In-House Real Estate Counsel — Transactions & Development

Lennar; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 219,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with company **

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

Lennar is seeking a seasoned Director, Assistant General Counsel, Real Estate to guide complex land and development transactions across divisions. The role requires deep real estate expertise and the ability to partner with Land Acquisition, Development, Finance, and Operations teams.

You will draft and negotiate purchase agreements, resolve title and entitlement issues, and advise leadership on risk-balanced strategies to move projects to closing in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 10-15 years of legal experience, with substantial experience in real estate transactions, land acquisition, land development, homebuilding, commercial real estate, construction, or related practice.
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating acquisition agreements and related documents, and advising on title, survey, diligence, entitlement, closing, and development issues.
• Ability to provide clear, practical, risk-balanced advice to business leaders and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience managing outside counsel and legal spend, and partnering with business teams to drive matters to resolution.
• Prior in-house experience with a homebuilder, developer, land bank, title company, or real estate owner/operator is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, timely, and business-oriented legal advice to Division and regional leadership on land acquisition, land banking, land development, title, entitlement, construction, and related real estate matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage purchase and sale agreements, amendments, easements, access agreements, reimbursement agreements, cost-sharing agreements, development-related agreements, escrow arrangements, and other transaction documents through closing and post-closing follow-up.
• Support all phases of the transaction lifecycle, including letters of intent, due diligence, title and survey review, objection and cure strategy, zoning and entitlement issues, internal approvals, closing coordination, and post-closing obligations.
• Partner closely with Land Acquisition, Land Development, Finance, Operations, Risk, Lennar Title, and other internal teams to identify issues early, align legal and business strategy, and keep transactions moving efficiently.
• Review and advise on title commitments, surveys, plats, restrictive covenants, HOA/CC&R documents, development agreements, utility matters, access and easement issues, and other property-related diligence materials, providing clear guidance on risk, closing conditions, and next steps.
• Manage outside counsel on selected matters, including setting scope, reviewing work product, driving timely execution, and maintaining cost discipline.
• Prepare, coordinate, and support legal and internal approval packages, committee submissions, closing checklists, signature processes, dispute strategy, and other documentation necessary to meet company requirements and transaction deadlines.
• Help develop and improve forms, playbooks, training, and legal processes that promote consistency, efficiency, and sound risk management across transactions and development activities.

Skills

Negotiation

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Lennar is seeking a seasoned Director, Assistant General Counsel, Real Estate to guide complex land and development transactions across divisions. The role requires deep real estate expertise and the ability to partner with Land Acquisition, Development, Finance, and Operations teams.

You will draft and negotiate purchase agreements, resolve title and entitlement issues, and advise leadership on risk-balanced strategies to move projects to closing in a fast-paced environment.