Counsel, Real Estate

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, and General Counsel, the Counsel, Real Estate will provide legal, business, and strategic support to the Company on real estate and business matters, including leasing, real property acquisition and disposition, lease term renewals, facilities management, construction, land use, governmental restraints and requirements, and special projects and initiatives.

Position Responsibilities:

· Draft, review, modify and negotiate letters of intent; build-to-suit and retrofit leases; sublease agreements; lease and sublease amendments; guaranty agreements; license agreements; subordination agreements; easements; declarations and restrictions; operation and maintenance agreements; purchase and sale contracts; estoppels; design, construction and design-build agreements; other agreements and documents with national and regional developers and landlords as required to implement, execute and manage the Company’s national real estate strategy for store expansion and for the management and administration of the Company’s estate portfolio in the US and Canada.

· Review and assess legal and business effects and risks through review and analysis of title documents, surveys, environmental reports and zoning letters and proposing and implementing solutions for acceptable risks. Coordinate lease, acquisition, disposition, and other real estate transactions, including (a) advising management with respect to the risks of a transaction; (b) identifying and analyzing the relevant issues; (c) engaging and coordinating business representatives; (d) negotiating consensus; and (e) drafting appropriate documentation.

· Provide legal and business advice and recommendations to management regarding a variety of legal issues including property acquisition, lease administration and enforcement issues, recoveries, breach of contract, tenant rights, construction and development matters, zoning, condemnation, bankruptcy, and litigation management.

· Manage and identify outside counsel on various matters in their representation of the Company and engage outside counsel for advice and counsel regarding environmental, ADA, litigation and other matters, including review, coordination and implementation of litigation budgets, document filings, gathering of due diligence, informing counsel regarding Company history and culture, strategic review and management, coordination of discovery responses, witness identification and preparation, and informing senior management of litigation status.

· Maintain documents, forms and policies, including annual reviews. Organize and manage corporate information databases relating to legal and compliance matters.

· Project management of various initiatives as directed by the General Counsel.

· All other duties assigned by the General Counsel.

Qualifications & Skills

· 7+ years of relevant real estate legal experience at a law firm or in-house legal department. JD from an ABA accredited school and active admittance to practice in any state in the US.

· Experience in drafting and negotiating real estate leases and other contracts.

· Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.

· Proficient in the use of AI to streamline processes and optimize efficiency.

· Ability to research legal and business issues.

· Excellent verbal, written, analytical, problem-solving and organizational skills required to complete numerous projects concurrently. Ability to make decisions and articulate reasoning. Self-motivated, detail-oriented and ability to maintain confidentiality.

· Business experience working in a fast-paced environment that requires multi-tasking, prioritizing and flexibility.

· Outstanding people skills.

· Ability to translate legal verbiage into common understandable terms for the internal clients, external partners and suppliers.

· Occasional travel may be required.