Senior Associate General Counsel

Confidential; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential, a leading real estate owner and operator, seeks a Senior Associate General Counsel to join its in-house team, focusing on leasing and operations. The role supports asset management, leasing, and development teams in a fast-paced environment with landlord-side retail transactions.

You will negotiate and draft high-volume retail leases, REAs, amendments, and related agreements, provide practical legal guidance, ensure governance compliance, and collaborate with stakeholders at all

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and active U.S. license to practice law.
• 8+ years of substantive transactional real estate experience with emphasis on landlord-side retail leasing.
• Experience negotiating complex retail leases, REAs, and related agreements.
• Experience supporting shopping centers, retail portfolios, or mixed-use assets.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate, draft, and review a high volume of landlord-side retail real estate agreements.
• Assist with shopping center, big-box retail, and office leases and subleases.
• Draft amendments, terminations, and construction exhibits.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance on proposed transactions.
• Ensure transactions comply with internal approvals and governance standards.
• Collaborate with asset management, leasing, and development teams.

Skills

Negotiation

Real estate law

Stakeholder management

Deal-driven environment

Legal advisory

Education

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school

Job description

A leading real estate owner and operator with a large U.S. property management portfolio is seeking a Senior Associate General Counsel to join its in-house legal team. This role sits within a leasing and operations-focused legal function and plays a critical leadership role supporting the company’s real estate business.

The position advises internal business partners on complex landlord-side leasing and operational matters and is ideal for a senior real estate attorney who enjoys working closely with asset management, leasing, and development teams in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Negotiate, draft, and review a high volume of landlord-side retail real estate agreements, including:
• Shopping center and big-box retail leases
• Office leases and subleases
• Lease amendments, terminations, and construction exhibits
• Prepare and analyze related real estate documentation, including:
• Letters of intent
• Easement and license agreements
• Reciprocal easement and access agreements (REAs)
• Memoranda of lease, exclusives, waivers, and lien releases
• Title reports and related property documentation
• Advise on legal and contractual issues impacting retail tenants’ use and operation of shopping centers.
• Review existing leases, anchor agreements, and REAs in connection with development and redevelopment initiatives.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance on proposed transactions and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure transactions and agreements comply with internal approval requirements and governance standards.
• Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external counterparties through clear communication and sound judgment.
• Operate with a high degree of independence while collaborating effectively within the legal team.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 8 years of substantive transactional real estate legal experience, with a strong emphasis on landlord-side retail leasing.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex retail leases, REAs, and related agreements.
• Experience supporting shopping centers, retail portfolios, or mixed-use assets strongly preferred.
• Strong client service mindset with the ability to provide clear, practical legal advice.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with comfort engaging stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a dynamic, deal-driven environment.