The In-House Counsel is responsible for overseeing all legal activities within the business. Primary duties include drafting and redlining Architectural Servics agreements, including AIA contracts (American Institute of Architecture), amendments, and other essential legal documents. The role involves providing expert legal advice and counsel on real estate transactions, contract negotiations, agreements (leases, COI, etc...) and compliance matters. Additionally, the In-House Counsel will support human resources by conducting legal research and offering guidance on employment law, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including wage and hour laws (as needed). The position also manages the engagement and oversight of outside counsel, as well as supervising administrative staff to ensure the smooth daily operations of the business.
Furthermore, the In-House Counsel is required to provide a daily report to ownership detailing the proposals that have been drafted and sent, new proposal requests received, and proposals pending additional information needed for drafting. Must be willing/available to work 8:30AM to 6PM. The ideal candidate must be an excellent communicator, take direction well, and extremely organized to manage these responsibilities effectively.
Essential Functions:
Draft Agreements (AIA Contracts, leases, COI, etc..), Identify, analyze and advise on all legal issues for the organization, balancing legal issues with business risk.
Identify legal and enterprise risk and required internal controls and processes to ensure that the organization maintains compliance with the law, with sound business practices and with ethical requirements. Draft and assist in the training and implementation of processes and procedures designed to accomplish this goal.
Engage and manage the activity of outside counsel, with the goal of minimizing the organization’s legal costs and obtaining highest quality services.
Establish internal procedures and processes for the Legal Department and manage the activities of the Legal Department (maintaining the Legal Log updated daily).
Research and advise on and provide support for construction law matters, including risk mitigation, externalizing liabilities, optimizing change order provisions, insurance, etc. and minimizing warranty exposures.
With the assistance of outside counsel manage all of the organization’s litigation (including claims by third parties which did not reach the litigation stage). Work with the appropriate business units to resolve claims, contract disputes and litigation, including by providing any needed legal advice.
Coordinate with the company’s insurance broker and insurance carriers on claims covered by the company’s insurance policies. Establish and maintain claims reporting procedures.
Work closely with the management to identify risk and ensure that risk is mitigated by either adequate insurance or internal risk retention.
Implement and maintain a document management system and document retention processes and procedures.
Implement and maintain a contract management and contract compliance system.
Establish a database of various corporate documents, form agreements, templates, and contract clauses applicable to the organization’s various business units.
Advise and assist Human Resources in drafting and revising employment policies as well as providing guidance on general and sensitive personnel matters.
Assist in drafting employment-related agreements, partnership, successor architect, independent contractor and separation agreements.
Remain abreast of employment-related legislation and significant court decisions and recommend policy modifications based on changes in the law.
Provide support for other corporate functions, including matters involving employee benefits, regulatory compliance, privacy and internal investigations.
Required Education and Experience:
Minimum 1-4years of legal experience at a law firm or corporate in-house department.
Preferred Education and Experience:
Experience with complex real estate negotiations, acquisitions, sales, financing, construction and management of commercial, residential and multi-unit properties
Employment law, outside counsel management, and litigation experience
Additional Eligibility Qualifications: Licensed attorney in the United States (Florida)
