Leasing Counsel

The Howard Hughes Corporation; The Woodlands (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan

Generous PTO

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Voluntary benefits

Student loan assistance

Lifelong learning stipends

Job summary

Howard Hughes Communities, the real estate platform of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc., seeks a Leasing Counsel in The Woodlands, TX. You will own the regional leasing program across office, retail, and ground leases, partnering with leasing agents, property managers, and development teams to close deals.

Ideal candidates have 4+ years of hands-on commercial leasing experience, strong negotiation and leadership skills, and the ability to mentor junior attorneys in a fast-paced, in-house environment.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school and Texas bar admission.
• 4+ years of direct commercial leasing experience.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating office, retail, and ground leases.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience supervising or mentoring paralegals or junior attorneys is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate leases and related documents for office, retail, and ground leases.
• Provide business-minded legal advice on leasing terms and tenant improvements.
• Lead lease negotiations from markup to execution.
• Manage and improve leasing documents and forms.
• Coordinate with internal teams to support leasing activity in the Houston region.
• Supervise paralegals and junior attorneys as appropriate.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Organization

Leadership

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Market knowledge

Attention to detail

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Dedicated to innovative placemaking, Howard Hughes Communities is the real estate platform of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HHH) and is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. Building on that foundation, we foster a culture of curiosity that empowers every employee to shape their own story within our organization.

About the Role

The Leasing Counsel will report directly to the Deputy General Counsel, Houston Region and will serve as the primary leasing attorney supporting Howard Hughes' master planned communities in The Woodlands and Bridgeland. This attorney will own the legal leasing program in the region across the company's office, retail, and ground lease portfolio, partnering directly with leasing agents, property managers, and development teams to get deals done. This role is ideal for a 4+ year attorney with hands‑on commercial leasing experience who is ready to run a leasing practice, shape deal strategy, and grow as a key member of an in‑house legal team at one of the nation's premier real estate companies.

This position is located in The Woodlands, Texas.

What You Will Do

• Draft, review, and negotiate office leases, retail leases, ground leases, letters of intent, and related ancillary documents for both single‑use and multi‑use properties.

• Provide practical, business‑minded legal advice on landlord‑side leasing matters, including tenant improvement allowances, co‑tenancy provisions, percentage rent structures, CAM reconciliation, exclusivity clauses, and other key deal terms.

• Lead lease negotiations from initial markup through execution, balancing legal risk with business objectives and helping internal partners move transactions forward efficiently.

• Manage and improve the leasing document suite, including form leases, amendments, construction work letters, commission agreements, SNDAs, estoppels, and related documents.

• Partner closely with leasing agents, property managers, development teams, and other internal stakeholders to support office, retail, and ground lease activity across the Houston region portfolio.

• Coordinate internal efforts to ensure accurate business terms, consistent deal execution, and adherence to negotiated obligations.

• Analyze lease language and existing agreements to support operational decision‑making, enforcement strategies, and portfolio management.

• Supervise, train, and mentor paralegals and less experienced leasing attorneys, as appropriate.

• Help streamline leasing workflows and support broader legal and business initiatives as needed.

About You

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school; licensed to practice in Texas.

• 4+ years of direct commercial leasing experience, whether in‑house or at a firm with a recognized real estate practice.

• Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating office, retail, and ground leases, letters of intent, and related leasing documents.

• Working knowledge of landlord‑side leasing issues, including tenant improvement allowances, co‑tenancy, percentage rent, CAM, and exclusivity provisions.

• Understanding of market leasing terms and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.

• Strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple active deals and guide business partners clearly.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and comfort working in legal management and document systems.

• Experience supervising or mentoring paralegals and junior leasing attorneys is preferred.

• Exposure to leasing in a master planned community, town center, or large‑scale mixed‑use environment is preferred.

• Experience with ground leases, including build‑to‑suit and pad site structures, is preferred.

• Familiarity with reciprocal easement agreements, declarations of covenants, and similar shared‑use property frameworks is preferred.

• In‑house experience at a developer, REIT, or institutional landlord, and familiarity with Texas landlord‑tenant and property law considerations, are preferred.

• Confident, collaborative, and business‑minded, with the ability to lead the leasing legal function, build strong internal relationships, and move deals forward efficiently.

• Detail‑oriented, adaptable, and genuinely enthusiastic about commercial real estate and community building.

Benefits Built for You

At Howard Hughes Communities, we offer competitive, market‑based compensation that rewards performance and supports career growth. Our comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees at every stage of their career, is focused on holistic wellness‑social, emotional, financial, and physical.

• Competitive 401k plan

• Generous PTO policy

• Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Voluntary benefits for unexpected life events

• Student loan assistance and stipends to assist with lifelong learning

About Howard Hughes Communities

Howard Hughes Communities develops, owns, and operates the nation's premier large‑scale master planned communities and mixed‑use developments. Our award‑winning portfolio includes The Woodlands, Bridgeland, andThe Woodlands Hillsin Greater Houston; SummerlininLas Vegas; Teravalis inGreater Phoenix; Ward VillageinHonolulu; and Merriweather District inColumbia, Maryland. Strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, we offer one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Learn more atcommunities.howardhughes.com.