Senior Manager - Legal (Leasing)

Key Responsibilities

Leasing Legal Advisory:

• Provide legal advice and guidance on leasing matters, including negotiation, structuring, and drafting lease agreements, amendments, and renewals.
• Review, analyze, and interpret lease contracts to ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Advise on issues related to commercial, residential, and retail leases, as well as subleases and lease modifications.

Contract Negotiations & Management:

• Lead negotiations for complex leasing agreements with landlords, tenants, and other stakeholders.
• Draft and review lease agreements, ensuring favourable terms for the organization while minimizing legal risks.
• Manage the lifecycle of leasing contracts, ensuring timely renewals, amendments, and compliance with lease terms.

Legal Risk Management:

• Identify and assess potential legal risks related to leasing, including disputes, defaults, or other breaches of contract.
• Provide strategies for risk mitigation and recommend solutions for resolving legal issues.
• Oversee the resolution of disputes, including litigation, arbitration, or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:

• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal real estate and leasing laws, including zoning, environmental regulations, and building codes.
• Stay updated on changes in leasing laws and regulations and communicate relevant changes to the business.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., finance, property management) to ensure adherence to legal requirements.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and coordinate with the legal firms specializing in leasing matters.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including real estate, finance, and operations teams, to support leasing strategies and goals.
• Manage external legal counsel when necessary, ensuring cost-effective and efficient use of resources. Land acquisition
• Due Diligence & Compliance: Coordinate and oversee the due diligence process, including title searches, land surveys, and environmental assessments.
• Ensure all necessary permits and approvals are obtained before completing acquisitions.
• Manage legal documentation related to land acquisition, including contracts, agreements, and regulatory submissions.
• Conduct detailed title searches and review public records to verify the ownership history and legal status of land parcels.
• Identify any encumbrances, liens, easements, covenants, or restrictions on the property title that could impact the acquisition process.
• Examine and analyze deeds, mortgages, tax liens, court judgments, and other relevant legal documents.

Land acquisition

• Due Diligence & Compliance: Coordinate and oversee the due diligence process, including title searches, land surveys, and environmental assessments.
• Ensure all necessary permits and approvals are obtained before completing acquisitions.
• Manage legal documentation related to land acquisition, including contracts, agreements, and regulatory submissions.
• Conduct detailed title searches and review public records to verify the ownership history and legal status of land parcels.
• Identify any encumbrances, liens, easements, covenants, or restrictions on the property title that could impact the acquisition process.
• Examine and analyze deeds, mortgages, tax liens, court judgments, and other relevant legal documents.

Required Skills Commercial Leasing Experience (Mandatory)

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience

  in commercial leasing law or real estate transactions.
• Proven ability to

  draft, review, and negotiate commercial lease agreements

  , including retail, office, and industrial leases.
• Strong understanding of key lease provisions:

  rent structures, CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges, renewal/termination clauses, assignment and subletting, exclusivity, and use restrictions

  .
• Familiarity with

  local zoning laws, ADA compliance

  , and other regulatory considerations impacting lease agreements.
• Ability to

  manage lease negotiations

  independently or in coordination with internal stakeholders or external counsel.
• Experience handling

  lease amendments, renewals, terminations, estoppel certificates, and SNDA agreements

  .
• Strong

  legal drafting and analytical skills

  , with attention to detail and risk mitigation.