Senior Real Estate Paralegal

Darden Restaurant Support Center

15d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Real Estate Paralegal will assist the Development Law Department’s New Restaurant Opening (NRO) Team in ongoing new restaurant –related matters for the Company’s growing real estate portfolio, which includes over 2,100 operating and under construction restaurants that are owned or leased by the Company. The Senior Real Estate Paralegal will interface with internal partners and provide general guidance on assigned sites under the supervision of an attorney.

Requirements

A minimum of 6 years of experience in the commercial real estate area.
Excellent analytical, organizational, drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
Ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, identify and prioritize higher value work, monitor and meet shifting deadlines, and keep sensitive and/or confidential information.
Strong multi-tasking and project management skills.
Intellectually curious and adaptable to change.
Works well individually and as part of a team, and demonstrates reliability, resourcefulness, a strong work ethic and an ability to collaborate and cooperate with other team members.
Ability to think critically and strategically and be an active contributor to efforts to achieve team and departmental goals and objectives.
Proficient in adopting and utilizing existing and new technologies to drive efficiency.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook and Teams).

Nice To Haves

A 4-year Legal Assistant’s degree or a 4-year Bachelor's degree or Paralegal Certification (equivalent education, training and/or experience may be considered).
Experience in a large law firm, commercial property management firm or in-house legal department.
Working knowledge of Lucernex or other real estate project management software is a plus

Responsibilities

Orders title commitments, provides comprehensive review and accurately analyzes various title documents (e.g., easements, restrictive covenants, declarations) and surveys and provides summary, general guidance and follow-up action recommendations to the real estate directors and design and construction teams.
Uses information obtained through research and legal knowledge to determine rights, responsibilities, issues and/or implications for the Company; identifies, recommends and/or implements appropriate follow-up actions as needed to address issues and/or mitigate risk.
Drafts, reviews and negotiates ancillary documents related to lease, acquisition and/or disposition transactions, such as Memorandum of Leases, SNDAs, estoppel certificates, amendments, contracts, deeds, affidavits, escrow closing instructions and easements.
Uses advanced written and verbal communication skills to communicate frequently with various parties (e.g., landlords, outside counsel and government entities) in order to make formal requests, provide information, answer questions and ensure issue resolution; represents the Company through communications; schedules, participates in and/or leads meetings.
Manages and tracks critical transaction contractual timelines and deadlines.
Works with the design and construction teams to address construction-related issues.
Prepares legal descriptions for Notice of Commencements.
Conducts “Pre-Closing” meetings with Development Department teams and prepares meeting notes.
Tracks and collects various reimbursements (e.g., Landlord reimbursements, tenant improvement allowances and/or construction reimbursements).
Fields questions from the Company’s other areas/departments (e.g., Site Development, Design, Construction and Property Accounting); researches answers and provides information and/or guidance.
Monitors and guides the work of Legal Assistants.