Paralegal - Commercial Real Estate

Unclassified - South Houston, TX

Full-time

South Houston, TX

About the position

Patel Anderson LLP is seeking a motivated paralegal to join the firm's commercial real estate practice in the position of Paralegal- Commercial Real Estate. The ideal candidate must have at least 3 years of prior experience in real estate, financing, corporate, and other transactional legal work. Our commercial real estate practice routinely handles a variety of transactions, including leasing and purchase-and-sale transactions concerning raw land, improved property, hotels, office buildings, multifamily projects, shopping and retail centers, restaurants, and gas stations. Additionally, the practice involves real estate finance transactions, including real estate loans, construction loans, and loan assignments, as well as franchise document review, counseling, and dispute resolution. The candidate must possess sufficient knowledge to assist in commercial transactions from the letter of intent stage to post-closing. In this role, the paralegal will assist attorneys in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, from contracts and loan commitments through closing and post-closing. Responsibilities include preparing closing checklists, critical dates timelines, title commitments, title policies, closing statements, and other customary closing documentation. The paralegal will also assist with commercial real estate due diligence, including title and survey reviews, lease reviews, and municipal lien searches. Furthermore, the role involves preparing and filing formation documents for various corporate entities, monitoring and reviewing transactional documents, and coordinating requests between multiple parties and stakeholders. The paralegal will be expected to prepare initial drafts of agreements and legal documents, ensure all tasks are completed within deadlines, and maintain client confidentiality throughout the process.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions from contracts and loan commitments through closing and post-closing.
• Prepare closing checklists, critical dates timelines, title commitments, title policies, closing statements, title and other affidavits, entity authorizations, customary closing documentation, etc.
• Assist with commercial real estate due diligence, including title and survey reviews, title objection letters, lease reviews, municipal lien searches, and UCC, judgment, litigation, and lien searches.
• Prepare ancillary legal documents in all aspects of a commercial transaction.
• Prepare and file formation documents of all types of corporate entities including charter documents, organizational consents, bylaws, company agreements, partnership agreements, obtaining EIN's, and qualification in applicable state jurisdictions.
• Monitor and review transactional documents for the purpose of preparing and updating the closing checklist to track the status of transactional documents and the progression of the transaction.
• Analyze corporate documents to determine jurisdictions in which to conduct searches for UCC-1 financing statements; federal and state tax liens; furniture, fixtures, and judgment liens; bankruptcy filings; and federal, state, and county litigation filings.
• Coordinate requests between multiple parties, stakeholders, and vendors by way of consistent communication with clients, claims, and full partnership with an attorney through the end of the transaction.
• Prepare initial draft of agreements, corporate entity documents, leases, financing statements, purchase, and property management agreements, as well as title abstracts, summaries, and commitments, as required.
• Ensure that all tasks/activities assigned are completed within the given deadline.
• Research and analyze legal sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, treaties, constitutions, and legal codes.
• Prepare and submit closing binders and assist with other aspects of the transactions as needed, both locally and nationally.
• Prepare, organize, and file documents and correspondence.
• Coordinate and schedule calendars, ensuring the safety and maintenance of client confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of prior experience in commercial real estate transactions, commercial title insurance, corporate, and other transactional legal work.
• Bachelor's Degree or Paralegal Certification preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Proficiency using Windows-based software and Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook required.
• Current Notary Public Commission or ability to obtain Notary Public Commission preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with franchise document review and dispute resolution.
• Familiarity with real estate finance transactions.