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Senior Counsel-Homebuilding
Centerville Utah
Cole West is a real estate development group focused on developing master planned communities, residential lots, urban in-fill communities, and mixed-use properties throughout the state of Utah. We are founded on the principles of creating value through thoughtful land planning, progressive architecture, and exceptional project-level execution. Using these strategies, we create extraordinary communities that are distinguished by these unique traits and deliver superior returns while elevating the greater fabric of our surrounding communities.
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY: Cole West is hiring a dedicated in-house counsel for its homebuilding and in-house brokerage operations across northern and southern Utah. The role reports to the Division President and support homebuilding (including homebuilder general contracting) and brokerage activities within that business line. It offers direct exposure to homebuilding leadership, broad substantive responsibility, and coordination with Cole West's General Counsel and outside counsel on specialized matters.
DUTIES INCLUDE (but not limited to):
Entity Administration
- Draft and prepare entity formation documents, including operating agreements for special purpose and joint venture entities.
- Create organizational charts for projects and entities.
Homeowners’ Associations
- Draft and prepare homeowners’ association governing documents, CC&Rs, reinvestment fee instruments, and other community documents.
- Coordinate with homeowners’ association management companies.
- Review community budgets, policies, and rules.
Real Property Acquisitions, Dispositions, and Development
- Draft and negotiate letters of intent (LOIs) and purchase and sale agreements for the acquisition of real property.
- Negotiate and draft easements, temporary licenses, development agreements, and other related documents.
- Assist in the closing process.
Sales, Brokerage, and Homebuyer Contracts
- Draft, negotiate, and manage sale-side Real Estate Purchase Contracts (REPCs), addenda, and other homebuyer-facing purchase documents.
- Prepare and maintain brokerage agreements and independent-contractor agreements with sales agents for the in-house brokerage.
- Advise the sales team on Utah real estate licensing, disclosure, advertising, and consumer-protection requirements.
- Coordinate with the brokerage’s Principal Broker on matters affecting the brokerage’s licensing and regulatory obligations.
Construction and Vendor Contracts
- Review and negotiate subcontractor agreements, master services agreements, and related agreements for the in-house general contractor.
- Advise on insurance, indemnity, warranty, lien-release, and bonding provisions.
Financing
- Review and negotiate loan documents, guaranties, and other financing agreements and arrangements for acquisition and construction financing.
- Support draw requests, subordinations, estoppels, payoff coordination, and lender closing deliverables with title and escrow.
- Land Development and Entitlements
- Review preliminary and final plats, subdivision improvement agreements, dedications, and related recorded instruments.
- Support entitlement matters, including annexations, rezones, PUDs, and municipal development agreements.
- Legal Operations & Cross-Functional Support
- Serve as the primary in-house counsel for homebuilding operations in both northern and southern Utah, with limited travel between markets as needed.
- Handle other legal matters that arise for a vertically integrated homebuilder, including marketing guidance and limited IP matters.
- Coordinate with the company’s General Counsel and manage outside counsel and legal spend on specialized matters.
EXPERIENCE:
- Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law in Utah, or eligibility for admission by motion or UBE score transfer.
- At least 4 years of combined law-firm and/or in-house experience in real estate, homebuilding, land development, or construction. Direct experience with residential purchase and sale contracts, subdivision development, HOA governance, or construction contracts is strongly preferred.
- Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with the judgment to give practical, business-focused advice directly to executives and operations teams.
- Comfort operating as the primary counsel for a business line: able to prioritize independently, manage competing deadlines across multiple projects, and know when to bring in outside counsel or coordinate with the General Counsel.
- Familiarity with the Utah real estate market.
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