VP Legal Services
Equity Residential

Job Info

JOB DESCRIPTION
Working for Equity Residential (EQR), a leading multi-family real estate investment trust (REIT), means creating communities where people thrive. It means striving to provide the best in apartment living, speaking boldly about new ideas for innovation, and inspiring creativity in the ways we work together. We have the best people in the business, and our experience shows in our dedication to our residents and in how much we value each other as colleagues. That's why our employees say they are proud to work at Equity, a company that gives our residents a place where they canLive Remarkably, and offers a culture where our employees have the opportunity to make their mark.
Reporting to the General Counsel, the Vice President - Legal Services is principally responsible for advising the Company with respect to operational legal compliance and regulatory issues, including, but not limited to, matters related to the operation and management of the Company's multi-family and mixed-use properties, IT and data privacy/data security matters, and consumer-facing disclosures and communications. The Vice President - Legal Services manages complex legal matters and provides legal opinions and advice to all levels of management on a wide variety of issues. The Vice President - Legal Services leads a team of legal professionals and will engage with and manage work performed by outside counsel. In addition, the Vice President - Legal Services frequently leverages his/her knowledge to conduct negotiations of issues of material import to the Company and consistently works to identify, assess, mitigate and/or eliminate significant actual or potential legal risks to the Company.
*WHO YOU ARE:*

* *Enterprise Wide Thinker.*
You understand the organization, the business and how it operates. You understand how people and processes work together to find and create solutions.
* *A Solution-Oriented Team Player.*
You are united with teammates and follow through on commitments.
* *Analytical and Creative.*
You like thinking outside the box to come up with smart solutions to new challenges, and you know that there isn't always one clear solution.
* *Decisive.*
You have a sense of urgency and the ability to manage a diverse group of people and priorities.
* *A Strong Communicator.*
Your writing and speaking skills are clear and effective, helping you connect well with others.
* *Organized and Confident.*
You are flexible, composed, and able to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously while confidently interacting with individuals across all levels of the organization.
* *Motivated.*
You invest extra energy to reach your goals.
*WHAT YOU'LL DO:*

* *Works collaboratively across the Legal Services group and with business teams*
*to address compliance and other issues impacting the Company's business, including, among other areas:*
* property management and operations
* residential and commercial marketing and leasing activities
* revenue enhancement and cost control initiatives
* technology and process improvement initiatives
* data privacy, retention, security, and analytics processes and policies
* data security incident response processes
* property and corporate level vendor contracts and disputes
* HOA/condo association, easements, and other land-use or real estate related issues and disputes
* affordable housing, rent stabilization and rent control laws and programs
* *Along with other members of the Legal Services team, monitors, analyzes and interprets legislative and regulatory developments*
impacting the Company's operations and works with business leaders and the Legal Services team to design and implement policies and procedures to address such developments and further the Company's compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
* *Manages and acts as an escalation point for Legal Services team members and outside counsel*
supporting the day-to-day operations of the Company's residential and mixed-use communities.
* *Manages and acts as an escalation point for Legal Services team members charged with oversight of the Company's compliance*
with affordable housing set-aside programs and rent regulation in various jurisdictions.
* *Works collaboratively with risk management and litigation teams within the Legal Services group to:*
* design and implement risk-mitigation strategies, including property level safety and security efforts
* address the Company's compliance with, and actions against the Company involving the federal Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and related accessibility and discrimination-based federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and regulations
* protect the Company's rights through appropriate contractual indemnification and insurance requirements
* manage aspects of and participate in resolution of disputes and litigation
* *Works collaboratively with investment officers and the transactions legal team to address issues*
arising in connection with the purchase and sale, development, and financing of multifamily and mixed use properties by the Company, including, for example, matters arising under ground leases, affordable program and rent regulation restrictions, and joint venture agreements.
* *Works collaboratively with the General Counsel and the corporate legal team in connection with preparing and presenting materials for the Board of Trustees*
and other public company-related reporting or disclosures.
* *Responsible for preparing budgets for the Legal Services team and negotiating rates*
and alternative fee arrangements with outside counsel.
* Performs other duties as necessary.
*REQUIREMENTS:*

* J.D. required.
* Must be licensed to practice in Illinois and willing to relocate to Chicago. 10+ years experience at a law firm or in a leadership role with an in-house corporate or governmental legal team.
* Strong supervisory/management experience required, with 5+ years of experience in a supervisory/management role.
* Must have a solid understanding of legal aspects of complex business operations and the ability to work effectively with and articulate complex legal concepts and solutions to all levels of management.
* Knowledge and experience in multi-family and/or mixed-use real estate operations is a plus. Must have strong analytical skills and good business acumen, as well as excellent writing and communication skills.
* Must have a strong work ethic, the capability to effectively prioritize and manage a large and varied work flow, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment.
PrimaryLocation Chicago, IL, United States ABOUT THE TEAM We are currently seeking a creative, organized, and analytical VP, Legal Services to join our Legal team in our Chicago office. Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Vice President, you will be responsible for advising the Company with respect to operational legal compliance and regulatory issues, including, but not limited to, matters related to the operation and management of the Company's multi-family and mixed-use properties, IT and data privacy/data security matters, and consumer-facing disclosures and communications.