Chief Legal and Administrative Officer

Baumbach Recruitment Advisors, llp; Wisconsin; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Baumbach Recruitment Advisors, llp client seeks a Chief Legal and Administrative Officer hybrid in Wisconsin. The CLAO will lead legal strategy, compliance, and administrative operations across real estate, development, and corporate matters.

The role requires JD with 10+ years in commercial real estate law, governance, and banking/finance related matters, plus a background in administrative leadership within a family office setting. Notary and filings expertise are expected.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in commercial real estate law, governance and compliance.
• MBA is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal counsel on commercial real estate, transactions, and governance.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements and operating documents.
• Oversee administrative operations, IT, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and robust corporate governance.

Skills

Adaptability

Communications

Dependability

Quality

Quantity

Teamwork

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

10 years real estate law experience

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Yardi

Job description

We have been exclusively retained to help our client, a large WI real estate operation and family office, to recruit their next Chief Legal and Administrative Officer, a HYBRID opportunity in Wisconsin.

Position Summary: The Chief Legal and Administrative Officer (“CLAO”) oversees the legal, administrative and regulatory aspects of the company and its affiliates and serves as member of the development/acquisitions team. This executive-level position requires expertise in commercial real estate law, development, acquisitions, property management, commercial leasing, Banking and Financial Institutions, and administrative operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Legal Strategy and Advisory:

• Serve as the company’s chief legal advisor, providing strategic legal counsel to the CEO, the President, and the leadership on commercial real estate, business transactions, family office matters, philanthropy, and property management, development, acquisitions and related matters.
• Oversee external legal resources when necessary.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to real estate development, property management, and corporate matters.
• Manage litigation and dispute resolution, collaborating with external counsel when required.

Administrative Leadership and Operations:

• Provide executive oversight of all administrative functions, ensuring day-to-day operations across the organization including oversight of information technology and coordination with marketing partners.
• Develop and implement administrative policies, procedures and systems to improve productivity and consistency.
• Align administrative operations with company strategy and long-term growth objectives.
• Oversee administrative staff and functions including officer operations, internal coordination, IT and workplace management.
• Drive continuous improvement in administrative workflows, project coordination and cross-department collaboration.
• Partner with department leaders to support organizational effectiveness and execution of key initiatives.
• Manage relationships with administrative vendors, service providers and operational partners.

Drafting and Negotiating Contracts:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial real estate agreements, including commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, deeds, easements, development contracts, administrative contracts and financing/loan agreements.
• Develop corporate operating strategies and draft business operating agreements for joint ventures, partnerships, and other business entities.
• Ensure all contracts are legally compliant and protect the company's interests.

Development and Transactions:

• Partner with the President and COO to provide advice and counsel on development projects, including zoning, entitlements, environmental issues, infrastructure planning, vertical construction and deal structuring, among other aspects.
• Lead various aspects of property acquisitions, dispositions, and joint ventures, conducting thorough due diligence and transaction support.
• Advise on construction contracts, ensuring compliance with regulations and agreements.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Provide legal guidance on regulatory compliance for real estate development, corporate governance, property management, and employment-related matters.
• In charge of corporate regulatory filings.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks in real estate transactions and business operations.

Corporate Governance:

• Advise the CEO, the President, and other family leadership on corporate governance, including entity formation, investment structuring, and fiduciary duties.
• Serve as a Wisconsin notary public.
• Serve as the designated and managing real estate broker, overseeing brokerage activities and ensuring compliance with Wisconsin real estate licensing requirements.
• Supervise real estate brokers and agents to ensure adherence to legal and ethical standards.
• Ensure compliance with Wisconsin real estate laws related to transactions, leases, and brokerage activities.
• Act as the company's primary contact for real estate licensing and compliance matters.

Legal Oversight on Property Management:

• Provide legal guidance on lease enforcement, tenant disputes, and property maintenance.
• Review and approve property management contracts, ensuring legal and business alignment.
• Advise on landlord-tenant law and ensure compliance with Wisconsin statutes and regulations.

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following.

Adaptability - Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles. Measures self against standard of excellence. Recognizes and acts on opportunities. Sets and achieves challenging goals. Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Communications - Exhibits good listening and comprehension. Expresses ideas and thoughts in written form. Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally. Keeps others adequately informed. Selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

Dependability - Commits to doing the best job possible. Follows instruction. Keeps commitments. Meets attendance and punctuality guidelines. Responds to requests for service and assistance. Takes responsibility for own actions.

Quality - Applies feedback to improve performance. Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Displays commitment to excellence. Looks for ways to improve and promote quality. Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Achieves established goals. Completes work in timely manner. Meets productivity standards. Strives to increase productivity. Works quickly.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities. Contributes to building a positive team spirit. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views. Gives and welcomes feedback. Puts success of team above own interests.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• 10 years of experience in commercial real estate law, land development, commercial leasing, and corporate governance and compliance
• Prior experience in real estate development and banking or finance
• Preferred experience in non-profit corporate governance, compliance and risk management. Securities and employment law experience.
• Previous experience leading administrative functions in a family office environment
• Masters in Business Administration (MBA) preferred.

Certificates and Licenses:

• Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin notary public certification.

Language Ability:

• Read, analyze, and interpret complex documents. Respond effectively to sensitive inquiries. Write speeches and articles using innovative techniques. Make persuasive presentations on complex topics to management, public groups and/or boards of directors.

Reasoning Ability:

• Apply logical thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in using relevant software and technology tools, such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), accounting/property management systems (Yardi preferred), and other administrative software.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This role supervises the administrative staff of the Company (3-4 direct reports), real estate brokers and agents.