Real Estate Finance Counsel

If youre passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence then Nationwides Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide on your side goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and were looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Overview:
Nationwide is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Real Estate Counsel to join our Real Estate Capital Markets Practice Group in Columbus OH. This is an exciting opportunity for a legal professional with a strong background in real estate transactions to contribute to a dynamic and entrepreneurial team supporting regional and national clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and strategic guidance on a wide range of real estate transactions including financing workouts dispositions leasing and development.
• Structure and negotiate complex debt and equity arrangements including commercial mortgage loans construction loans mezzanine financings and preferred equity.
• Draft review and revise a variety of legal documents including:
  • Loan Applications Term Sheets Loan Agreements and related documentation
  • Joint Venture Agreements
  • Purchase & Sale Agreements
  • Commercial Leases
• Conduct thorough legal due diligence on potential real estate investments identifying and mitigating risks related to title survey zoning and construction.
• Coordinate with internal partners and manage paralegals to ensure smooth deal flow and timely execution.
• Simultaneously manage multiple transactions for a diverse client portfolio.
• Assess legal risks and deliver practical business-oriented solutions.
• Act as a key point of contact for clients outside counsel and opposing counsel.
• Manage all asset management and loan servicing requests related to Nationwides commercial real estate investment portfolio.

Qualifications:

• JD degree from an accredited law school. Maintains an active license.
• Law firm experience focused on real estate transactional work.
• Strong academic credentials and excellent writing analytical and communication skills.
• Experience in commercial finance acquisitions dispositions leasing construction contracts development zoning and loan documentation.
• Proficiency in reviewing and resolving title and survey issues.
• Ability to thrive in a collegial fast-paced environment with significant client contact and responsibility.
• Due to the fiduciary accountability of this job a valid credit check and background check will be required as part of the selection process.

Why Nationwide
At Nationwide youll be part of a collaborative and entrepreneurial legal team that values innovation integrity and excellence. Youll have the opportunity to work on highly complex bespoke transactions engage directly with the client and contribute meaningfully to the success of our Nationwides $20B real estate investment portfolio.

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Job Description Summary

Provides expert advice and counsel on complex legal matters in an area of responsibility or specialized legal area focusing on relationships with senior level OCLO and business leaders with minimal supervision. Creates valuable risk management recommendations by leveraging sound risk assessment information and actively identifying and logically assessing potential legal risks in ambiguous unique and/or complex business situations which have potential for significant impact to the company. Recognized by key business partners for expertise and business acumen. May have supervisory responsibility for a small group of legal resources.

Job Description

Reporting Relationships: May report to VP / AVP / Managing Counsel. May have supervisory responsibility for a small group of legal resources within an area of law. Typically has fewer than 3 direct reports.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides expert advice on routine and complex legal matters in an area of responsibility. Regularly attends business partner meetings to better understand business processes and needs.
• Actively identifies and logically assesses potential legal risks in both routine and ambiguous unique and/or complex business situations. Creates valuable risk management/mitigation recommendations leveraging sound risk assessment information to further achieve complex business objectives. Drafts necessary legal documents and develops conclusions and recommendations.
• Assists business partners in addressing situations of high legal exposure or risk; understands overall business risk tolerance and considers it in the context of risk management strategies and actions. Has some input into or influence on Company decision-making.
• Creates practical and effective solutions to complex legal issues with no established precedent; develops creative solutions to unique legal problems. May interact with persons outside of the Company on behalf of the organization.
• At times may take the lead role in matters that are complex strategic or sensitive in nature. Understands the business partners position and needs. Keeps senior leaders informed of case law and new legislation as appropriate. Considers the long-term business and strategic consequences of possible outcomes. Delivers difficult messages or news and challenges business partners when necessary; responds to challenges to advice and counsel directly and effectively.
• Has a wide network of established relationships with associates at all levels within the OCLO and primarily mid-level and some senior level business partners.
• Works independently and may lead virtual and/or formal teams on multiple complex group/client assignments. May have management responsibility for a small group of legal resources.
• Occasionally leads virtual teams on tasks projects or assignments. May train or mentor less experienced attorneys or paralegals on procedural business or legal issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: JD degree from an accredited law school. Maintains an active license in the state in which the position is located.

License/Certification/Designation: Currently licensed as an attorney in an appropriate U.S. jurisdiction.

Experience: Developed legal expertise and business acumen recognized by key business partners. Typically has six or more years of relevant legal experience.

Knowledge: Has solid experience with or knowledge of an area of law; complex legal practices and procedures. Considered the subject matter expert regarding a specific product service or specialty (employment finance regulatory real estate securities tax etc.). Sound business acumen and knowledge of the business goals and objectives as they relate to the matter at hand.

Skills/Competencies: Strong oral and written communication skills for interacting with mid-level and some senior level OCLO associates and business partners. Analytical ability to interpret statutes regulations insurance policies and other contracts. Decision-making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations. Ability to initiate organize and coordinate complex projects and/or cases that cross functional or business lines. Takes the lead role in negotiations that are complex strategic or sensitive in nature. Supervisory skills helpful.

Other criteria including leadership skills competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring managers leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values and Guiding Behaviors.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional travel.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Credit Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job a valid credit check and/or background which will be requires as part of the selection process.

Evaluation Activity:

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs including: medical/dental/vision life insurance short and long term disability coveragepaid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date nine paid holidays 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off 401(k) with company match company-paid pension plan business casual attire and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged appreciated respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

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NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.