[Hiring] Senior Counsel, Industry Data @Zillow

Role Description

The Zillow Group Legal and Compliance Department is a dedicated team of skilled (and fun!) legal professionals who enjoy working in a collegial environment within an innovative, fast-paced tech, real estate, and media company. This role is part of the Technology Transactions Group, which provides strategic legal support for Zillow’s industry relationships, data, technology, privacy, intellectual property, marketing, and commercial transactions.

We are looking for a strategic, commercially minded attorney to help shape how Zillow acquires, uses, and operationalizes industry data. This role sits at the intersection of Zillow’s relationships with multiple listing services, brokerages, and other industry partners, and the products and experiences those relationships enable. It is well suited for a lawyer energized by sophisticated transactions, evolving industry requirements, and translating complex data rights into practical guidance that helps the business move forward.

You will be a day-to-day legal partner to Zillow’s Industry, Product, Engineering, and Operations teams. You will lead and support negotiations with MLSs, brokerages, and other strategic partners that advance Zillow’s 2026-2027 strategy; advise on the interpretation and implementation of MLS data licenses, rules, and policies; and help teams make sound decisions as products, market requirements, and industry relationships evolve.

You will be fully integrated in the legal lifecycle for a meaningful portfolio of industry data matters, from structuring and negotiating agreements to advising on product design, implementation, and ongoing operations. You will work closely with other Legal and Compliance teams on issues that implicate privacy, data governance, commercial strategy, marketing, intellectual property, and enterprise risk. You will also partner with legal leadership on matters that present significant cross-functional, market-specific, or relationship-sensitive considerations.

The right candidate brings strong commercial judgment, an ability to build credibility with internal and external stakeholders, and a practical approach to working through ambiguity. You are comfortable balancing legal, operational, and relationship considerations, can independently drive complex matters forward, and enjoy helping a business navigate an industry that is continually changing.

This position is intentionally designed to span two closely connected areas: strategic industry transactions and industry data operations. The relative emphasis may evolve as Zillow’s strategy, industry relationships, and product roadmap develop.

In this role, you will get to:

• Lead or materially support the structuring, drafting, negotiation, and management of strategic agreements with MLSs, brokerages, franchisors, and other industry partners that advance Zillow’s 2026-2027 priorities.
• Advise the Industry Development team and senior management on deal strategy, commercial structure, and risk tradeoffs, from early concept through execution and ongoing relationship management.
• Help develop negotiation strategies, positions, and playbooks that balance Zillow’s commercial objectives, legal risk, relationship considerations, and operational feasibility, and that help the business move quickly and consistently across markets.
• Engage directly with counterparties, industry participants, and their counsel to help manage complex and relationship-sensitive external matters.
• Serve as one of Zillow’s legal subject-matter experts on MLS data, advising on the acquisition, licensing, display, use, and governance of MLS data across Zillow products and experiences.
• Advise on the rights, restrictions, and governance considerations for using MLS and other industry data in AI-enabled products and consumer features, and partner with Product and AI/ML teams on practical guardrails.
• Interpret and provide practical counsel on MLS data license agreements, MLS rules and policies, and related industry requirements, including market-specific implications for consumer and agent-facing products.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage MLS data licensing agreements supporting Zillow’s consumer display sites and agent-facing software products, balancing legal risk, business objectives, and operational feasibility.
• Partner with Industry, Product, and Engineering teams across the product lifecycle to identify and manage legal considerations as new products launch and as the industry adopts new policies.
• Help build internal data-management frameworks, policies, and controls that enable responsible, scalable use of MLS data in support of product innovation and Zillow’s contractual and industry obligations.
• Proactively partner with other Legal and Compliance teams on matters that implicate privacy, data governance, intellectual property, and enterprise risk.
• Monitor MLS, trade association, litigation, and regulatory developments and translate them into actionable guidance for business leaders.
• Create training, guidance, and scalable resources that help Industry, Product, and business partners understand MLS and industry requirements and make informed decisions while maintaining velocity.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant experience with a national or regional law firm or in-house legal department, with meaningful commercial transactions or data licensing experience; experience at an MLS, brokerage, real estate trade association, or prop tech company strongly preferred.
• A JD with active state bar admission in at least one jurisdiction.
• Deep knowledge of the residential real estate industry, including MLS structures, rules, and data licensing, brokerage operations, and the role of industry associations.
• Direct experience with MLS data licensing or policy, is a significant plus.
• A track record of negotiating complex commercial agreements, such as data licensing, technology, and strategic partnership agreements, and comfort leading consequential negotiations while protecting and strengthening long-term industry relationships.
• Working familiarity with legal frameworks relevant to real estate and data, such as fair housing, copyright, data privacy, and state real estate licensing laws.
• Experience advising product and engineering teams, with a working understanding of data feeds and data systems.
• Familiarity with AI and machine learning technologies, including the data rights, fair housing, and listing data concerns they raise in real estate; knowledge of emerging state and federal AI regulation is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey the implications of legal issues and risk clearly to non-lawyers and senior leaders.
• Strong project management and organizational skills and the ability to independently manage competing, time-sensitive projects.
• Sound judgment about when to decide, when to consult a subject matter expert, and when to elevate a matter for broader alignment.
• A team-first attitude and a demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships across departments and levels, as well as with external industry organizations and their leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Eligible for equity awards based on factors such as experience, performance, and location.

Company Description

At Zillow, we’re reimagining how people move—through the real estate market and through their careers. As the most-visited real estate platform in the U.S., we help people navigate buying, selling, financing, and renting with greater ease and confidence.

Zillow is honored to be recognized among the best workplaces in the U.S. Zillow was named one of FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2026, and included on TIME’s America’s Best Companies 2026 list, reflecting our commitment to creating an innovative, inclusive, and engaging culture where employees are empowered to grow.

Zillow Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment with the best employees. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.