Senior Counsel, Real Estate Operations & Compliance

Cortland; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cortland is seeking a Counsel, Operations in Atlanta to serve as the senior legal advisor for the residential portfolio, advising on resident matters, property management, compliance, and risk management. You will partner with Operations leadership to protect the organization, support community performance, oversee outside counsel, and develop scalable processes for cross-state operations.

Role requires strong leadership, the ability to translate complex regulations into actionable guidance, and

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active Georgia Bar membership or eligibility.
• 7+ years of legal experience supporting multifamily housing or residential real estate.
• 2+ years in-house counsel experience preferred.
• Expertise in landlord-tenant law, Fair Housing, ADA accommodations, lease enforcement, evictions, collections, resident disputes, and premises liability.
• Experience managing litigation, regulatory matters, claims, investigations, and dispute resolution.
• In-house counsel experience within a multifamily owner/operator, property management company, REIT, or residential real estate organization preferred.
• Experience supporting multi-state portfolios and navigating varying regulatory requirements.
• Experience supporting real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, development projects, and contract negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal advisor for Operations and Community teams on issues impacting day-to-day property management activities.
• Provide practical legal guidance that supports operational objectives while mitigating risk.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws governing multifamily housing, including Fair Housing, landlord-tenant regulations, ADA requirements, privacy, and consumer protection laws.
• Monitor regulatory developments, and recommend operational changes to maintain compliance across the portfolio.
• Lead operational compliance reviews, investigations, audits, regulatory responses, and training initiatives.
• Partner with Risk Management and Operations leaders to identify, assess, and reduce legal and operational risks.
• Advise community management and operations teams on legal matters affecting residential communities.
• Counsel stakeholders on resident disputes, lease enforcement, Fair Housing matters, reasonable accommodation requests, evictions, collections, resident safety concerns, and community policies.
• Direct litigation strategy and oversee outside counsel for claims, arbitration, administrative proceedings, and dispute resolution matters.
• Manage matters involving premises liability, personal injury, property damage, resident disputes, employment-related operational claims, and regulatory investigations.
• Analyze claims and litigation trends to identify risk mitigation opportunities and improve operational practices.
• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to leaders across Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Asset Management, Risk Management, and Revenue Operations.
• Provide practical legal guidance that supports community operations while balancing business objectives and risk.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements supporting property operations, vendor relationships, resident services, and other operational initiatives.
• Partner with business leaders to evaluate legal risks and develop solutions that support strategic and operational goals.
• Translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for operational teams.
• Manage outside counsel relationships, litigation budgets, and legal resources related to community operations.
• Develop scalable legal processes, policies, and compliance frameworks that promote consistency and operational excellence across the portfolio.
• Build strong partnerships throughout the organization to foster proactive risk management and compliance.
• Lead a team of 2-3 direct reports with thoughtful leadership focused on departmental and individual professional growth.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Litigation management

Risk assessment

Executive communication

Team leadership

In-house counsel experience

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Georgia Bar admission or eligible

Job description

Cortland is seeking a Counsel, Operations in Atlanta to serve as the senior legal advisor for the residential portfolio, advising on resident matters, property management, compliance, and risk management. You will partner with Operations leadership to protect the organization, support community performance, oversee outside counsel, and develop scalable processes for cross-state operations.

Role requires strong leadership, the ability to translate complex regulations into actionable guidance, and