About the role
Dedicated to innovative placemaking, Howard Hughes Communities is the real estate platform of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HHH) and is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. Building on that foundation, we foster a culture of curiosity that empowers every employee to shape their own story within our organization.
About the Role
The Leasing Counsel will report directly to the Deputy General Counsel, Houston Region and will serve as the primary leasing attorney supporting Howard Hughes' master planned communities in The Woodlands and Bridgeland. This attorney will own the legal leasing program in the region across the company's office, retail, and ground lease portfolio, partnering directly with leasing agents, property managers, and development teams to get deals done. This role is ideal for a 4+ year attorney with hands-on commercial leasing experience who is ready to run a leasing practice, shape deal strategy, and grow as a key member of an in-house legal team at one of the nation's premier real estate companies.
This position is located in The Woodlands, Texas.
What You Will Do
Draft, review, and negotiate office leases, retail leases, ground leases, letters of intent, and related ancillary documents for both single-use and multi-use properties.
Provide practical, business-minded legal advice on landlord-side leasing matters, including tenant improvement allowances, co-tenancy provisions, percentage rent structures, CAM reconciliation, exclusivity clauses, and other key deal terms.
Lead lease negotiations from initial markup through execution, balancing legal risk with business objectives and helping internal partners move transactions forward efficiently.
Manage and improve the leasing document suite, including form leases, amendments, construction work letters, commission agreements, SNDAs, estoppels, and related documents.
Partner closely with leasing agents, property managers, development teams, and other internal stakeholders to support office, retail, and ground lease activity across the Houston region portfolio.
Coordinate internal efforts to ensure accurate business terms, consistent deal execution, and adherence to negotiated obligations.
Analyze lease language and existing agreements to support operational decision-making, enforcement strategies, and portfolio management.
Supervise, train, and mentor paralegals and less experienced leasing attorneys, as appropriate.
Help streamline leasing workflows and support broader legal and business initiatives as needed.
About You
J.D. degree from an accredited law school; licensed to practice in Texas.
4+ years of direct commercial leasing experience, whether in-house or at a firm with a recognized real estate practice.
Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating office, retail, and ground leases, letters of intent, and related leasing documents.
Working knowledge of landlord-side leasing issues, including tenant improvement allowances, co-tenancy, percentage rent, CAM, and exclusivity provisions.
Understanding of market leasing terms and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
Strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple active deals and guide business partners clearly.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and comfort working in legal management and document systems.
Experience supervising or mentoring paralegals and junior leasing attorneys is preferred.
Exposure to leasing in a master planned community, town center, or large-scale mixed-use environment is preferred.
Experience with ground leases, including build-to-suit and pad site structures, is preferred.
Familiarity with reciprocal easement agreements, declarations of covenants, and similar shared-use property frameworks is preferred.
In-house experience at a developer, REIT, or institutional landlord, and familiarity with Texas landlord-tenant and property law considerations, are preferred.
Confident, collaborative, and business-minded, with the ability to lead the leasing legal function, build strong internal relationships, and move deals forward efficiently.
Detail-oriented, adaptable, and genuinely enthusiastic about commercial real estate and community building.
Benefits Built for You
At Howard Hughes Communities, we offer competitive, market-based compensation that rewards performance and supports career growth. Our comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees at every stage of their career, is focused on holistic wellness-social, emotional, financial, and physical.
Competitive 401k plan
Generous PTO policy
Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage
Voluntary benefits for unexpected life events
Student loan assistance and stipends to assist with lifelong learning
About Howard Hughes Communities
Howard Hughes Communities develops, owns, and operates the nation's premier large-scale master planned communities and mixed-use developments. Our award-winning portfolio includes The Woodlands®, Bridgeland®, and The Woodlands Hills® in Greater Houston; Summerlin® in Las Vegas; Teravalis™ in Greater Phoenix; Ward Village® in Honolulu; and Merriweather District® in Columbia, Maryland. Strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, we offer one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Learn more at communities.howardhughes.com .
NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES
Please note that Howard Hughes Communities does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Howard Hughes Communities will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Howard Hughes Communities explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Howard Hughes Communities.
This job description is not meant to be an "all-inclusive" list of the duties and responsibilities of this job. Other related duties and responsibilities may be assigned. Howard Hughes reserves the right to change or modify job duties as necessary based on business necessity.