Description

Job Location: Los Angeles, CA or Chicago, IL 

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Griffin Capital Company is a leading full-service real estate investment and management company. We manage a diverse portfolio of institutional-quality assets across the United States. Our goal is to create reliable, thematic investment solutions to meet the needs of our investors and the communities in which we invest. Since 1995, Griffin Capital has owned, managed, sponsored and/or co-sponsored approximately $23 billion in assets across a wide range of real estate sectors and investment structures. The Griffin Capital Team has engaged in the development of approximately $4.3 billion of real estate with a specific focus on the multifamily sector where it has a development portfolio of more than 11,200 apartment units. 

POSITION SUMMARY

Provide legal support for a real estate investment and management company. Assist the General Counsel with legal services related to the acquisition and development of real estate. The legal team is based in Deerfield, IL. This position may be based in either the same Deerfield office or our HQ office in El Segundo, CA.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with acquisitions, development, dispositions, and financing transactions. 
• Review, draft and negotiate documents, including but not limited to joint venture agreements, purchase contracts, property management agreements, leases, construction contracts, and loan documents. 
• Identify legal risks and provide strategies for mitigating such risks.
• Provide legal advice to various departments, and act as a strategic thought partner.
• Oversee legal due diligence processes for real estate transactions, including title examinations, environmental assessments, and zoning reviews. 
• Oversee any potential business litigation, including disputes with clients, partners, tenants, contractors, and other parties. 
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to real estate. Ensure the company's policies and personnel follow all applicable laws.
• Assist in the development and implementation of company policies related to real estate operations, compliance, and risk management.
• Coordinate and oversee outside counsel as needed.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

Relevant Work Experience: 

• Five to eight (5-8) years’ experience practicing real estate transactional law. 
• Prior experience within the real estate department of a law firm and/or as in-house counsel at i) a real estate development firm; ii) a real estate investment management company; iii) a real estate investment trust; iv) family office concentrated in real estate; or v) financial institution.
• Experienced in acquisitions, dispositions, due diligence, joint venture development related documentation, construction, and origination of commercial loans.
• Experience with ground-up multifamily development is a plus.
• Education - Juris Doctor (JD) from an American Bar Association accredited law school. Bar admitted in a state within the U.S. 
• Computer Skills - Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and document management systems.

Knowledge and Skills: 

• Problem Solving - Gathers and analyzes information skillfully, able to identify and resolve problems accurately.
• Project and Time Management - Able to work under tight deadlines; handles multiple, detailed tasks simultaneously, prioritizes appropriately, and delegate to resources available. 
• Communication - Communicates clearly and concisely with all stakeholders in transactional work and guide the decision-making process.
• Negotiation – Strong negotiator with ability to discern important issues and recommend solutions to internal clients and persuade external parties.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views and supports growth of team members.
• Impact & Influence - Displays ability to influence key decision-makers; addresses divergent opinions.
• Business Acumen - Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; understands business implications of decisions. Able to summarize complex concepts and issues effectively with all levels of management.
• Judgment - Demonstrated ability to evaluate risk and to exercise sound legal judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions and includes appropriate people in decision-making process.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and effectively plans work activities. Comfortable with high volume of transactions, and able to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Quality and Detail Orientation – Consistently demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and looks for ways to improve and promote quality.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Griffin Capital’s salary ranges are determined by role, duration of direct experience, and internal and external pay equity considerations. The base salary range for this exempt full-time position is $170,000-$230,000 annual base salary* bonus eligibility benefits. 

Any offered salary is determined based on relevant factors such as applicant's skills, job responsibilities, prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. This posted starting salary range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

At Griffin Capital, we strive to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. To support the physical, financial, and emotional well-being of employees, we offer:

• 100% company paid individual Medical and Dental Insurance.
• 100% company paid individual Life and Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• 401(k) plan with up to 4% matching and full vesting.
• Paid time off (PTO) starting at 17 days per year, with increases after 2 years of service.
• A yearly Birthday Holiday and paid time off for community service.
• State of the art onsite gym.
• Company funded Lifestyle Spending Account.
• Access to other health and tax-advantaged benefits.

Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Griffin reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

In addition to the above-listed benefits, the firm also offers hybrid work options specific to roles, an employee-led professional development program, and community involvement through its Griffin Care and Community Committee.

Equal Employment Opportunity at Griffin

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age (40 and over), ancestry, color, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), family and medical care leave or the denial of family and medical care leave, mental or physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), marital status, domestic partner status, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, military and veteran status, political affiliation, national origin (including language use restrictions), citizenship, race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, and gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law, rule, ordinance or regulation.

We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act and consistent with other similar and / or applicable laws in other areas.

We also afford equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. For this reason, Griffin Capital will make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant consistent with its legal obligations and in accordance with applicable local, state and / or federal law. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job should contact a Human Resources Representative to request the opportunity to participate in a timely interactive process. 

*Please note that the compensation information provided is a good faith estimate for this position only and is provided pursuant to the California Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements Law. It is estimated based on what a successful California applicant might be paid. It assumes that the successful candidate will be in California or perform the position from California. Similar positions located outside of California will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Griffin Capital takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the California Law, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.