Associate Legal Counsel

Job Description

At Kushner, we pride ourselves on our four core values: Be Caring, Be Best in Class, Be Solution-Oriented, and Be Accountable. Our values represent what we strive to achieve every day. Every decision we have to make is guided by the “4 Be’s”. Our team and passion for the real estate industry exemplifies what it means to live out these core values in our offices and at our communities day in and day out. Each new day is a learning experience at Kushner, whether it is the knowledge we bring, gain, or share during our journey together. Our team members are set up to aim beyond, achieve the utmost success, and for endless possibilities for growth. Come Grow With Us!

JOB SUMMARY:

As a member of our dynamic and fast-paced real estate group you must be a business focused and self-starter, who is a team player and has the ability to define and distill complex legal issues, identify and evaluate legal and business risks, recommend a course of action, and develop solutions and solve problems.

REQUIREMENTS:

General Company Matters

• Actively work to make sure that we are positioned to preemptively avoid litigation and risk and advise on potentially risky matters.
• Manage and work with outside counsel regarding various other company matters.
• Assist with duties and projects as directed by the Chairman, CEO, CFO, COO, and General Counsel and work with all departments in the Company, including accounting, IT, risk management, marketing and tax on various legal issues and general compliance.
• Create and monitor legal entities. Actively work to make sure that we are positioned to preemptively avoid litigation and risk and advise on potentially risky matters.

Commercial Leasing

• Draft and negotiate leases, license agreements and amendments with commercial tenants.
• Advise commercial leasing team on landlord / tenant issues.

Development

• Draft and negotiate contractor, architect, engineer, and design consultant agreements for the Company’s development projects.
• Assist development team in legal matters that arise during various stages of development projects.

Asset & Property Management

• Act as legal counsel for Westminster Management, L.L.C., the property management arm for the Company’s multi-family and commercial portfolio. This includes working with property and regional managers on legal matters relating to properties, including, landlord / tenant issues, compliance, etc.
• Contracts: Work with procurement team to draft and negotiate vendor contracts. Also create and maintain standard legal forms such as vendor contracts, indemnification riders, NDAs, etc.
• Regular review of our standard lease forms and adjusting them to ensure they include all regulatory/required language.
• Licenses: Work with liquor license counsel to ensure compliance with the law in connection to licenses. Ensure various entities are property licensed to conduct business.

Litigation

• Manage various litigations handled by outside counsel through the process and reporting to all appropriate parties and provide regular updates.
• Work with risk management team on real estate insurance claims/related risk management matters.

Acquisitions

• Assist General Counsel and outside real estate counsel on various real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, and financings.
• Negotiate loan documents with various lenders.

Intellectual Property

• Manage Company’s intellectual property portfolio, including working with outside counsel on applying for trademarks and answering any office actions from the USTPO.

Human Resources

• Work with HR to manage and prevent any and all employment related legal matters.
• Ensure that appropriate processes are in compliance with the Company’s real estate policies and local laws.

REQUIREMENTS:

·         A minimum of 3-4 years of relevant experience is required

·         Bachelor’s degree and JD required

·         Experience working in (or with) a large NY Real Estate law firm and/or company

·         Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

·         Requires ability to maintain confidentiality of all Company and customer information.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER & EQUAL HOUSING PROVIDER