Deborah Fato

Lavon, TX ***** 310-***-**** (c) ad06o9@r.postjobfree.com linkedin.com/in/deborah-fato-0b758a7

Paralegal: Real Estate Corporate

Highly successful and competent paralegal with 20+ years’ experience providing broad legal assistance and support to real estate development leaders and corporate counsel. Demonstrated expertise in title/survey review, lease and rental agreements, contract management, right-of-way agreement development, closing activities, easements, mortgage and title policy documents. Exceptional eye for detail and understanding of the intricacies involved in due diligence procedures and drafting, negotiating, and closing commercial real estate transactions. Excellent leadership skills with ability to train and mentor junior-level paralegal colleagues, deliver executive assistance to industry leaders, and oversee office management operations.

Professional Experience

Dentons US LLP, Dallas, TX

REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL, 06/2022-09/2023

Supported the national Real Estate Practice Group. Assist with coordination of the closing of successful real estate transactions including acquisitions, dispositions and financings, debt, and equity transactions. Perform due diligence including review of title commitments, surveys and underlying title documents and entity documents. Conduct general research and handle matters relevant to clients, with an expertise in corporate formation (for profit, non-profit, limited liability). Work on special assignments conducting routine fact or legal research. Reported to the Manager of Paralegal Services.

Responsive Education Solutions, Lewisville, TX

REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL, 03/2020-03/2022

Supported Vice President of Construction and Real Estate, and Vice President of Real Estate, at corporate headquarters, regarding the acquisition and construction of Public Charter Schools in Texas and Arkansas. Prepare contracts, lease agreements and amendments, closing documents, title and survey review. Manage the process of obtaining tax exemption status for real property on newly acquired properties. Manage the process of mechanics’ lien responses. Manage owned properties as assigned and act as landlord liaison. Coordinate with outside counsel on document requests. Real estate database input and administration. Preform credit card reconciliations; review and summarize outside counsel legal invoices for monthly approval by vice presidents. Perform special projects and general administration duties as assigned.

Penhall Company, Irving, TX (Contract through Robert Half Legal Agency)

CORPORATE CONTRACTS MANAGER & PARALEGAL FOR CORPORATE COUNSEL, 04/2018-10/2018

Supervised construction contracts at corporate headquarters of a specialty concrete grooving, grinding, and demolition company. Accountable for oversight of 80+ corporate office, storage site, and residential unit leases across USA and Hawaii. Provided litigation assistance to outside counsel on company lawsuit issues and processed legal invoices. Sustained a database of 250+ construction bonds and organized a SharePoint database of construction contracts for nationwide access. Coordinated with company contract administrators to initiate executive signatures, notarizations, and FedEx distributions. Assisted Risk Management Department with certificates of insurance, claims issues, litigations, and settlements as well as aided Accounting Department with payment issues.

Notable Achievements:

Oversaw 800+ business and contractor licenses as well as government registrations within USA and Canada.

Verizon, Irving, TX (Contract through Glotel Inc Agency)

RIGHT OF WAY MANAGEMENT AGENT, 03/2017 – 03/2018

Oversaw right-of-way agreement development and management including renewals, term enforcement, and payment authorization. Coordinated acquisition, negotiation, and recording of private easements and equipment site leases. Oversaw public right-of-way agreements involving fiber network installations. Administered Verizon’s fiber network bonds, certificates or insurance, and letters of credit. Directed recordation and retrieval of public documents with vendor – Parasec.

Lehigh Hanson Heidelberg Cement, Irving, TX (Contract through Beacon Hill Legal Agency)

LAND CONTRACT ANALYST & EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, 11/2014 – 02/2016

Performed in-depth administrative assistance to Land Manager accountable for thousands of company acres and properties across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Louisiana for one of the largest construction industry suppliers of heavy building materials. Analyzed real property and ad valorem tax issues and prepared assessments of oil and gas leases as well as royalty interests of all wells on company property. Monitored mining and agricultural tenant lease income to ensure payment of all rents and production royalties in accordance with contracts. Processed agricultural exemption documents required by tax authorities. Participated in property acquisition and real estate closing activities as well as due diligence, title surveys, and closing binder completion.

Notable Achievements:

Finalized and sustained a Fixed Asset Register that easily identified and profiled 350+ land and property acquisitions.

Phoenix Realty Group LLC, Los Angeles, CA

REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL TO CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, 09/2007 – 12/2009

Coordinated with in-house corporate legal department, provided executive assistance to CEO and vice presidents, and liaised with external counsel teams for private nationwide real estate equity investment firm focused on developing, constructing, and asset managing workforce housing projects including commercial and retail project acquisitions. Collaborated with executives and asset managers during project teleconference communications. Sustained accurate document databases, filing systems, and project binders. Prepared and compiled real estate closing binders and followed through with post-closing accountabilities.

Aided counsel with loan documentation including agreement provisions, lease amendments, side agreements, waivers, workout proposals, and redlining of document versions. Drafted, amended, and redlined lease and property contracts and agreements. Partnered with Asset Management Department on project management requirements, insurance, and risk management issues. Collaborated with Construction Development Department head and asset management leaders in funding oversight, loan draws, and accounting throughout all construction stages.

Notable Achievements:

Oversaw portfolio of 130+ limited liability companies, partnerships, and corporations ensuring governmental licensing compliance.

Successfully directed and mentored UCLA paralegal internship students with corporate and litigation matters.

TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENTS

Galaxy Holdings LLC, Beverly Hills, CA

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CEO & REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, 07/2013-10/2013

Provided administrative and executive assistance to real estate developer and external legal counsel regarding property acquisitions and apartment building sales. Liaised with various external professionals including developers, architects, real estate brokers, insurance representatives, and engineers regarding construction project advancement.

Notable Achievements:

Directed seven-member paralegal intern team workflows and coordination with external counsel to prepare CEO for lease dispute trial resulting in a $20K savings in legal fees.

Landmark Dividend LLC, El Segundo, CA (Contract through Robert Half Legal Agency)

REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL, 12/2012 –02/ 2013

Delivered direct support to associate general counsel for Easements and Assignments of Lease interests research and discovery of issues. Drafted real estate asset Easements and Assignments of Lease for cell tower and billboard leases. Coordinated with title company in recording of easements, leases, mortgage and title policy documents. Oversaw nationwide County Recorder rejections and served mortgage lender banks with upcoming company notices. Assisted closers with real estate transactions and supported Asset Servicing Department.

DirectTV, El Segundo, CA (Contract through Hudson Legal Agency)

REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL, 11/2011 – 01/2012

Supported real estate attorneys within corporate headquarters legal department with a focus on Multiple Dwelling Unit division. Tasked with reviewing thousands of contracts, analyzing and approving service agreements, recording and solving Right of Entry easements.

Deborah Fato Page 3

Education and Credentials

Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies (Dean’s List)

El Camino College – Torrance, CA

Notary Public, Texas Commission, 2026

Los Angeles Paralegal Association Board of Directors, 1987 – 1995

Bear Creek Special Utility District, Board of Directors 2019 – 2022; President 2021

Technical Proficiencies

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook) SmartSheet SharePoint nSAP CSCNavigator

Legal Solutions DeltaView DocsOpen Elite IManage Interwoven InterAction PCDocs Skyward

Hummingbird Westlaw Lexis Research System PACER EntityPro Veridian LIS Internet Research

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