Senior Legal Counsel – Bank Real Estate

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GENERAL FUNCTION:

Attorney supporting Enterprise Workplace Services (“EWS”) across a broad range of complex real estate transactions and operational matters, including ground leases, retail and office leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, ATM matters, construction and facilities agreements, and related projects that advance the Bank’s strategic and operational objectives.

Responsible and accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and personally following policies and procedures as defined. Accountable for always doing the right thing for customers and colleagues, and ensures that actions and behaviors drive a positive customer experience. While operating within the Bank's risk appetite, achieves results by consistently identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting risks of all types.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide legal support to the Bank’s Enterprise Workplace Services (“EWS”) group across the real estate lifecycle, including ground leases, acquisitions and dispositions, office leases, and ATM leases.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex ground leases and related documents, work letters, memoranda of lease, recognition and nondisturbance agreements, estoppels, consents, amendments, assignments, and other ancillary instruments, and advise on key risk and business terms, including ownership of improvements, construction and delivery obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate purchase and sale agreements and related acquisition and disposition documents.
• Draft, review, and negotiate office and retail leases, lease amendments and renewals, ATM leases and licenses, ATM installation, relocation, access, utility, and removal agreements, license agreements, and related real estate documents.
• Interpret real estate agreements and advise on operational, construction, and property-level matters, including repairs, access, signage, utilities, casualty, condemnation, easements, restrictive covenants, restoration obligations, defaults, disputes, and enforcement matters.
• Collaborate with EWS stakeholders, including real estate, construction, design, facilities, and risk partners, on branch acquisitions, dispositions, relocations, closures, renovations, redevelopment, integration projects, and other initiatives with critical project milestones.
• Provide practical, solutions-oriented legal advice directly to business partners and other stakeholders, balancing legal and operational risk with business objectives.
• Manage outside counsel and a high volume of sophisticated transactions while maintaining responsiveness, sound judgment, and accountability for deadlines.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Minimum 5 years' experience preferred.
• J.D. from an accredited law school required.
• Admission to a state bar.
• Exceptional organizational and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to advise and communicate effectively with senior management and a variety of internal clients.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, research, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify, assess, and resolve legal, operational, and property-level risks in complex real estate matters.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Relevant commercial real estate legal experience, including meaningful experience drafting and negotiating complex leases, ground leases, purchase and sale agreements, and related real estate documents.
• Basic understanding of bank regulatory framework.

At Fifth Third, we understand the importance of recognizing our employees for the role they play in improving the lives of our customers, communities and each other. Our Total Rewards include comprehensive benefits and differentiated compensation offerings to give each employee the opportunity to be their best every day.

The base salary for this position is reflective of the range of salary levels for all roles within this pay grade across the U.S. Individual salaries within this range will vary based on factors such as role, relevant skillset, relevant experience, education and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan, with any such payment based upon company, line of business and/or individual performance.

Our extensive benefits programs are designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being. You can learn more about those programs on our 53.com Careers page at: https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/careers/benefits.html or by consulting with your talent acquisition partner. 

Attention search firms and staffing agencies: do not submit unsolicited resumes for this posting.  Fifth Third does not accept resumes from any agency that does not have an active agreement with Fifth Third.  Any unsolicited resumes – no matter how they are submitted – will be considered the property of Fifth Third and Fifth Third will not be responsible for any associated fee.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.