Senior Counsel

Milhaus•Phoenix, AZ

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

Milhaus is an award-winning, mixed-use development, construction, and property management company that specializes in Class A, urban, multifamily residential buildings. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Milhaus is comprised of inspired and industrious individuals who are passionate about the development of mixed-use and multifamily communities. We provide exceptional customer experiences and create solutions for neighborhoods that positively impact communities by providing unparalleled expertise in real estate, investment, development, construction and management. This role is able to be based in Indianapolis, Phoenix, or Orlando. The Senior Counsel – Risk Management & Litigation will be responsible for managing litigation, insurance claims, risk management, and related legal matters affecting the Company's ownership, development, construction, property management, and corporate operations. The ideal candidate will have 8–10 years of experience in litigation, insurance coverage, risk management, or real estate-related disputes and possess strong business judgment, the ability to manage outside counsel, and a practical approach to resolving legal and operational risks. This position will report directly to the Associate General Counsel and work closely with executive leadership, operations, property management, construction, development, human resources, and finance teams.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
Active license and good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
8–10 years of experience, preferably with a law firm and/or in-house legal department.
Experience handling litigation, insurance, claims, or risk management matters.
Experience managing outside counsel and litigation budgets.
Ability to travel at least 10% of the time for property visits, mediations, trials, depositions, training, and business meetings as needed.
Valid driver’s license in the state of residence
Strong understanding of litigation strategy and dispute resolution.
Working knowledge of insurance coverage and risk transfer principles.
Excellent negotiation and problem-solving skills.
Ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives.
Strong project management and organizational abilities.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to independently manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborative approach and ability to build strong relationships across departments.
Ability to work independently and efficiently manage time / workload.
Ability to work under deadline pressure and extra hours if needed.

Nice To Haves

Real estate, multifamily, construction, hospitality, or property management industry experience preferred.
California litigation, landlord/tenant, and/or employment law experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage the Company's nationwide litigation portfolio, including: Premises liability claims, Personal injury matters, Fair housing claims, Employment-related disputes (including wage and hour), Contract and commercial disputes, Construction defect and construction-related claims, Resident and tenant litigation
Develop litigation strategy and partner with business stakeholders to achieve favorable outcomes.
Select, retain, and manage outside counsel.
Review pleadings, motions, discovery responses, settlement agreements, and litigation budgets.
Evaluate litigation exposure and provide recommendations regarding settlement, mediation, arbitration, and trial strategy.
Maintain litigation reporting and reserve tracking processes.
Assist with insurance brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, and internal stakeholders regarding property, casualty, worker’s compensation, and professional insurance policies
Renter’s insurance captive
Review and negotiate insurance provisions in contracts.
Analyze coverage issues and coordinate responses to coverage disputes.
Manage significant claims and insurance recoveries.
Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and operational risks across the organization.
Develop and implement risk management policies, procedures, and training programs
Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting multifamily housing, property management, construction, and real estate operations.
Partner with operational leaders to proactively address risk exposures.
Assist in developing best practices for incident response, claims reporting, and loss prevention.
Assist with compliance programs and internal investigations.
Develop and deliver training regarding: Risk management practices, Litigation avoidance, Fair housing compliance, Contract management, Claims reporting and documentation