Lead Counsel

The Lead Counsel, Real Estate will serve as a senior attorney within The Walt Disney Company’s Corporate Real Estate function, providing sophisticated legal advice and transactional support across the Company’s global portfolio of owned and leased real estate, with a primary area of focus in North America. In this role, you will partner closely with Corporate Real Estate, Finance, and business stakeholders to enable innovative, world-class workplaces and ensure that real estate assets are acquired, developed, leased, operated, and optimized in alignment with Disney’s long-term strategic objectives and global footprint.

What You Will Do:

In this role, you will provide expert legal advice and services on issues concerning the rights, obligations, and privileges of the Company in connection with its global real estate portfolio, with a primary area of focus in North America. You will act as a strategic and collaborative legal partner to Corporate Real Estate and other business stakeholders, leading complex transactions, managing risk, and helping translate business needs into practical, commercially effective real estate solutions. You will represent the Company in negotiations with counterparties and governmental agencies, resolve complex legal and business issues, and provide clear guidance to support decision-making in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

• Provide legal support on a broad range of corporate real estate matters, including leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, development, construction, and ongoing operations and maintenance of real estate assets.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex real estate agreements, including office, industrial, retail, hotel, and specialty leases; purchase and sale agreements; development and management agreements; easements; licenses; infrastructure agreements; and related documentation.
• Lead and manage all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including due diligence, title and survey review, risk assessment, and closings, often involving complex, high-value, and multi-jurisdictional deals.
• Advise on land use, zoning, entitlements, and regulatory compliance matters, and recommend practical, business-oriented solutions to mitigate legal and operational risks.
• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Corporate Real Estate and portfolio management teams, aligning legal strategy with leasing, consolidations, exits, and portfolio optimization initiatives.
• Represent the Company in negotiations with landlords, tenants, counterparties, and governmental or regulatory bodies.
• Partner cross-functionally with stakeholders across Legal, Finance, Operations, and other business units to resolve issues and ensure compliance.
• Evaluate legal data and documentation to assess strategies related to disputes or proceedings involving real estate assets.
• Engage and manage outside counsel, including oversight of scope, quality of work, and legal budgets.
• Maintain organized legal records and documentation to support internal reporting, audits, and compliance processes.
• Monitor legal and industry developments and communicate implications to stakeholders.
• Provide clear, practical guidance by translating complex legal concepts into actionable business insights.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Significant senior-level experience in commercial real estate law, with at least 10+ years experience in the field.
• Expertise drafting and negotiating complex real estate agreements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with sound legal judgment.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex matters in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative and strategic mindset with high integrity.
• Experience working independently and within a matrixed organization.
• Experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with land use, zoning, entitlements, and regulatory matters.
• Experience supporting global real estate portfolios or multinational organizations.
• Familiarity with construction, facilities, and real estate operations.
• Advanced degree or coursework in real estate, finance, or business.

Education:

• JD or equivalent
• Admission to California State Bar in good standing or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel

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The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $212,000 to $274,200 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.