Commercial Real Estate Transaction Attorney (Retail)

Company: First Washington Realty - FWR
Location: Bethesda
Posted on: June 14, 2022

Job Description:

About the CompanyFirst Washington Realty (FWR) is a fully integrated, national real estate investment and management firm headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, that specializes in the ownership of convenience, necessity, and experience-oriented retail real estate. FWR currently owns 107 shopping centers located in 22 states and the District of Columbia containing approximately 14.1 million square feet with over 2,600 retail tenants.
Be part of a collaborative, seasoned legal group within a strong and growing team of real estate professionals in the world of convenience retail. -Our asset class is the darling of brick and mortar retail - the well-positioned, well managed, grocery-anchored center.
About the role:We are expanding our legal team to include a transactional attorney centered in drafting and negotiating retail leases, as well as handling the various center-based documentation needs, from management and leasing agreements, to service contracts, to document research and analysis, with occasional drafting of corporate documents (confidentiality agreements, etc.). -This position will also assist from time to time in legal support for acquisitions, dispositions and financings, working with outside counsel and supervised by the general counsel for those projects. This person will work directly with the business professionals (with oversight from senior members of the legal team), to perform these functions. -The successful candidate will be part of the full in-house legal experience - participating from the earliest stages of deal development through document completion, helping to shape outcomes, and working collaboratively with the team.
This role might be right for you if:We are looking for a candidate that has leasing experience, ideally in retail, and contract skills generally, with an eye for detail and good business judgment. -Good drafting skills are important, and you must work well with others and be a willing contributor, no matter the task. -We offer good pay and benefits, and a platform for someone interested in this field in a growing and energetic organization with a long and respected history in this space.
Key Responsibilities: This position will report to the General Counsel and Associate General Counsel, depending on the task. -Initially, and depending upon experience level, this position will be supervised and guided by the task (legal) leader - trained as needed. -One you have comfortable command of the Company, its procedures, preferences, and its forms, our goal is to have this position operate with little supervision. -

• Manage and execute the lease process by navigating, negotiating and preparing retail lease documents from LOI through execution. This position will work directly with the deal person, asset management, project management and construction to ensure the deal is well documented. -Ability to apply and consult with knowledge as to key lease provisions (e.g., CAM, lease term, delivery conditions, contingencies, exclusives, prohibitions, etc.) will help drive success in executing this function.
• Contribute the legal point of view to the team dynamic by assessing and helping to create deal viability through issue spotting and then conducting documentary research (e.g., lease, title review), analyzing existing conditions against deal requirements, preparing memoranda to document findings, discussing issues and working to locate solutions with business teams. To perform this function well, the candidate should have strong analytic and communication skills.
• Accountable to review, prepare, edit and negotiate legal documents related to leasing and operations, and documents ancillary to deal formation, including letters of intent, licenses, new leases, amendments, lien waivers, property management agreements, leasing agreements, confidentiality agreements, occasional miscellaneous vendor contracts (and other form-based documents), in each case from earliest draft to execution. Attention to detail is important, balancing that against the various business needs to complete the transaction with market outcomes. -
• From time to time, responsible for acquisition, disposition and financing-related deal management with outside counsel, performing the function of in-house legal liaison and coordinator for those deals, supervised by the general counsel.
• Assist operations by drafting correspondence to tenants, as needed, including default notices, and by assisting outside counsel in lease enforcement measures.
• Collaborate with acquisitions team during due diligence to help understand and risk assess the various title, survey, and lease related issues relative to the potential investment.
• Consult with other members of the FWR team, as needed, to interpret document language, problem-solve issues, offer input and feedback to select contract provisions, and apply business sense to drive the best outcome in the situation. -
• Assist in creating and maintaining the knowledge base of lease and center related information - through preparation of lease abstracts, memoranda, notes, and other research-based documentation useful in analysis and in management of a large portfolio. -
• Responsible as needed to help keep the Legal Team organized by handling administrative functions, such as document filing (digital and hard copy), organizing and streamlining document production, retention and reference.
• Work to help the Legal Team increase efficiencies by assisting with forms creation and regular audit of forms database.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  Essential qualifications and Personal Characteristics:
  • Two years' real-estate related experience either in-house for a real estate company or in private practice, preparing lease, lease-related documents, and basic contracts.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
  • Proven analytical skills, including ability to explain and interpret legal document content to non-lawyer professionals.
  • Organized, minds the details all the way through to completion.
  • Problem solver, good judgment.
  • High level of professionalism, trust, integrity, and reliability.
  • Meets deadlines, while maintaining accuracy.
  • Comfortable in a fast-paced environment - able to prioritize and good with time management. -
  • Technical skills - proficient in MS Office (particularly MS Word and Outlook), Adobe Acrobat.
  • Juris Doctor from accredited law school; Bar admission.
  • Team player who 11enjoys being part of a team. Able to build effective working relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.
    Preferred qualifications: -In addition to the Essential Qualifications, above:
    • Five plus (instead of two) years' real-estate related experience, either in-house or in private practice, with a steady diet of retail lease drafting and negotiating.
    • Experience with industrial / ecommerce leases a plus.
    • Prior related business experience a plus.
    • Proven ability to manage deal flow independently and drive deals to completion without oversight.
    • Ability to trouble shoot fresh solutions to improve processes and efficiencies when needed.
      ?Salary and Benefits commensurate with experience:We recognize our team members as our most valuable asset. Our competitive salary and benefits package will include optional HSA medical insurance and prescription drug coverage, dental insurance, a company-sponsored 401(k) plan, company-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability insurance benefits.
      
      ?*Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. -First Washington Realty is a smoke-free workplace. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Only candidates whose profiles closely match requirements will be contacted during this search.

Keywords: First Washington Realty - FWR, Bethesda , Commercial Real Estate Transaction Attorney (Retail), Hospitality & Tourism , Bethesda, Maryland