Real Estate Counsel

BPG Real Estate Service • Wilmington, DE

21h

About The Position

The Real Estate Counsel is an in-house legal resource for the leasing, property operations and transactional needs of The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG). Reporting to the General Counsel, this attorney drafts, reviews and negotiates commercial and residential leases and related real estate documents; advises leasing, asset management, property management, development, construction and finance teams; and supports acquisitions, dispositions and financings. The role calls for a practical, business-minded attorney who can manage a high volume of matters, negotiate effectively with tenants and their counsel, and deliver timely, accurate work product that protects BPG and moves transactions to closing.

The position supports BPG’s real estate investment, development and management platform, which includes commercial office, multifamily residential, retail, hotel, parking, and sports and entertainment properties. It also supports the company’s construction, commercial asset and property management, and residential management and leasing affiliates.

The role is performed primarily in a professional office environment, with occasional travel to BPG properties and closings. The position description notes that employment is at will and is not an employment contract; BPG may modify the duties, responsibilities and requirements at any time.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the Delaware Bar, or admission in good standing in another United States jurisdiction and eligibility to practice as in-house counsel in Delaware.
• At least five years of commercial real estate experience at a law firm or in-house with a real estate owner, developer or operator, with a substantial focus on commercial leasing.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating office and retail leases.
• Working knowledge of acquisition, financing and development transactions.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and communication skills, including the ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-lawyers.
• Ability to manage a high volume of concurrent matters, meet deadlines and work with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with multifamily residential leasing and landlord-tenant law in Delaware, Pennsylvania or Maryland.
• Experience with mixed-use, hospitality or venue agreements.
• Familiarity with Argus, Yardi or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate office, retail, restaurant, medical and other commercial leases, amendments, renewals, expansions, extensions, surrenders and terminations for BPG-owned and managed properties.
• Serve as the primary legal contact for tenants, brokers and tenant counsel in lease negotiations, including complex and contested negotiations.
• Prepare and review letters of intent, license agreements, guaranties, subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements, estoppel certificates, work letters and commencement date memoranda.
• Coordinate lease requirements across leasing, asset management, construction, finance and property management teams, and obtain lender and equity partner approvals where required.
• Support the residential platform on lease forms, addenda, notices and landlord-tenant compliance matters.
• Advise on tenant defaults, lease enforcement, notices, collections and workouts, and coordinate with outside counsel on landlord-tenant litigation.
• Support acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and development projects, including purchase and sale agreements, due diligence, title and survey review, and closing documentation.
• Support construction and permanent financings, refinancings and loan modifications, including lender lease review, borrower deliverables and closing checklists.
• Review and negotiate easements, reciprocal easement agreements, declarations, condominium documents and other recorded instruments.
• Manage outside counsel on assigned transactions, monitor budgets and keep internal stakeholders informed of status and open items.
• Advise property management and operations teams on day-to-day legal matters, including vendor and service contracts, access and license agreements, and insurance and indemnity requirements.
• Review and negotiate event, sponsorship, licensing and venue agreements for hospitality, sports and entertainment operations, including intellectual property matters involving trademarks, trade names and copyrighted content.
• Support the Legal Department on general corporate, entity management, contract and compliance matters as assigned by the General Counsel.
• Maintain and update standard commercial and residential lease forms and related templates to reflect current market practice, applicable law and company positions.
• Develop negotiation guidelines, fallback positions and approval protocols for leasing and property documents.
• Identify legal and business risks in proposed transactions and present practical recommendations to management.
• Track developments in real estate law and leasing market trends, and educate internal teams on changes affecting BPG documents and practices.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus, as determined by BPG.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match, subject to plan terms and eligibility.
• Paid time off and paid company holidays in accordance with BPG policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree