Counsel, Operations - Atlanta, GA

Cortland•Atlanta, GA

16h•Onsite

About The Position

At Cortland, we operate with a forward-thinking approach that challenges conventional norms and actively seeks insights beyond traditional industry boundaries. As a recognized leader in the multifamily sector, our focus on performance, innovation, and disciplined execution continues to drive strong growth and market leadership. We are committed to building a best-in-class organization by empowering top talent with the resources, autonomy, and support needed to deliver results and advance their careers in a high-performance environment. Role Overview As the Counsel, Operations, you'll serve as the senior legal advisor for the company's residential operations, providing strategic counsel on resident matters, property management, compliance, litigation, and risk management. You'll partner closely with Operations leadership to protect the organization, support community performance, and ensure legal compliance across the residential portfolio.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the Georgia Bar, or eligibility to obtain Georgia in-house counsel authorization upon hire.
7+ years of legal experience supporting multifamily housing, property management, residential real estate, or related operations.
2+ years of in-house Counsel experience preferred
Expertise in landlord-tenant law, Fair Housing, ADA accommodations, lease enforcement, evictions, collections, resident disputes, and premises liability.
Experience managing litigation, regulatory matters, claims, investigations, and dispute resolution.
In-house counsel experience within a multifamily owner/operator, property management company, REIT, or residential real estate organization preferred.
Experience supporting multi-state portfolios and navigating varying regulatory requirements.
Experience supporting real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, development projects, and contract negotiations.
Proven ability to advise executive leadership, manage outside counsel, and deliver practical, business-oriented legal solutions that balance risk management with operational objectives.
Ability to travel as needed to provide legal trainings.

Responsibilities

Serve as the lead legal advisor for Operations and Community teams on issues impacting day-to-day property management activities.
Provide practical legal guidance that supports operational objectives while mitigating risk.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws governing multifamily housing, including Fair Housing, landlord-tenant regulations, ADA requirements, privacy, and consumer protection laws.
Monitor regulatory developments, and recommend operational changes to maintain compliance across the portfolio.
Lead operational compliance reviews, investigations, audits, regulatory responses, and training initiatives.
Partner with Risk Management and Operations leaders to identify, assess, and reduce legal and operational risks.
Advise community management and operations teams on legal matters affecting residential communities.
Counsel stakeholders on resident disputes, lease enforcement, Fair Housing matters, reasonable accommodation requests, evictions, collections, resident safety concerns, and community policies.
Direct litigation strategy and oversee outside counsel for claims, arbitration, administrative proceedings, and dispute resolution matters.
Manage matters involving premises liability, personal injury, property damage, resident disputes, employment-related operational claims, and regulatory investigations.
Analyze claims and litigation trends to identify risk mitigation opportunities and improve operational practices.
Serve as a trusted legal advisor to leaders across Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Asset Management, Risk Management, and Revenue Operations.
Provide practical legal guidance that supports community operations while balancing business objectives and risk.
Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements supporting property operations, vendor relationships, resident services, and other operational initiatives.
Partner with business leaders to evaluate legal risks and develop solutions that support strategic and operational goals.
Translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for operational teams.
Manage outside counsel relationships, litigation budgets, and legal resources related to community operations.
Develop scalable legal processes, policies, and compliance frameworks that promote consistency and operational excellence across the portfolio.
Build strong partnerships throughout the organization to foster proactive risk management and compliance.
Lead a team of 2-3 direct reports with thoughtful leadership focused on departmental and individual professional growth.