In-House Counsel (Real Estate)
20/20 Foresight Executive Talent Solutions, Houston, TX, United States
Our client is a private, fully integrated real estate investment, development, and management firm that acquires, develops and manages anchored retail centers throughout the Southern US, primarily in Texas. The company has a strong track record of value creation, with a development portfolio exceeding 10 million square feet across multiple markets. The firm focuses on a merchant-build platform, targeting high-traffic locations with resilient anchors to ensure stable cash flows and long-term appreciation.
Position Reporting to the President, this in-house role will focus on driving leasing velocity by handling a high volume of complex lease transactions including Anchor, Junior Anchor, and shop spaces with a particular emphasis on ground leases, while providing practical, business‑focused legal counsel to development, leasing, and executive teams. The position is critical to addressing current bottlenecks from external counsel, ensuring speed, consistency, and uniformity in documentation, and enabling leasing professionals to prioritize deal sourcing over negotiations. We seek a proactive attorney who can manage a substantial backlog (30+ ground leases targeted over the next 24 months) and support time‑sensitive projects with sophisticated counterparties (credit tenants, major banks, big law firms).
Responsibilities
Draft, negotiate, and finalize a high volume of ground leases (long‑term, with institutional/credit tenants, build‑to‑suit elements), including complex provisions for title curative, restrictions, easements, delivery requirements, due diligence, SNDAs, subordination, financing compatibility, and multi‑party coordination.
Handle full‑spectrum commercial retail leasing: shop space/inline leases, junior anchor/boxes with buildouts, pad site/single‑tenant net leases, restaurant/retail ground leases, REAs, declarations, amendments, and LOI‑to‑lease processes.
Advise on zoning, land use, permitting, entitlements, and regulatory compliance for new retail developments and expansions.
Manage exclusive‑use clauses, restrictive covenants, zoning requirements, and risk mitigation across transactions.
Collaborate closely with internal leasing agents, development, asset management, and finance teams to identify risks, streamline workflows, and accelerate deal timelines.
Oversee and direct outside counsel on specialized issues while minimizing reliance on external firms for core leasing.
Ensure uniformity, quick turnarounds, and best practices in lease forms and negotiations to support high‑volume output in a fast‑paced environment.
Stay current on real estate laws, regulations, and market trends affecting retail development and ground leases in key states (primarily Texas and other operational markets).
Qualifications
J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar membership in Texas.
7+ years of relevant commercial real estate experience, ideally in‑house at a retail developer/operator or in a law firm with heavy retail/ground lease focus (5+ years minimum strongly considered for exceptional fit).
Extensive, hands‑on experience negotiating dozens of ground leases with credit tenants, national brands, QSRs, banks, and sophisticated counterparties (essential; general CRE experience alone insufficient).
Deep retail‑specific knowledge across lease types: ground leases, shop space/inline, junior boxes with buildouts, single‑tenant net leases, build‑to‑suit, grocery‑anchored/power center structures.
Proven ability to deliver speed, consistency, and risk‑balanced advice in high‑volume, time‑sensitive environments.
Strong drafting, negotiation, communication, and project management skills; practical, deal‑oriented mindset that prioritizes business objectives.
Experience with Texas real estate law and multi‑state transactions preferred.
Comfortable working independently while collaborating cross‑functionally in an entrepreneurial setting.
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Position Reporting to the President, this in-house role will focus on driving leasing velocity by handling a high volume of complex lease transactions including Anchor, Junior Anchor, and shop spaces with a particular emphasis on ground leases, while providing practical, business‑focused legal counsel to development, leasing, and executive teams. The position is critical to addressing current bottlenecks from external counsel, ensuring speed, consistency, and uniformity in documentation, and enabling leasing professionals to prioritize deal sourcing over negotiations. We seek a proactive attorney who can manage a substantial backlog (30+ ground leases targeted over the next 24 months) and support time‑sensitive projects with sophisticated counterparties (credit tenants, major banks, big law firms).
Responsibilities
Draft, negotiate, and finalize a high volume of ground leases (long‑term, with institutional/credit tenants, build‑to‑suit elements), including complex provisions for title curative, restrictions, easements, delivery requirements, due diligence, SNDAs, subordination, financing compatibility, and multi‑party coordination.
Handle full‑spectrum commercial retail leasing: shop space/inline leases, junior anchor/boxes with buildouts, pad site/single‑tenant net leases, restaurant/retail ground leases, REAs, declarations, amendments, and LOI‑to‑lease processes.
Advise on zoning, land use, permitting, entitlements, and regulatory compliance for new retail developments and expansions.
Manage exclusive‑use clauses, restrictive covenants, zoning requirements, and risk mitigation across transactions.
Collaborate closely with internal leasing agents, development, asset management, and finance teams to identify risks, streamline workflows, and accelerate deal timelines.
Oversee and direct outside counsel on specialized issues while minimizing reliance on external firms for core leasing.
Ensure uniformity, quick turnarounds, and best practices in lease forms and negotiations to support high‑volume output in a fast‑paced environment.
Stay current on real estate laws, regulations, and market trends affecting retail development and ground leases in key states (primarily Texas and other operational markets).
Qualifications
J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar membership in Texas.
7+ years of relevant commercial real estate experience, ideally in‑house at a retail developer/operator or in a law firm with heavy retail/ground lease focus (5+ years minimum strongly considered for exceptional fit).
Extensive, hands‑on experience negotiating dozens of ground leases with credit tenants, national brands, QSRs, banks, and sophisticated counterparties (essential; general CRE experience alone insufficient).
Deep retail‑specific knowledge across lease types: ground leases, shop space/inline, junior boxes with buildouts, single‑tenant net leases, build‑to‑suit, grocery‑anchored/power center structures.
Proven ability to deliver speed, consistency, and risk‑balanced advice in high‑volume, time‑sensitive environments.
Strong drafting, negotiation, communication, and project management skills; practical, deal‑oriented mindset that prioritizes business objectives.
Experience with Texas real estate law and multi‑state transactions preferred.
Comfortable working independently while collaborating cross‑functionally in an entrepreneurial setting.
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