsel for outsourced legal matters including litigation, environmental, partnerships, tax, eminent domain, land use, human resources, and others.
• Legal Advice - Providing legal guidance to management on a variety of topics, including contracts, litigation, business structure, and regulatory matters.

POTENTIAL / FUTURE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Corporate governance and global operational leadership and oversight.
• Estate and tax planning strategy and execution.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 5 years of law firm or in-house legal department experience with commercial real estate transactions, preferrable retail property type leases and transactions.
• Prior experience with large, complex commercial real estate acquisitions, developments, and dispositions.
• Experienced in title, survey, land use code related matters, entitlement review and closing processes.
• Understanding of commercial construction and experience.
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial real estate lease agreements, and associated restrictive covenant and easement agreements (REA, ECR or OEA).
• Prior managerial experience preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLSETS:

• Strong legal and contract drafting skills.
• Ability to analyze complex matters and propose creative, practical solutions, even in ambiguous situations.
• High level of professionalism, good judgment, and initiative.
• Strong negotiation and relationship skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize and consistently meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively manage people.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft suite including, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of office software packages.
• Must exercise honesty and respect with company employees, clients, vendors, and tenants.
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment and coordinate with various levels of staff and outside vendors and client representatives.
• Demonstrate ability to learn company’s core business model and operational systems.

About Poline Search Partners

Poline Search Partners is an international executive search firm specializing in the shopping center industry. We serve property owners, developers, retailers and service providers who are seeking remarkable talent and work to align them with candidates who are eager for new growth opportunities. Since 1979, our team has been connecting companies and candidates with a commitment to integrity and client satisfaction—making us the industry’s most trusted leader in recruitment.

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