Job Summary
The Legal Counsel, Real Estate and Corporate will report to the Senior Vice President, Real Estate Legal and will be asked to provide professional legal counsel to and administer legal services with respect to the Company’s real estate portfolio and status as a public company, including assist with various corporate initiatives and transactions as they may arise.
You will work in conjunction with outside counsel and third-party service providers as required and provide legal advice to the relevant decision makers throughout the Company.
Key Responsibilities/Duties
Portfolio & Corporate Matters
- Coordinate, analyze, manage, negotiate, document and close a wide range of multifaceted real estate transactions and property-related matters
- Review, draft, negotiate and approve documents relating to the acquisition and/or lease of real estate, e.g., confidentiality agreements, letters of intent, correspondence, purchase agreements, escrow instructions, lease agreements, lease or other document abstracts, amendments, assignments, estoppels, title objection letters, deeds, closing documents, business entity documents, corporate resolutions and consents, transaction summaries, etc.
- Review, evaluate and approve information and reports received in connection with real estate matters, e.g., title commitments and exception documents, plats, site plans, plans and specifications, surveys, environmental reports, engineering reports, construction monitoring reports, landlord consent requests, etc.
- Analyze compliance matters and other property-related legal issues
- Review, evaluate and approve information and reports relating to compliance with public company requirements, including any required reporting and filings with the SEC
- Assist with preparation and filing of corporate minutes, resolutions and certificates
- Assist with forming new entities and preparing governing documents
- Assist with legal and corporate record keeping, landlord and lender approval processes and maintaining updated company files
- Assist with monitoring ongoing lawsuits and legal disputes
- Apply risk management techniques, assess potential exposure, and offer proactive advice and solutions on possible legal issues arising in the course of transactions or with respect to legal issues that arise in connection with existing properties
- Communicate and negotiate with a variety of external parties, e.g., brokers, external counsel, third -party vendors
General
- Second-level review of attorney and paralegal work, as needed
- General legal research and investigation
- Routine advice/counsel to all departments on legal matters
- General legal document review, drafting and negotiating
- Special projects and duties as assigned
Property Management (PM)-Related Matters
- Assist with PM legal matters as assigned, e.g., draft/negotiate lease administration documents, and manage and close leasing transactions (e.g., lease agreements, lease amendments, guarantees, releases, lease assignments, consents to sublease, letter agreements, landlord lien waivers and subordinations, indemnification and access agreements, lease termination agreements, landlord estoppel certificates, tenant notices)
- Assist with condemnations, easements, rights of way, rights of entry and similar agreements affecting title to properties
- Review and interpret REA issues and other similar title encumbrances
- Review and analyze environmental reports
- Consult with PM on lease compliance matters and interpretation of lease terms, conditions and issues
- Manage/oversee ongoing litigation and retain/supervise outside legal counsel
- Manage/oversee property and liability insurance claims and related matters
Tenant Defaults and Workouts
- Assist in workouts, including direct communications and negotiations with tenants and counsel
- Assist with drafting and negotiating workout documents, e.g., letter agreements, lease amendments, lease terminations, etc., and manage the resulting transaction
- Retain and oversee local counsel as and when necessary
