Vice President, Real Estate Counsel

Representing a publicly traded real estate investment trust, we are proud to be leading the search for a Vice President, Real Estate Counsel. This newly created role will lead legal support across leasing, operations, acquisitions, and strategic real estate transactions.

This is a pivotal role offering the opportunity to influence legal strategy, partner closely with senior leadership, and shape the real estate legal function.

As the Vice President, Real Estate Counsel, you will be responsible for:

• Leading the real estate legal department responsible for acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and financing transactions, including drafting, negotiation, due diligence, and closing execution
• Serving as primary legal advisor to the leasing function, including lease negotiation, interpretation, tenant issues, and risk mitigation strategies
• Overseeing legal support for property management, construction, and operational matters, including vendor agreements, insurance, compliance, and environmental considerations
• Supporting dispute resolution, including landlord tenant matters, lease enforcement, collections, and bankruptcies in coordination with external counsel
• Partnering cross-functionally with investments, asset management, finance, tax, accounting, and construction teams to support business initiatives
• Managing and mentoring legal team members, including junior attorneys and paralegals, ensuring consistent, high-quality legal support
• Overseeing outside counsel selection, engagement, and performance, ensuring cost effective and high-quality legal services

To be successful in this role our client is looking for a:

• J.D. with admission to the California bar in good standing
• 7 years of real estate transactional experience at a leading law firm or in-house at a real estate focused organization
• Strong experience supporting institutional landlords, REITs, or property management companies, ideally with office asset exposure
• Demonstrated expertise in leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, and real estate operational matters
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills with strong business judgment
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, complex environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with a collaborative approach
• Leadership experience with the ability to mentor and develop junior team members

As a specialist Legal, Risk, and Compliance search and recruitment firm, we are partnering with a high-performing, growth-focused real estate investment trust known for its collaborative culture and strategic investment approach. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded real estate attorney to join a sophisticated, well-capitalized organization and contribute to the continued evolution of its legal function.

If this opportunity aligns with your experience, please apply. Please note that our client is unable to provide relocation for this role. The listed salary range serves as a guide and the salary offered within that range to the selected candidate will be based on experience, qualifications, and location.