Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (preference for CA, TX, FL, DC)
5-7 years of progressive legal experience with a focus on retail leasing
Experience as a senior in-house attorney or similar role involving independent judgment and strategic impact
Expertise in complex retail leasing and outside counsel management
Responsibilities
Provide senior legal support for regional portfolios, ensuring timely and effective legal assistance
Lead negotiation and structuring of complex retail real estate transactions
Advise various business functions on deal economics and operational litigation risks
Support strategic decision-making on high-stakes transactions and portfolio strategies
Direct and manage the legal department's attorneys and paralegals, setting strategies and expectations
Enhance legal operations through process optimization and technology adoption
Mentor and develop team members in legal strategy and professional growth
Benefits
Participation in regional leadership and strategic planning meetings
Moderate travel opportunities for regional and industry-related engagements
Engagement with cross-functional teams and legal forums
Potential involvement in high-priority enterprise matters
Opportunity for mentoring and professional development within the legal team
Full Job Description
Key Responsibilities
Regional legal support. Serve as the primary senior legal partner for regional portfolios, with responsibility for timely, practical, and consistent legal support.
Lead complex transactions. Structure, negotiate, draft, and close sophisticated retail real estate matters, including grocery, anchor and junior anchor leases, ground leases, amendments, renewals, assignments, estoppels, exclusivity arrangements, reciprocal easement agreements, and related multi-party agreements.
Advise the business. Counsel Investment Management, Development, Leasing, Tenant Construction, Property Management, Finance, and Transaction Coordination on deal economics, tenant credit, construction and delivery obligations, rent commencement, lease enforcement, operational litigation risk, and other material business issues.
Support strategic decisions. Provide risk-calibrated advice on major transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, portfolio strategy, tenant relationships, market positioning, and other high-stakes decisions.
Lead legal resources. Direct and coordinate department attorneys, paralegals, and outside counsel; set matter strategy and quality expectations; allocate work effectively; and manage outside-counsel performance and cost.
Advance legal operations. Improve templates, playbooks, workflows, technology adoption, knowledge management, and processes to increase quality, consistency, scalability, and turnaround time.
Develop talent. Mentor legal team members in complex leasing, negotiation, legal strategy, executive communication, and professional development.
Represent the Legal function. Participate in regional leadership meetings, cross-functional working groups, strategic planning sessions, and relevant industry or legal forums.
Support enterprise priorities. Provide targeted support for high-priority matters and assume defined subject-matter responsibilities when requested by the General Counsel and consistent with workload priorities.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (CA, TX, FL, DC preferred, or ability to obtain DC admission)
At least 5-7 years of progressive legal experience, including substantial retail leasing experience
Demonstrated leadership of complex retail leasing, including grocery, anchor, junior anchor, ground lease, development, and redevelopment transactions
Experience operating as a senior in-house attorney or in a comparable role requiring independent judgment, business partnership, and strategic impact
Demonstrated expertise in:
Complex retail leasing, anchor negotiations, and multi-party real estate transactions
Legal operations, process optimization, and adoption of contract lifecycle management, workflow, knowledge management, and other legal technology platforms
Outside counsel management, cost control, and strategic vendor relationships
Strong executive presence and ability to partner effectively with senior business leaders on legal and business matters
Proven track record of driving results, managing complexity, and operating independently with minimal supervision
Preferred
Leasing experience at a retail REIT, shopping center owner/operator, or similar commercial real estate platform
Sophisticated knowledge of corporate contracts, development agreements, construction contracts, or financing transactions in real estate
Subject matter expertise in sustainability (solar, EV charging), environmental, or regulatory compliance in real estate
Prior informal or formal people management experience (mentoring, coaching, or direct reports)
Negotiation and execution: Structures creative solutions and drives sophisticated matters to timely completion.
Executive partnership: Communicates with clarity, earns trust, and influences effectively across functions and levels.
Operational leadership: Improves quality, consistency, efficiency, and scalability through disciplined processes and resource management.
Talent development: Builds capability through mentoring, coaching, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Adaptability: Operates independently and effectively in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
Technology leadership: Adopts legal technology, including AI-enabled tools, responsibly and effectively to improve quality, consistency, and turnaround time.
Travel & Work Environment
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or Dallas, Texas, with regular on-site presence for leadership meetings, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic planning.
Travel: Moderate travel, estimated at 20-25% annually, primarily to regional meetings, and relevant industry or legal programs.
