About This Role
The Florida Corporate Counsel serves as the organization's in-house legal advisor, protecting the company's interests across its hospitality, retail, and residential properties in Florida. The role oversees leasing, contracts, financing, insurance, property tax, building, zoning, and municipal code issues, and corporate compliance matters, providing practical legal guidance to ownership, Human Resources, and Property Managers. Success in this role means sound, well-documented agreements, minimized legal and financial risk, timely filings, and leadership that can make decisions with confidence.
Responsibilities
- Provide legal counsel to Human Resources and Property Managers on employee legal issues
- Draft contract riders for all expenses greater than $5,000
- Review and approve invoices for various projects
- Draft new shopping center and office leases
- Draft lease extensions for shopping center and office tenants
- Perform background checks on prospective tenants and major contractors
- Update and create management agreements for Dahlmann-managed properties
- Oversee property and liability insurance in coordination with the company's insurance broker
- Oversee new mortgages and the refinancing of existing loans
- Assist with property acquisitions and 1031 exchanges
- Oversee property tax appeals
- Oversee the Sanibel Inn Property Owners' Association if and as directed by hotel management
- Attend City of Sanibel planning and city council meetings as needed
- Prepare property tax and property insurance budget figures for all properties
- File with the state for corporate licenses for Florida properties
- Complete Lee County personal property tax valuation forms and oversee all personal property tax filings, appealing valuations when necessary
- Assist the company CPA with preparation of income tax returns
- Update Employee Manuals for all properties
- Update the Sanibel Inn Condominium Rental Agreement
- Work in conjunction with Ann Arbor Corporate Counsel as needed
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school required
- Active member in good standing of The Florida Bar required
- 5+ years of legal experience in commercial real estate, corporate, and/or employment law
- Working knowledge of commercial leasing, real estate financing, 1031 exchanges, property tax appeals, insurance programs, construction law, and corporate entity compliance
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and legal research tools
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, with sound judgment, discretion, and strong attention to detail