EDUCATION
Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
Paralegal Certification (1983)

ABA approved graduate-level Lawyer’s Assistant Program

Curriculum: Real Estate Law. Trained in preparation and handling of mortgages, deeds, land trusts, closings, survey, title reports, leases, condemnation, foreclosures,  new construction and mechanic lien law.

University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

Bachelors of Arts Degree (1983)
Curriculum: Pre-Law. Major: Criminal Justice.    
 

SKILLS/STRENGTHS
Legal research, Deed /Title/ Survey review and analysis, Lease Administration, Lease Abstraction, Site Acquisition,
Commercial and Residential Closings, New Construction projections/Mechanic Lien law and Lien Waiver review, Eminent, Domain/Condemnation projects, Zoning /Compliance, Not for profit and Tax Exempt document preparation, Proof-reading, Negotiation Sales/Lease Agreement and a Notary Public.

 

EXPERIENCE    

 

12/20/2010-April 1,2015 : Closeout Manager -MasTec- AT&T vendor.

·   Verify and maintain all documents submitted for review by AT&T for quality control for the various pay points/milestones that are part of the process of building or modifying their cell towers. The purpose is to cover all vendor management accounts through the SAP software system. Also trained in AT&T’s new Pace Accounting software system.

·   Lease Administration for new site builds /relocations/modifications, or cow projects for AT&T mobility.

·   Assist AT&T’s Corporate Real Estate Department in the preparation of the Leases and related documents for approval.

5/10 – 10/30/2010: JP Morgan Chase (Contract Paralegal) Document Specialist.

·   Primarily working in the Treasury & Securities Services department

·   Document review, processing, scanning and indexing for their Universal Global Contracts Management system

·   Verifying corporate documents for authenticity

9/09 – 3/10- Harris Bank (Contract Paralegal)

·   Working in the Legal Services Department opening, researching and closing subpoena and summons cases. Verify what the requestor is asking for so Harris can comply

·   Provide support for the department for Citation’s, Levy’s, Third Party requests for Asset verification and Wage Garnishments

·   Maintain and accurately reflect all the sensitive dates on the subpoena log.

6/09 – 9/09:  SAC (Contract Paralegal) for AT&T Mobility. (Contract Paralegal)

 

·   Lease Administration for new sites. Assist the Corporate Real Estate Department with the Acquisition of new sites by reviewing the lease for acceptable language. Prepare lease approval documents for AT&T legal.

1/09 – 6/09 Liberty Solutions-(Contract Paralegal)

·   Loan Processor for new and existing clients Loan origination work and working with clients to contact lenders on existing loans to get the terms modified

·   Post-closing document work and preparation of the closing binders to send to our clients

4/08 – 11/08: - Sky Link Networks Real Estate (Contract Paralegal) for AT&T Mobility

 

·   Lease Administration for new Lease Modifications to existing sites

·   Assist with the acquisition of a new site and the proposed use of the site

·   Track and verify all the vital information as it relates to whether it is a ground or tower site

·   Deal with local municipalities regarding possible zoning or building code violations

·   Assist with the tracking to construction dates and lease restrictions

·   Prepare AT&T approved lease related documents regarding Amendments or License Agreements

·   Verify rent and any escalations as to accuracy

·   Confirm and verify all commencement and expiration dates

·   Prepare lease and all submission documents for AT&T legal

11/07 – 4/08: Lease Auditor for a North American REIT for the Inland Real Estate Group (Contract Paralegal)

·   Complete audit of the recent site acquisitions under the North American REIT Portfolio. Manage the document depository system to locate the lease and all the property management documents.

·   Verify the accuracy of all critical date that would affect the rent along with the percentage increases based on inflation.

·   Review the entire site Lease Amendments, Modifications, License Agreements, Sub- Leases and any other type of Agreements .are being complied with. And also to Confirm that the square footage and legal descriptions are correct, and all the pertinent terms are complied with and the use and land restrictions, covenants, etc., on a site-by-site basis.

8/07- 11/07: UGL/EQUIS (Contract) for AT&T Corporate Real Estate (Contract Paralegal)

 

·   Review leases, prepare Lease Abstracts, Subordination Agreements, and set up the rent payments, utility bills payments and the real estate taxes to be paid for the various properties in the Midwest Region for AT & T Corporate Real Estate.

6/07 – 8/07: Rakoczy, Molino, Mazzochi, Siwik, Chicago, IL: (Contract Paralegal)

·   Patent paralegal-Primarily assisted with various document reviews in English and Mandarin. Also assist in case preparation for current Patent Litigation for generic drugs to be approved for use.
 

Arnstein & Lehr, Chicago, IL (3/07 -6/07): (Contract Paralegal)

·   Litigation paralegal working in Des Plaines, IL for on-site document review.

Ryan Connolly & Associates (a/k/a RCR & Associates), Burr Ridge, IL 9/06 –03/07) (Contract Paralegal)

·   Contract and real estate lease review specialist

7/06 – 9/06: Real estate closing services / various attorneys. (Contract Paralegal)

·   Completed approximately five closings per week.

 

 

 

2/05 7/06: Sidley Austin, LLP, Chicago, IL / Legal Assistant - Real Estate Department
 

·   Supported real estate, corporate, commercial, banking and litigation departments of the firm.
 

·   Primary responsibilities were preparing for commercial and residential closings.
 

·   Reviewed purchase/sale contracts, prepared and maintained closing checklist, time line; prepare all documents for purchase/sale; order and review Title Insurance Commitments and Surveys, summarizing any potential problem title exceptions for attorney review; plot surveys and rectify any deficiencies with surveyor.

·   Performed due diligence tasks for mergers/acquisitions, including review and summary of leases; post-closing matters including follow up on receipt of executed, recorded documents, final title policies, mortgage releases, UCC terminations, etc.; and closing binder preparation.
Performed legal research and analysis.

·   Prepared and reviewed real estate and other loan documents, amendments and assignments; reviewed and analyzed title insurance policies and related issues; reviewed and prepared security documentation associated with lending activities, including UCC filings throughout the United States.
 

·   Drafted correspondence, updated file history, and communicated directly with internal and external clients
 

·   Performed title, tax, and zoning and recording services in the county building, reviewed Planning and Zoning Reports. Performed document and/or email analysis for certain cases.

 

2/00 – 11/04: Neal and Leroy /Senior Real Estate Paralegal

·  
Prepared and administered commercial, residential, municipal/governmental closings and cleared title and taxes for professional clients. Also worked on Eminent Domain issues. Produced via the public records, etc., legal descriptions of the various properties that would be necessary to acquire and to be submitted to the City Council to be voted for approval as well as any and all disclosure(s), affidavit(s), etc. Projects were usually for public use: a new fire station, police station, library, an open space venture, a public works project, new parking facilities, or whatever the was approved be City Council. Performed Tract Book Title Searches and legal research using Westlaw.
 

·   Analyzed and prepared documents on behalf of the governmental entities for Tax Exemption process via the Board of Appeals. Reviewed surveys and prepared documentation for real estate tax permanent index number consolidation(s) or division(s) of tax parcels and all the appropriate legal filings. Developed and maintained monthly and yearly Microsoft Excel spreadsheets of all closings and property conveyances.
 

·   9/99 – 2/00: McDonald’s Corporation, Oak Brook, IL / Legal Assistant – (Contract Paralegal)
Assisted National Representatives coordinating and preparing legal documents for building new restaurants. Reviewed and prepared Franchise Agreements and Leases for Acquisitions.
Assisted with negotiations of ground leases, maintenance issues, tenant-landlord disputes, and tax and lease payments. Provided assistance to the Closing Agents to open new stores on schedule by reviewing and analyzing new construction documentation.

89/99: Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, Chicago, IL /Construction/Commercial Manager
Received title orders; launched, administered, and closed construction escrows.

·   Supervised Construction Escrow Department staff. Established procedures and forms for the Construction Escrow Department.
 

·   Organized and maintained departmental bills for budgetary review .Reviewed financial statements and analyzed risks for Indemnification purposes. Waived title exceptions and provided price quotes.
 

·   Launched, facilitated, and finalized commercial and residential closings in the Chicago branch office and closings for national projects. Coordinated Strict Joint Order Escrows and Title Indemnities. Resolved and filtered miscellaneous questions related to title clearance. Monitored various investments pertaining to the escrow agreements.
 

·   Reviewed various “plat of surveys” and condominium declarations. Completed title insurance quotes for national projects (commercial, residential or agency).