Counsel, Real Estate

Sunbelt Rentals, Inc.; Fort Mill (SC); On-site; USD 167,280 - 230,010; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision plans

401(k) Match

Volunteer time off

Disability insurance

Life and Travel insurance

Tuition Reimbursement Options

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Length of Service Awards

Job summary

Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. seeks an experienced Counsel, Real Estate to support the company on leasing, acquisition, disposition, and related real estate activities across the United States and Canada.

You will draft and negotiate leases, manage real estate transactions, and advise management on risk and strategy. The role requires a JD with admission to practice in the US, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to coordinate with internal teams and outside counsel.

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school and bar admission in any US state.
• Experience drafting and negotiating real estate leases and related contracts.
• Proficiency with MS Office and SharePoint; ability to use AI to streamline processes.
• Strong research, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Able to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, modify and negotiate LOIs, leases, subleases, amendments, and related documents with national landlords and developers.
• Coordinate real estate transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, and portfolio management for US/Canada.
• Advise management on risks and business implications of real estate matters and enforce compliance.
• Manage outside counsel, budgets, and discovery, and coordinate with internal teams on litigation matters.
• Maintain corporate documents, policies, and data relevant to legal/compliance.

Skills

Real estate law

Lease drafting

Contract negotiation

AI tools

Legal research

Communication

Multi-tasking

Confidentiality

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

SharePoint

Job description

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and General Counsel, the Counsel, Real Estate will provide legal, business, and strategic support to the Company on real estate and business matters, including leasing, real property acquisition and disposition, lease term renewals, facilities management, construction, land use, governmental restraints and requirements, and special projects and initiatives.

Position Responsibilities

• Draft, review, modify and negotiate letters of intent; build‑to‑suit and retrofit leases; sublease agreements; lease and sublease amendments; guaranty agreements; license agreements; subordination agreements; easements; declarations and restrictions; operation and maintenance agreements; purchase and sale contracts; estoppels; design, construction and design‑build agreements; other agreements and documents with national and regional developers and landlords as required to implement, execute and manage the Company’s national real estate strategy for store expansion and for the management and administration of the Company’s estate portfolio in the US and Canada.
• Review and assess legal and business effects and risks through review and analysis of title documents, surveys, environmental reports and zoning letters and proposing and implementing solutions for acceptable risks. Coordinate lease, acquisition, disposition, and other real estate transactions, including (a) advising management with respect to the risks of a transaction; (b) identifying and analyzing the relevant issues; (c) engaging and coordinating business representatives; (d) negotiating consensus; and (e) drafting appropriate documentation.
• Provide legal and business advice and recommendations to management regarding a variety of legal issues including property acquisition, lease administration and enforcement issues, recoveries, breach of contract, tenant rights, construction and development matters, zoning, condemnation, bankruptcy, and litigation management.
• Manage and identify outside counsel on various matters in their representation of the Company and engage outside counsel for advice and counsel regarding environmental, ADA, litigation and other matters, including review, coordination and implementation of litigation budgets, document filings, gathering of due diligence, informing counsel regarding Company history and culture, strategic review and management, coordination of discovery responses, witness identification and preparation, and informing senior management of litigation status.
• Maintain documents, forms and policies, including annual reviews. Organize and manage corporate information databases relating to legal and compliance matters.
• Project management of various initiatives as directed by the General Counsel.
• All other duties assigned by the General Counsel.

Qualifications & Skills

• 7+ years of relevant real estate legal experience at a law firm or in‑house legal department. JD from an ABA accredited school and active admittance to practice in any state in the US.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating real estate leases and other contracts.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
• Proficient in the use of AI to streamline processes and optimize efficiency.
• Ability to research legal and business issues.
• Excellent verbal, written, analytical, problem‑solving and organizational skills required to complete numerous projects concurrently. Ability to make decisions and articulate reasoning. Self‑motivated, detail‑oriented and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Business experience working in a fast‑paced environment that requires multi‑tasking, prioritizing and flexibility.
• Outstanding people skills.
• Ability to translate legal verbiage into common understandable terms for the internal clients, external partners and suppliers.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Physical Demands

Must be able to bend, squat, crouch and/or reach and lift up to 25 pounds or more, as required by the job. Some Sunbelt jobs may require driving for long periods of time, loading and unloading heavy equipment, performing work in extreme weather conditions including rain, wind, or excessive temperatures and/or night and weekend work. All duties must be performed according to Sunbelt’s safety policies and guidelines. Reasonable accommodations may be made to comply with ADA/ADAAA.

Sunbelt Rentals is an Equal Opportunity Employer — Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran and any other protected ground.

Compensation and Benefits

Base Pay Range: $167,280.00 - 230,010.00. Starting rate of pay may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience. Please visit https://www.sunbeltrentals.com/careers/ for more information on our benefits and to join our Talent Network.

Sunbelt also provides a comprehensive benefits package to its full‑time employees. This package includes:

• Health, Dental and Vision plans
• 401(k) Match
• Volunteer time off
• Short‑term and long‑term disability
• Accident, Life and Travel insurance, as well as flexible spending
• Tuition Reimbursement Options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Length of Service Awards

You will become eligible for benefits on the first of the month following 30 days from your start date.

Flex Time for Leaders

At Sunbelt Rentals our leaders including District Managers and above enjoy the freedom of Flex Time. It is not about tracking hours, it is about delivering great work and having the flexibility to recharge when you need it. Flex Time can be used for vacation, personal needs, or time covered by paid sick or safe leave laws. It is a simple way to balance life while keeping our business goals moving forward.

Sunbelt Rentals supports service members. Veterans encouraged to apply.