General Counsel – Landlord/Tenant Litigation

Location: Santa Monica, CA

Multi-Family Luxury Residential Real Estate

Schedule: Monday–Friday, ~8am to 5pm

Position Overview:

A well-established and rapidly growing real estate group managing multiple high-end multifamily properties throughout Los Angeles is seeking an experienced General Counsel to lead all internal legal matters related to landlord/tenant litigation. This is a hands-on, standalone role ideal for an attorney looking to bring legal operations in-house and make a meaningful impact by reducing outside counsel reliance, streamlining processes, and ensuring full legal compliance across a large portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

• Represent the company in court for landlord/tenant disputes, unlawful detainers, and other related litigation matters.
• Draft, review, and manage legal documentation including leases, notices, court filings, and settlement agreements.
• Provide day-to-day legal counsel to ownership and property management teams on California and LA-specific housing regulations, rent control, and fair housing laws.
• Quickly assess and respond to tenant complaints with potential legal implications.
• Maintain an active calendar of court dates, legal filings, and litigation milestones.
• Act as the primary point of contact for internal legal inquiries, litigation strategy, and compliance issues.
• Collaborate with internal departments on risk management and legal best practices.
• Track legal spend and support the organization’s goal to internalize and optimize legal operations.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in California
• Minimum of 5 years of legal experience in landlord-tenant law, with a strong focus on eviction proceedings and litigation
• Proven courtroom experience managing cases, hearings, and trials independently
• Deep understanding of California Civil Code, Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, and relevant tenant laws
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills with the ability to translate legal concepts to non-legal teams
• Comfortable working autonomously in a fast-paced, high-volume property management environment

Preferred:

• Prior in-house legal experience within real estate or property management
• Tech-savvy with interest in helping modernize internal systems and processes

Company & Culture:

This is a long-standing real estate operation with a diverse and seasoned team, many employees have been with the company for decades. As part of a new wave of strategic hiring, they are seeking professionals who can bring fresh ideas, drive structure, and help elevate internal systems.