Senior Associate Counsel - Litigation

The role

This person will manage a broad docket of commercial, corporate, and employment litigation and dispute resolution matters. They will serve as a strategic advisor and advocate for the firm's businesses.

What you will do

• Oversee all phases of litigation, arbitration, and regulatory proceedings
• Manage outside counsel on complex matters and control legal spend
• Handle complex commercial and corporate disputes
• Handle employment and HR disputes
• Handle routine commercial disputes
• Respond to government and regulatory inquiries
• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for business teams, HR, compliance, and finance
• Brief senior leadership and board members on material litigation matters
• Manage litigation holds and discovery processes
• Assist with contract drafting and negotiation to minimize dispute risk

Required qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active bar membership in NY
• 15+ years of complex commercial and corporate litigation experience
• Substantial first-chair or lead-role experience in the New York State Supreme Court, Delaware Court of Chancery and Superior Court, federal district court, and arbitration
• Ability to manage a high volume of simultaneous matters
• Experience handling government and regulatory matters
• Proven track record taking cases through trial, arbitration, or dispositive resolution
• Experience supervising outside counsel and managing litigation budgets
• Willingness and ability to handle routine employment and commercial disputes personally
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills
• Sound business judgment and a practical, risk-calibrated approach to dispute resolution

Nice to have

• Admission or ability to waive into additional jurisdictions
• Prior in-house experience at an operating company or similarly complex organization
• Service as a partner or of counsel at a law firm
• Experience with Delaware corporate and alternative entity litigation
• Depth in employment litigation and HR-adjacent counseling and investigations
• Experience with regulated industries and governmental enforcement matters
• Experience with alternative dispute resolution
• Familiarity with insurance coverage, tenders, and working with carrier-appointed counsel
• Exposure to real estate, construction, or housing-sector disputes

About the company

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities. It is an integrated owner, operator, and innovator that manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments.