Corporate Counsel

About the Role

Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: IRT) is a real‑estate investment trust that owns and operates multifamily apartments, managing over 36,000 apartment homes across 117 communities in more than 30 markets. The Corporate Counsel will work directly with the General Counsel and partner with Operations, Asset Management, IT, and Risk Management to protect the company from legal, financial, and operational exposure.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate purchase agreements and related documents for acquisition or disposition of multifamily assets.
• Plan and coordinate due‑diligence for real‑estate transactions.
• Assist and/or oversee outside counsel on secured and unsecured corporate and property‑level financing matters, including origination, assumption, payoff, and defeasance.
• Manage insurance claims and related pre‑litigation matters; support Operations and Risk Management with claim‑related and incident‑related issues.
• Review and ensure ongoing compliance with state landlord‑tenant laws; draft and update residential lease agreements, addenda, and handle reasonable accommodation, domestic‑violence, and similar resident requests.
• Oversee employment, landlord‑tenant, insurance, and contract litigation.
• Review, negotiate, and manage property‑level and corporate contracts such as vendor service agreements, NDAs, marketing agreements, SaaS agreements, credit agreements, cable contracts, electric‑vehicle agreements, and waste‑management agreements; administer the company’s contract‑management system.
• Draft corporate policies and procedures and oversee compliance.
• Supervise outside lawyers assisting the company and its subsidiaries on specialized legal matters.
• Handle additional real‑estate matters including easements, license agreements, zoning issues, condemnations, and other portfolio‑related issues.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active license to practice law in good standing (state bar admission required).
• At least 7 years of legal experience, preferably with in‑house or law‑firm exposure to risk management, real estate, multifamily property, or operational matters.
• Working knowledge of commercial real‑estate and finance law, landlord‑tenant law, the Fair Housing Act, SCRA, related resident‑protection regulations, and labor and employment law.
• Experience with litigation intake, insurance claims/litigation oversight, and contract administration, including familiarity with contract‑management platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to high‑quality service and work; reliable, positive team player.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple competing tasks.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% and work in the office at least three days per week.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• Bonus opportunities
• Stock awards
• Paid holidays and paid time off
• BCBS PPO health insurance
• 401(k) with 4% match