Join the World's Top Legal Talent Network

Job Type

Full-time

Description

About Conifer:

Conifer Realty, LLC is a dynamic, vertically integrated organization that creates and manages high-quality affordable and work-force housing. Conifer is devoted to growth, to innovation and being a best -in -class developer. We are a pacesetter in affordable housing, transforming communities to make lives better. We are quickly becoming the home for top talent, based on fulfilling work, the opportunity for personal and professional growth, and our unique “Conifer Family” culture.

Conifer maintains offices in Rochester, New York City, and Long Island, New York; Mount Laurel, New Jersey; and Columbia, Maryland, while expanding into new markets across the Midwest, Southeast to fulfill the dire need for high-quality, affordable housing. At the heart of Conifer is an experienced team of more than 500+ highly skilled and passionate professionals. The team’s demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit has secured our leadership role in the affordable housing industry.

Visit Conifer's website to understand our history, mission, and values at link:https://coniferllc.com/

Overview:

The long-standing legal function is undergoing a full reconstitution, starting with the recruitment of a new Chief Legal Officer, along with the recruitment of 2-3 in-house counsel to join the existing three legal specialists and the rationalization of dozens of external law firms previously engaged by the company. Therefore, this represents a unique opportunity to participate in the transformation of a corporate legal function, establishing unprecedented levels of legal coverage, compliance, and client satisfaction, while optimizing internal headcount and minimizing the overall net legal cost, following the principles of Smarter Law.

We are seeking a Legal Professional that has developed a legal practice that can address the multifaceted business challenges of a growing Property Management Organization, while having proven results of successfully transitioning core legal transactions from outside Counsel to in-house legal oversight.

Responsibility:

• Delivery and output – an ability to be highly responsive, reactive, and comprehending of a wide variety and volume of business and legal challenges. An effective fire-fighter with capacity to manage high workload volumes efficiently. Solutions-oriented with a relentless focus on world-class execution of projects and tasks. A keen sense of personal responsibility and ownership for the success of a given task.
• Managing – the interpersonal intelligence, maturity and authority to guide and influence individuals at all levels (i.e., peers, juniors, seniors, clients, external counsel, and customers). Exceptional organizational skills and a continuously proactive work ethic, i.e., managing potential issues before they occur. A high degree of personal, professional, and cultural empathy and emotional intelligence. Good grace and humor.
• Positive Attitude – elevated levels of personal energy and an appetite for work and success; tangible self-motivation and initiative; relentless focus and personal discipline.
• Responsibility for Success – exercising leadership and ownership. Responsibility for business growth and protection. Risk management tailored to empower the business to be successful in the market (“Sword and Shield”). Understanding the business imperatives and taking responsibility for their success.
• Execution – robust commitments, Timelines, follow through and follow up. Project management discipline: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Report. “Say what you do and do what you say.”
• Learning – a capacity to continuously identify areas for one’s own personal development together with a genuine ability to absorb guidance and feedback, resulting in tangible improvements
• The main areas of legal activity, required expertise and responsibilities are:
• Management:
• Advising President, executive leadership, and board on strategy, law and compliance
• Managing and developing internal legal function talent
• Corporate:
• Obtain all Board Approvals/Draft Board Resolutions/Consent
• Advise on tax mitigation strategies (1031, Instalment Loans)
• Research to form Non-Profit to access additional funding resources
• Maintain and update contract templates to improve and to maintain compliance with law and to reflect market changes
• Managing outside counsel

Development / Acquisitions:

• Draft & Negotiate LOIs, MOUs & Joint Venture Agreements and create templates
• Real estate closings – Oversee and manage sales, acquisitions, low-income housing tax credit syndications, loan closings, refinancing's
• Standardizing Terms – 15 year exits, Rights of First Refusal, Put Option, Guaranties, and Covenants, Representation & Warranties in debt documents.
• Draft opinions re: Enforceability and/or Equity Opinion (qualification of project for Tax Credits/subsidies and ability to enforce agreements against Owner Entity/Borrower)
• Create process for addressing construction issues
• Create process for conducting due diligence on acquisitions and development deal.
• Portfolio Management:
• Assist in Partnerships Disputes
• Coordinating Partnership Buyouts
• Create process for obtaining and reviewing third party consents needed – sale, refinancing and partnership buyouts.
• Property Management / Compliance / Operations:
• Lease update project facilitate update of all residential leases in 12 states
• Create process for addressing litigation, small claims, code violation, responding to attorney general complaints
• Crisis Management/Communications – advise staff on how to respond to law enforcement and residents
• Research and advise on compliance and regulatory matters
• Risk Management
• Participate in strategy meetings
• Managing litigation
• People & Culture
• Review of policies
• Review of Vendor Contracts
• Information Technology
• Review of Vendor Contracts

Experience:

• The successful candidate will have at least 12 years of legal experience, including significant, housing, affordable housing, commercial, corporate law experience and in-house counsel experience.
• Prior law firm experience gained at a mid-to-large size firm is strongly preferred.
• Affordable Housing, development, construction, real estate, tax and/or government sector industry experience is preferred.
• Ability to read and comprehend complex legal and regulatory agreements, documents.

Education:

• Juris Doctor
• Licensed to practice law in NY, NJ, MD, PA, and/or VA.

Conifer Realty is a professional, service-oriented organization offering a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with excellent benefits that include ongoing training, promotion from within, paid holidays, paid time off (PTO); 401K with company match; medical, HSA, dependent care Flex account, dental, vision; company-paid life, short and long-term disability insurances; and a wellness program.

APPLY TODAY via our website link: http://www.careersatconifer.com to complete our application process and attach your resume. You will hear directly from the hiring manager on next steps in the process. Thank you for your interest in joining the Conifer Team!

Conifer Realty LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected status or characteristic. Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Disability/Veteran.