Managing Director & Deputy Chief Counsel – Corporate Real Estate 

Your Opportunity

Managing Director & Deputy Chief Counsel – Corporate Real Estate 

 

We believe that, when done right, investing liberates people to create their own destiny. We are driven by our purpose to champion every client's goal with passion and integrity. We respect and appreciate the diversity of our employees, our clients, and the communities we serve. We challenge conventions strategically to create value for our clients, our firm, and the world. We live and bring to life the concept of "Own Your Tomorrow" every day.

 

We are seeking an experienced corporate real estate attorney to lead Schwab's enterprise real estate legal function. Reporting to the Managing Director & Chief Counsel - Technology, IP, and Contracts, this role serves as the senior legal advisor to Schwab's Corporate Real Estate team and provides strategic legal support across the firm's real estate portfolio.

 

As Schwab's lead corporate real estate attorney, you will establish and oversee contracting strategy, governance, and legal risk management for a diverse and complex real estate portfolio. You will advise senior business leaders on high-impact transactions, dispute resolution, portfolio strategy, acquisitions, dispositions, and real estate matters arising from broader corporate initiatives. You will also provide people leadership and talent development within the real estate legal function while driving continuous improvement, consistency, and scalability across the practice.

 

What You Are Good At

 

You will serve as Schwab's lead legal advisor for enterprise real estate matters, responsible for:

• Establishing and maintaining legal strategy, governance frameworks, templates, standards, and playbooks for real estate transactions across the enterprise.
• Advising Corporate Real Estate leadership and other senior stakeholders on legal, regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risks related to real estate transactions and portfolio management.
• Negotiating, drafting, and advising on a broad range of real estate agreements, including leases, subleases, lease amendments, purchase and sale agreements, construction and design agreements, easements, licenses, and other portfolio-critical arrangements.
• Leading legal support for complex, strategic, high-value, and escalated real estate transactions involving office locations, branches, data centers, and other facilities.
• Providing legal guidance on real estate aspects of acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, and other strategic corporate initiatives.
• Advising on dispute resolution, pre-litigation matters, landlord-tenant disputes, contractor claims, governmental matters, tax issues, permitting matters, ADA-related issues, and other real estate-related controversies.  
• Managing outside counsel and other external advisors to ensure high-quality, timely, and cost-effective legal support aligned with Schwab's business objectives.  
• Partnering with Risk Management, Finance, Accounting, Corporate Governance, Litigation, Construction, Property Management, Lease Administration, Procurement, and other stakeholders to facilitate business objectives while managing risk.  
• Providing leadership, coaching, and professional development for attorneys and legal professionals supporting the real estate practice, including direct supervisory responsibility within the function.
• Driving operational excellence through process improvements, knowledge management, technology-enabled solutions, training programs, and enhancements to legal tools, forms, policies, and procedures.   

What you have

 

• JD from an accredited U.S. law school. Admission to and good standing with the bar of at least one U.S. state.
• 12+ years of sophisticated commercial real estate legal experience at a leading law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination thereof.
• Deep expertise negotiating and advising on complex commercial real estate transactions involving multiple stakeholders, including leases, subleases, acquisitions, dispositions, construction agreements, development matters, and portfolio management issues.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives and business leaders on strategic initiatives and high-risk legal matters.  
• Strong business judgment and the ability to balance legal, regulatory, operational, and commercial considerations in a pragmatic and solutions-oriented manner. 
• Demonstrated experience managing outside counsel and legal spend while achieving favorable business outcomes.  
• Strong relationship-management skills with a proven ability to build credibility and influence across legal, business, risk, finance, and operational functions.
• Experience developing and implementing legal operating models.
• Proven ability to manage a high-volume legal practice through strategic use of technology, standardized processes, and data-driven workflows, enabling effective legal support at scale while maintaining appropriate risk oversight.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, superior drafting and negotiation abilities, and exceptional attention to detail.  
• Experience recruiting, leading, mentoring, and developing legal talent.
• Ability to manage numerous priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining sound judgment and professionalism.  
• A strategic, collaborative, and business-focused approach, combined with impeccable integrity and ethical standards. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while effectively collaborating across cross-functional teams and organizational levels.