Job Description

Reporting to the Deputy Vice President, Asset Management Legal, the Attorney, Asset Management serves as the organization’s primary legal advisor on all landlord-tenant matters. The Attorney monitors, tracks, and advises on housing court cases and tenancy issues across the portfolio. They oversee and manage partnerships with outside legal counsel on litigation, subpoenas, and insurance claims.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Landlord-Tenant and Housing Court Matters
• Serve as the organization’s lead point of contact for all landlord-tenant legal matters, providing day-to-day advice and guidance to property management and operations staff
• Monitor and track the full caseload of landlord-tenant litigation and housing court proceedings handled by outside counsel, ensuring timely progress and consistent case strategy
• Review and assess individual case files, pleadings, and court filings to evaluate litigation posture and risk
• Advise internal teams on lease obligations, tenancy terminations, holdover and nonpayment proceedings, remaining family member issues, and enforcement processes in accordance with applicable federal, state, and city housing regulations
• Proactively identify patterns or recurring issues across housing court matters and recommend policy or procedural changes to reduce litigation risk
• Evaluate settlement proposals and negotiation strategies presented by outside counsel, providing approval or direction as needed
• Provide guidance on regulatory compliance related to subsidized and supportive housing programs as it intersects with tenancy and housing court matters
• Train and advise property management staff on best practices for tenant communications, documentation, and lease enforcement to minimize litigation exposure
• Subpoenas and Legal Process
• Oversee agency response to subpoenas, particularly those arising from landlord-tenant and housing court matters, coordinating with outside counsel as needed
• Ensure timely and compliant handling of legal document requests and administrative processes
• Insurance Claims
• Liaise with outside counsel managing insurance claims on behalf of the agency on any tenant related housing claims
• Track claim status, provide internal reporting, and support risk mitigation strategies
• General Legal and Administrative Support
• Serve as the key point of contact between Breaking Ground and outside law firms handling litigation and other legal matters
• Develop internal policies, procedures, and training related to landlord-tenant practice and housing litigation, compliance
• Collaborate cross-departmentally with property management, compliance, and finance teams on tenancy-related risk and operational issues

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active member in good standing of the New York State Bar
• 10-12 years of hands-on experience in landlord-tenant litigation and housing court practice, including motion practice, trial preparation, and settlement negotiation
• Demonstrated ability to monitor, track, and manage a high volume of landlord-tenant matters simultaneously
• Experience managing outside counsel relationships and overseeing litigation strategy
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and city housing regulations (e.g., HUD, Section 8/Section 9 subsidized housing programs)
• Excellent written and oral communication, negotiation, and organizational skills
• Experience with legal research tools (LexisNexis, Westlaw)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite