Assistant General Counsel - Global Occupier Services

Job Description Summary

The successful candidate for this position will join a dynamic legal team with direct responsibility for providing corporate, transactional, labor & employment, and litigation support to Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Occupier Services (GOS) business in North America. The candidate will proactively support the GOS businesses, foster C&W's dynamic, collaborative, and practical culture, and may provide assistance to other Cushman & Wakefield Service Lines and work on special projects as they arise.

This role includes oversight of senior counsel, strategic risk management, and executive-level collaboration, reporting to the Associate General Counsel – GOS and playing a key role in shaping legal strategy for major client engagements and corporate initiatives. The position is hybrid (minimum 2 days/week in the office) and located in Chicago.

• Draft, review and negotiate complex regional and global outsourcing agreements (real estate, facility management, transaction management, project management, lease administration, property management, procurement, brokerage & capital markets and consulting, e.g., master service agreements, property management agreements, local country agreements, vendor/subcontractor agreements, license agreements, employee transfer agreements, etc.).
• Consistently analyze and mitigate complex contractual risk while increasing efficiency and consistency in contracting.
• Advise and counsel internal business clients on legal policies and the implications of proposed transactions; maintain open communication and good working relationships with both internal business clients and Company clients.
• Manage pre‑litigation strategy and dispute resolution process regarding contract performance issues; oversee litigation and labor & employment matters for GOS businesses in North America, coordinating with C&W litigation counsel and the Associate General Counsel – GOS.
• Collaborate with Assistant General Counsels, Associate General Counsels and internal business clients to share best practices, implement risk‑management strategies, craft negotiation strategy, and follow corporate directives, policies and procedures.
• Assist Senior Counsel and other Assistant General Counsels in developing training for internal clients.
• Demonstrate the ability and willingness to work under time‑sensitive deadlines and be productive in fast‑paced environments with multiple competing priorities.
• Research, analyze and stay current on legal issues and laws, legislation, regulations, and court decisions affecting the outsourcing commercial real estate industry and real estate service providers.
• Collaborate with internal procurement Assistant General Counsel regarding GOS procurement activities and with the North America Compliance Director on compliance matters.
• Perform any and all other related duties as required or requested.

• J.D. from a leading law school required.
• Combination of private practice and in‑house experience preferred, with the latter more critical.
• Bar admission in good standing.
• Requires 12+ years of relevant broad‑based commercial law experience across multiple business lines and jurisdictions, including at least 3 years representing U.S. companies.
• 4+ years of merger & acquisition and business outsourcing experience a must.

• Expertise in outsourcing of Facilities Management, Project Management, Property Management, and Commercial Real Estate.
• Demonstrated customer/client focus.
• Experience in M&A highly valued for the position.
• Ability to multi‑task and remain productive in stressful, time‑sensitive situations and fast‑paced environments.
• Exceptional organizational, writing and communication skills, along with strong legal and analytical skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and creatively in various team environments independently.
• Innovation fluency with the ability to generate ideas quickly and adapt to change to drive innovation.
• Executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Strategic leadership, problem solving, and decision making.
• Advanced negotiation and risk‑management skills.
• Ability to engage with…