Real Estate Counsel
IDj-1293
Job TypeDirect Hire
Remote TypeHybrid
Our client, a growing real estate company is seeking a Real Estate Counsel to join its legal team in Downtown Dallas. This is a broad-based role for an attorney with strong institutional real estate transactional experience who is interested in moving into an in-house environment and becoming a true business partner to the organization.
The attorney will work closely with the Legal Department, property management, operations, investment teams, and senior leadership on transactions and day-to-day legal matters affecting the company’s residential real estate portfolio.
The Opportunity
This position will have exposure to a wide range of real estate and operational matters, including:
- Real estate transactions: Support community purchases, multi-property and multi-asset acquisitions, dispositions, and other institutional real estate transactions.
- Property operations: Advise property management and operational teams on legal issues affecting residential communities and day-to-day business activities.
- Leasing & landlord-tenant matters: Review residential leases and operating documents and provide guidance regarding lease enforcement, tenant disputes, HOA/community matters, and related issues.
- Claims & disputes: Manage and advise on property-related claims, consumer complaints, demand letters, threatened litigation, personal injury/property damage matters, and other escalated issues.
- Regulatory matters: Assist with agency inquiries, regulatory reviews, complaints, and compliance matters involving federal, state, and local requirements.
- Risk management: Identify legal and business risks and provide practical recommendations that allow the company to move forward while protecting its interests.
- Outside counsel: Work with and oversee outside attorneys on litigation, real estate, regulatory, and other specialized matters.
- Insurance: Assist with insurance claims, coverage issues, carrier communications, and dispute resolution.
- Business partnership: Work directly with operations, finance, investment management, compliance, communications, and leadership teams to provide clear, practical legal guidance.
- Training & process improvement: Help develop legal guidance, templates, policies, and training programs that allow business teams to address recurring legal issues effectively.
What We’re Looking For
- J.D. and active admission to at least one U.S. state bar
- Approximately 3–5 years of legal experience, with substantial experience in institutional real estate transactions and/or real estate-related matters
- Experience at a national, midsize, or large law firm with a strong real estate practice preferred
- Experience with residential real estate or property management matters is highly desirable
- Prior in-house experience is preferred, but strong law firm candidates interested in making the transition to an in-house role are encouraged to apply
- Strong understanding of real estate transactions and the ability to assess broader operational and business issues
- Excellent legal research, writing, drafting, and communication skills
- Strong judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with practical business considerations
- Comfortable working with senior executives, business leaders, outside counsel, and sophisticated institutional investors
- Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment
- Collaborative, curious, solutions-oriented, and comfortable working across departments
- Strong technology skills, including Microsoft Office and legal technology platforms
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to move beyond a traditional transactional practice and gain broad, hands-on exposure to the legal and operational side of an institutional real estate platform. The successful attorney will have the opportunity to work on sophisticated transactions while also becoming a trusted legal resource for the company’s property management and business teams.
Location: Downtown Dallas
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Relocation: Candidates currently in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or those open to relocating are encouraged to apply.
Please submit your resume for confidential consideration.
Cerami Search Group is an equal opportunity employer.