General Counsel

Weston Inc.; Warrensville Heights (OH); On-site; USD 200,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Weston, Inc. is seeking a General Counsel to act as a strategic advisor to ownership and executive leadership, guiding the legal framework across the company’s commercial real estate portfolio.

The role focuses on transactions, governance, and risk management while enabling sound business decisions in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment. The GC will lead outside counsel, develop policies, and manage complex financings, development, and leasing activities, ensuring compliance and

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and active Ohio license.
• Licensed to practice in the State of Ohio.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in commercial real estate transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, development, financing, and leasing.
• Experience managing outside counsel and leading corporate legal initiatives.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and advisory skills with a business-focused approach.
• Ability to lead a legal department and partner with executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Serve as principal legal advisor to ownership and executive leadership.
• Lead all aspects of CRE transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, development, financing, and leasing.
• Oversee corporate governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Manage outside counsel, budgets, and strategic legal initiatives.
• Develop policies, templates, and processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Support leadership with contracts, disputes, and strategic alliances.

Skills

Strategic counsel

CRE transactions

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Outside counsel mgmt

Governance

Team leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role

The General Counsel serves as a trusted strategic advisor to ownership and executive leadership, providing legal leadership across all aspects of the Company's commercial real estate business, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing, development, construction, leasing, asset management, operations, corporate governance, litigation, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.

JOB TITLE: General Counsel

DEPARTMENT: Corporate Services

REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer

STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried

About The Role

The General Counsel serves as a trusted strategic advisor to ownership and executive leadership, providing legal leadership across all aspects of the Company's commercial real estate business, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing, development, construction, leasing, asset management, operations, corporate governance, litigation, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management. This role develops legal strategies that support the Company's long-term objectives while protecting its assets, reputation, and stakeholders. The General Counsel manages outside counsel, establishes legal policies and procedures, oversees complex transactions, and partners with leadership to enable sound business decisions. The ideal candidate combines exceptional legal judgment with strong commercial acumen and thrives in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.

What You Will Do

Executive Leadership & Strategic Counsel

• Serve as principal legal advisor to ownership and executive leadership.
• Provide practical, business-focused guidance that supports informed decision-making.
• Develop legal strategies that balance business objectives with risk management.
• Promote a culture of ethics, integrity, compliance, and sound corporate governance.

Real Estate Transactions

• Lead all legal aspects of commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, developments, and redevelopments.
• Structure, draft, negotiate, and close purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, development agreements, and related documents.
• Review and provide legal analysis regarding title commitments, surveys, easements, restrictive covenants, access issues, and closing documentation.
• Complete transaction closings with lenders, title companies, surveyors, brokers, consultants, and outside counsel.

Financing & Capital Markets

• Lead legal negotiations for construction loans, permanent financing, refinancing, credit facilities, and other debt transactions.
• Negotiate commitment letters, term sheets, loan documents, guaranties, security agreements, and related financing documents.
• Support and complete 1031 exchanges, tax credit financing, governmental incentives, economic development programs, and other tax-efficient transaction structures

Development & Construction

• Provide legal support throughout the development lifecycle from land acquisition through project completion.
• Direct development agreements, construction contracts, architect and engineering agreements, consultant agreements, and professional service contracts.
• Advise on land use, zoning, entitlement, permitting, utility agreements, infrastructure, environmental compliance, and governmental approvals.
• Manage legal issues relating to mechanics' liens, construction disputes, orders, payment disputes, warranties, and contractor claims.
• Review and negotiate easements, rights-of-way, access agreements, and utility agreements.

Leasing & Property Operations

• Direct, draft, negotiate, and administer commercial lease agreements, amendments, renewals, expansions, assignments, estoppels, SNDA agreements, and related leasing documents.
• Advise leasing, property management, and asset management teams on tenant matters, lease interpretation, enforcement, defaults, and landlord-tenant disputes.

Corporate Governance & Legal Operations

• Develop policies, procedures, templates, and contract standards to reduce legal and operational risk.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments, industry trends, emerging technologies, and evolving best practices affecting commercial real estate and corporate legal operations.
• Improve legal workflows through technology, document automation, contract lifecycle management, and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence while maintaining confidentiality, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Drive overall legal costs down while improving efficiency and consistency.

Joint Ventures & Business Transactions

• Structure, negotiate, and document joint ventures, operating agreements, partnership agreements, and strategic alliances.
• Assist with partnership governance, capital contributions, distributions, transfers, and exit strategies.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Oversee litigation, arbitration, mediation, collections, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and other disputes.
• Manage outside counsel, litigation strategy, legal budgets, invoices, and spend.
• Pursue practical and cost-effective dispute resolution whenever appropriate.

Leadership & Department Management

• Manage departmental priorities, workload, staffing, budgets, and outside legal resources.
• Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and operational metrics.
• Build collaborative relationships across acquisitions, development, construction, finance, accounting, leasing, asset management, property management, and executive leadership.
• Cultivate strong relationships with lenders, consultants, title companies, and external legal partners.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives.
• Exceptional commercial real estate transactional expertise.
• Advanced contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Strong knowledge of commercial lending and structured finance.
• Thorough understanding of construction and development law is preferred.
• Experience with corporate governance, entity management, and partnership structures.
• Working knowledge of environmental law, zoning, land use, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• High degree of emotional intelligence, integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and legal technology platforms.
• Demonstrated interest in emerging legal technologies, document automation, contract lifecycle management systems, and artificial intelligence applications within the legal profession.

Education And Experience

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Ohio.
• Ohio Notary Public certification, or ability to obtain within a reasonable period after hire.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible legal experience.
• Significant experience in commercial real estate transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, development, financing, and leasing.
• Experience managing outside counsel and complex legal matters.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• This role primarily operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Must be able to lift, carry, or push/pull up to (15) pounds.
• This is a full-time position. Days of work are Monday through Friday. This position may require longer hours and occasional weekend work as job duties demand.

At Weston, Inc., we foster a dynamic and collaborative work environment where everyone is valued and respected. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees. Discrimination or harassment based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic is strictly prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.

This extends to all aspects of employment, including hiring, recruitment, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.