Counsel, Multifamily Operations - Atlanta, GA

The role

You will serve as the senior legal advisor for residential operations. You will provide strategic counsel on resident matters, property management, compliance, litigation, and risk management.

What you will do

• Serve as the lead legal advisor for Operations and Community teams.
• Provide legal guidance that supports operational objectives and mitigates risk.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws governing multifamily housing.
• Monitor regulatory developments and recommend operational changes.
• Lead operational compliance reviews, investigations, audits, and training.
• Partner with Risk Management and Operations leaders to reduce risks.
• Advise on resident disputes, lease enforcement, and evictions.
• Direct litigation strategy and oversee outside counsel.
• Manage matters involving premises liability, personal injury, and property damage.
• Lead a team of 2-3 direct reports.

Required qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active membership in good standing with the Georgia Bar, or eligibility to obtain Georgia in-house counsel authorization upon hire
• 7+ years of legal experience supporting multifamily housing, property management, residential real estate, or related operations
• Expertise in landlord-tenant law, Fair Housing, ADA accommodations, lease enforcement, evictions, collections, resident disputes, and premises liability
• Experience managing litigation, regulatory matters, claims, investigations, and dispute resolution
• Experience supporting multi-state portfolios and navigating varying regulatory requirements
• Experience supporting real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, development projects, and contract negotiations
• Ability to travel as needed to provide legal trainings

Nice to have

• 2+ years of in-house Counsel experience
• In-house counsel experience within a multifamily owner/operator, property management company, REIT, or residential real estate organization

About the company

Cortland is an international, vertically integrated multifamily real estate investment, development, and management firm. It is recognized as one of the top 10 multifamily owners and operators in the US.