Corporate Counsel, Real Estate, Real Estate Legal
Seattle, United States of AmericaOn-siteFull-timeMid · 5+ yearsH1B likely
About this role
Amazon is seeking a strategic, business-minded real estate attorney to support the development, expansion, and management of our Grocery and Physical Stores portfolio—including Whole Foods Market, One Medical, and other physical retail formats—as well as manufacturing facilities and Worldwide Operations sites. You'll work on some of the most dynamic and varied real estate deals across Amazon's physical footprint, directly impacting our ability to serve customers in stores and through our supply chain.
Key job responsibilities
- Lead legal strategy on complex commercial real estate transactions including retail leases, ground leases, build-to-suit agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and development contracts for grocery stores, physical retail locations, manufacturing facilities, and operations sites
- Serve as strategic legal advisor to business partners across Grocery, Physical Stores, Manufacturing, and Worldwide Operations on real estate acquisitions, lease negotiations, and development projects
- Identify and proactively flag legal and business risks in real estate transactions, providing practical solutions that balance risk mitigation with operational needs
- Manage and direct outside counsel on specialized matters including title review, survey analysis, environmental due diligence, and complex lease negotiations—maintaining oversight of legal strategy, quality, and costs
- Advise on land use, zoning, entitlements, and permitting strategies to support store development, manufacturing expansions, and operations facilities across multiple regulatory environments
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Store Development, Design, Operations, Finance, Tax, Construction, and Environmental to drive projects from site selection through store opening or facility launch
- Structure creative deal solutions for novel legal and business challenges across Amazon's growing grocery, retail, manufacturing, and operations real estate portfolio
- Support post-acquisition and post-lease-execution matters including construction contracts, property management agreements, landlord disputes, and ongoing operational real estate issues
- Drive process improvements and leverage technology to increase efficiency and scalability across Amazon's growing physical stores and operations real estate portfolio
- Stay current on real estate laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting retail, grocery, manufacturing, and industrial development
A day in the life
Your day might start on a call with outside counsel negotiating a new Whole Foods Market lease and aligning with clients on key terms. By mid-morning, you've pivoted to reviewing a purchase and sale agreement for an operations facility, flagging title issues and coordinating with the business team on diligence timelines. After lunch, you're collaborating with Store Development and Finance teams to structure a creative lease solution for a multi-format grocery concept. That afternoon, you're on a cross-functional call with the Economic Development team reviewing a developer's disclosed tax incentive to confirm Amazon's compliance obligations are properly scoped. Before end of day, you're back in lease-mode, directing outside counsel on co-tenancy language in a new store deal while simultaneously advising business partners on a landlord dispute at an existing location. Throughout the day, you balance urgent matters with strategic work, making high-judgment calls that directly impact Amazon's ability to grow our physical presence and serve customers.
About the team
You'll join Amazon's Real Estate Legal team, a dynamic group supporting one of the world's most diverse and fast-growing real estate portfolios. Our team supports grocery stores, physical retail formats, manufacturing facilities, and operations sites. We value strategic thinking, business partnership, and creative problem-solving. You'll work closely with experienced real estate attorneys and have exposure to senior leadership on high-profile projects.
- 5+ years of post bar admission legal experience
- Experience in Real Estate Law
- Experience of a mix of corporate law firm and in-house work
- Experience in development, land use or economic development
- Proven ability to identify legal issues proactively and provide strategic guidance to business stakeholders
- Experience managing or directing outside counsel on real estate matters
- Comfortable making high-judgment decisions in ambiguous situations
- Experience with retail, grocery, manufacturing, or large-scale industrial real estate projects
- Expertise in land use, zoning, entitlements, or economic development matters
- Ability to drive process improvements and increase efficiency and scaling in legal operations
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex legal concepts for business audiences
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
USA, NY, New York - 169,300.00 - 229,000.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 153,900.00 - 208,200.00 USD annually
USA, WA, SEATTLE - 153,900.00 - 208,200.00 USD annually
Key job responsibilities
- Lead legal strategy on complex commercial real estate transactions including retail leases, ground leases, build-to-suit agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and development contracts for grocery stores, physical retail locations, manufacturing facilities, and operations sites
- Serve as strategic legal advisor to business partners across Grocery, Physical Stores, Manufacturing, and Worldwide Operations on real estate acquisitions, lease negotiations, and development projects
- Identify and proactively flag legal and business risks in real estate transactions, providing practical solutions that balance risk mitigation with operational needs
- Manage and direct outside counsel on specialized matters including title review, survey analysis, environmental due diligence, and complex lease negotiations—maintaining oversight of legal strategy, quality, and costs
- Advise on land use, zoning, entitlements, and permitting strategies to support store development, manufacturing expansions, and operations facilities across multiple regulatory environments
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Store Development, Design, Operations, Finance, Tax, Construction, and Environmental to drive projects from site selection through store opening or facility launch
- Structure creative deal solutions for novel legal and business challenges across Amazon's growing grocery, retail, manufacturing, and operations real estate portfolio
- Support post-acquisition and post-lease-execution matters including construction contracts, property management agreements, landlord disputes, and ongoing operational real estate issues
- Drive process improvements and leverage technology to increase efficiency and scalability across Amazon's growing physical stores and operations real estate portfolio
- Stay current on real estate laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting retail, grocery, manufacturing, and industrial development
A day in the life
Your day might start on a call with outside counsel negotiating a new Whole Foods Market lease and aligning with clients on key terms. By mid-morning, you've pivoted to reviewing a purchase and sale agreement for an operations facility, flagging title issues and coordinating with the business team on diligence timelines. After lunch, you're collaborating with Store Development and Finance teams to structure a creative lease solution for a multi-format grocery concept. That afternoon, you're on a cross-functional call with the Economic Development team reviewing a developer's disclosed tax incentive to confirm Amazon's compliance obligations are properly scoped. Before end of day, you're back in lease-mode, directing outside counsel on co-tenancy language in a new store deal while simultaneously advising business partners on a landlord dispute at an existing location. Throughout the day, you balance urgent matters with strategic work, making high-judgment calls that directly impact Amazon's ability to grow our physical presence and serve customers.
About the team
You'll join Amazon's Real Estate Legal team, a dynamic group supporting one of the world's most diverse and fast-growing real estate portfolios. Our team supports grocery stores, physical retail formats, manufacturing facilities, and operations sites. We value strategic thinking, business partnership, and creative problem-solving. You'll work closely with experienced real estate attorneys and have exposure to senior leadership on high-profile projects.
Basic Qualifications
- Juris Doctor and membership in one state bar or equivalent- 5+ years of post bar admission legal experience
- Experience in Real Estate Law
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in real estate transactions- Experience of a mix of corporate law firm and in-house work
- Experience in development, land use or economic development
- Proven ability to identify legal issues proactively and provide strategic guidance to business stakeholders
- Experience managing or directing outside counsel on real estate matters
- Comfortable making high-judgment decisions in ambiguous situations
- Experience with retail, grocery, manufacturing, or large-scale industrial real estate projects
- Expertise in land use, zoning, entitlements, or economic development matters
- Ability to drive process improvements and increase efficiency and scaling in legal operations
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex legal concepts for business audiences
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, NY, New York - 169,300.00 - 229,000.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 153,900.00 - 208,200.00 USD annually
USA, WA, SEATTLE - 153,900.00 - 208,200.00 USD annually