Associate Counsel

Socket.dev; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas Elliman is seeking an Associate Counsel with a business-minded orientation to join its in-house legal team to support a fast-moving national real estate business.

The role offers exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional collaboration across Marketing, HR, Finance, and Operations, with day-one responsibilities and a blend of transactional and litigation matters in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3–6 years of relevant legal experience.
• Strong residential real estate brokerage law experience preferred.
• Practical judgment matters more than pedigree; BigLaw not required.
• Strong communicator who can distill legal issues into practical advice.
• Able to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong litigation, drafting and negotiation skills.
• Curious about the business and working with agents and leadership.
• Real estate paralegal experience may be valuable.

Responsibilities

• Advise on day-to-day brokerage matters, including listings, buyer representation, commissions and referrals, MLS/NAR issues, licensing, advertising, fair housing and consumer protection.
• Manage litigation, arbitrations, subpoenas, regulatory matters and consumer complaints, including working with outside counsel and strategy development.
• Draft and negotiate commercial, brokerage, employment, settlement and other agreements.
• Advise on employment and independent contractor matters, agent recruiting and compensation, policies and internal investigations.
• Help the business solve problems quickly and pragmatically, keeping transactions and initiatives moving.

Skills

Real estate law

Litigation

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Associate Counsel

Douglas Elliman is looking for a business-minded attorney to join its small, highly engaged legal team. This is an expansive in-house role with meaningful responsibility from day one, direct access to senior leadership, and the opportunity to advise a fast-moving national real estate business on issues that matter in real time. Practical experience and judgment matter more than pedigree. The company is in peak growth and innovation mode, and the right candidate will have a significant role in these exciting initiatives.

The Opportunity

• Serve as counsel to Douglas Elliman’s U.S. operations across the United States, with the business continuing to expand internationally.
• Work across a wide range of matters, including brokerage operations, litigation, contracts, employment, regulatory/compliance, risk management and strategic business initiatives.
• Advise a business supporting approximately thousands of agents nationwide.
• Work directly with senior leadership and partner closely with Marketing, HR, Finance, Operations and other business teams.
• Join a public company with an established national brand, while working in an environment that is entrepreneurial, fast-moving and highly collaborative.
• Gain significant exposure and responsibility in a legal department where legal is viewed as a business partner, not simply a control function.

Who We’re Looking For

• Approximately 3-6 years of relevant legal experience.
• Strong residential real estate brokerage law experience preferred.
• Practical experience and judgment matter more than pedigree; BigLaw experience is not required.
• A strong communicator who can distill legal issues into clear, practical advice.
• Someone comfortable making decisions, taking ownership and operating with a high degree of independence.
• Able to manage multiple matters at once and thrive in a fast-paced, responsive environment.
• Strong litigation/dispute-resolution, drafting and negotiation skills.
• Curious about the business and interested in working closely with agents, managers and senior leadership.
• Prior real estate paralegal experience may also be valuable.
• Innovative and creative thinker

What You’ll Do

• Advise on day-to-day brokerage matters, including listings, buyer representation, commissions and referrals, MLS/NAR issues, licensing, advertising, fair housing and consumer protection.
• Manage litigation, arbitrations, subpoenas, regulatory matters and consumer complaints, including working directly with outside counsel and developing strategy.
• Draft and negotiate commercial, brokerage, employment, settlement and other agreements.
• Advise on employment and independent contractor matters, agent recruiting and compensation, policies and internal investigations.
• Help the business solve problems quickly and pragmatically, with a strong focus on keeping transactions and strategic initiatives moving.

Schedule

• 5 days per week in the office initially.