Senior Real Estate Counsel - Development Law, New Restaurant Openings

Job Overview

The Senior Real Estate Counsel – Development Law (NRO) will report to the Vice President – Development Law and be primarily responsible for work supporting the Company’s acquisition or leasing and development of new restaurant properties. This position manages or assists in managing a team consisting of one or more paralegals, legal specialists and/or administrative support personnel in the areas of new restaurant development and provides proactive legal counsel to Development Dept. team members on commercial real estate-related matters associated with the Company’s new restaurant development process. This position may also assist and support the Vice President – Development Law on special projects and other work related to the Company’s real estate assets and real estate development activities.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Negotiates, drafts and reviews purchase agreements and leases (and any needed amendments thereto) related to the Company’s acquisition or leasing and development of new restaurant properties and manages outside counsel resources performing similar tasks.
• Provides supervision, review and legal support and counsel related to survey, title, environmental, due diligence, construction and other commercial real estate-related matters associated with the Company’s new restaurant development processes and procedures.
• Interacts with senior leaders of the Development Dept. on a variety of commercial real estate-related legal, business and strategic matters.
• Applies innovative problem-solving skills and business judgment to assist the Company in maximizing revenue opportunities, managing risks and fostering business relationships in its commercial real estate dealings.
• Manages or assists in managing a team consisting of one or more paralegals, legal specialists and/or administrative support personnel.
• Assists the Vice President – Development Law in developing team members by supporting training, development and other professional growth opportunities; assists in managing individual and team performance through coaching, feedback and performance management discussions calibrated across the Law Dept.
  
  

Required Technical Skills

• Minimum 6 years of in-house and/or law firm experience as a commercial real estate attorney, with an emphasis on commercial real estate transactions and development work, including commercial leasing. Construction law experience being a plus.
• Active member of at least one state bar that enables admission to practice as in-house counsel in Florida.
  
  

Required Education

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school.
  
  

Other Key Qualifications

• Must have the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal clients, departmental leaders, peers and other team members, and with outside counsel resources.
• Must have the ability to independently make decisions regarding complex legal and corporate issues.
• Must have excellent project management, writing, research, communication, organizational, analytical and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated strong initiative and ability to handle multiple projects/roles requiring the collaboration of multiple functional groups.
• Proven team orientation skills working on a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  
  

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Possess “business acumen” with ability to understand the Company's business and anticipate legal issues that could arise in various settings.
• Ability to move agreements forward quickly in order to meet critical business objectives in a fast-paced, sometimes unpredictable environment.