VP - Senior Counsel

Description

 VP - Senior Counsel

Full-Time

Remote

The VP - Senior Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor for the day-to-day operations of Conifer's asset management and property management lines of business — designing enterprise-wide risk frameworks, navigating affordable housing regulatory requirements, and protecting the company from systemic liabilities. Working closely with the Chief Legal Officer and cross-functional teams in Asset Management, Property Management and Corporate Office functions, the successful candidate will be a trusted, highly responsive, and solutions-oriented legal partner.

The main areas of legal activity requiring expertise:

Contract Architecture & Vendor Management

• Establish enterprise-level contract standards, templates, and standard operating procedures for high-value vendor partnerships, technology platforms, and asset-level and property-level services across the portfolio

• Negotiate enterprise agreements, master service agreements (MSAs), and strategic vendor contracts, ensuring favorable indemnity, liability limits, insurance, and data protection provisions

• Streamline the commercial contract lifecycle across all operational divisions to balance business speed with sound risk protection

Regulatory Compliance & Government Relations

• Formulate proactive compliance strategies to navigate evolving municipal, state, and federal real estate mandates, affordable housing program rules, environmental laws, and consumer protection requirements

• Advise on affordable housing regulatory frameworks including LIHTC regulatory agreements, HUD requirements, and state and local housing authority (HFA) rules affecting the portfolio

• Act as a primary legal interface with local and state regulatory agencies, housing authorities, building departments, and elected officials on zoning interpretations, municipal compliance, and enforcement actions

• Interpret the business impact of emerging regulatory trends and implement policy changes to reduce corporate exposure

Fair Housing, Civil Rights & Accessibility

• Oversee the investigation and resolution of Fair Housing, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and civil rights or discrimination complaints across the portfolio

• Partner with operational leaders to draft and audit enterprise-wide accessibility policies and anti-discrimination frameworks, including reasonable accommodation and modification procedures

• Represent the organization, or direct specialized counsel, in administrative audits and investigations by agencies such as HUD, state HFAs, and civil rights commissions

Litigation Management & Risk Assessment

• Oversee the company's operational litigation portfolio — general liability, and commercial matters — to identify systemic operational vulnerabilities

• Direct outside litigation counsel, define defense and settlement strategies, approve major filings, manage legal spend, and provide regular status updates to the CLO

• Conduct routine corporate risk assessments across all business lines and deploy mitigation programs to minimize corporate liability

People & Culture

• Review and advise on HR-related policies as they relate to multi-state staff and applicable employment law, in coordination with People & Culture and the CLO

Requirements

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum eight (8+) years of law firm or in-house legal experience, including experience in a corporate in-house operations role

• Deep, high-level understanding of real estate operational mechanics, commercial insurance structures, and systemic regulatory risks

• Experience working with affordable housing regulatory frameworks (LIHTC, HUD, state HFA / housing authority programs) is strongly preferred

• Demonstrated success navigating sensitive investigations, dealing with regulatory bodies, and interfacing effectively with public officials

• Prior in-house counsel experience in a property management, real estate, or affordable housing environment is preferred

• Proficient in legal research and writing, with the ability to make practical, business-focused recommendations

• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook)

EDUCATION

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school

• Active member in good standing of a state bar; admission in NY, NJ, MD, PA, VA, and/or CO is a plus

  ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED

• Effective communicator — able to translate complex legal matters into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal staff
• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of matters with strong organizational and time management skills
• Solutions-oriented with a proactive, hands-on approach to legal support
•  Flexible — able to prioritize competing demands, address issues as they arise, and adapt quickly when needed
•  Exercises sound business judgment and professionalism at all times
• Resourceful; effective research and problem-solving skills, able to "think outside the box"
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a geographically distributed team
• Positive, outgoing attitude toward colleagues, residents, and third parties