Description:

Job Summary:
The Vice President of Legal for Transactions reports to the SVP Legal and Associate General Counsel to facilitate and manage all aspects of real estate transactions. Negotiates, drafts, and advises on purchase and sale agreements, loan documents, joint venture agreements, commercial leases, easements, zoning and entitlement issues, and related activities. Supports and manages the closing process for real estate acquisitions and dispositions, loan transactions, and joint venture transactions. Interacts with property operations and corporate staff, buyers and sellers, government authorities, adjacent property owners and outside counsel on real estate legal issues as a primary point of contact for real estate and transactional legal issues and support.

The successful candidate will embody and work to reinforce An S&P 500 Company and Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Core Values.

Those values include:

Appreciating the uniqueness of each individual
Communicating openly and with integrity
Embracing opportunities
Doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons

Duties and Responsibilities:

Drafts, edits, negotiates, manages, and advises on a wide variety of real estate transactions and contracts.
Advises the Transactions and Development teams on legal matters related to acquisitions and dispositions of real estate assets (operating or land bank assets).
Advises the Transactions, Development and Construction teams throughout the life cycle of the development of new apartment communities.
Provides guidance to property and corporate management on contracts, liability, and other related matters.
Coordinates, assembles, and reviews due diligence related to the marketing and sale of properties or financing transactions.
Works with brokers, outside counsel, title insurers, surveyors, third party contractors, and internal stakeholders to understand due diligence, pursue curative work, and respond to information requests.
Assists with day-to-day legal issues related to declarations, reciprocal easement agreements, joint venture agreements, loan documents, commercial leases, utility easements, and other agreements.
Assists with the management and oversight of property owners' associations.
Assists with the completion of post-closing obligations after the sale or acquisition of properties.
Works cross-functionally with teams to mitigate legal risk and to ensure compliance related to real estate transactions and developments.
Monitors and maintains awareness of laws and regulations governing real estate transactions and developments.
Travels as needed for meetings, training, and/or company events.
Supervises the work of other legal staff on an ad-hoc or ongoing basis.
Coordinates and manages the work of outside counsel in connection with real estate transactions.
Performs other related duties as assigned to meet the needs of the business.

Required Qualifications:

Juris Doctorate degree and admission to the Tennessee Bar Association are required
10 to 15 years of commercial real estate and transactional or contractual experience required
Supervisory management experience required

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience from a law firm or in-house legal team specializing in commercial real estate transactions and contracts preferred
Multifamily industry experience preferred
MBA or other advanced degree preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Legal knowledge and expertise related to real estate transactions and developments, especially contractual terminology, concepts, and requirements
Familiarity with legal issues and regulations relating to multifamily housing
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills applied to complex legal challenges
Executive presence and relationship management skills, including influencing and negotiation, with which to interact with all levels of the organization
Professional and effective verbal and written communication skills, including presentations and advocacy
Accuracy and attention to detail with qualitative and quantitative data
Computer skills with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks and projects, and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment
Ability to travel overnight for meetings and events
Skill and ability to collaborate within a team as well as operate independently
Ability to maintain confidentiality and maintain appropriate discretion

Physical and Environmental Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds.
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.