---
title: 'Senior Litigation Attorney at Fairstead ESC LLC'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-litigation-attorney-fairstead-esc-llc-new-york-new-york-k8dm9k9t22dz'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-13'
---

# Senior Litigation Attorney at Fairstead ESC LLC

- **Company:** Fairstead ESC LLC
- **Location:** New York New York, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-09-11
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-13
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fairsteadescllc/jobs/5422637008

## Job description

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns and manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments, including pipeline, across 28 states. As an integrated owner, operator, and innovator, Fairstead brings development, construction, and property management under one unified platform to deliver high-quality affordable housing that serves our residents at scale.

At Fairstead, we believe affordable housing should be thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and responsibly operated. We seek to create and preserve housing that serves residents while delivering long-term value to communities, partners, and stakeholders.

Fairstead challenges industry norms through our tech-forward, entrepreneurial approach to affordable housing. In addition to core real estate capabilities, we operate innovative service lines designed to improve resident outcomes, strengthen communities, and drive operational efficiency. We embrace digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, including AI, to build scalable systems that support sustainable growth, grounded in a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, dedication, and integrity.

Fairstead is seeking a Senior Litigation Attorney to join our in-house legal team. This role will manage a broad and varied docket of commercial, corporate, and employment litigation and dispute resolution matters arising across the firm's businesses. The ideal candidate is a seasoned commercial litigator who has handled complex, high-stakes matters in the New York State Supreme Court (including the Commercial Division), the Delaware Court of Chancery and Superior Court, federal court, and arbitration, and who is equally comfortable running the regulatory, investigative, employment, and routine commercial matters that come with a large operating platform. This is a hands-on role for someone who can carry many matters at once and serve as both a strategic advisor and an advocate.

Responsibilities:

- Oversee and have primary responsibility for all phases of litigation, arbitration, and regulatory proceedings, including pre-suit strategy, pleadings, discovery, motions practice, hearings, trial, and appeals
- Manage outside counsel on complex matters, including supervising strategy, reviewing work product, and controlling legal spend
- Handle or oversee a wide range of disputes, including:
- Complex commercial and corporate: contract disputes, business torts and fraud claims, partnership, LLC, and joint venture disputes, breach of fiduciary duty and books-and-records demands, governance and control disputes, advancement and indemnification, lender/borrower and guaranty disputes, and post-closing purchase price, earn-out, and indemnity claims
- Employment and HR: discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour, restrictive covenant, and executive separation matters, including administrative charges and agency proceedings (EEOC, NYSDHR, NYCCHR, DOL)
- Routine commercial disputes: vendor, supplier, and service provider claims, collections, insurance coverage and tenders, subrogation, and pre-litigation demands and settlements
- Regulatory, investigative, and administrative: federal, state, and local agency investigations and enforcement proceedings, attorney general inquiries, subpoenas and civil investigative demands, licensing and permitting disputes, audits and examinations, and compliance-related claims
- Respond to government and regulatory inquiries, including managing document productions, witness preparation, internal investigations, and negotiated resolutions with agencies
- Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for business teams, HR, compliance, and finance on threatened and pending disputes, and resolve routine matters directly without outside counsel where appropriate
- Work with compliance and business teams to convert regulatory findings and litigation outcomes into policy and process fixes
- Brief senior leadership and board members on material litigation matters
- Manage litigation holds, preservation obligations, and the company's discovery and e-discovery processes
- Assist with contract drafting and negotiation across business lines to minimize future dispute risk
- Partner with business teams early in transactions, hiring decisions, and project planning to identify and mitigate litigation exposure across the firm's operations
- Help build and refine litigation management systems, including matter tracking, budget forecasting, and reporting

Requirements:

- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Active bar membership in NY; admission or ability to waive into additional jurisdictions preferred
- 15+ years of complex commercial and corporate litigation experience
- Substantial first-chair or lead-role experience in the New York State Supreme Court (including the Commercial Division), the Delaware Court of Chancery and Superior Court, comparable complex commercial courts in other jurisdictions, federal district court, and arbitration (AAA, JAMS)
- Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of simultaneous matters across subject areas - from significant commercial and corporate disputes to routine HR and vendor matters - without losing control of deadlines, budgets, or strategy
- Experience handling government and regulatory matters, including investigations, subpoenas and civil investigative demands, enforcement actions, and administrative proceedings
- Proven track record taking cases through trial, arbitration, or dispositive resolution
- Experience supervising outside counsel and managing litigation budgets
- Willingness and ability to handle routine employment and commercial disputes personally, not solely through outside counsel
- Strong drafting, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills
- Sound business judgment and a practical, risk-calibrated approach to dispute resolution

## Preferred

- Prior in-house experience at an operating company or similarly complex organization
- Service as a partner or of counsel at a law firm, with demonstrated ownership of client relationships and a portfolio of matters
- Experience with Delaware corporate and alternative entity litigation, including fiduciary duty, Section 220, and advancement and indemnification proceedings
- Depth in employment litigation and HR-adjacent counseling and investigations
- Experience with regulated industries and with attorney general, agency, or other governmental enforcement matters
- Experience with alternative dispute resolution (mediation, arbitration)
- Familiarity with insurance coverage, tenders, and working with carrier-appointed counsel
- Exposure to real estate, construction, or housing-sector disputes is welcome but not required

Diversity in backgrounds and experiences is key to Fairstead’s success. Being an equal opportunity employer is a central tenet of our philosophy that shapes who we are and the communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure competitive total compensation that is commensurate with experience, location, and other market benchmarks.

For information about how we use your personal information, including information submitted for career opportunities, please review our Privacy Policy at

https://fairstead.com/privacy-policy/

## About Fairstead ESC LLC

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Fairstead is a purpose-driven national real estate firm dedicated to building and managing sustainable, affordable communities across the United States.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Privately Held)
- **Headquarters**: New York, New York, United States
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Jeffrey Goldberg (CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Real Estate – Affordable Housing, Property Management, Development, Acquisitions, Sustainability
- **Target customers**: B2B (investors, partners, government agencies) and B2C (residents of affordable housing communities)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Grounded in empathy and powered by innovation, Fairstead builds vibrant, thriving communities across the country.” [fairstead.com](https://fairstead.com/about/)

## Products & Services
- **Affordable Housing Communities**: Fairstead owns and manages more than 27,000 apartments across 28 states, providing high-quality, affordable rental housing. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairstead)
- **Development & Construction**: In-house expertise in new construction, substantial rehabs, and seismic retrofits (e.g., $120M Samuel Madden Homes redevelopment). [fairstead.com](https://fairstead.com/)
- **Sustainability & Resiliency**: Projects include solar roofs, heat pumps, low-flow plumbing, and energy-efficient retrofits, achieving up to 30% energy cost savings. [fairstead.com](https://fairstead.com/about/)
- **ResiBridge**: In-house internet service providing affordable broadband to residents (active job postings for Network Deployment Technicians). [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fairsteadescllc)
- **Property Management & Resident Services**: Full-service management including compliance, leasing, maintenance, and community programs.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: $500 million equity commitment announced in 2026 to expand the nation’s affordable housing portfolio. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairstead/jobs)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Freddie Mac (named 2025 & 2026 Impact Sponsor), NAHMA (ranked #15 on 2026 Affordable 100 List), Kentucky Housing Corporation, Miami Beach City Commission. [fairstead.com](https://fairstead.com/about/)
- **Growth Signals**: 10.6% year-over-year headcount growth (175 employees), 99 active job postings, 24,500+ LinkedIn followers (+7.2% YoY), and consistent industry awards (Top 50 Owner, Top 10 Companies Completing Substantial Rehabs). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairstead/jobs)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Comprehensive Platform**: In-house capabilities across acquisitions, development, construction, asset management, and property management – rare in the affordable housing space.
- **Sustainability Leadership**: Proven track record of deep energy retrofits and green certifications (Energy Star Award, Gold Award in Excellence Green Initiative).
- **Scale & National Reach**: Over 27,000 units in 28 states with regional offices in New York, Colorado, Florida, and Washington, D.C.
- **Purpose-Driven Mission**: Strong emphasis on community impact, resident services, and responsible stewardship differentiates from purely profit-driven firms.

## Strategic Focus
- **Expansion of Affordable Housing**: Continued acquisition and development of affordable communities, backed by a new $500M equity commitment.
- **Sustainability & Decarbonization**: Retrofitting existing properties with green technologies to reduce carbon footprint and operating costs.
- **Technology Integration**: Deploying ResiBridge for affordable internet and investing in proptech to improve operations and resident experience.
- **Talent Growth**: Hiring across compliance, property management, development, finance, and technology to support national portfolio growth.

## Why Work Here
- **Purpose-Driven Culture**: Employees are motivated by a mission to create positive change in communities. The company states: “We believe an organization united in purpose makes a difference.” [fairstead.com](https://fairstead.com/careers/)
- **Growth Opportunities**: 99 open positions across multiple divisions (compliance, property management, development, finance, tech) with a 10.6% headcount growth rate. Internship programs also available.
- **Work Environment**: Mix of office (NY, Denver, Delray Beach, Bethesda, Fort Mill) and remote roles (e.g., Traveling Compliance Specialist). The company emphasizes a “people first” approach.
- **Notable Perks & Recognition**: CEO Jeffrey Goldberg named New York Entrepreneur Of The Year® (2022); company consistently ranked among top affordable housing owners and managers.
- **Diverse Career Paths**: Roles range from community management and maintenance to senior engineering, finance, and sustainability – suitable for both early-career and experienced professionals.

## Sources
1. [fairstead.com](https://fairstead.com/)
2. [fairstead.com/about](https://fairstead.com/about/)
3. [fairstead.com/careers](https://fairstead.com/careers/)
4. [greenhouse.io - Fairstead ESC LLC Jobs](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fairsteadescllc)
5. [linkedin.com/company/fairstead](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairstead/jobs)

## Other roles at Fairstead ESC LLC

- [Assistant Community Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/assistant-community-manager-fairstead-esc-llc-baltimore-maryland-6s0sbp0wej5m) — Baltimore Maryland, United States
- [Community Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/community-manager-fairstead-esc-llc-whistler-bk71e3z41yke) — Whistler, AL
- [Community Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/community-manager-fairstead-esc-llc-whistler-wj9bj2fghcj6) — Whistler, AL
- [Apartment Maintenance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/apartment-maintenance-manager-fairstead-esc-llc-north-las-vegas-nevada-zqg2rp6x0r5y) — North Las Vegas Nevada, United States
- [Apartment Maintenance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/apartment-maintenance-manager-fairstead-esc-llc-houston-texas-73f3288sf6ez) — Houston Texas, United States
- [Violations Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/violations-coordinator-fairstead-esc-llc-brooklyn-new-york-sp82mee7h7g6) — Brooklyn New York, United States
- [Resident Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/resident-coordinator-fairstead-esc-llc-brooklyn-new-york-s0xf7qftj0c9) — Brooklyn New York, United States
- [Development Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/development-analyst-fairstead-esc-llc-washington-y2xmkehzy6dv) — Washington, DC
- [Apartment Maintenance Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/apartment-maintenance-technician-fairstead-esc-llc-fayetteville-north-carolina-8bve9xnc86ym) — Fayetteville North Carolina, United States
- [Apartment Maintenance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/apartment-maintenance-manager-fairstead-esc-llc-glen-allen-virginia-z0e4tnqe8ebz) — Glen Allen Virginia, United States