Realty Income Corporation
Chartered Legal Executive CILEX (EMEA Asset Management)
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Legal Counsel - Real Estate Portfolio Management (Europe)
About Realty Income
Realty Income (NYSE: O), an S&P 500 company, is a real estate partner to the world’s leading companies. Founded in 1969, we specialise in diversified commercial real estate, managing a portfolio of 15,600 properties across all 50 U.S. states, the UK, and six European countries. With a gross book value of $58bn, we are renowned as "The Monthly Dividend Company®" and have delivered 656 consecutive monthly dividends, earning inclusion in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats® index—having increased dividends for 30 consecutive years.
You will join one of the largest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) globally, as we rapidly expand into the UK and European markets, including the creation of new offices at 3 St. James’s Square, London.
Our European portfolio (including the UK) has seen quarter-on-quarter growth since our first international acquisition—a £429m 12-property portfolio from Sainsbury’s in 2019. Today, the portfolio exceeds $11bn in 483 distinct properties.
This exciting role offers dynamic career growth opportunities as our company and portfolio expand.
Position Overview
Our expansion into Europe demands a proactive legal professional to build and manage asset and property management capabilities. This role focuses on four key areas:
- Supporting the Legal Counsel and Vice President in establishing an effective, scalable legal function for managing our growing European portfolio.
- Collaborating with the Portfolio Management team to enhance value creation.
- Managing renewals, including 1954 Act processes and tactics.
- Contributing to ESG initiatives, including energy efficiency and solar projects.
As the lead on assigned real estate transactions, you will: ✔ Collaborate with the Portfolio Management team and external advisors on multifaceted real estate assets across the UK and Europe. ✔ Direct assigned matters, supervising Legal Assistants and external counsel in developing legal strategies for asset management, value-add, energy projects, and property disputes. ✔ Work with interdisciplinary teams to design optimal approaches in structuring, litigation, and ESG compliance.
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Key Responsibilities
Portfolio Management (PM)
- Coordinate, analyse, and negotiate complex transactions, from drafting lease agreements to closing deals.
- Supervise Legal Assistants while devising optimal legal strategies for transactions like:
- Lease agreements (renewals, oppositions/non-oppositions under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954)
- Ground leases, exclusivity agreements, consents to sublease, deed of surrenders
- License agreements, easements, collateral assignments, rent review frameworks
- Equipment leases, solar/energy sharing agreements
- Present transactions to board of directors, manage execution, and assist with entity governance.
- Evaluate structuring options in UK/European jurisdictions and oversee third-party advisors’ reports.
- Address environmental and legal compliance risks, including energy efficiency/ESG reports.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives—developing legally robust policies and processes for asset transactions and litigation.
Tenant Default and Litigation
- Provide strategic legal counsel in case of tenant default, insolvency, or property disputes.
- Retain/supervise outside counsel (e.g., Landlord/Tenant Act 1954 renewal disputes, title issues).
- Resolve title defects, breach summits, deteriorating finances, and lease disputes.
General Legal Guidance
- Conduct legal research, drafting, negotiation, and document review.
- Advise all departments on compliance, contractual risks, and corporate/regulatory matters.
- Support acquisitions by reviewing non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements.
Other Duties
- Collaborate on corporate legal matters, including incorporations and governance.
- Assume additional responsibilities as needed.
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Candidate Requirements
Must-Have Qualifications & Experience
- A qualified Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX, England & Wales) is essential.
- Expertise in English real estate law, with specific knowledge of:
- Commercial lease law (including 1954 Act lease renewals—opposed and unopposed)
- Property transactions, litigation, and disposals
- Minimum 4+ years of post-qualification experience (preferably in a City of London law firm or commercial REIT, though exceptional candidates outside this range will be considered).
- Fluent written and spoken English (proficient multilingualism in European languages—e.g., French, Spanish, Italian—is a plus).
- Demonstrated integrity, confidentiality, and high ethical standards.
- Ability to build cross-functional and international relationships while embodying flexibility, inclusion, and a collaborative mindset.
- Proven leadership and training capability for Real Estate Legal Assistants.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, especially for board reporting and client-facing scenarios.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with expertise in contract structuring, risk assessment, and negotiation tactics.
Desirable but Not Mandatory
- Experience with real estate in Continental Europe (serial transactions nationally rather than UK-only).
- Fluency in one or more of the relevant languages: French, Spanish, German, or Italian.
Mission & Values
Realty Income’s legacy for 50+ years is built on our mission: "To invest in people and places, delivering dependable monthly dividends that grow over time." Our values prioritise long-term relationships, enabling individuals and communities to flourish economically. We commit to diversity and inclusion, welcoming all talent regardless of background.
Note: This role is subject to enhanced compliance and disclosure requirements, consistent with those of a financial services organisation.
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