Director, Global Real Estate Counsel

Job description

Why Ryan? Hybrid Work Options Award-Winning Culture Generous Personal Time Off (PTO) Benefits 14-Weeks of 100% Paid Leave for New Parents (Adoption Included) Monthly Gym Membership Reimbursement OR Gym Equipment Reimbursement Benefits Eligibility Effective Day One 401K with Employer Match Tuition Reimbursement After One Year of Service Fertility Assistance Program Four-Week Company-Paid Sabbatical Eligibility After Five Years of Service This job opportunity offers a pivotal role in a fast-growing professional services firm. Reporting to the Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, the successful candidate will serve as a primary in-house legal advisor for the Firm's global real estate portfolio, supporting office leasing, construction and build-out projects, facilities operations, and strategic real estate initiatives across the United States, Canada, Europe/Asia-Pacific (EAP), India and Latin America. The Director, Corporate Counsel, Global Real Estate will draft, review, negotiate, and manage complex leases, amendments, assignments, subleases, renewals, terminations, estoppels, SNDAs, construction and project agreements, facilities services agreements, vendor contracts, and other real estate-related documents. The role requires sound commercial judgment, strong project-management skills, and the ability to manage outside counsel and local advisors across multiple jurisdictions while balancing legal risk, business objectives, cost, and speed. The scope encompasses support for leases acquired through mergers and acquisitions activities, real estate transactions, construction and development support, vendor contracting, dispute management, policy and process development, and cross-functional collaboration with the Real Estate and Facilities Team, Finance, Tax, IT, Integration, and senior leadership. This position will be based in our Plano, Texas headquarters and will enjoy a hybrid work environment. Key Responsibilities Serve as the primary legal partner for the Firm's global real estate, facilities, construction, and occupancy matters across operations in the US, Canada, EAP, India and Latin America. Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on office leases, license agreements, renewals, amendments, assignments, subleases, terminations, consents, guarantees, estoppels, SNDAs, notices, letters of intent, work letters, and related real estate documents. Provide legal support for new construction, tenant improvement, renovation, build-out, and other capital projects, including construction contracts, design and architecture agreements, engineering agreements, owner/landlord coordination documents, change orders, project close-out requirements, warranties, lien waivers, and related risk allocation, and identify, communicate, and mitigate key legal and business risks. Draft, review, and negotiate vendor agreements and other real estate-related contracts, including facilities services, maintenance, security, signage, workplace technology, storage, parking, property management, and consulting agreements. Manage outside counsel and local advisors in multiple jurisdictions; set matter strategy, budgets, and timelines; and ensure practical, business-oriented advice. Advise on real estate-related regulatory, operational, and compliance matters, including occupancy requirements, permitting, health and safety, accessibility, environmental considerations, insurance, and indemnity. Support real estate disputes, claims, construction issues, landlord/tenant conflicts, vendor performance issues, and pre-litigation matters, including managing outside counsel and negotiating resolutions. Provide legal support for the M&A and Integration teams with respect to acquired office locations and integrations, including lease diligence, assignment and consent issues, transition services, and real estate portfolio integration. Prepare and present clear, practical guidance to senior leadership and stakeholders, translating complex legal issues into actionable business recommendations. Qualifications and Experience Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, and active license to practice law in at least one jurisdiction; ability to practice as in-house counsel in the jurisdiction where employed. Minimum of 8 years of relevant legal experience, with significant experience in commercial real estate leasing, corporate real estate portfolio management, construction/build-out matters, and vendor contracting. Prior in-house legal department experience strongly preferred; experience supporting a multi-office professional services or other corporate occupier environment is a plus. Demonstrated ability to independently handle and manage complex leasing and real estate matters in the US and Canada, and to coordinate local counsel and advisors as needed in EAP, India and Latin America while controlling costs and delivering practical solutions. Strong understanding of risk allocation, indemnities, insurance, limitation of liability, dispute resolution, confidentiality, data/security requirements, and practical contracting frameworks. Excellent business judgment, negotiation, drafting, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex legal issues for diverse business audiences. Demonstrated ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment; prioritize multiple projects; maintain composure under pressure; and deliver high-quality, solution-oriented legal guidance. Team-oriented mentality and strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across Legal, Real Estate and Facilities, Finance, Tax, IT, and business leadership. Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have at least intermediate skills in Microsoft® Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and be proficient with AI for increasing efficiency. Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will not formally manage other employees in the Legal Department; however, the role will manage outside counsel, consultants, vendors, and other external advisors as needed. Work Environment: Standard indoor office working environment. Occasional long periods of sitting while working at computer. Ability to occasionally work across time zones and support matters in the US, Canada, EAP, India and Latin America.