Senior Legal Counsel

About the Role

You will be a member of the cutting-edge development team supporting Simon’s efforts to transform, transition, and expand retail properties into destinations that include commercial office space, hotels, entertainment, lifestyle, and fitness centers. This position requires a creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative attorney who can contribute to the diversification and continued development of Simon’s traditional retail-only properties.

Responsibilities

• Drafts necessary legal documents and develops conclusions and recommendations.
• Assists clients in addressing situations of high legal exposure or risk; understands overall business risk tolerance and considers it in the context of risk management strategies and actions.
• Creates practical and effective solutions to legal issues with no established precedent; develops creative solutions to unique legal problems.
• Takes the lead role in negotiations that are extremely complex, strategic, or sensitive in nature. Understands the business client’s position and needs. Considers the long-term business and strategic consequences of possible outcomes.
• Delivers difficult messages or news, or challenges the client when necessary; responds to client challenges to advice directly and effectively.
• Establishes a wide network of relationships; builds rapport with associates at all levels within the General Counsel department and the business client.
• May train or mentor less experienced attorneys or paralegals on procedural or legal issues.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• JD Degree from an accredited law school.
• Maintains an active license in the state in which the position is located.
• 10+ years of experience in corporate transactional real estate, particularly in commercial retail real estate.
• Familiarity with shopping center leasing, reciprocal easement and operating agreements, development agreements, and property dispositions.
• Significant experience with or knowledge of complex legal practices and procedures.
• Considered a subject matter legal expert regarding shopping center real estate transactions.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for contacts with all levels of management and clients.

Leadership Characteristics

• Ability to lead, initiate, organize, and coordinate complex projects and/or cases that cross functional or business lines.
• Takes the lead role in negotiations that are extremely complex, strategic, or sensitive in nature.
• Leadership and management skills: team building concepts, motivating, and influencing.
• Sound business acumen and knowledge of the business goals and objectives as they relate to the matter at hand.
• Understands staff/team coaching and development techniques.