Job Overview: The Senior Counsel, Real Estate & Development will serve as a key legal partner to executive leadership, providing strategic and practical legal guidance across the company’s real estate and corporate operations. This individual will play a critical role in supporting land acquisition, development, construction, and corporate initiatives, ensuring transactions are structured effectively while mitigating risk.
This is a high-impact, senior-level role that requires a hands-on leader who can operate both strategically and tactically - advising on complex deals while also driving day-to-day legal execution in a fast-paced homebuilding environment.
Key Responsibilities
Real Estate Transactions & Land Strategy
- Lead legal support for land acquisition, disposition, and development transactions, including managing due diligence timelines and coordinating with land teams from contract to close.
- Structure, draft, and negotiate purchase and sale agreements, joint venture and partnership agreements, easements, entitlements, and development agreements.
- Conduct and oversee comprehensive legal due diligence, including title review, zoning analysis, land use matters, and environmental assessments.
- Partner closely with Land Acquisition and Development teams to evaluate deal risk, optimize transaction structure, and identify legal exposure before it materializes.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory changes in Florida real estate and development law and advise the business on impacts and required adjustments.
Contract Leadership & Standardization
- Oversee the drafting, review, and negotiation of a wide range of contracts, including vendor and subcontractor agreements, construction and development agreements, brokerage and sales-related contracts, and professional services agreements.
- Establish and maintain contract standards, templates, and approval workflows to drive efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and ensure consistency across the organization.
- Collaborate with operations and procurement teams to identify recurring contract issues and develop proactive solutions.
- Review and advise on warranty and homebuyer purchase agreements, ensuring alignment with applicable state disclosure requirements and company risk tolerance.
Strategic Legal Advisory
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team, delivering clear, business-oriented legal guidance on complex matters with competing priorities.
- Translate complex legal issues into practical, actionable recommendations that balance risk management with business objectives.
- Support strategic initiatives including market expansion, joint ventures, and new community development.
- Advise on new market entry strategy from a legal and regulatory standpoint, including state-specific licensing, municipal approvals, and community development district (CDD) formation.
- Provide legal perspective in executive-level business planning discussions and board-level governance matters.
Litigation & Risk Management
- Manage litigation, disputes, and claims, including oversight of outside counsel and management of legal spend.
- Provide proactive guidance to reduce exposure and prevent legal issues before they arise, including contract disputes, construction defect claims, and title issues.
- Support internal teams with risk assessment, decision-making frameworks, and escalation protocols.
- Review and manage insurance requirements across construction and vendor contracts to ensure alignment with company risk management strategy.
- Oversee and coordinate homeowner association (HOA) legal matters, including formation documents, CC&Rs, and transition issues.
Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, particularly within real estate, construction, and consumer protection.
- Support entity management, corporate governance, and internal policy development for operating subsidiaries and joint venture vehicles.
- Advise on regulatory changes and their impact on the business, including changes to Florida building codes, contractor licensing requirements, and environmental regulations.
- Develop and maintain legal compliance calendars, internal escalation procedures, and legal risk registers.
- Partner with Finance on lender requirements, construction loan documentation, and title insurance matters.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Collaborate with Construction, Sales, Finance, HR, and Operations to support day-to-day legal needs across a multi-division organization.
- Provide guidance on employment-related legal matters in partnership with HR, including wage and hour compliance, contractor classifications, and dispute resolution.
- Serve as a go-to legal resource across the organization, building a reputation for practical, business-friendly advice.
- Educate and train non-legal staff on legal topics relevant to their functions, including contract review basics, permitting compliance, and risk escalation.
Required Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school with active bar membership (Florida strongly preferred).
- 8–12+ years of progressive legal experience, with a strong focus on real estate, land acquisition, development, or construction law.
- Experience supporting complex real estate transactions, ideally within a homebuilding, development, or real estate-focused organization (or a law firm serving those clients).
- Demonstrated experience with Florida land use, zoning, entitlement, and environmental regulatory matters.
- Familiarity with community development districts (CDDs), HOA formation, and new community legal structures is a strong plus.
- Experience managing outside counsel relationships and controlling legal spend is preferred.
Skills:
- Strong business acumen with the ability to deliver practical, solution-oriented legal advice.
- Exceptional negotiation and contract drafting skills.
- Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on.
- Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and build trust.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- High level of integrity, sound judgment, and discretion
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods as needed.
- Capability to lift and carry office supplies or packages weighing up to 25 lbs.
- Ability to travel between company locations if needed.
- Frequent use of a computer and other office equipment such as phones, copiers, and printers.