Job Description
General Counsel
Onsite in Orange County, CA
What we are looking for
A privately held commercial real estate investment platform is seeking an experienced General Counsel to lead all legal functions for a diversified real estate portfolio. This individual will serve as the organization’s senior legal authority, providing strategic counsel across leasing, asset management, operations, and corporate matters.
The General Counsel will work closely with executive leadership to support transaction execution, mitigate risk, and ensure legal strategies align with the firm’s long-term investment and growth objectives. This role requires a hands-on, business-minded attorney with deep experience in commercial real estate leasing and portfolio management.
What you will be doing
- Serve as the primary legal advisor for all commercial real estate leasing activity across retail, mixed-use, office, and multifamily assets
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of lease documentation, including:
- New leases
- Amendments and renewals
- Assignments and subleases
- Estoppels and SNDAs
- Termination and settlement agreements
- Partner with leasing and asset management teams to evaluate deal structure, risk exposure, and business terms
- Provide guidance on lease interpretation, enforcement, defaults, and landlord-tenant disputes
Transaction & Portfolio Support
- Support acquisitions, dispositions, and refinancing transactions from a legal perspective
- Conduct and oversee legal due diligence related to tenants, contracts, and title matters
- Review organizational documents, guaranties, and financial information associated with transactions
Risk Management & Compliance
- Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risk across the portfolio
- Monitor changes in federal, state, and local laws impacting commercial real estate operations
- Advise leadership on compliance requirements and risk-management strategies
Outside Counsel & Process Management
- Manage relationships with outside counsel, including leasing, litigation, and specialized real estate advisors
- Establish and maintain standardized lease forms, templates, and internal legal procedures
- Improve efficiency, consistency, and turnaround time across legal processes
Corporate & Operational Legal Support
- Provide legal oversight for:
- Commercial contracts and vendor agreements
- Corporate governance and entity management
- Insurance and claims coordination
- General business compliance matters
- Act as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on operational initiatives and long-term planning
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- Active license to practice law in California (or ability to obtain)
- 8–12+ years of legal experience, with significant focus on commercial real estate leasing
- Proven experience negotiating complex retail and mixed-use lease transactions
- Strong understanding of landlord-tenant law and real estate regulations
- Experience supporting real estate owners, operators, or investment platforms
- Excellent negotiation, judgment, and analytical skills
- Ability to translate legal concepts into practical business guidance
Preferred Experience
- Background in retail, mixed-use, or value-add real estate portfolios
- Experience working in an owner-operator or investment-driven environment
- Familiarity with California real estate and leasing
- In-house experience desired