Vertex Hospitality Group Is Hiring A Real Estate Legal Counsel Bilingual

Vertex Hospitality is looking for a talented Real Estate Counsel to lead the legal management of its expanding real estate portfolio. This role demands expertise in retail or restaurant leasing, collaboration with diverse teams, and proactive risk mitigation. 🍽️🏢

🌟 About the Role

The Real Estate Counsel will be responsible for structuring, reviewing, and negotiating commercial leases and related agreements while partnering with operations, finance, and franchise teams to ensure legal and operational excellence.

📝 Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial leases, amendments, renewals, and terminations
• Lead and support Letters of Intent (LOIs), ensuring alignment with business and financial goals
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to structure favorable lease terms, including rent, CAM, tenant improvement allowances, and use clauses
• Oversee execution of agreements (leases, MSAs, etc.) and maintain consistency across multiple brands and locations
• Serve as the primary legal contact in negotiations with landlords and their counsel
• Advise on deal structure and risk allocation during lease negotiations
• Support resolution of landlord-tenant disputes, including defaults, notices, and enforcement actions
• Review and advise on real estate legal documents such as Guarantees, Estoppels, and SNDAs
• Handle vendor and construction-related agreements
• Identify legal risks and provide proactive, business-oriented solutions to mitigate exposure
• Develop templates, clauses, and playbooks to ensure consistency and reduce risk
• Monitor lease compliance and advise on potential defaults or breaches
• Draft and respond to legal notices, including default and cure communications
• Partner with external counsel for escalated disputes or litigation
• Provide practical legal guidance to non-legal stakeholders
• Support expansion initiatives for new store openings across multiple brands
• Maintain organized lease documentation and tracking systems
• Create scalable processes to support a growing, multi-brand portfolio
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company standards

🎓 Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active bar membership in good standing (or eligibility to register as in-house counsel)
• 37+ years of experience in commercial real estate law, with a preference for retail/restaurant experience
• Proven expertise in negotiating commercial leases and LOIs
• Strong ability to balance legal risks with business objectives in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills, capable of simplifying complex legal concepts
• Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail
• Bilingual in Mandarin is required