Real Estate & Franchise Contract Paralegal

Jack in the Box; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 59,608 - 84,116; Full time

Job summary

A leading fast-food company is looking for a Legal Specialist in San Diego to draft and manage real estate and franchise legal documents. The role involves analyzing lease obligations and supporting property management teams. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, paralegal certification, and 5-6 years of legal experience in franchise and real estate transactions. Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential. Compensation ranges from $43.27 to $61.06 per hour, with geographic pay differentials applicable for remote hires.

Qualifications

• 5-6 years in-depth experience in real estate and franchise legal transactions with an emphasis in contracts.

Responsibilities

• Draft and finalize real estate legal documents.
• Perform legal analysis for remodel projects.
• Support real estate and property management teams.
• Manage franchise transactions and changes.
• Provide legal support for franchise matters.

Skills

Excellent oral and written English communication

Working knowledge of general real estate and franchise laws

Problem-solving skills

Negotiation skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office 365

Integrity and ethical behavior

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field and paralegal certification

Job description

Responsibilities

• Drafts, reviews, and finalizes Estoppels, SNDAs, and other ancillary real estate legal documents
• Performs file reviews and legal analysis for reimage/remodel projects. Obtains Landlord/3rd party approvals for remodel projects. Processes city/governmental applications for Construction team. Updates internal lease database systems with legal analysis conclusions
• Performs analysis and responds to inquiries from internal stakeholders and franchisees relating to lease obligations (i.e. maintenance obligations, timing of rent, taxes, and other payments, etc.)
• Supports real estate and property management teams with property management issues, including analysis, disputes and defaults
• Assists with real estate transactions, including processing purchase and sale agreements, due diligence, and closing documentation. As needed, drafts closing documentation and coordinates closings with title companies, surveyors, brokers, and landlords
• Assists with preparation of the Company’s multi-state annual Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and associated exhibits for all jurisdictions in compliance with federal and state franchise laws; Maintains the Company’s FDDs. Distributes and tracks all franchisee FDD receipt
• Manages end to end process of all franchise transactions and franchise ownership changes. Drafts, reviews and processes franchise agreements, renewals, transfers, terminations, reimage/remodel program documents, and other ancillary franchise legal agreements (e.g. promissory notes, term agreements and other affiliated documents). Reviews franchise organizational entity and estate documentation
• Develops and executes annual renewal plan to ensure completion of high volume of franchise renewals; Partners with internal and outside counsel for renewal transactions including tracking, expirations, renewals, and termination
• Analyzes franchise transactional documents for compliance and drafts proposed revisions to documentation as necessitated by terms of transaction
• Provides legal support for day-to-day legal franchise matters, including serving as primary contact for franchisees and their counsel to resolve contract and transactional issues
• Liaises with internal departments (e.g., Operations, Sales, Finance, and Accounting) relating to all franchise transactions and systems management
• Supports Company's Franchise Governance Committee (FGC), including monitoring any action to be taken and cross collaboration among departments to provide guidance on franchise processes, communication, issue resolution and agreement compliance
• Update and maintain internal franchise database system
• Performs other related duties, tasks and responsibilities as required, assigned and directed

Qualifications

Education – Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field and paralegal certification.

Experience – 5-6 years in-depth experience in real estate and franchise legal transactions with an emphasis in contracts.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Excellent oral and written English communication.
• Working knowledge of general real estate and franchise laws and customs in states where the Company engages in real estate and franchise transactions.
• Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions.
• Capacity to negotiate skillfully in tough situations with both internal and external groups.
• Able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect.
• Proficient knowledge of personal computers and Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel).
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to speak/hear clearly in person and on the telephone.
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard.

Reasonable Accommodation

Jack in the Box Inc. and its affiliates will make reasonable accommodations to allow a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities and to perform the essential functions of the job. This position description should be applied accordingly. This description of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive or to limit management’s discretion to assign other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

Compensation

The range for this position is $43.27-$61.06 hourly and is based on an employee located at our corporate headquarters in San Diego. If the candidate is hired in a different city to work remote, we will apply a geographic pay differential based on the cost of labor in the market in which the employee resides.