What are the responsibilities and job description for the General Counsel position at Acquest Development?
Company: Acquest Development
Location: Williamsville, NY
Compensation: $200,000 - $250,000
Acquest Development is seeking an experienced, business-oriented attorney to serve as in-house counsel supporting all aspects of the company’s commercial real estate development, acquisition, financing, leasing, ownership, and disposition activities across multiple states.
This individual will act as a strategic legal advisor to executive leadership while partnering closely with the development, finance, and property management teams. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience representing developers, owners, investors, and/or lenders in sophisticated commercial real estate transactions and will have the judgment, responsiveness, and practical business mindset required in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
General Counsel & Transaction Manager will report to:
• Chief Operating Officer
Key Responsibilities – General Counsel
Real Estate Acquisitions & Dispositions
• Draft real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and land assemblage contracts.
• Prepare purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, option agreements, assignment agreements, escrow instructions, and closing documentation in tangent with the Senior Vice President and/or Director of Acquisitions & Dispositions.
• Identify title defects, encumbrances, and development constraints and implement practical solutions with the Development team.
• Lead all legal aspects of land acquisitions and dispositions, from initial pursuit through closing.
• Manage transaction timelines, diligence periods, closing deliverables, and stakeholder coordination to ensure successful execution of project milestones.
Development
• Support the Development team on all phases of site acquisition, zoning, annexation, permitting, and entitlement strategy.
• Draft and assist with negotiating:
o Easement agreements
o Reciprocal easement agreements (REAs)
o Access agreements
o Utility agreements
o Development agreements
o Construction Contracts
o Restrictive covenants
o Shared infrastructure agreements
o Stormwater/drainage agreements
• Work closely with development personnel to resolve title, zoning, entitlement, access, utility, and permitting issues affecting project feasibility and transaction schedules.
Leasing
• Draft:
o Industrial leases
o Office leases
o Retail leases
o Ground leases
o Build-to-suit leases
o Lease amendments, assignments, and estoppels
• Support landlord and tenant negotiations.
Financing
• Lead legal review of:
o Construction loan documents
o Permanent financing documents
o Guaranties
o Equity and joint venture documents
• Coordinate lender due diligence and closing requirements.
Construction & Contracting
• Draft and negotiate with the Development team:
o AIA agreements
o Consultant agreements
o Architect/engineer contracts
o Vendor agreements
o Procurement contracts
• Advise on mechanics liens, payment disputes, claims, and risk allocation.
• Lead legal review of GMP agreements, construction management agreements, AIA contracts, consultant agreements, and major procurement contracts.
Corporate & Risk Management
• Support national and international entity formation, governance, annual compliance, and interstate registrations.
• Manage insurance claims, litigation strategy, and outside counsel relationships.
• Provide proactive legal guidance on contract risk, employment-related matters, compliance, and operational issues.
Strategic Leadership
• Serve as a member of Acquest's senior leadership team, providing strategic legal guidance on transaction structuring, project execution, organizational growth initiatives, and risk management.
• Develop internal contract standards, policies, templates, and legal workflows.
• Maintain strong relationships with title companies and outside counsel.
Qualifications
Required
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active admission to the New York State Bar.
• Minimum 10 years of legal experience in commercial real estate, development, finance, and/or transactional law.
• Experience with:
• Commercial acquisitions/dispositions
• Title and survey review
• Leases
• Construction Contracts/Development Agreements
Preferred
• Experience serving as in-house counsel for a developer, owner/operator, REIT, institutional investor, or major real estate law practice.
• Multi-state transactional experience.
• Tax, corporate structuring, or joint venture experience.
Core Competencies
• Strong business judgment
• Executive presence
• Ability to independently manage multiple simultaneous transactions
• Practical, solutions-oriented mindset
• High responsiveness and attention to detail
• Ability to balance legal protection with business execution
Salary : $200,000 - $250,000