General Counsel

ACC - Association of Corporate Counsel; Florida; On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

The General Counsel at ACC - Association of Corporate Counsel partners with the President and executive team to steer legal strategy for real estate acquisitions, development, and financing with a focus on structuring, negotiating, and documenting complex transactions.

The role oversees employment and labor matters across a multi-entity hospitality, gaming, and development portfolio, manages outside counsel, protects the company from legal and regulatory risk, and guides governance and risk

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active Florida Bar membership or eligibility.
• 12+ years of legal experience in real estate/ corporate.
• Experience structuring real estate financing transactions.
• Strong drafting skills for complex documents.
• Experience managing outside counsel and budgets.
• Preferred: construction law, luxury hospitality, gaming licensing.

Responsibilities

• Lead acquisitions, dispositions, JVs, and development projects from term sheet to closing.
• Structure and document construction loans, mezzanine debt, and equity.
• Draft purchase agreements, loan agreements, and leases.
• Oversee due diligence, title review, and closing documentation.
• Manage lender, investor, and partner relationships on legal matters.
• Draft construction contracts and development agreements; advise on risk.
• Guide employment law compliance, investigations, and settlements.
• Maintain corporate records and governance; review contracts.
• Oversee litigation strategy and manage outside counsel; lead the legal function.

Skills

Legal strategy

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Budget management

Education

Juris Doctor

Florida Bar

Tools

Outside counsel management

Job description

Position Summary:

The General Counsel is a business partner to the President and executive team. Reporting to the President, this role leads legal strategy for real estate acquisitions, development, and financing, with a strong emphasis on structuring, negotiating, and documenting complex transactions.

The General Counsel also oversees employment and labor matters across a multi-entity hospitality, gaming, and development portfolio, manages outside counsel, and protects the company from legal, regulatory, and contractual risk.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Real Estate Transactions & Financing

• Lead the legal side of acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and development pro-jects from term sheet through closing.
• Structure, negotiate, and document construction loans, acquisition financing, mezzanine and preferred equity, refinancings, and loan modifications.
• Draft and negotiate purchase and sale agreements, loan agreements, guaranties, inter-creditor agreements, JV and operating agreements, and ground and commercial leases.
• Oversee due diligence, title and survey review, zoning and entitlements, and closing documentation.
• Manage lender, investor, and partner relationships on legal matters, including compliance with loan covenants and reporting requirements.

Development & Construction

• Draft and negotiate construction contracts, architect and design agreements, development agreements, and consultant contracts.
• Advise on construction risk, change orders, payment disputes, liens, bonding, insurance, and warranty claims.
• Support the in-house construction company on contract administration, subcontractor agreements, and dispute resolution.
• Coordinate with municipalities and regulators on permitting, licensing, and land-use matters.

Employment & Labor

• Advise Human Resources and leadership on employment law compliance, including wage and hour, leave, discrimination, harassment, and accommodation.
• Guide investigations, terminations, severance and separation agreements, and restrictive covenants.
• Manage employment-related claims, agency charges, and litigation with outside counsel.
• Review and update employee handbooks, policies, and employment agreements across all entities.
• Advise on WARN Act notices, reductions in force, and other workforce actions.

Corporate, Governance & Risk

• Maintain corporate records and entity structures across the portfolio; support formation of new project entities.
• Draft and review commercial contracts, vendor agreements, NDAs, and hospitality management agreements.
• Identify legal and regulatory risks, including gaming and hospitality licensing, and recommend practical solutions.

Legal Department Leadership

• Oversee litigation strategy and manage outside counsel, budgets, and results.
• Build and lead the legal function, including any future legal staff.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to ownership and senior leadership on legal matters affecting the business.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in the Florida Bar, or eligibility and willingness to obtain it (including Authorized House Counsel certification).
• 12+ years of legal experience, with significant time at a top-tier law firm and/or in-house with a real estate developer, owner, or investor.
• Deep experience structuring, negotiating, and documenting real estate financing trans-actions, including construction and acquisition loans, mezzanine debt, and joint venture equity.
• Strong drafting skills and command of complex transaction documentation from term sheet through closing.
• Working knowledge of employment and labor law and experience advising management on workforce matters.
• Proven ability to manage outside counsel and legal budgets.

Preferred

• Construction law experience, including AIA and ConsensusDocs contracts, construction claims, and lien matters.
• Experience with luxury hospitality, mixed-use, or condominium development projects.
• Exposure to gaming, hospitality, or liquor licensing and regulatory compliance.
• Prior experience as General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel of a privately held company.
• Admission in Nevada or other states where the company operates.

Key Competencies

• Commercial judgment: practical, deal-focused advice that moves transactions forward while managing risk.
• Executive presence and clear, direct communication with ownership and senior leadership.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with multiple active projects and tight deadlines.
• Discretion and integrity when handling highly confidential business and personnel matters.