In house Legal Counsel

Htprof; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

Htprof is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to manage contracts, insurance oversight, and risk for an architecture-focused practice in New York City. The role supports executives and design teams, aligning projects with licensing laws and industry risk practices.

The candidate will mitigate design-liability risk, protect intellectual property, and ensure compliance across states, including FF&E tax considerations.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar license in good standing.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate owner-architect agreements and related contracts.
• Manage and oversee the firm's insurance portfolio (liability, EPLI, etc.).
• Identify and resolve design liability, construction disputes, and delay claims.
• Protect proprietary designs and digital assets via IP agreements (NDAs, copyrights, trademarks).
• Ensure compliance with licensing, taxes, and multi-state requirements for designers and architects.

Skills

Contract management

Insurance oversight

Risk mitigation

Intellectual property

Compliance & licensing

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Bar admission

Job description

Legal Counsel / In-House Full Time or Consulting Part Time

4 to 7 Years Experience

Our client, a leading architecture firm in New York City, is seeking a detail-oriented Legal Counsel, to manage their legal operations and professional insurance sector. Candidates will be charged with reviewing complex commercial contracts, mitigating design-liability risks, and managing their comprehensive insurance portfolio while acting as a strategic advisor to their executive and design teams, ensuring all projects align with state licensing laws, building regulations, and risk-management best practices.

Responsibilities:

• Contract Management: Draft, review, and negotiate owner-architect agreements (including AIA Contract Documents), interior design purchasing agreements, consultant contracts, and vendor terms.
• Insurance Oversight: Manage the firm's insurance portfolio, including Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions), Commercial General Liability, and Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI).
• Risk Mitigation: Identify and resolve potential design liability issues, construction administration disputes, and project delay claims before they escalation.
• Intellectual Property: Protect the firm’s proprietary designs, custom furniture concepts, and digital assets through copyright, trademark, and robust non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
• Compliance & Licensing: Monitor corporate compliance, sales tax obligations on FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment), and multi-state professional licensing requirements for our designers and architects.

Required Experience:

• Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Bar Admission: Active member in good standing with the State Bar Association.
• Experience: 4 to 7 years of legal experience, ideally splitting time between a law firm and an inhouse setting specializing in construction law, real estate development, or design-professional liability.
• Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of the architectural/interior design lifecycle, procurement risks, mechanics' liens, and standard industry insurance structures.

Annual Salary Range*: In-House Full Time $135K+ / option for Part Time at an hourly rate to be determined

Schedule: Full Time 4 days in office + 1 remote day / option for Part Time consulting

Location: New York Office

*Compensation is based on experience, qualifications, and skill set.