General Counsel

Company: Acquest Development Location: Williamsville, NY Compensation: $200,000 - $250,000 Acquest Development is seeking an experienced, business-oriented attorney to serve as in-house counsel supporting all aspects of the company’s commercial real estate development, acquisition, financing, leasing, ownership, and disposition activities across multiple states. This individual will act as a strategic legal advisor to executive leadership while partnering closely with the development, finance, and property management teams. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience representing developers, owners, investors, and/or lenders in sophisticated commercial real estate transactions and will have the judgment, responsiveness, and practical business mindset required in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment. General Counsel & Transaction Manager will report to: • Chief Operating Officer Key Responsibilities – General Counsel Real Estate Acquisitions & Dispositions • Draft real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and land assemblage contracts. • Prepare purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, option agreements, assignment agreements, escrow instructions, and closing documentation in tangent with the Senior Vice President and/or Director of Acquisitions & Dispositions. • Identify title defects, encumbrances, and development constraints and implement practical solutions with the Development team. • Lead all legal aspects of land acquisitions and dispositions, from initial pursuit through closing. • Manage transaction timelines, diligence periods, closing deliverables, and stakeholder coordination to ensure successful execution of project milestones. Development • Support the Development team on all phases of site acquisition, zoning, annexation, permitting, and entitlement strategy. • Draft and assist with negotiating: o Easement agreements o Reciprocal easement agreements (REAs) o Access agreements o Utility agreements o Development agreements o Construction Contracts o Restrictive covenants o Shared infrastructure agreements o Stormwater/drainage agreements • Work closely with development personnel to resolve title, zoning, entitlement, access, utility, and permitting issues affecting project feasibility and transaction schedules. Leasing • Draft: o Industrial leases o Office leases o Retail leases o Ground leases o Build-to-suit leases o Lease amendments, assignments, and estoppels • Support landlord and tenant negotiations. Financing • Lead legal review of: o Construction loan documents o Permanent financing documents o Guaranties o Equity and joint venture documents • Coordinate lender due diligence and closing requirements. Construction & Contracting • Draft and negotiate with the Development team: o AIA agreements o Consultant agreements o Architect/engineer contracts o Vendor agreements o Procurement contracts • Advise on mechanics liens, payment disputes, claims, and risk allocation. • Lead legal review of GMP agreements, construction management agreements, AIA contracts, consultant agreements, and major procurement contracts. Corporate & Risk Management • Support national and international entity formation, governance, annual compliance, and interstate registrations. • Manage insurance claims, litigation strategy, and outside counsel relationships. • Provide proactive legal guidance on contract risk, employment-related matters, compliance, and operational issues. Strategic Leadership • Serve as a member of Acquest's senior leadership team, providing strategic legal guidance on transaction structuring, project execution, organizational growth initiatives, and risk management. • Develop internal contract standards, policies, templates, and legal workflows. • Maintain strong relationships with title companies and outside counsel. Qualifications Required • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. • Active admission to the New York State Bar. • Minimum 10+ years of legal experience in commercial real estate, development, finance, and/or transactional law. • Experience with: • Commercial acquisitions/dispositions • Title and survey review • Leases • Construction Contracts/Development Agreements Preferred • Experience serving as in-house counsel for a developer, owner/operator, REIT, institutional investor, or major real estate law practice. • Multi-state transactional experience. • Tax, corporate structuring, or joint venture experience. Core Competencies • Strong business judgment • Executive presence • Ability to independently manage multiple simultaneous transactions • Practical, solutions-oriented mindset • High responsiveness and attention to detail • Ability to balance legal protection with business execution