Senior Counsel, Real Estate Development & Planning

Justia, Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) seeks a Senior Counsel, Real Estate Development & Planning, for its Legal Department at 2 Broadway, New York, NY. This full-time position reports to the Deputy General Counsel in Real Estate Transactions and Operations and offers telework one day per week.

Responsibilities include representing the MTA in transactions, client counseling, compliance, negotiations, risk management, and related litigation in specified divisions.

Responsibilities

• Provide superior legal representation and counsel to the MTA on complex matters and negotiations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and related documentation.
• Advise on regulatory compliance, risk management, and client counseling.

Job description

Description

Position at MTA Headquarters

JOB TITLE: Senior Counsel, Real Estate Development & Planning

DEPT/DIV: Legal

SUPERVISOR: Deputy General Counsel in Real Estate Transactions and Operations

WORK LOCATION: 2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

HOURS OF WORK: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm (7.5 hours/day, or as required)

FULL/PART-TIME: FULL

SLARY RANGE: $160,138 - $186,770

DEADLINE: Until filled

This position is eligible for telework, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Opening

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Job Summary

The Senior Counsel, Transactions position reports to a Deputy General Counsel or Assistant Deputy General Counsel in a Transactions Division in the consolidated MTA Legal Department. The current Transactions Divisions are the: 1) Condemnation Division, 2) Environmental Division, 3) Finance Division, 4) Procurement and Contracts Division, 5) Real Estate Development Division, 6) Real Estate Transactions and Operations Division, and 7) Special Projects Division.

Depending on the needs of the Legal Department and the Division, the duties of the Senior Counsel include representing the MTA and its operating agencies in transactions (contracts, agreements, and associated documentation), client counseling, compliance, negotiations, dispute resolution, risk management, and (for Environmental & Condemnation Divisions) litigation matters which are of increasing complexity and involve increasing levels of responsibility and independence. The duties of the Senior Counsel also include providing legal counsel on statutory, regulatory, agency policy, and other matters that pertain to or impact the operations and functions of the MTA and its affiliates and subsidiaries.

Senior Counsel – Levels I, II, and III

There are three levels of Senior Counsel positions within the Legal Department, each with progressively greater responsibilities. Depending on the level, responsibilities include:

• Level I:
  • Provide superior legal representation and counsel to the MTA on complex assigned Matters with light supervision from the Deputy General Counsel or direct supervisor.
  • Provide representation in Matters that include the following: legal support for transactions, compliance, and other business activities, reviewing and drafting contracts and agreements, use of eminent domain power, environmental compliance matters, client counseling, due diligence and compliance, deal structuring, contract and agreement drafting and review, negotiations, dispute resolution, preparation of authorizing documentation, advocacy, and risk management.
  • Handle fast-paced, moderately complex to complex negotiations and/or with multiple counterparties with skill and develop creative strategies to resolve barriers to deal closing while not sacrificing legal and business objectives.
  • Review highly complex, high-value, or special risk transactional and compliance matters with a nuanced understanding and ability to foresee, troubleshoot, and elevate unintended impact on legal and business rights and obligations, and provide alternatives for mitigation.
  • Draft moderately complex to complex contracts and deals with moderate to complex compliance matters in an organized and thorough fashion, with high legal technical drafting skills that effectively mitigate risks.
  • Conduct thorough reviews of complex documents, including business and financial documents, and provide strategic advice to the client based on findings, including support for proper editing to reflect actual or intended legal and business interests.
  • Handle dispute resolution discussions of moderate to high complexity while effectively spotting and navigating ethical issues.
  • Present legal advice to upper management in a cogent and concise manner.
  • At times, supervise the work of other attorneys on Matters requiring multiple lawyers or on Matters assigned to less experienced attorneys.
  • Serve as primary liaison on Matters assigned to outside counsel, including reviewing draft written materials.
  • Provide in-house legal counsel on non-litigation Matters regarding complex and sophisticated issues.
  • Conduct legal review of external and internal client communication.
  • Present legal advice to upper management in a cogent and concise manner.
  • Prepare comments on proposed legislation and regulations.
• Level II:
  • Provide superior legal representation and counsel to the MTA on highly complex assigned Matters with minimal supervision from the Deputy General Counsel or direct supervisor, including Matters of high sensitivity or high financial or policy exposure.
  • Handle fast-paced and complex negotiations practically and responsibly.
  • Review highly complex contracts and agreements that include multifaceted components or multiple parties and/or are