Assistant Counsel

Keystone Custom Homes•Lancaster, PA

10h

About The Position

Keystone Custom Homes is seeking an Assistant Counsel to support the General Counsel and the Vice President of Land and Counsel in providing legal guidance and services across all aspects of our residential homebuilding and land development operations. This role will work closely with the General Counsel, the Vice President of Land and Counsel and the executive leadership to help manage legal risk, ensure regulatory compliance, support business operations, support land acquisition and development efforts and contribute to the company's continued growth and success. The Assistant Counsel will handle and assist with a broad range of legal matters including, but not limited to, contract review and drafting, corporate governance, real estate transactions, zoning and land use, customer disputes, regulatory compliance and litigation.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
Admission to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with license in good standing
Minimum of 2 years of legal experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, real estate legal department or combination thereof
Strong working knowledge of contract and transactional law, corporate law, real estate law, litigation, and zoning and land use
Strong working knowledge of general corporate legal principles
Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Effective communication and interpersonal skills with ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-lawyers
Sound judgment and ability to balance legal considerations with business objectives
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving business environment
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with General Counsel, the Vice President of Land and Counsel, executive leadership, business leaders and cross-functional team members
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, AI and legal research platforms

Nice To Haves

Experience in homebuilding, residential construction, real estate development, or construction law
Experience handling customer disputes, warranty issues, or consumer protection matters
Experience working with cross-functional business teams in a corporate or real estate environment

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate real estate and land development contracts, construction agreements, vendor and trade partner contracts, sales documents, general business agreements and forms, and other transactional documents
Ensure contracts, real estate documents and other legal documents comply with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies
Provide day-to-day legal advice and support to internal departments including operations, sales, marketing, warranty, construction, human resources, IT and customer relations
Support with identifying and assessing legal risks related to construction, warranties, customer relations, marketing programs, sales practices, and business operations
Support with recommendations of practical, cost-effective solutions to mitigate legal exposure
Support the General Counsel and the Vice President of Land and Counsel in developing and implementing risk management, real estate and business strategies
Support with monitoring and researching state, federal, and local laws and regulations affecting homebuilding, residential construction, real estate development, warranty and sales
Assisting in ensuring company compliance with zoning, land use, environmental, permitting, and other regulatory requirements
Help maintain and update company policies, procedures, and standard forms to reflect current legal requirements
Assist in managing and resolving customer disputes, warranty claims, construction defect allegations, consumer complaints, and other consumer issues
Litigation support and coordination with outside counsel
Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda, correspondence, and pleadings
Assist in managing case files and tracking deadlines to ensure deadlines are met
Serve as a point of contact with homebuyers, trade partners, municipalities, lenders, title companies, suppliers, and other external parties
Represent Keystone Custom Homes professionally in legal and business matters
Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Assist with corporate governance matters, board resolutions, and entity maintenance
Support due diligence for acquisitions, financing, and strategic initiatives and acquisitions
Handle special projects and additional legal matters as assigned by the General Counsel and Vice President of Land and Counsel