Description:
Position Summary:The Commercial Attorney will support ESRT's business teams, including Observatory, property management and leasing, and corporate teams, including accounting, IT, HR and marketing, on a variety of legal matters, primarily review/negotiation of commercial contracts and management of litigation, in coordination with outside counsel. The Attorney will be the primary contact for the business teams on commercial matters, with responsibly to issue spot, draft agreements and consult outside counsel as needed. Typical commercial contracts include design and construction agreements, location agreements for events at the Empire State Building Observatory, licensing agreements for the Empire State Building trademarks, confidentiality agreements and vendor engagement agreements. The Attorney will also be expected to assist the legal team in development of forms and a contract management system. Additionally, the Attorney will manage outside counsel with respect to litigation, primarily consisting of landlord-tenant matters and contract disputes.
Responsibilities:
- Advise business teams on a variety of legal issues, using the assistance of expert outside counsel, where needed.
- Review and negotiate commercial contracts, including but not limited to, design and construction agreements, location agreements for events at the Empire State Building Observatory, licensing agreements for the Empire State Building trademarks, confidentiality agreements and vendor engagement agreements.
- Manage outside counsel on litigation matters related to landlord-tenant matters and contract disputes.
- Additional responsibilities as directed.
What Success Looks Like:
To be successful, a candidate should have at least 8 years' of combined experience working at a law firm and in-house, with exposure to the real estate industry. A successful candidate has experience as the lead attorney negotiating agreements, can work independently with limited supervision, and has excellent written and oral communication skills. A successful candidate is open to learning new practice areas and tackling new challenges and volunteers to take on new projects.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Experience in a law firm plus in-house experience.
- Experience as the lead attorney negotiating agreements.
- Energy and eagerness to learn new practice areas.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Business minded.
- Organized with attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and own assignments.
- Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and related software
Education & Experience:
- J.D. required; admitted to practice in New York.
- At least 8 years' combined practice in law firm corporate or real estate group and in-house.
