DirectJobHub
Jobs · Legal · New York

Senior Counsel, Real Estate Transactions and Operations

Metropolitan Transportation Authority · New York, NY · 1 wk ago
On-siteLegal$160k–$187k/yrOther

About the role

The Senior Counsel, Transactions position reports to a Deputy General Counsel or Assistant Deputy General Counsel in a Transactions Division within the consolidated MTA Legal Department. The current Transactions Divisions are: Condemnation, Environmental, Finance, Procurement and Contracts, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Transactions and Operations, and Special Projects. Depending on the needs of the Legal Department and the Division, duties include representing the MTA and its operating agencies in transactions (contracts, agreements, and associated documentation), client counseling, compliance, negotiations, dispute resolution, risk management, and (for Environmental & Condemnation Divisions) litigation matters of increasing complexity and responsibility. The role also involves providing legal counsel on statutory, regulatory, agency policy, and other matters impacting MTA operations and affiliates.

The Real Estate Transactions and Operations Division (RETO) is seeking a Senior Counsel I, II, or III based on experience. RETO provides legal advice and strategic counsel on real estate, contractual, and commercial matters to protect MTA’s legal interests, working collaboratively with the MTAHQ real estate department to facilitate the use, acquisition, and disposition of real property interests and other assets critical to MTA operations. The Senior Counsel will primarily support the MTA Headquarters Real Estate team.

This position is based at 2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004. Standard hours are 9:00 am – 5:30 pm (7.5 hours/day, or as required), full-time. The role is eligible for telework (currently one day per week) after 30 days of employment. Occasional evening/weekend work and travel to other MTA locations or external sites may be required. Salary range: $160,138 – $186,770. Position remains open until filled.

Responsibilities

  • Review, analyze, draft, and negotiate a broad variety of complex real estate contracts and documents, including easements, leases, land disposition agreements, licenses, and permits.
  • Provide legal and business advice on complex enterprise-wide contract negotiations for real estate matters, including telecommunications and wireless agreements.
  • Advise the MTA Real Estate team and business unit clients regarding legal and business risks.
  • Assist with administration of the Real Estate legal group, including:
    • Management and control of drafting/updating real estate boilerplate form documentation and a real estate form library (heavy emphasis on leases, licenses, easements, and permits).
    • Implementation of a legal training program.
  • As time permits, provide legal support in other practice areas supporting MTA’s mission, including proposed/enacted legislation, advertising, contractor responsibility, corporate issues, and state/federal rules and regulations.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by senior management.
  • Collaborate with MTA Legal Department leadership and staff, MTA departments (Accessibility, Audit, Communications, Compliance/Ethics, Diversity and Civil Rights, Finance, IT, Labor Relations, People, Procurement, Strategic Initiatives, System Safety), operating agency leadership (NYC Transit, Metro-North, LIRR, Bridges and Tunnels, Construction and Development), federal/state/local agencies, the MTA Inspector General, labor partners, and outside counsel.

Requirements

  • J.D. from an accredited law school.
  • Licensed to practice law in New York.
  • Minimum four (4) years of relevant law firm, public sector legal, or in-house legal experience.

Qualifications

  • Public sector legal experience, particularly in New York City or New York State (preferred).
  • Transportation sector experience (preferred).
  • History of successfully supervising or mentoring junior attorneys (preferred).
  • Record of communicating with and advising senior management (preferred).
  • Strong legal research and writing ability.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to interface effectively at all organizational levels and with external parties.
  • Demonstrated knowledge base and practice skills relating to the position’s practice areas and responsibilities.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills.

Skills

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and general computer skills.
  • Excellent negotiating, drafting, and practice-management skills with sound business judgment.
  • Ability to work independently on contract negotiations of significant size and complexity, manage multiple projects and clients in a fast-paced environment, and work on multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Confidence dealing with senior management and sophisticated developers, lessees, and counterparties.
  • Ability to identify creative, business-oriented solutions to legal and business risks.
  • Demonstrated ability to implement, manage, organize, and update real estate legal documentation from files and databases.
  • Strong interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, drafting, and communication skills.
  • Proven capability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
  • Ability to supervise paralegals and work collaboratively with other attorneys.
  • Intellectual curiosity and desire to continue learning and thinking creatively.
  • Ability to manage a diverse, heavy volume of matters and assist clients in determining priorities.

Pay

Salary range: $160,138 – $186,770 per year.

Schedule

Standard hours: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm (7.5 hours/day, or as required), full-time. Telework eligible (currently one day per week) after 30 days of employment. May require work outside normal hours (evenings/weekends) and travel to other MTA locations or external sites.

Similar jobs