Associate Counsel in Houston, Texas at Memorial City Mall LTD

The Associate Counsel provides practical, business-oriented legal support to the General Counsel, legal team, and internal stakeholders on real estate, corporate, commercial, and operational matters. This role supports the review, drafting, and negotiation of agreements; assists with legal research and compliance matters; helps manage risk across projects and business operations; and coordinates with outside counsel as needed. The Associate Counsel is expected to exercise sound judgment, communicate clearly, and build trusted relationships while developing broader legal and business expertise within MetroNational’s portfolio.

CORE VALUES

At MetroNational, Integrity, Trust, Impact, and Legacy are more than Core Values - they guide how we work, lead, and show up every day. These Values shape our decisions, interactions, and expectations across the organization.

• Integrity – We serve in the best interest of others
• Trust – We start with strong relationships
• Impact – We innovate to deepen our purpose and ensure future success
• Legacy – Our foundation takes us forward

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Real Estate, Leasing & Transactional Support (45%)

• Review, draft, and support negotiation of real estate and commercial agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, leases, amendments, assignments, access agreements, easements, construction-related agreements, vendor agreements, and other business contracts.
• Assist with legal due diligence for acquisitions, dispositions, development projects, leasing matters, and other property-related transactions.
• Support internal teams on land use, title, survey, permitting, entitlement, easement, and operational issues by coordinating information, researching legal questions, and preparing related documentation.
• Assist with documentation and closing support for financing, development, leasing, and project-related transactions under the direction of the General Counsel or senior legal leadership.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and outside counsel to support timely execution of legal deliverables and business priorities.

Corporate Governance & Commercial Contract Support (25%)

• Assist with entity formation, governance, maintenance, consents, resolutions, and related corporate records for project-specific and corporate entities.
• Review and draft routine commercial agreements, confidentiality agreements, service agreements, amendments, notices, and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and provide concise analysis on corporate, real estate, contract, and compliance issues affecting company operations.
• Maintain organized legal files, templates, trackers, and matter documentation to support efficient legal department operations.

Risk Management & Litigation Support (15%)

• Identify potential legal and business risks in contracts, transactions, projects, and operational matters and escalate issues appropriately.
• Assist with claims, disputes, notices, document collection, and litigation-related coordination under the direction of the General Counsel or outside counsel.
• Support compliance efforts by helping review policies, procedures, contracts, and business practices for alignment with applicable legal requirements.

Legal Operations, Policies & Business Advisory Support (15%)

Provide responsive, practical legal support to business partners while developing a strong understanding of MetroNational’s portfolio, operations, and risk profile.

Monitor legal and regulatory developments relevant to real estate, construction, leasing, corporate governance, and commercial operations.

Assist with drafting, updating, and implementing legal templates, internal guidance, policies, and procedures.

Participate in cross-functional meetings and legal department initiatives as requested, contributing clear updates, follow-through, and organized work product.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Texas, or eligible for admission within a reasonable timeframe.
• 5-7 years of legal experience in real estate, commercial transactions, corporate law, construction, leasing, finance, or a related transactional practice area.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, agreements, amendments, notices, and related transactional documents.
• Strong legal research, writing, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, follow through on details, and provide practical legal support in a fast-paced business environment.
• Professional judgment, discretion, and ability to work collaboratively with legal, operational, and business teams.
• Prior law firm or in-house experience supporting real estate, development, property management, hospitality, retail leasing, construction, or corporate transactions preferred.
• Exposure to mixed-use developments, commercial real estate portfolios, title and survey review, land use matters, financing documentation, or entity structuring preferred.
• Interest in growing within a collaborative, business-focused legal team that supports long-term ownership, development, and operations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Aligns actions and behaviors with MetroNational’s Core Values of Integrity, Trust, Impact, and Legacy.
• Builds trusted relationships with internal business partners through responsive, practical, and professional legal support.
• Communicates clearly in writing and verbally, with the ability to summarize legal issues and next steps for non-legal audiences.
• Exercises sound judgment, discretion, accountability, and attention to detail in legal analysis and work product.
• Manages multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to learn the company’s business, portfolio, and long-term objectives.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, to permit the employee to function in a general office environment and accomplish tasks and duties outlined above.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.