Associate Legal Counsel

The Associate Legal Counsel will provide legal advice on multifamily property management operations, general corporate law, affordable housing regulatory requirements, risk management, and procurement to Columbia Residential Property Management and its affiliates. Columbia Residential is an integrated affordable housing real estate company comprised of development and property management with a focus on mixed-finance, multi-family rental property. This holistic model supports our innovative style of community development and has resulted in a diverse array of award-winning properties throughout the southeastern United States including Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following: 

• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of contracts to support property management operations including management agreements, operating agreements, services contracts, vendor contracts, and other transactional instruments in the course of business.

• Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations and provide legal analysis of relevant issues and concerns related to property operations including corporate governance and government regulations and compliance.
• Provide advice and recommendations on tenant disputes and fair housing issues.
• Oversee risk management functions and interface with insurance carriers, and insurance defense attorneys to manage coverage issues and oversee and manage claims.

• Hire, supervise and engage with outside counsel on specific legal issues.

• Develop and maintain policies and procedures for on-site operations staff to ensure that legal, regulatory and compliance requirements are clear.
• Monitor legislative and administrative developments impacting the affordable housing industry and Columbia Residential operations.
• Conducts legal research and prepares legal documents, including memoranda, letters, and other transactional documents.

• Other duties, projects and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education:

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

Professional Experience:

The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of relevant experience such as experience in property management law, affordable housing law, or government law.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, in addition to possessing strong interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative manner with customers, tenants and co-workers.
• Must have strong analytical skills, be well organized and exercise the ability to plan, organize, and control various legal matters in an environment of multiple and possibly shifting priorities.
• Strong judgment, legal acumen, analysis, and reasoning abilities required in the review of legal documents, filings, or records.
• Must demonstrate a knowledge of or an ability to acquire knowledge of affordable housing laws, regulations and other rules pertaining to company organization and operations.
• Must be results oriented and able to function in a moderately-paced collegial in-house corporate office.