The Associate Counsel will handle, manage, and support legal matters across HCP's global studio and real estate investment portfolio and other core areas of the business. The Associate Counsel's responsibilities will include, without limitation, broad commercial real estate and corporate transactional work, along with employment, compliance and regulatory matters, as well as oversight of litigation, insurance and risk management, and corporate governance and entity management.
HCP's Legal Department handles a high-volume workload across the company's diverse and evolving global real estate investment portfolio and operations. This role will be a key part of HCP's global real estate investment platform.
In this role, the Associate Counsel will manage, coordinate, support, and advise on the leasing, licensing, acquisition, disposition, financing, joint venture, development, construction, asset management, and other legal matters of and relating to the real estate assets and investments in HCP's global real estate investment portfolio. Therefore, a solid grasp of the commercial real estate business and financial principles is important, in addition to an understanding of how such concepts and matters are incorporated into transactions.
The Associate Counsel will report directly to the General Counsel and will work closely with internal and external teams and outside counsel across a range of transactions and matters.
The ideal candidate is a motivated, detail-oriented attorney that will take ownership of assigned matters, exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and work efficiently and effectively both independently and with appropriate guidance from senior attorneys.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: • Draft, review, interpret, negotiate, and finalize a broad range of documents, including, without limitation, term sheets and letters of intent, commercial real estate leases and licenses, access agreements, NDAs, purchase and sale agreements, loan documents, joint venture agreements, organizational documents, consulting agreements, management agreements, service and vendor agreements, listing and commission agreements, engagement letters, development and construction contracts and other ancillary real estate, corporate, and business documents.
• Advise on real estate, corporate, employment, compliance, and regulatory matters, and partner with outside counsel as needed.
• Conduct legal research and analysis, provide practical, business-oriented advice to internal teams, and escalate significant or complex matters to senior members of the Legal Department, as appropriate.
• Review and advise on fund, joint venture, investor, lender, and asset-level governance matters, including consent rights, approval requirements, conflicts, reporting obligations, and compliance with governing documents.
• Oversee, manage and coordinate litigation, claims, disputes, subpoenas, investigations, and pre-litigation matters, including developing strategy with outside counsel, managing budgets, preserving privilege, coordinating discovery, evaluating settlement opportunities, and communicating material developments to internal stakeholders.
• Oversee, manage and coordinate insurance claims and tenders and related matters.
• Oversee, manage and coordinate corporate governance and entity management for HCP's managed entities.
• Provide day-to-day legal support and guidance to senior management and internal teams.
• Assist Legal Department with the implementation and ongoing optimization of document management, contract lifecycle management, workflow automation, AI-assisted drafting and review. Promote best practices for information governance, cybersecurity, confidentiality, records retention, and data privacy while supporting continuous process improvement across the Legal Department.
• Support strategic projects and deals by giving practical legal advice, spotting issues, and assessing risks, and coordinating with deal team members to help drive investment outcomes.
• Provide cross-functional legal support on operational and strategic matters.
• Oversee deal and contract lifecycle management, ensuring compliance with internal policies, legal requirements, and best practices, while monitoring and managing risk.
• Perform other legal responsibilities and projects as assigned.
RequirementsSKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:• J.D. degree from a top-tier law school.
• Must be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of California.
• At least 2 or more years of legal experience working on sophisticated commercial real estate transactions at a top-tier law firm or in-house with a real estate investment manager, operator, developer, or other similar institutional platform.
• Meaningful experience in commercial real estate leasing and licensing, acquisitions, dispositions, financings, joint ventures, development, construction, and other general real estate and corporate transactional matters, and a general knowledge of real estate, corporate law and business principles.
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice, exercise sound legal and business judgment, and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, multi-task, and meet demanding deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with senior management.
• Superior attention to detail.
• Outstanding organizational, problem-solving, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated self-starter with a commitment to excellence.
• Strong computer skills required, including advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience with studios, studio owners, operators, and managers, and commercial agreements relating to the entertainment industry, labor and employment, compliance and regulatory matters, and litigation, insurance, corporate governance, and entity management is a plus.
Estimated Annual Salary Range: $160k - $190k
Benefits- Complimentary on-site valet parking
- Catered lunch provided on-site three times per week
- Fully stocked pantry featuring healthy snacks and beverages
- Regular team-building activities and social events
- 100% employer-paid medical benefits for employees
- Comprehensive dependent coverage
- Competitive 401(k) program
- Dog-friendly office environment
- Generous paid holiday schedule
