Business Services Paralegal

Business Services Paralegal Apply Overview Category Staff Apply Description Best Best & Krieger LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on delivering effective and client-service oriented solutions to complex legal issues facing public agencies, businesses and individuals across the U.S. BBK is proud to trace the firm's success back to the groundwork of professionalism and community service laid by its founders 135 years ago. Today, with nearly 250 attorneys in offices throughout California and in Oregon and Washington, D.C., we efficiently and meaningfully assist our clients with complex, multi-disciplinary issues and provide creative solutions. At BBK, we place a high degree of value in creating and nurturing a work environment that attracts the best talent and reflects our commitment to culture, community and equal opportunity. We are proud of our workplace culture, where we respect and value our colleagues for their unique perspectives and experiences. The Business Services Paralegal II (7–10 years of experience) provides advanced transactional support for the Firm's real estate, corporate, finance, municipal, and mergers and acquisitions practices. This position works closely with attorneys, clients, lenders, title and escrow companies, consultants, governmental agencies, opposing counsel, and third-party vendors throughout all phases of complex transactions. The Business Services Paralegal II independently manages significant transaction responsibilities from inception through closing and post-closing administration. The role requires substantial knowledge of commercial real estate transactions, corporate governance, entity management, financing transactions, and mergers and acquisitions, as well as the ability to coordinate large-scale due diligence efforts involving multiple stakeholders and significant volumes of transactional documentation. The Business Services Paralegal II is expected to leverage technology and approved artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and client service. This includes the use of AI-assisted technologies for document review, due diligence, contract abstraction, transaction management, data room administration, entity management, and preparation of transaction-related summaries and analyses. All AI-assisted work must be conducted in accordance with Firm policies, client requirements, confidentiality obligations, and applicable ethical standards. The Business Services Paralegal II is expected to proactively anticipate attorney and client needs, identify process improvements, and serve as a resource regarding emerging technologies and best practices within transactional legal services. REQUIRED RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: REAL ESTATE DUTIES: Assist attorneys in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions from contracts and loan commitments through closing and post-closing. Draft and/or review and analyze all required correspondence and commercial purchase and sale, lease, loan, tax and escrow documents, including, but not limited to: Letters of Intent, Purchase and Sale Agreements, Escrow Instructions, Deeds of Trust, Promissory Notes, Releases of Liens, Continuing Guaranties, Loan Agreements, Environmental Indemnity Agreements, Leases, Estoppel Certificates, UCC forms, Security Agreements. Assist with commercial real estate due diligence, including title and survey reviews, title objection letters, lease reviews, municipal lien searches, and UCC, judgement, litigation and lean searches. Prepare closing checklists, critical dates timelines, title commitments, title policies, closing statements, title and other affidavits, entity authorizations, buyer and seller escrow instructions, customary closing documentation, etc. Responsible for closing binders and assist with other aspects of the transactions as needed, both locally and nationally. Provide coordination efforts with respect to documentation and closing of real estate transactions, including sales, purchases, leases, and financing. Serves as liaison between legal team and client to assure quality and timely response. Daily contact (in person, in writing, or on the telephone) with clients, opposing counsel, brokers, as well as title and escrow officers all the while demonstrating a positive attitude with professionalism, courtesy, and appropriate tact and discretion in all interactions. Assist in performing due diligence review, including hiring consultants, corporate or other entity status (obtaining good standing certificates and certified copies of formation documents from Secretaries of State), review and analysis of environmental studies, surveys and preliminary title reports, maps and underlying title documents. Online research using Westlaw, Lexis, various Secretary of State business portals, Board of Equalization, State and Federal Tax Form portals, and County and City portals. Selects, assembles, summarizes and compiles substantive information by use of federal, state, and local agency statutes, regulations, ordinances, resolutions, digests, commentaries, legal instruments and other materials/sources of information specific to the applicable practice area. Conducts legal, public records, and other research relating to simple and complex matters, summarizes findings and recommends proposed courses of action and/or solutions to the assigning attorney; is knowledgeable about internet research sources; assists with problem formulation, data collection, and analysis as needed by the assigning attorney. Performs research and analysis of real property legal descriptions, property ownership, property profiles, title reports, leases, licenses, and contracts. Advanced knowledge of commercial real estate transactions, corporate governance, business entity management, finance transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. Experience managing complex due diligence reviews and large-scale transactional document collections. Proficiency with virtual data room platforms, electronic signature platforms, transaction management systems, entity management software, and corporate governance platforms. Familiarity with AI-assisted contract review, document abstraction, due diligence review, transaction management, and workflow automation technologies. Ability to utilize generative AI tools responsibly for document summarization, issue identification, contract analysis, transaction support, and workflow efficiency, while exercising independent judgment and validating all AI-generated content. Understanding of ethical, confidentiality, cybersecurity, privilege, and client-specific considerations associated with the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice. Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to coordinate complex transactions involving multiple stakeholders, competing deadlines, and large volumes of documentation. Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and implement technology-driven solutions that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and client service. CORPORATE DUTIES: Organizes business entities of all types (corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships). Prepares and files incorporation, merger, acquisition, dissolution and related documents and prepares amendments to corporate documents as needed. Prepares incorporation documents including but not limited to certificate/articles of incorporation, bylaws, restricted stock purchase agreements, organizational board and stockholder resolutions and related applications, filings and documentation, checks availability of and reserves corporate entity names. Assists with due diligence process, including tracking diligence requests and reviewing capitalization tables and underlying equity issuances, certain documents related to corporate organizational matters (including incorporation documents, minutes and board and stockholder consents) and basic commercial contracts. Prepares closing deliverables (including secretary’s certificates, bring-down certificates, stock powers and director and officer resignations), board and stockholder consents and closing volumes. Prepares, maintains and updates database for corporate capitalization records, drafts stock option and restricted stock agreements, effects transfers of stock and prepares stock certificates. Obtains and coordinates the delivery of good-standing certificates from filing agent. Retrieves documents from government agencies, private document retrieval companies and internal sources as appropriate. Preparing annual minutes and shareholder and board resolutions. Maintaining minute books and other corporate records, including capitalization information. Order and maintain corporate records and review corporate documents for making recommendations to attorneys for cleaning up corporate records. Drafting and arranging for UCC filings, amendments, extensions and terminations relating primarily to secured transactions, and conducting computerized lien searches. Work with outside vendors and internal firm service groups to assist with corporate filings, such as annual returns, secretary of state and business license filings. Maintain tickler system for annual minutes and trademark renewals. Prepare correspondence to clients for attorneys signature and serve as liaison between legal team and client to assure quality and timely response. TECHNOLOGY, AI, AND TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Utilize approved generative AI and legal technology platforms to assist with review, summarization, abstraction, comparison, and analysis of contracts, leases, loan documents, title materials, organizational documents, corporate records, and due diligence materials. Assist attorneys in managing complex due diligence processes for mergers, acquisitions, financings, public agency transactions, and commercial real estate matters, including administration of virtual data rooms and tracking diligence requests and responses. Employ AI-assisted review tools and workflow automation technologies to identify key provisions, risks, obligations, inconsistencies, and transaction issues within large document sets. Prepare and maintain transaction dashboards, closing checklists, diligence matrices, issue lists, critical dates schedules, and project management reports utilizing technology-enabled solutions. Perform quality control and validation of AI-generated summaries, analyses, and work product to ensure accuracy, completeness, confidentiality, and compliance with client and Firm requirements. Coordinate electronic transaction closings utilizing digital signature platforms, electronic closing rooms, virtual data rooms, and cloud-based transaction management systems. Assist with post-closing integration, record retention, entity maintenance, and organization of transaction documentation within document management systems and corporate governance platforms. Manage and maintain large volumes of corporate records, capitalization information, governance documents, ownership records, and real estate portfolio information utilizing specialized technology platforms and databases. Collaborate with attorneys, practice support teams, and Firm leadership to evaluate and implement emerging legal technologies, AI-enabled workflows, and process improvements designed to increase efficiency and improve client service. Assist with preparation of transaction summaries, executive reports, asset inventories, lease abstracts, title summaries, organizational charts, capitalization schedules, and ownership structures utilizing both traditional and technology-assisted methodologies. Qualifications REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: The degree of knowledge and ability as outlined under this section is that which is necessary to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of this position set forth above and: Experience and satisfactory skill levels in all areas of Responsibility and Duties, above, with excellent skills in at least several of those areas. Paralegals without satisfactory skill levels in one or more areas may satisfy the requirements of that skill set by demonstrating a likely ability to quickly develop such a skill level. Excellent organizational skills including record keeping, data collection, and system information. Ability to compile and analyze data and furnish concise, detailed information in report format, written correspondence, e ‑ mail, or verbally. Possess excellent knowledge of reading, writing, grammar, spelling, punctuation, proofreading, and formatting in order to interpret source data, prepare real estate transactional documents and forms, proofread material for grammatical, typographical, and spelling errors, and perform file maintenance. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Ability to communicate with courtesy and diplomacy, efficiently follow written and verbal instructions, provide information and training, and maintain effective relationships with a diverse group of attorneys, clients, staff, and outside contacts. Exhibit high degree of initiative with excellent analytical, technical, and critical-thinking skills requiring an aptitude for detail, precision, and logic in order to analyze and research real estate transactional data, process information, conduct legal research, and perform essential duties. Dependable team player with the ability to act independently and make decisions within scope of the position’s responsibilities. Proactive with excellent troubleshooting, problem resolution, and follow-through skills. Ability to work independently, organize, prioritize, and oversee numerous tasks from inception to completion, and ensure work is completed within strict deadlines with a high level of competence and accuracy. Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment, and adapt to changes in workflow with a proven ability to remain composed and professional under stressful circumstances. Willingness to learn and accept work in other areas of the law, as needed. Ability to adapt related skills to assist peers, as needed. REQUIRED EDUCATION: B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience Paralegal certificate from an ABA approved program or an affidavit re work experience sufficient to comply with California Business and Professions Code Sections 6450-6456. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: A minimum of seven (7) years’ of experience as a transactional paralegal. Firm Travel: Must have flexibility to travel on short notice for and on behalf of the Firm. The reasonably expected pay scale for this position with 7 or more years of experience is $95,000 - $110,000 ($48.72-$56.42) annually, non-exempt. The actual salary within that range will depend on the selected candidate’s years of practice and experience. We encourage all interested candidates to apply. Best Best & Krieger is an equal opportunity employer.