Real estate professional with extensive experience as a senior real estate paralegal and property portfolio manager working in the legal departments of two large corporations and law firm experience which includes working with corporate clients, buyers, sellers, developers, REITs, landlords and tenants, lenders, attorneys, surveyors and brokers; strengths include working independently and following-through in identifying, analyzing and problem-solving and communicating in detail utilizing written and verbal skills.
Specialties, expertise and accomplishments in:
• Title/Survey Review and Curative Work
• Agreement Negotiation and Drafting
• Acquisitions, Development, Operating Properties and Divestitures
• Funds Disbursement; Project Coordination
• Maintaining professional, courteous client relationships and team player
• Portfolio Management
• Customer Relationship Management
• Project Management
• Strategic Contract Negotiations
• Cross-Functional Communication
• Team Leadership
• Executive Presentation
• Facilitation
• Innovative Strategies
• Vendor Management
Sr. Real Estate Paralegal/Real Estate Portfolio Manager @ ~ Managed all legal and operating issues for Chili’s and Maggiano’s restaurants throughout the United States, including settling disputes, defaults, and landlord/tenant issues, site evaluation, research, and generated reports, as needed or requested by team members.
~ Drafted and negotiated legal and ad-hoc agreements, including tenant estoppels, third party agreements, SNDAs, amendments, renewals, terminations, easements, and license agreements.
~ Facilitated resolution of legal and operating issues for internal tax, marketing, finance, operations, development, and construction departments.
~ Reviewed legal documents, surveys, site plans to resolve problems impacting the operation of the restaurant.
~ Assisted real estate, construction and development teams on all facets of budged capital projects, maintenance, repair or replacement expenses, including signage, roofs, parking lots and ADA matters.
~ Worked independently and provided general advice on a myriad of property issues. From February 2014 to February 2015 (1 year 1 month) Dallas/Fort Worth AreaReal Estate/Corporate Legal Specialist @ Structure and manage the company’s internal legal function, staff and provide senior management with effective support. Assist with the transfer of partner’s interests. Assist team members with various legal documents and issues. Review outside counsel legal fees; prepare budget and initiate cost saving measures. Provide analytical support and ad hoc report for senior management on various projects. Provide support to outside legal counsel on various legal matters and research. Serve as liaison for litigation matters with outside legal counsel and preparation of litigation report.
• Prepare letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, amendments and other real estate contracts. . Monitor transactions. Arrange and manage the delivery of due diligence materials. Review and prepare response regarding title and survey matters. Coordinate closings. Supervise multiple real estate transactions and multiple concurrent projects.
• Drafting and reviewing letters of intent, leases, amendments, tenant estoppels, assignments, renewals, property restrictions, SNDAs, commission agreements, service agreements, and IT agreements.
• Prepare corporate entity formations, partnerships, dissolutions, mergers, consents, and corporate resolutions for loan and purchase/sale transactions. Organize and maintain partnership and corporate legal files.
• Review and prepare recommendations for real estate development, zoning, surveys, construction matters, tenant improvements, and platting issues. Liaison with city, county, and various government agencies concerning due diligence. Review title matters/determine curative measures. From August 2011 to January 2014 (2 years 6 months) dallas/fort worth areaReal Estate Paralegal/Portfolio Manager @ Managed organization-owned real estate portfolio, including commercial sites, excess raw land, warehouses, distribution centers, offices, industrial sites, and parking lots.
• Analyzed Letters of Intent and drafted contracts for the purchase and/or sale of property. Coordinated with Managers, Corporate Offices, Brokers, Legal Counsel, Lenders, Title Agents/ Companies, and Operating Partners concerning the purchase and/or disposition of property. Worked with local surveyors and managers on replatting and development for future use of properties. Assessed risks and work with Owners, Brokers, and Attorneys to identify, research, and resolve/workout property issues and concerns. Assisted with the company’s establishment of new location or relocation by working with brokers or plant managers.
• Drafted lease agreements and amendments ensuring compliance with team member's requests. Critically assessed leases and other documentation. Presented recommendations to Operations, Tenants, Landlords, Brokers, Vendors, Legal Counsel, and Senior Management. Monitored lease agreements and amendments, renewals, and terminations. Updated and maintained database with lease information.
• Coordinated, managed and assisted domestic team members with entering new properties, exiting existing properties and/or property moves.
• Managed, administered and maintained all property leases and associated legal documents (assignments, amendments, etc.) in both hard and electronic versions.
• Coordinated the property qualifications, lease preparation, Landlord negotiations and approval of new or amended lease documents.
• Coordinated and managed due diligence prior to occupying new properties, including conducting environmental studies and reports.
• Managed property lease portfolio to ensure all leases are current, calendar expiration, option and renewal dates, and ensure compliance with all lease requirements. From June 2006 to March 2011 (4 years 10 months) Dallas/Fort Worth AreaReal Estate Paralegal @ Provided diversified legal assistance and support for offices specializing in real estate and corporate law. Assisted attorneys with highly complex, multi-million dollar real estate transactions and the formation of corporate and drafts of real estate documents. Concurrently managed 20+ multi-phase projects. Position required extensive interaction with Attorneys, Clients, Government Officials, Surveyors, Leasing Agents, Developers, Property Managers, and Lenders. Clientele included major retail companies (300+ locations) as well as hotel, apartment, and assisted-living companies, a national bus transportation company, industrial developers, and commercial property owners.
• Oversaw real estate transactions for individual properties valued at up to $30 million. Managed multi-state property portfolios including commercial lending, development, borrowing, acquisition, leasing, disposition, mergers and REIT transactions. Researched and resolved issues and participated in foreclosure practices.
• Evaluated and organized pre/post-closing details through closing instructions and binders, entity organizations, authority documentation, zoning/permit issues, compliance letters, utility letters, title abstracts, removal of liens, and wire transfers.
• Assessed leases, title insurance, and surveys for legal and development issues. Suggested innovative actions to resolve problems.
• Coordinated refinancing of 300+ commercial properties, with various title companies, lenders, and investors.
• Organized, prepared, and filed corporate documents. Coordinated due diligence.
• Formed corporate and partnership entities, dissolutions, mergers and acquisitions.
• Drafted loan documents. Negotiated with Lenders, Staff Members, Internal/External Attorneys, Title Companies, and Borrowers. Ensured compliance with legal, credit policy, and regulatory requirements. Educated loan officers and make recommendations for document processing and funding issues. From 1996 to 2006 (10 years) Dallas/Fort Worth AreaReal Estate Paralegal @ From 1994 to 1996 (2 years) Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Bachelor's degree, Political Science @ The University of Texas at DallasGeneral Studies @ Robert Morris College Tatiana Bell is skilled in: Due Diligence, Real Estate, Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate Transactions, Corporate Law, Legal Research, Leases, Real Estate Development, Lease Documentation, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Negotiating Leases, Management, Commercial Real Estate