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General Counsel - Property Management

New York, New York, United States

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building sustainable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns a portfolio of more than 25,000 apartments across 28 states that includes 25,000 units under management. Fairstead’s commitment to communities is realized through a comprehensive platform that leverages in-house expertise in acquisitions, development, design and construction, asset management, and property management.

Fairstead’s primary mission is to provide high quality housing to all regardless of income, and to make our stakeholders feel “Right at Home.” We accomplish this through an empathetic and innovative approach, and by utilizing our interdisciplinary platform as an investor, developer, owner, and operator.

Fairstead’s Core Values: Innovation, Determination, Integrity, Humility, Empathy and Partnerships

The General Counsel, Property Management will serve as the primary legal advisor for the firm’s property management division, overseeing all legal, regulatory, and risk-related matters arising from day-to-day operations across a large, diverse affordable housing portfolio.

This role requires a hands-on candidate with deep expertise in affordable and multifamily housing law, strong command of landlord-tenant and fair housing issues, and the ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

The ideal candidate brings prior in-house or dedicated outside counsel experience supporting large property management organizations and is comfortable balancing high-level strategy with on-the-ground problem-solving. Familiarity with governmental housing programs, insurance and risk management frameworks, and real estate service contract structuring will be key to success.

Responsibilities:

  • Serve as the primary legal advisor to the property management division, providing strategic counsel on all legal and compliance matters.
  • Draft, negotiate, and advise on property-level contracts, including vendor and service agreements, access licenses, and other operational documents.
  • Oversee legal guidance on landlord-tenant law, fair housing compliance, VAWA, Section 504, and other housing-related regulatory requirements.
  • Partner with site and regional leadership to resolve tenant disputes and respond to agency or governmental inquiries.
  • Counsel the operations and risk management teams on insurance coverage, claims handling, and allocation of liability across vendors and partners.
  • Advise on property-level incidents, compliance matters, and disputes with neighboring property owners.
  • Manage and coordinate outside counsel in litigation, administrative proceedings, and agency matters related to property operations.
  • Contribute to policy development and compliance frameworks that strengthen operational integrity and reduce exposure.

Requirements:

  • J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (New York preferred).
  • 10+ years of legal experience, including significant experience advising on property management or multifamily housing operations.
  • Deep knowledge of landlord-tenant law, HUD and LIHTC compliance, fair housing, and related regulatory requirements.
  • Experience with Section 504 and Reasonable Accommodation (RA) compliance.
  • Experience handling Fair Housing and other non-vendor-related claims.
  • Strong business acumen with the ability to balance legal risk and operational objectives.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills with both business and operations teams.

Diversity in backgrounds and experiences is key to Fairstead’s success. Being an equal opportunity employer is a central tenet of our philosophy that shapes who we are and the communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure competitive total compensation that is commensurate with experience, location, and other market benchmarks. 

 

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