What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Counsel position at Raymour and Flanigan?
This is an exciting opportunity for a recent law school graduate or early-career attorney to develop a sophisticated practice spanning corporate, transactional, and real estate law and more. You will join an experienced, highly regarded in-house legal team and provide pragmatic counsel to a retail business operating 150 stores across eight states and a real estate business managing a 15 million square-foot commercial portfolio — negotiating contracts, closing deals, and advising on matters that directly impact operations at scale. We are looking for an energetic team player who will thrive alongside collegial and seasoned attorneys committed to your mentorship and professional growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Corporate Transactions: Draft, review, and negotiate legal contracts in support of the retail business, including SaaS agreements, non-disclosure agreements, financing agreements, access agreements, employment agreements, transportation agreements and more.
- Property Transactions: Support the real estate business in connection with the purchasing, selling, leasing, and financing of its commercial real estate portfolio, including conducting property due diligence, reviewing title, negotiating transaction documents, managing deals, and closing transactions.
- Property Management: Support both the retail and real estate business in the day-to-day management of the commercial property portfolio including counseling in-house property managers, assisting with landlord-tenant disputes, interpreting lease language and advising on compliance matters.
- Corporate Governance: Assist with the formation and governance of corporate entities, including drafting operating agreements, corporate resolutions, amendments, and related instruments.
- Artificial Intelligence: Integrate artificial intelligence into your daily practice, including the creation of and collaboration with custom "AI skills."
- Legal Research: Conduct research on relevant laws, regulatory developments, and industry practices to support the department's work.
- Outside Counsel Management: Direct and oversee outside counsel engagements with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accountability.
- General: Contribute to the broader operation of the legal department, which may include, on an ad-hoc basis, representing the retail business in connection with employment matters, customer satisfaction, governmental inquiries, compliance and more.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school, preferably graduating in the top 25% of class
- Admission to the New York State bar in good standing, or eligible for registration as in-house counsel in the State of New York
- 2–5 years of relevant legal experience
- Strong knowledge of, or interest in, corporate, transactional, and/or real estate law.
- Proficient in, or willing to learn and actively implement, artificial intelligence tools on a daily basis
- Outstanding analytical, organizational, and time-management skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and legal research tools (e.g., LexisNexis)
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Collegial demeanor and proven success in a team-oriented environment