JD North America - Corporate Counsel, Real Estate/Property Leases

JD Group North America is looking for an experienced real estate attorney to join our fast-paced Legal team and play a critical role in supporting our sports fashion retail brands, including JD Finish Line, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana; Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama; DTLR, headquartered in Hanover, Maryland; and Shoe Palace, headquartered in Morgan Hill, California.

Our North American brands operate over 2,500 stores and employ over 40,000 employees across the United States, its territories, and Canada. This role will primarily be responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial leases, on both tenant and landlord forms, and related real estate agreements, including amendments; estoppels; and subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements (SNDAs), for retail locations throughout the United States and Canada.

The attorney will also provide strategic legal advice on a wide range of real estate matters, including lease interpretation, compliance, and risk mitigation. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of North American real estate laws and leasing practices, particularly in the retail sector, and will work closely with internal teams including real estate, construction, and finance. This position offers a dynamic opportunity to manage a high volume of lease transactions in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. We’re passionate about helping our colleagues reach their full potential, while delivering exceptional service to our consumers. Our work environment is fun, challenging, and fast. With ambitious growth plans, JD Group North America is a place of opportunity where all colleagues can thrive.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drafts leases on the organization's lease forms to comply with the approved letter of intent and negotiates with the landlord’s representative to finalize new store leases.
• Reviews and edits leases that are on Landlord’s form; negotiate with Landlord’s representative to finalize a lease that complies with the approved Letter of Intent for new and existing stores.
• Drafts and negotiates amendments on company lease form or landlord’s form that have been requested and approved by the real estate/property teams.
• Drafts SNDAs and estoppels on tenant’s form, as requested and required to meet the terms of the lease, as needed. Review and edit SNDAs and Estoppels on lender or landlord’s form to protect the company's rights under the terms of the Lease.
• Prioritizes the needs of multiple business units and manages workload accordingly.
• Works with the organizational lease administration, property management, construction, and real estate departments as needed, to interpret lease language, provide advice and counsel, resolve issues with landlords and property management companies, and adhere to company real estate schedules and plans.
• Stays continuously informed of industry trends, regulatory changes, market conditions and best practices within the commercial leasing sector, and interpret how industry evolutions impact company strategy.
• Communicates relevant changes to internal stakeholders and incorporates learnings into their own day-to-day decision-making to ensure the company remains properly positioned.
• Works with all members of the Legal Department on special projects as needed.
• Drafts letters and correspondence as needed to communicate with landlords when lease related issues arise, including defaults, co-tenancy failures and exclusive violations.
• Protects the company’s assets and financial information by ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of internal control procedures and informing management and/or appropriate officials of potential fraud risk.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Law Degree from accredited law school. Licensed to practice law in the United States and in good standing.
• 2 – 4+ years of related experience.
• Strong negotiation skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Negotiation, quality orientation (attention to detail), and decision quality skills needed.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of generally accepted leasing principles.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to type, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

#LI-DNI

This job description is not intended to cover all aspects, duties, and/or responsibilities required of employees.  Employees may be asked to perform additional duties outside of normal job scope on a temporary or permanent basis per company policy. ​The company reserves the right to modify this job description with or without notice. 

EEO Statement:

The Finish Line, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local EEO laws.  The Finish Line, Inc. prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on race or color, religion or creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, sex, pregnancy status, age, military status, disability, or any other characteristic or class protected by law.  The Finish Line, Inc. provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws, including for disabilities, pregnancy, and religious practices.

Need accessibility assistance to apply?
Applicants who require accessibility assistance to submit an employment application can either call Finish Line at  (317) 613-6890 or email us at talentacquisition@finishline.com.  A member of our Talent Acquisition team will respond as soon as reasonably possible. (This email address and phone number is only for individuals seeking accommodation when applying for a job.)