Position Summary:
Litigation Counsel plays a key role in protecting and advancing the company’s interests across a wide range of legal matters in multifamily and single-family property management. This position manages active and threatened litigation and general liability claim resolution, and partners with internal teams to proactively reduce risk and exposure.
Essential Job Functions:
- Negotiate, or oversee the negotiation of, settlement agreements for various situations that arise on properties or involving corporate functions to identify and mitigate liability or risk.
- Direct and supervise outside counsel, including case strategy, budgeting, and performance.
- Manage the company’s active litigation, including partnering with and managing the company’s third-party general liability claim administrator and outside counsel representing the company or its properties.
- Serve as the primary contact for our property operations teams related to incidents likely to result in claims or litigation, and partners with our compliance team on issues related to landlord-tenant law and operations polices and practices. Researches and analyzes statutes and case law regarding landlord/tenant and other questions that arise in the course of business practice. Advises on legal risks and, working with leadership team, continually assists to improve company practices and policies to provide effective solutions.
- Keep abreast of risk and litigation trends that may affect the company and its operations, and evaluates for continual improvement.
- Works closely across the property operations teams by providing sound legal advice that drives business objectives while managing risk.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications/Skills:
- Admitted to practice law in at least one state, with a license in good standing, and able to qualify for house counsel practice if not admitted in Iowa
- 5 years of experience in legal practice, with a combination of private practice and in-house practice preferred
- Ability to travel as needed to meet the needs of the business. Travel estimated of less than 10%.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (work schedule may vary). Some overtime may be required and ability to work extended hours as needed to meet business needs.
Physical Requirements/Environment: The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This job generally operates in a professional office environment but may also occasionally operate in an outdoor environment. While performing the duties of this job, employees must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods, occasionally moves throughout the office, constantly operates a computer and other office equipment, frequent and repetitive motion, including movements of the wrists, hands and/or fingers, communicate regularly and effectively with others, both written and verbally, and may occasionally lift up to 30 pounds. This position requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading. The ability and means to travel locally, overnight, in specific regions or states via automobile and airplane may be required.
