General Counsel

Association of the Bar City of New York; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Housing Partnership Development Corporation (HPDC) seeks an experienced General Counsel to serve as the in‑house attorney overseeing affordable housing development, corporate governance, litigation, asset management, and operations. The role partners with leadership and the Board to guide strategic direction and handle complex transactions from formation through closing.

The position is hybrid, requiring three days in the New York City office, with remaining days eligible for remote work, and

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and NY bar admission.
• 8+ years of relevant legal experience, especially in affordable housing, real estate development, and corporate law.
• Experience representing developers, nonprofits, or real estate entities preferred.
• Strong ability to manage multiple complex matters and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead development transactions from structuring through closing.
• Form and maintain project-level entities (HDFCs) and review governance documents.
• Draft opinions, loan documents, and due diligence materials.
• Coordinate with lenders, investors, developers, and title companies.
• Manage closings and ensure proper execution of documents.
• Oversee litigation and coordinate with outside counsel.
• Advise the Board and management on governance, fiduciary duties, and compliance.
• Serve as Corporate Secretary and maintain corporate records.

Skills

Legal expertise

Negotiation

Strategic advising

Litigation management

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Admission to New York State Bar

Job description

Company: Housing Partnership Development Corporation (HPDC)

Position: General Counsel

Location: New York, NY

Schedule: Hybrid – three (3) days per week in the office

Position Summary

Housing Partnership Development Corporation (“HPDC”) is seeking an experienced General Counsel to serve as the organization’s in‑house attorney and provide comprehensive legal counsel across its affordable housing development, corporate governance, litigation, asset management, and operational activities. The General Counsel will serve as a strategic legal advisor to HPDC’s leadership, Board of Directors, and affiliated entities and will have primary responsibility for all legal matters affecting the organization and its portfolio of affordable housing projects. The position offers a unique opportunity to work closely with development, finance, asset management, homeownership, and executive teams while managing sophisticated affordable housing transactions from formation through closing and throughout the life cycle of HPDC’s projects and entities. The General Counsel acts as a thought partner for the CEO, helping to drive strategic direction and develop new programs. The successful candidate will have strong transactional, corporate, and litigation management experience, excellent drafting and negotiation skills, and a working knowledge of affordable housing development and real‑estate finance. The General Counsel oversees a team of three paralegals.

Key Responsibilities

Affordable Housing Development & Real Estate Transactions

• Serve as lead counsel on affordable housing development transactions from initial structuring through closing.
• Form and maintain housing development fund companies (HDFCs) and other project‑specific entities.
• Draft and review organizational and authorization documents, including certificates of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreements, partnership agreements, related entity documents, corporate and project‑level resolutions, certificates, and consents.
• Draft and deliver legal opinion letters in connection with affordable housing transactions and financings.
• Review and negotiate loan documents, including construction and permanent loan documents, security instruments, regulatory agreements, and related financing documents.
• Review title commitments, title policies, surveys, zoning materials, and other due diligence materials and resolve issues as necessary.
• Coordinate with lenders, investors, developers, outside counsel, title companies, governmental agencies, and other transaction participants.
• Manage and facilitate affordable housing project closings, including coordinating legal closing requirements and ensuring all organizational and transactional documents are properly executed and delivered.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Manage HPDC’s litigation and dispute‑resolution matters as the organization’s primary legal point of contact, including overseeing outside litigation counsel’s work.
• Provide strategic advice to management regarding litigation risk, settlement considerations, and dispute resolution.
• Maintain oversight of all pending and potential litigation and ensure that appropriate reporting and internal documentation are maintained.
• Coordinate with insurance carriers and claims representatives, as appropriate, in connection with litigation and other claims.

Corporate Governance & Entity Management

• Serve as Corporate Secretary to HPDC’s Board of Directors as well as the HDFC’s and provide legal guidance concerning corporate governance matters.
• Prepare Board and committee meeting packages, agendas, resolutions, consents, supporting materials, and meeting minutes.
• Conduct and coordinate annual meetings of HPDC and its affiliated entities.
• Maintain corporate records, organizational documents, resolutions, minutes, and other governance materials for HPDC and its affiliated entities.
• Advise management and the Board regarding corporate governance, fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, and other organizational matters.
• Ensure that HPDC entities remain in good standing and comply with applicable corporate and organizational requirements.

Contracts & General Corporate Matters

• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a broad range of agreements relating to HPDC’s operations and business activities.
• Draft and negotiate third‑party vendor and service‑provider contracts, licenses, leases, consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other commercial agreements.
• Provide day‑to‑day legal advice to management and staff regarding contractual, operational, and business matters.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, legal forms, and standard organizational documents.
• Identify legal risks and provide practical, business‑oriented recommendations to senior management.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar.
• 8+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably including significant experience in affordable housing, real estate development, real estate finance, corporate law, and/or litigation.
• Experience representing affordable housing developers, HDFCs, nonprofits, or other real estate entities strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience handling real estate transactions and facilitating closings.
• Experience managing litigation matters and outside litigation counsel, including experience overseeing depositions and discovery.
• Strong knowledge of corporate governance and entity formation and maintenance.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple complex matters and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with executives, Board members, development professionals, lenders, investors, outside counsel, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound legal judgment and provide practical, solution‑oriented advice in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience serving as corporate secretary or advising a Board of Directors is preferred.

Key Attributes

The ideal candidate is a practical, highly organized, proactive, and business‑minded legal advisor who is comfortable operating independently as the organization’s sole attorney. The General Counsel must be able to balance sophisticated transactional work, litigation management, corporate governance, and day‑to‑day operational matters; exercise independent judgment; and effectively translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice for non‑lawyers. This role is particularly well suited to an attorney who enjoys ownership of matters from beginning to end, is comfortable managing outside counsel when specialized expertise is required, and wants to work closely with an organization’s leadership and development professionals while making a direct contribution to the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The Housing Partnership seeks a candidate who is creative and who will work with the CEO and other leadership to focus on mission and develop new initiatives.

Compensation and Work Schedule

The anticipated annual compensation range for this position is $185,000–$240,000, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and responsibilities.

This is a hybrid position, with an expectation that the General Counsel will work from HPDC’s New York City office three (3) days per week, with the remaining workdays eligible for remote work in accordance with HPDC’s hybrid work policies.