Deputy General Counsel

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns and manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments, including pipeline, across 28 states. As an integrated owner, operator, and innovator, Fairstead brings development, construction, and property management under one unified platform to deliver high-quality affordable housing that serves our residents at scale.

At Fairstead, we believe affordable housing should be thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and responsibly operated. We seek to create and preserve housing that serves residents while delivering long-term value to communities, partners, and stakeholders.

Fairstead challenges industry norms through our tech-forward, entrepreneurial approach to affordable housing. In addition to core real estate capabilities, we operate innovative service lines designed to improve resident outcomes, strengthen communities, and drive operational efficiency. We embrace digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, including AI, to build scalable systems that support sustainable growth, grounded in a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, dedication, and integrity.

Fairstead is seeking a Deputy General Counsel to serve as a senior member of its legal department and a key partner to the General Counsel. This is a true Deputy General Counsel role, with broad involvement across the company’s real estate transactional work; its finance, accounting, human resources, and asset management teams; its alternative and ancillary business lines; and its compliance function. 

It is a strong opportunity for an attorney looking to take on greater responsibility and a broader mandate in an in-house environment. The Deputy General Counsel will report directly to the General Counsel, supervise members of the in-house legal team, manage outside counsel, and act on behalf of the General Counsel as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and support the legal work relating to Fairstead’s real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, development, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and financings, many of which involve Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), tax-exempt bonds, HUD programs, and Section 8.
• Partner with the finance team on financings and capital structuring, including the structuring of debt and equity across the capital stack.
• Provide legal advice and guidance to internal departments, including human resources, accounting, and asset management, on employment, contract, and operational matters.
• Provide legal support to the company’s alternative and ancillary business lines and new business ventures.
• Review and support the company’s responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) and requests for qualifications (RFQs), including related contract terms, representations, and submission requirements.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on general corporate matters, including entity formation and corporate governance.
• Oversee legal and regulatory compliance across the company’s affordable housing programs, corporate operations, and business lines, including certain securities compliance matters relating to the company’s capital raising and investment activities, risk management, and internal policies.
• Review and approve transaction and corporate documents prepared by in-house attorneys and outside counsel, including purchase and sale agreements, loan and equity documents, partnership and operating agreements, and regulatory agreements.
• Manage outside counsel and external resources, ensuring the effective and efficient use of external legal services and appropriate management of legal spend.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop the in-house legal team, including attorneys, paralegals, and legal staff, and allocate work across the team.
• Collaborate effectively with the General Counsel and senior leadership to develop legal strategy, provide legal advice, and align legal objectives with overall business goals.
• Manage multiple priorities and transactions simultaneously in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the New York State Bar and in good standing.
• Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, including partner-level experience (or the proven equivalent) at a large law firm and increasingly senior leadership roles in an in-house position.
• Experience with a variety of complex transactions, and a proven ability to manage multiple deals simultaneously.
• Strong general corporate and finance experience, including capital structuring, financings, and compliance.
• Litigation experience preferred.
• Interest in taking on a broad and expanding mandate, including support for the company’s finance team and alternative business lines.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop legal staff and to manage outside counsel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex legal issues and provide practical solutions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate legal concepts effectively to both legal and non-legal stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

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.