Sr. Counsel, Real Estate

Sr. Counsel, Real Estate at Tesla

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What to Expect

Tesla is looking for an experienced and highly motivated Corporate Counsel with a minimum of 5+ years of commercial real estate leasing and development experience. The ideal candidate will have national leasing and subleasing experience negotiating sophisticated transactions (industrial, commercial and retail leasing), and real estate development, land use and acquisition experience with a broad general commercial real estate background, including the ability to handle acquisitions, disposition, finance and other general portfolio management matters.

This attorney will be responsible for providing strategic, high‑level real estate legal advice to various internal teams, including the Real Estate, Design, Construction, Finance, Policy, EH&S, Engineering and Supercharger teams.

This position requires a strong work ethic, including experience in managing a large number of transactions; outstanding deal and time management skills and the ability to prioritize a heavy workload efficiently.

What You’ll Do

• Represent the company on all commercial real estate transactions, including complex real estate agreements, real estate and land acquisitions, compliance requirements, and contractual obligations

• Negotiate a high volume of complex real estate leases, subleases, licenses, and agreements within tight deadlines (retail, commercial, industrial leases including but not limited to build‑to‑suit and retrofit leases for sales, service and delivery centers, energy warehouses, corporate facilities, workplace, Supercharger locations); draft, negotiate and finalize real estate purchase and sale agreements and related closing documents

• Draft and review ancillary real estate documents (amendments, assignments, terminations, easements, license agreements, NDAs, brokerage agreements, SNDAs, estoppels, etc.)

• Review all due diligence items, including organizational documents, environmental site assessments, Title commitments, ALTA surveys, CC&Rs, easements and handle closing matters when applicable

• Identify, analyze, and communicate complex business and legal issues that may have a significant impact to Tesla’s real estate portfolio; provide advice to proactively manage the company’s legal and operational risks while supporting business goals

• Address lease interpretation issues related to existing and new locations, assess risks and make sound and practical judgement calls

• Work closely with Real Estate and Lease Administration teams to handle post‑lease execution issues and landlord/tenant relationships and resolution of claims or disputes

What You’ll Bring

• Member in good standing with the California or Texas bar or ability to register as in‑house counsel

• 7+ years experience either in‑house or in a top‑tier law firm handling sophisticated commercial real estate transactions, including leases and real estate acquisitions

• Flexible, well‑organized and comfortable working in a fast‑paced technology environment

• Ability and desire to work independently and with little oversight is a must; ability to learn quickly and advise competently on issues that are new to you, as well as making fast and sound decisions

• Strong drafting and analytical skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and organizational and planning skills with the capacity to simultaneously handle a variety of complex matters under strict deadlines and pressure

• Ability to form a strong working relationship with internal business partners

Benefits

• Aetna PPO and HSA plans – 2 medical plan options with $0 payroll deduction

• Family‑building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits

• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans – options with $0 paycheck contribution

• Company‑paid Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution when enrolled in the high‑deductible Aetna medical plan with HSA

• Healthcare and dependent‑care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits

• Company‑paid Basic Life, AD&D, short‑term and long‑term disability insurance

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