Real Estate and Title Paralegal

Wawa, Inc.

About The Position

The Real Estate and Title Paralegal position will lead and manage the title and survey review process for Wawa’s land development sites and assist in other aspects of commercial real estate transactions, requiring the exercise of independent judgment, risk assessment and direct coordination with internal business partners and external counterparties.

Requirements

Ability to work well individually as well as in a team environment
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Excellent customer service skills
Ability to work with little or no supervision
Exceptionally detail oriented and strong organizational skills
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a high volume, deadline driven environment
Excellent interpersonal skills
Proven self-starter with demonstrated ability to make decisions
Solid leadership skills
Bachelor degree preferred
Paralegal coursework and/or certification preferred
Minimum of three years of previous experience in commercial real estate transactions/closings, including experience with acquisitions, dispositions, financings and leasing
Experience at a national title company, regional/international law firm or in-house legal department for a retailer, developer or financial institution preferred

Responsibilities

Develop, update, maintain ownership of and implement a company-wide title and survey risk criteria matrix.
Review, negotiate and finalize title policies and surveys for Wawa sites, by specifically: Ordering and/or reviewing title commitments, exception documents and the corresponding surveys related to real estate sites in land development and corresponding directly with Wawa’s developers regarding title and survey deliverables and resolving title and survey objections; Conducting title and survey risk analysis for each new site in land development, applying company-wide title and survey risk criteria matrix and drafting clear and concise title and survey risk analysis memorandum as needed; Interfacing directly with Wawa’s Real Estate Managers and Project Engineers to review any potential concerns and thereafter communicating directly with developers, title companies and/or surveyors to resolve any issues or discrepancies; Drafting clear and concise title and survey objection letters, escrow instruction letters and other correspondence; Negotiating and finalizing Proforma policies, including required title endorsements, and coordinating obtaining final Title Policies; Preparing and administering contract critical date checklists; Reviewing entity organizational documents for the purpose of determining the entities and persons who have decision making authority and signing authority; and Handling such other matters as may be requested by the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel and Legal Counsels.
Assist Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, Legal Counsels and Paralegals with real estate matters, including the acquisition and disposition of property, by specifically: Coordinating and assisting with all aspects of closings, including the preparation and administration of closing checklists and review of closing statements; Drafting, negotiating and finalizing closing documents related to the acquisition of new sites and disposition of closed stores and excess property; Ordering good standing certificates and public record searches; Drafting, reviewing and assisting with negotiation of real estate-related documents and agreements in support of transactions and portfolio management, as directed; Attending to all post-closing requirements, including preparation and organization of closing files and transaction records in accordance with Legal Department standards, as well as monitoring of any post-closing deliveries or requirements.
Conduct title and contract review for potential restrictions impacting new strategic Company initiatives and projects, consistent with the Company’s title and survey risk criteria, and prepare risk summaries and recommendations, as appropriate.
Support and may participate in reviewing and negotiating other contracts and legal instruments of the Company, specifically its efforts in the acquisition and disposition of real estate interests.
Work cooperatively with the Real Estate team to timely respond to contractual and other requests.