Corporate Counsel

ACC - Association of Corporate Counsel; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ACC - Association of Corporate Counsel is seeking a Corporate Counsel for its Atlanta office. The role includes delivering high-quality legal services with a focus on operational support across multiple markets. Key responsibilities include managing commercial contracts, property-related litigation, and providing legal advice on various operational matters.

Ideal candidates will hold a Juris Doctor and have over 4 years of relevant legal experience, especially in commercial contracts and real estate. Strong negotiation skills and an active license to practice law are essential.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably in a corporate legal department.
• Strong knowledge of commercial contracts and property-related litigation.
• Active license to practice law in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a legal partner to property management teams.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial contracts.
• Manage property-related litigation and pre-litigation matters.

Skills

Drafting and negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Corporate Counsel role is designed to deliver high-quality legal services within the organization in an impactful and efficient manner, with a focus on operational support across all Cousins' markets. The Corporate Counsel will serve as a legal partner to property management and other internal teams, managing commercial contracts, property-related litigation, and a broad range of legal issues affecting the company’s properties and operations. Strategic lease negotiations, real estate transactions, corporate governance, and other legal matters are handled by other members of the legal team; this role focuses on operational support, commercial contracts, and property-related disputes.

Reports to: General Counsel

Location: Corporate Office in Atlanta, Georgia. This is an on-site position, and it is not remote or hybrid.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Serve as a day-to-day legal partner to property management teams across all Cousins' markets, providing practical, business-oriented advice on operational matters, including support on all property owner associations;
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of office leases (including ancillary leasing documents) and other commercial contracts, including vendor and service agreements, property management agreements, construction and capital project contracts, licensing and access agreements, NDAs, consulting agreements, and other operational agreements supporting the company’s properties and corporate functions;
• Manage property-related litigation and pre-litigation matters, including landlord-tenant disputes, tenant defaults, vendor/contractor disputes, insurance defense, and casualty matters, coordinating with outside counsel as appropriate;
• Advise on insurance, indemnity, and risk-allocation provisions across contracts and disputes, partnering with the company’s risk management function on claims, coverage issues, and loss matters;
• Provide advice and counsel to business partners on legal issues affecting the company’s properties and other areas of the company;
• Participate in strategy and collaboration regarding risk assessment and management across the legal department and business units;
• Contribute to the continuous creation and improvement of legal templates, playbooks, and clause libraries to enhance consistency and efficiency;
• Support the implementation and optimization of legal technology tools, including contract lifecycle management, matter management, and knowledge management systems;
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and outside counsel as needed on specialized or escalated matters, and assist in managing outside counsel relationships, scope, and budgets;
• Work closely with the General Counsel and Associates General Counsel on operational legal matters, with appropriate escalation of strategic, transactional, or governance matters;
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned by the General Counsel.

Successful Candidate

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school;
• 4+ years of relevant legal experience, with experience in a corporate legal department preferred;
• Background in commercial contracts, commercial real estate, and/or property-related litigation;
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated ability to translate legal analysis into clear, practical guidance for non-lawyer business partners;
• Sound judgment and the ability to identify, elevate, and manage legal risk in a fast‑paced operational environment;
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a high volume of matters across multiple markets and stakeholders;
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively across legal, property management, accounting, risk, and other corporate functions;
• Willingness to travel periodically to Cousins’ markets as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Minimum Required)

• Active license to practice law in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; if not already admitted in Georgia, must obtain admission to the State Bar of Georgia within two (2) years of hire;
• 4+ years of relevant legal experience;
• Working knowledge of commercial contract law;
• Familiarity with insurance and indemnification concepts as applied to commercial real estate operations and disputes;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort adopting and optimizing legal technology tools;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships across the organization;
• Commitment to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality.