Position Summary:
The Deputy General Counsel will serve as a senior legal leader supporting the ownership and management of a national portfolio of multifamily rental housing communities. A significant portion of this role involves overseeing, directing, and optimizing the company’s use of external counsel across a range of external, real estate ownership and management related matters, as well as McCormack Baron corporate and internal legal matters. This businessâminded attorney must balance handsâon legal work with strategic oversight of outside legal resources, ensuring highâquality, cost-effective work product in alignment with company priorities.
Key Responsibilities (Essential Duties and Functions):
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may expand to include other duties and responsibilities based on business needs.
- Advise McCormack Baron Companies on, and work with outside counsel relationships in executing on, legal matters related to ownership and operation of affordable and mixed-income housing:
- Litigation – oversee third-party counsel and drive litigation defense and plaintiff strategies
- Transactional – oversee third-party counsel and maintain ownership and property management contracts and agreement relating to property management, asset disposition/sale of ownership interest, exits, work-outs and refinancings
- Regulatory and Statutory – oversee compliance with affordable rental housing regulations and statutes.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing clear, practical guidance that balances legal risk with operational realities.
- Develop and enforce guidelines, budgets, and performance expectations for external counsel.
- Review and approve litigation strategies, pleadings, settlement positions, and major workstreams handled by outside firms.
- Develop and enforce guidelines, budgets, and performance expectations for external counsel
- Evaluate law firm performance, negotiate fee structures, and ensure costâeffective use of external resources.
- Provide company leaders with clear, businessâoriented summaries of outside counsel recommendations and risks.
- Work with General Counsel to identify opportunities for efficient, in-house legal solutions for certain matters.
- Oversee entity formation, governance, and corporate compliance for a multiâentity real estate structure.
- Mentor legal team members and help build scalable legal processes, including systems for managing outside counsel.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Education & Experience:
- J.D. from an accredited law school; strong academic credentials.
- Active bar membership in good standing.
- 10+ years of legal experience, with significant exposure to affordable multifamily real estate ownership and property management.
- Demonstrated experience managing outside counsel across multiple practice areas.
Work Environment/Physical Demands:
- This job operates in a clerical office setting. This role routinely utilizes standard office equipment such as computers, phone, photocopiers/printers, and filing cabinets.
- This position requires sitting, bending, stooping, or standing as necessary. Our offices are equipped with electronic desks for standing or sitting.
McCormack Baron is an equal-opportunity employer and makes hiring decisions based on merit.