Description:
Overview:The Senior Counsel, Real Estate Legal position is a full-time position primarily responsible for providing legal counsel, strategy, and direction on a wide variety of real estate matters associated with new restaurant locations. Leadership responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing a large number of real estate transactions from LOI through restaurant opening by working closely with internal business partners and outside counsel and providing related legal counsel to An American Fast Food Restaurant Chains Company and its affiliated entities as well as outside professionals. This position is based in our California Support Center.
As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $430,000-$450,000. This pay scale takes into account a wide range of business factors and may change over time. Of note, this role will be based out of Irvine, CA, and the location, related cost of living, experience, and other factors will be considered when setting compensation.
Our Flexible Future model offers a healthy mix of working in person and virtually, strengthening key elements of the An American Fast Food Restaurant Chains Company culture by fostering collaboration and community.
Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic direction and expert knowledge to advise, make decisions, and independently lead, influence, and support a regional New Restaurant Growth team.
- Analyze and direct strategy on legal due diligence (title, leases, survey, environmental, entitlements, etc.)
- Review, negotiate and provide in-depth input for drafting purchase contracts, ground leases, space leases, work letters, easements, amendments, closing documents, etc.
- Collaborate with other in-house counsel and paralegals on real estate matters that are impacted by other areas of law such as Franchise, Regulatory, Litigation, etc.
- Assist Director-Level Counsel of the Real Estate Legal New Restaurants Team in providing day-to-day direction, strategy, and legal advice to the business on issues impacting the company's real estate assets.
- Advise on legal matters impacting acquisition, construction, development, and operation of restaurant properties primarily prior to opening of the restaurant.
- Lead or partner with cross-functional teams and attend leadership, strategy, and execution meetings to provide legal advice to business partners across the organization relating to the company's real estate assets.
- Independently manage projects and initiatives with the New Restaurant Growth Department that impact the company's new restaurant development.
- Lead efforts to prepare and update forms and processes as needed and prepare other communications to support the business.
- Support An American Fast Food Restaurant Chains Company new real estate growth and real estate portfolio by continuing to help develop and advise on various policies, processes, and systems.
- Lead (with Director supervision) efforts of identifying and on-boarding outside counsel and manage outside legal counsel work and costs.
- Lead and develop, training programs, and materials for business teams regarding the company's real estate strategy and portfolio.
- Develop and implement legal technology solutions for capturing and reporting real estate asset information for use by the Restaurant Development Department.
- Participate in various administrative matters, such as planning, budgeting and strategy for the Legal Department and Real Estate Legal.
- Attend outside seminars and other business-related events related to issues relevant to the role; stay current on real estate law in the quick-service restaurant and retail industry.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Eight (8) years of experience in transactional real estate law.
- Four (4) year college degree.
- Law degree from accredited law school.
- State Bar membership.
- Demonstrated academic success in law school (top 25% of class).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Large law firm and/or relevant boutique experience, and/or focused in-house corporate experience.
- Business or legal experience in transactional real estate or retail real estate, such as a degree and/or prior work experience in a related field or legal practice.
- Passion for innovation and change management.
- Strong communication skills.
- Strong writing and editing skills.
- Ability to identify and set priorities.
- Strong organizational skills.
- High level of initiative and desire to work with an in-house legal department.
- Strong experience in building teams, creating, and improving processes and producing work product that aligns with corporate goals.
- Ability to serve leadership and supporting roles in cross-functional projects and/or on cross-functional teams.
- Competence in the use of technological systems and standard MS office applications.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple, simultaneous, and shifting demands, priorities, and tight deadlines.
