Position Summary
The Associate General Counsel provides legal support for a high-profile, mixed-use real estate portfolio, with a primary focus on retail, food & beverage, office and experiential leasing. This role is responsible for negotiating complex leasing transactions and advising on development, operational, and corporate matters.
The position requires a business-oriented attorney who can balance legal risk with commercial objectives while partnering closely with leasing, development, marketing, and executive teams.
Key Responsibilities
Leasing & Transactions
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial leasing documents, including retail, restaurant, office, and short-term agreements
- Structure and negotiate LOIs, new leases, renewals, amendments, assignments, subleases, SNDAs, and estoppels
- Advise on key terms, including rent structures, percentage rent, exclusives, use restrictions, co-tenancy concepts, and tenant improvements
- Provide guidance on lease interpretation, enforcement, defaults, and compliance
Retail, F&B & Experiential Leasing
- Advise on restaurant and hospitality-specific requirements, including buildouts, outdoor dining, and regulatory compliance
- Negotiate provisions relating to exclusives, tenant mix, radius restrictions, and performance-based rent
- Support experiential retail, activations, and brand-driven concepts
Development & Construction
- Draft and negotiate architect, engineer, consultant, and construction agreements
- Advise on risk allocation, indemnities, insurance, and project delivery
- Support leasing-related construction matters, permitting, and development execution
Commercial Contracts & Operations
- Draft and negotiate vendor, service, property management, brokerage, and partnership agreements
- Provide day-to-day legal support to leasing, development, and operations teams
- Support activations, pop-ups, film and photography authorizations, and experiential installations
Marketing, Events & Partnerships
- Review and support event agreements, sponsorships, and brand collaborations
- Advise on public use, risk allocation, and insurance requirements
- Review marketing materials for legal compliance
Risk Management & Legal Oversight
- Identify and mitigate legal and operational risks
- Ensure compliance with zoning, land use, licensing, and regulatory requirements
- Advise on insurance provisions and risk transfer strategies
- Manage disputes and coordinate with outside counsel
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Provide practical legal advice to internal stakeholders
- Partner with leasing, asset management, development, marketing, and executive teams
- Support development of legal templates, processes, and best practices
Qualifications
Education & Licensure
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- Active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- Florida Bar membership or ability to obtain Authorized House Counsel status preferred
Experience
- 8–12+ years of legal experience
- Strong background in commercial real estate leasing, with emphasis on:
- Retail leasing
- Food & beverage / restaurant leasing
- Mixed-use or experiential environments
- Experience structuring, drafting and negotiating complex lease transactions
- Familiarity with development, construction, and real estate operations
- Prior in-house experience or combination of law firm and in-house preferred
- South Florida market familiarity is a plus
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills
- Deep understanding of commercial leasing structures and market terms
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Sound judgment and practical, business-oriented approach
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Preferred Experience
- Luxury retail or design-oriented environments
- Mixed-use or hospitality-driven real estate platforms
- Institutional owner/operator or developer experience
Performance Expectations
- Timely execution of leasing and transactional matters
- Practical, solutions-oriented legal guidance
- Strong internal collaboration and responsiveness
- Proactive risk identification and mitigation
- Contribution to efficient legal operations
Pay: From $190,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Real estate leasing : 5 years (Preferred)
- Real estate law: 8 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
