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Director, Legal UK & Europe

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Greystar

1mo ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior & Expert Level
  • London

AI generated summary

  • You must have post-qualification experience in a top-tier law firm, strong legal drafting skills, excellent project management, and knowledge of European real estate laws. Team player with good judgment.
  • You will manage legal operations for real estate assets, advise on risks, oversee contracts, liaise with external counsel, ensure compliance, and implement effective legal processes.

Requirements

  • Demonstrable post-qualification experience in a top-tier law firm, including experience related to the real estate private investment and asset management area.
  • In-house legal or secondment experience preferred but not essential.
  • Excellent legal drafting skills and the ability to understand complex legal issues and recommend and implement strategies, decisions, and solutions.
  • Superior judgment and ethical practices.
  • Demonstrated skills in interpersonal communication to establish and build internal and external relationships, manage external legal counsel and service providers, and effectively interact with executives, senior-level management groups, clients and other team members.
  • Excellent project management skills and evidenced ability to take initiative in the area(s) of focus in order to develop and execute a project plan from conception through implementation and evaluation.
  • Strong experience and knowledge of laws and applicable regulatory requirements within the European real estate industry.
  • Excellent organisation skills, including the ability to prioritise workload, achieve deadline driven defined outcomes and displays good judgment under pressure.
  • A positive team player, skilled at working collaboratively with team members, key business leaders, and external legal counsel to drive results and support the wider team and business objectives.
  • Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment, characterised by change and rapid growth.

Responsibilities

  • Oversight of the operational and investment legal European business covering Greystar’s operational assets in both the student and multifamily build to rent sectors, with a focus on real estate but covering legal matters relating to the following areas: Greystar owned asset management, third party owned asset management, operations, marketing, capital projects, data and analytics, sustainability, operational risk, health and safety and insurance.
  • Day to day legal contact for the European operational and investment business and Investment partners, becoming a “go to” trusted advisor and ensuring risks are appropriately managed in the context of business objectives.
  • Refine existing and build new processes within the operations and investment business to ensure the efficient and effective review of contracts and appropriate outsourcing to external legal counsel.
  • Be the main point of contact for the external legal counsel, including establishing and maintaining the relationship, agreeing the scope of engagement, leading on outsourcing decision making, monitoring service levels, track and report legal spend and billing arrangements.
  • Take steps and implement processes to ensure legal advice is applied uniformly and consistently across the European operational and investment business.
  • Working with external legal counsel and other advisers as appropriate, ensure key precedent contracts (such as property management agreements, ASTs, Opco leases, procurement contracts) are regularly reviewed and remain robust.
  • Create and implement processes, tools, systems, and methods for tracking, managing, and reporting progress on the completion and delivery of legal transactions/documents and provide Greystar’s key business leaders with progress reports and updates as needed.
  • Stay abreast of emerging issues and market practices in the private equity real estate industry, provide updates to Greystar’s key business leaders, and recommend, develop and implement policies, practices, and other strategies to ensure compliance and mitigate or reduce risk.
  • Review and comment on property management agreements from both a third party management and asset owner perspective.
  • Advise on sustainability, health and safety, fire and building safety legal and regulatory requirements and recommend, develop and implement policies, practices, and other strategies to ensure compliance and mitigate or reduce risk.
  • Working with external legal counsel, oversee the refinancing of operational assets from a legal perspective, including feeding into certificates of title and liaising with Investment partners.
  • Oversee from a legal perspective key capex works to operational assets, including remediation works.
  • Oversee and manage the outsourcing of tenant claims, including rent arrears.
  • Working with the procurement team, outsource to external legal counsel as appropriate the review of commercial contracts (for example marketing, supplier of goods and services), feeding into the positions that should be taken on key clause/provisions.
  • Working with external legal counsel and the data privacy team, ensure appropriate data protection procedures are in place to minimize the risk of data breaches and ensure legal contracts include appropriate data protection protections and appropriate steps are being taken to deal with any data subject requests or similar.
  • Working with the compliance team and assistant company secretary, monitor and implement any compliance changes required in the European investment and operations business.

FAQs

What is the primary responsibility of the Director, Legal UK & Europe?

The primary responsibility is to oversee and coordinate legal-related activities for Greystar Europe’s operations and investment business, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

What sectors does Greystar operate in?

Greystar operates in institutional-quality rental housing, logistics, and life sciences sectors.

What qualifications are preferred for this position?

A demonstrable post-qualification experience in a top-tier law firm related to the real estate private investment and asset management area is preferred. In-house legal or secondment experience is also beneficial.

What types of legal matters will the Director be handling?

The Director will handle legal matters relating to asset management, operations, marketing, capital projects, data and analytics, sustainability, operational risk, health and safety, and insurance.

Is experience in contract management required?

Yes, excellent legal drafting skills and the ability to understand complex legal issues are required, including the review and management of contracts.

Will the Director be required to work with external legal counsel?

Yes, the Director will be the main point of contact for external legal counsel, managing relationships and overseeing outsourcing decisions.

What skills are necessary for this role?

Skills required include superior judgment, project management ability, interpersonal communication, organizational skills, and the capacity to work collaboratively in a team environment.

How will the Director contribute to compliance efforts?

The Director will monitor and implement any compliance changes required in the European investment and operations business and develop strategies to mitigate risks.

What are the key areas of focus for legal advice in this role?

Key areas include sustainability, health and safety, fire and building safety, and data protection requirements.

Is there a focus on emerging market practices?

Yes, the Director is expected to stay abreast of emerging issues and market practices in the private equity real estate industry and recommend appropriate policies and practices.

Greystar

A Leading, Fully-Integrated Global Real Estate Company

Real Estate
Industry
10,001+
Employees
1993
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Founded in 1993, Greystar provides world-class service in the residential rental housing industry. Our innovative vertically integrated business model integrates the management, development and investment disciplines of the rental housing industry on international, regional and local levels. This unique approach and our commitment to hiring the best professionals have resulted in record growth, making us one of the most respected and trusted global real estate companies. Because our vertically integrated business model includes both investment and service-oriented businesses, we’re able to maintain a constant presence in local markets and create value in all phases of the real estate cycle. Our international platform provides economies of scale, financial sophistication, institutional quality reporting and tremendous capital relationships, while our city offices provide local market expertise and execution. Supported by a global team of 20,000+ employees, Greystar’s experienced and cross-functional executive team boasts on average over 23 years of industry experience and provides a diverse perspective throughout the investment process. Over the years, Greystar has learned what’s important to people when it comes to a place to call home. That’s why we continually strive to provide beautiful living environments and innovative services that enhance the living experience. We take great pride in knowing that our homes are inviting places for residents to celebrate life’s important moments.

Benefits

  • Professional Development: Ongoing support is available for career advancement opportunities in addition to corporate training programs

  • Healthcare: Health insurance (including company-paid opportunities) is offered, along with competitive dental and vision insurance plan options

  • Paid Time Off: Full-time team members receive generous paid time off – including your birthday! – as well as paid sick leave, personal days, and company holidays

  • Paid Parental Leave: Maternal and paternal paid leave is available for the birth or adoption of a child

  • Employee Assistance Program: Experienced counselors are available 24/7 for confidential assistance to listen and help you find solutions at no cost to you