General Counsel

One of the top home builders in the nation (a Fortune 100 Best Company to Work For) is seeking a new General Counsel for their real estate practice. This General Counsel will cover matters in CA, WA, and OR and work daily out of the Orange County office.The RoleThis is a high-autonomy role designed for a sophisticated real estate attorney who has experience both at law firms (handling real estate transactions) and in-house (at a home builder or developer). Please do not apply without this experience.Requirements:10+ years total; 5+ years of broad real estate transactional experience at a recognized law firm and 5+ years in-house with a home builder or developer.Deep experience in sophisticated residential or commercial development (builder/developer side preferred).Active California Bar membership is required.Proven track record of tenure (4–5 years per role) with clear career progression.Ability to commute to Mission Viejo Monday-Thursday (and work from home on Friday).Core Responsibilities:Draft and negotiate complex PSAs, development, land use, and joint venture agreements.Manage title, survey, and easement reviews.Manage one paralegal with upcoming approval to hire a second.Serve as the primary legal partner for West Coast operating divisions.Culture & Perks:Typical 40–50 hour weeks with high predictability and a culture that mandate vacations and family time.Direct access to leadership and the freedom to manage your own schedule.Participation in flagship charitable initiatives, including building homes for disabled veterans.Compensation:Pay is contingent upon experience in real estate (ideally, for a home builder or developer), caliber of law firms worked at, and stability on the resume.The range listed is a base salary only, and does not include a competitive bonus, annual stock grants with equity, or benefits.Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401K with a match, generous PTO, and more.Total comp will significantly increase take-home pay.As the successor to a retiring long-term VP, you will lead regional legal operations with a focus on high-volume, in-house execution rather than outside counsel management. This job is for a doer, not a director of outside counsel.Ready to apply? Email your application directly to Melanie.Kent [at] roberthalf [dotcom] with "OC Real Estate General Counsel" as the subject line.