Assistant General Counsel - Transactions

Friedman Management Company; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Friedman Real Estate seeks an Associate General Counsel - Transactions to lead the Legal Department in managing portfolio transactions and real estate operations at our Farmington Hills office.

You will advise on acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing matters, and related issues; draft and negotiate agreements; and partner with leadership and outside counsel to mitigate risk.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Michigan and in good standing.
• Minimum of five years of practice in real estate transactions, leasing, financing, acquisitions, and contract negotiation.
• Experience drafting and negotiating real estate agreements and transaction documents.

Responsibilities

• Act as lead attorney for managed portfolio transactions including acquisitions and leases.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and oversee external legal services.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and transaction documents.
• Provide practical, business-focused legal risk mitigation guidance.
• Advise Operations on lease interpretations, defaults, and tenant disputes.
• Maintain accurate legal records and support company compliance.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Communication

Multitasking

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Job Location: Corporate Office - Farmington Hills - Farmington Hills, MI 48331

The Associate General Counsel - Transactions serves as the Legal Department’s lead attorney for managed portfolio transactions and ongoing real estate operations. This position provides strategic legal counsel on acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing matters, receiverships, brokerage-related issues, and operational legal matters while partnering with business leaders, clients, and outside counsel to support organizational objectives and mitigate legal risk.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as first-chair attorney for managed portfolio transactional matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing transactions, and related real estate matters.
• Serve as the primary legal contact for transactions when outside counsel is engaged and oversee the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of outside legal services.
• Provide legal guidance to Operations regarding lease interpretation, lease amendments, defaults, notices, tenant disputes, and related landlord-tenant issues.
• Coordinate with and manage outside counsel on complex landlord-tenant matters and other specialized legal issues as appropriate.
• Serve as first-chair attorney on receivership matters, including review of court orders, management of filings and compliance requirements, asset administration, sales and disposition activities, and receivership closeout activities.
• Advise the company regarding listing agreements, co-broker agreements, broker liens, broker waivers, commission-related matters, and other brokerage-related legal issues.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret contracts, agreements, legal correspondence, and transactional documents.
• Identify legal risks related to transactions and operations and provide practical, business-oriented recommendations to mitigate risk.
• Coordinate and communicate with courts, lenders, clients, tenants, vendors, outside counsel, regulators, and internal stakeholders as necessary.
• Maintain accurate legal records and support the Legal Department in achieving company-wide compliance and operational objectives.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in the State of Michigan and membership in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience practicing law, with a concentration in real estate transactions, leasing, financing, acquisitions, and contract negotiation preferred.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating real estate agreements and transaction documents.
• Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Friedman Real Estate is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.