Counsel, Leasing

Job Location: Corporate Indianapolis PRIMARY PURPOSE: The position requires (a) drafting and negotiating lease documents in a manner that protects landlord to the greatest extent possible, and doing so within a timeline that maximizes landlord’s opportunity for earlier rent commencements, (b) teaming with a Paralegal and an Administrative Assistant to accomplish the foregoing, and (c) taking a professional, “customer service” approach toward the completion of all required duties/tasks.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: 1.
Manage individual workload, to include generally: Prepare and Negotiate leases, ancillary documents and other documentation: Research prior tenant leases and/or existing tenant templates; Utilize the Tenant Strategy Icon to identify key items regarding specific centers; Identify items of global value, present such information to assigned Director for dissemination throughout the department; Provide counsel/guidance to Leasing regarding the economic impact of conforming issues, and identify and clarify economic terms and general business issues; Perform/coordinate follow-up on workload to solicit timely responses from tenants; Review tenant comments and providing counsel/guidance to Leasing concerning the legal and business issues raised by such comments; Prepare timely and accurate entries into the change log system regarding issues to be addressed, noting those items requiring further DVP, EVP, CEO and/or Partner approval; and Perform timely follow-up with Leasing Agents to ensure proper SSLE data entry/changes and timely responses to change logs.
2.
Manage the lease execution process: Adhere to all departmental policies regarding self-management and utilize all tools made available to assist in the management of your workload, including the timely and routine maintenance of all checklists, milestones, log entries and related reporting requirements; Reconcile the Deal Information contained in SSLE with the terms in the executed lease or ancillary document and ensure the Deal Information is accurate prior to initiating the re-approval process; Coordinate obtaining the landlord signature with Leasing Services; Incorporate all final lease and ancillary document changes into a Word document for accuracy in research and conforming future leases; Return leases to tenant immediately upon full execution; Forward leases and other necessary documentation to the lease file; Require the use of TAP for preparation of all legal documents; and Timely deliver all lease documents for proper filing and retention.
3.
Resolve and/or escalate issues with SSLE, Leasing and Tenants to supervising Director.
4.
Coordinate internal and external communication between all parties in the lease negotiation process (Leasing, Lease Services, Legal Leasing, Tenant Coordination, the tenant and others as required), to include generally: Work closely with the Tenant Coordination Directors and with individual Tenant Coordinators to prioritize deals and ensure RCDs are met; Partner with Lease Services to expedite the execution of leases for high priority premises, including vacant space; where a refinancing is involved, and in response to departmental and senior management directives/priorities; Assist other departments in evaluating the potential impact of an anticipated event (e.
g.
, department store closing, relocation, etc.
) on a center and the portfolio; Research and interpret lease language as requested by various departments, including but not limited to Lease Accounting, Collections and Mall Management; Review and comment on letters of intent with assigned Director, present comments to Leasing and Tenant Coordination prior to Leasing commenting on the same to the tenant; Prepare and communicate escalation requests for committee re-approvals; Adhere to the highest ethical and fiduciary legal obligations when providing any and all of the foregoing communication, advice and assistance to protect the interests of the company, and Attend any and all Regional Meetings and related functions, providing current status reports for all in-process transactions within your workload and offering strategies and solutions for the expedient completion of same.
5.
Team with the Paralegal assigned to the Staff Attorney’s designated properties and the Staff Attorney’s Administrative Assistant.
6.
Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Degree from an accredited law school.
Licensed and in good-standing to practice law within at least one State in the United States.
Excellent organizational/time management skills.
Analytical and problem solving skills.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Ability to negotiate effectively.