The Knoxville,TN based Senior Counsel serves as a senior legal advisor and strategic leader, responsible for supporting the legal aspects of the company’s real estate portfolio, facility revenue team, dealer program, retail joint ventures and construction team. This role provides high-level counsel on complex transactions, development initiatives, and regulatory matters, while leading a team of legal professionals and collaborating with leadership to drive business objectives. The position plays a critical role in shaping strategy, managing legal risk, and ensuring compliance across the enterprise.
Essential Functions
- Draft, review, and negotiate real estate contracts, lease agreements, purchase and sale agreements, easements, and related documents.
- Lead and manage the legal function for real estate (United States and Canada), dealers, construction, environmental, utilities, facility revenue.
- Serve as a strategic partner to senior executives, advising on legal implications of real estate decisions and business strategy.
- Oversee legal risk management related to property use, construction, zoning, environmental compliance, and title issues.
- Direct resolution of high-stakes disputes involving landlord-tenant relationships, dealer relationships, land use, and property rights.
- Develop and implement enterprise-wide policies and procedures for real estate lifecycle management and compliance.
- Lead cross-functional legal support for real estate, construction, facilities, finance, and operations teams.
- Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement within the legal department.
- Provide thought leadership on emerging legal trends and regulatory developments in real estate.
- Build and lead a high-performing team ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Set strategic direction for legal support of business teams.
- Champion collaboration across departments to ensure legal consistency and operational efficiency.
- Support legal team innovation in legal processes and technology adoption to improve service delivery and reduce risk.
- Serve as a role model for ethical conduct, professionalism, and leadership within the organization.
- Participate in executive-level decision-making and contribute to corporate governance as needed.
- Provide support for other areas of the legal department as needed.
- Complete other duties as assigned.