Senior Paralegal - Commercial Real Estate

Company Description

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world.

At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House Charities to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range of outstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements.

Job Description

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily.  The U.S. Property Management Legal Team is a team of real estate legal professionals who are responsible for managing, protecting, and enhancing McDonald’s existing portfolio of real estate at our nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants, ensuring that McDonald’s is positioned to utilize its real estate interests to maximize business operations and serve our customers.  

More specifically, the Property Management Legal Team:

• Enforces McDonald’s rights as a property owner, landlord, or tenant to maximize restaurant operations.
• Negotiates real estate-related agreements to support and improve restaurant operations, such as the acquisition of additional adjacent property or easements to improve access, signage or parking.
• Supports the remodeling and rebuilding of McDonald’s restaurants, including by conducting real estate due diligence for reinvestment projects and negotiating associated real estate agreements.
• Resolves property-related disputes and litigation, including disputes with landlords or adjacent property owners, construction-related disputes, ADA lawsuits, and condemnation proceedings.
• Oversees the leasing, management, and sale of McDonald’s excess properties, which are typically former McDonald’s restaurant locations where McDonald’s retains a real estate interest.

With appropriate oversight from attorneys on the team, this Senior Paralegal will be encouraged to work independently to resolve a wide variety of complex legal issues affecting McDonald’s real estate interests in a fast-paced environment, including the following areas of responsibility:

• Reviewing and clearing title and survey.
• Reviewing and analyzing leases, contracts, easements, and other real estate legal agreements and documents.
• Drafting real estate legal agreements and documents such as escrow instructions, estoppel certificates, deeds, easements, licenses, memoranda of leases, restrictive covenants and non-disturbance agreements.
• Preparing transactional documents to facilitate sale and leasing of McDonald’s portfolio of surplus real estate.
• Resolution of property management matters, including construction-related issues and real estate-related disputes.
• Resolution of eminent domain (condemnation) matters affecting McDonald’s restaurant sites.
• Performing legal clearance reviews to facilitate the rebuilding, remodeling or closing of existing McDonald’s restaurant locations.
• Mentoring and training more junior paralegals.

Benefits eligible: Yes
Bonus eligible: Yes
Long term incentive eligible: Yes
The expected salary range for this role is $50.33 – $64.17 per hour
The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.

*Relocation services may be provided for the right candidate*

Qualifications

• Paralegal Certificate preferred.
• At least five (5) years’ experience as a paralegal in the commercial real estate field preferred.
• Individual who is driven by values of inclusiveness, kindness, integrity, and professionalism and is motivated, intellectually curious, adaptable to change, and eager to learn.
• Excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple projects, prioritize higher value work, handle deadline pressures, and sensitive information.
• Ability to work well individually and also as part of a team.