Senior Legal Counsel - Real Estate

ST - Seattle

401 S Jackson St

Seattle, WA 98104, USA

Salary range is $140K to $240K with a midpoint of $190K. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including :

• Health Benefits : We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans : 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off : Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave : 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card : All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement : Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Compensation Practices : We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under general direction, the Senior Legal Counsel - Real Estate, provides professional senior level legal counsel to the Agency on a variety of highly complex legal matters, with an emphasis on eminent domain, property acquisition and relocation matters; has independent decision making responsibility for assigned legal matters; negotiates, drafts and approves agreements; comments on proposed legislation; prepares or reviews legal documents; represents the Agency in litigation; and provides specific and strategic legal advice directly to senior management and board members on significant legal matters that affect the overall Agency. Provides support to the General Counsel on miscellaneous matters.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

Sound Transit’s legal department seeks a municipal real estate attorney. As in-house counsel to a regional transit authority, we advise the governing elected board and agency staff on complex legal matters and develop strategies and creative solutions that balance potential legal risks with agency and public interests. We work with elected officials, the Federal Transit Administration, engineers, transportation planners, and other dedicated agency staff to plan, design, build, and operate the region's high-capacity transportation system. Under the direction of the General Counsel, the senior legal counsel provides legal advice and counsel to the Agency on a variety of matters, focusing primarily on municipal law and real estate, including eminent domain and complex real estate transactions. Other desirable experience includes negotiation of intergovernmental agreements, MTCA cost-recovery litigation, utility relocation coordination, relocation matters, and other duties as needed. This position is intended to complement our existing team of 16 attorneys in a collegial and collaborative work environment.

The position involves a municipal real estate law focus and requires at least eight years of relevant transactional and / or litigation experience. The work requires a solid understanding of complex real property issues (including valuation), and may include acquiring property through condemnation or under threat of condemnation, structuring and negotiating real estate deals allocating fee and easement rights, transit oriented development, reviewing, drafting, and negotiating agreements with federal, state, and local governments, as well as counseling the Board and staff in implementing the requirements of the Uniform Act and Washington eminent domain law, and managing outside counsel in condemnation and environmental litigation.

Our work covers a wide range of issues. Attorneys are encouraged to grow and pursue new areas of interest as the issues and their own curiosity dictates.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience : Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a Juris Doctorate Degree. Ten years experience in Washington transactional real estate, including housing and commercial developments, utility relocations, and consulting with outside counsel on matters involving real property litigation (e.g., eminent domain and MTCA cost recovery litigation); Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications :

Required Knowledge and Skills :

Physical Demands / Work Environment :

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

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Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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