General Counsel

American Realty Advisors•Los Angeles, CA

14d•$350,000 - $400,000•Onsite

About The Position

American Realty Advisors (ARA) is one of the largest privately held private equity institutional real estate investment managers in the United States, with over $11.0 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025. ARA invests on behalf of institutional investors through open end perpetual life, core and value-add real estate funds and separate accounts, targeting industrial, residential, retail, and office assets nationwide through direct equity, hybrid debt, mezzanine, and preferred equity structures. This role is based in ARA’s downtown Los Angeles office, so the candidate will be expected to be a resident of Southern California and generally work in person in the office at least four days per week. The General Counsel has ultimate responsibility for the following items: (i) oversight of the HR department including, Vice President – Human Resources and all human resource functions, ensuring that the firm complies with all laws applicable to its employees throughout the country (ii) oversight of the Deputy General Counsel – Real Estate who is responsible for asset management related legal matters, including leases and property management agreements etc., (iii) engagement of outside counsel to assist with the legal work associated with the real properties under ARA’s management, and oversight of the associated legal billings and quality of services, and (iv) oversight of litigation, insured and uninsured, related to the assets under ARA’s management. Additional responsibilities include legal assistance related to audit matters and review and negotiation of ARA contract matters. While not required at the outset, proficiency in the following areas would considered a strong asset and will be expected to be developed as part of the role over time: oversight of fund level legal issues associated with the firm’s two open-end commingled funds, oversight of compliance with the firm’s policies and procedures and all corporate and legal matters related to ARA unrelated to compliance with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which is the responsibility of ARA’s chief compliance officer. ARA’s chief compliance officer is also responsible for all of the tax, ERISA, securities and other matters associated with the operation of the funds themselves. ARA uses outside counsel extensively for a variety of issues associated with the operation of the funds, the real estate functions of the funds, and litigation, tax, ERISA and other related matters. The General Counsel will not be directly responsible for any of these areas.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate required, preferably a member of the California Bar.
Ten years in senior management positions involving corporate management, administrative, and financial operations.
Must possess a broad-based knowledge of contractual issues, particularly that arise in commercial real estate operations, including knowing how commercial real estate transactions occur and the legal issues that occur in those transactions.
Must understand the management of institutional quality retail, industrial, office and multifamily real estate.
Must have a strong working knowledge of contract and risk mitigation issues surrounding the operations of real estate assets.
Has strategic planning skills regarding how to think through critical issues surrounding business and commercial real estate matters.
Able to organize and summarize complex legal information in writing.

Nice To Haves

Top 20% of the graduating class preferred.
Prior in-house and law firm experience preferred.
Real estate-related experience preferred.
Employment law-related experience preferred.
Experience negotiating and drafting property management agreements, leasing services agreements, exclusive listing agreements, access agreements, landlord subordination and consent agreements, and construction contracts is preferred.
Experience in negotiating easements, leases, and other real estate related operational matters is preferred.
Experience in tenant default matters, including tenants in bankruptcy, and litigation seeking possession and monetary judgments is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee and guide all legal matters associated with the management of the assets that ARA manages and ARA’s legal obligations (recognizing that ARA uses outside counsel for all acquisition, disposition, joint venture, debt, securities, tax, ERISA and compliance-oriented matters that ARA’s compliance team does not address).
Oversee, working with outside counsel and asset management, all legal actions related to tenant defaults, including tenants in bankruptcy, litigation, seeking possession, and monetary judgments.
Assist with litigation matters such as construction defect claims, litigation hold notices, responses to discovery in connection with insured litigation, etc.
Assist, in coordination with appropriate ARA personnel, with the annual professional lines insurance application renewals.
Oversee the allocation of expenses for contractual tools and services that benefit ARA and its clients and ensure that the allocation of such expenses is addressed in a manner consistent with applicable contracts and the laws.
Provide updates to the allocation policies, as appropriate.
Review and negotiate the terms of ARA contracts for services, including property management, leasing services, insurance and other contracts.
Ensure that the Fund’s short and long-term business plans comply with applicable laws and rules.
Work closely and collaboratively with the Chairman & CEO and other members of ARA’s leadership team to ensure the organization meets its strategic goals.
Oversee of the Vice President - Human Resources and that Department including responsibility for compliance with employment law and assistance with the periodic updates of the Employee Handbook and State Supplements for all states in which ARA has offices; assist in the review of offer letters, with the negotiation of settlement and release matters associated with employee terminations, etc.
Oversee of the Deputy General Counsel – Real Estate and the asset management contract and lease work performed by the lawyer in that role seeking to ensure that the legal work ARA provides and/or oversees on behalf of its clients are addressed in an effective and cost-efficient manner.
Participate with senior management in connection with ongoing real estate, debt etc. decisions when legal issues are raised by outside counsel.