Assistant General Counsel - Transactions

Friedman Real Estate; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Insurance & 401(k)

PTO & holidays

Education reimbursement

Referral bonuses

Recognition programs

Job summary

Friedman Real Estate seeks an experienced Associate General Counsel with a focus on Transactions to lead the legal support for managed real estate portfolios and ongoing operations. The role involves direct collaboration with business leaders, tenants, lenders, brokers, courts, and outside counsel to deliver practical, risk-aware guidance in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate has strong transactional expertise, excellent judgment, and the ability to translate complex issues into

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active Michigan law license in good standing.
• At least 5 years of legal experience with emphasis in real estate transactions.
• Experience drafting and negotiating real estate agreements and transactional documents.

Responsibilities

• Serve as first-chair attorney for managed portfolio transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing, and other real estate matters.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and oversee quality and cost of external services.
• Partner with Operations on lease interpretation, amendments, defaults, notices, and disputes.
• Manage outside counsel on complex landlord-tenant issues and receiverships.
• Advise on brokerage-related matters and draft/interpret contractual documents.
• Identify risks and provide practical, business-focused recommendations.

Skills

Analytical ability

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Associate General Counsel with experience in Transactions to join our Legal Department and serve as the lead attorney supporting managed portfolio transactions and ongoing real estate operations.

This is an exciting opportunity for a business-minded real estate attorney who enjoys working directly with business leaders, clients, tenants, lenders, brokers, courts, and outside counsel. The ideal candidate will bring strong transactional expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to provide practical legal guidance in a fast-paced environment.

For You:

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k)
• 3+ weeks PTO and 10 paid holidays
• Continuing education reimbursement
• Referral bonuses and recognition programs
• and more!

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as the first-chair attorney for managed portfolio transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing transactions, and other real estate matters
• Act as the primary legal contact for transactions involving outside counsel and oversee the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of external legal services
• Partner with Operations on lease interpretation, amendments, defaults, notices, tenant disputes, and other landlord-tenant matters
• Manage and coordinate outside counsel on complex landlord-tenant matters and specialized legal issues
• Serve as first-chair attorney on receivership matters, including court orders, filings, compliance requirements, asset administration, sales and dispositions, and receivership closeout
• Advise on brokerage-related matters, including listing agreements, co-broker agreements, broker liens, waivers, commissions, and related issues
• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret contracts, agreements, legal correspondence, and transactional documents
• Identify legal and business risks and provide practical, solutions-oriented recommendations to help mitigate those risks
• Work collaboratively with courts, lenders, clients, tenants, vendors, regulators, outside counsel, and internal stakeholders
• Maintain accurate legal records and support company-wide compliance and operational objectives
• Take on additional legal projects and responsibilities as needed

What We’re Looking For:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Active Michigan law license and membership in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan.
• At least 5 years of legal experience, with experience in real estate transactions, leasing, financing, acquisitions, and contract negotiation strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating real estate agreements and transactional documents.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, negotiation, and communication skills
• Strong business judgment and the ability to translate complex legal issues into practical recommendations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines 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.