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, Document review and preparation.

EXPERIENCE

April 2019 to present – Wells Fargo Bank)

Funder for the closing department- Verify that all the funding documents are correct. Review all funding stipulations and requirements. Order the wire transfer or check. Provide funding/ disbursement authorization to release the funds for the Purchase or Refinance loans.

November 2018 to January 2019 (Contract)- Client Services Specialist Countryside Bank

Prepare loan closing documents using Laser Pro for consumer, commercial and construction loans, title clearance, establish tax escrows, tax redemptions, perform due diligence to prepare for closings, confirm all entity documents for authenticity and that are in good standing so can close the loans in a timely manner.

March 2018 to November 2018- (Contract) Real Estate Paralegal at Bridgeview Bank, Chicago.

Work with two leasing companies to track / title’s as the bank receives them from various DMV’s across the nation. Track all the vehicle, Business and UCC insurance policies to eliminate any lapses. Work with the loan operations group to track the real estate taxes, make loan payments and balance every day.

September 2015- October 2017. Senior Loan Document Reviewer- Byline Bank.

Review new or renewals /modifications for commercial, small business or consumer loan files. Performing due diligence to verify title vesting, clear title exceptions, escrow analysis, prepare all closing documentation, entity documents, perform UCC’ searches and other closing related issues. Work with the loan officers to clear title liens, taxes, and judgements, confirm good standing or whatever might come up in the closing process on their portfolio loans. Use Laser Pro, Nautilus and Fiserv document systems to prepare the loans to close.

May 2015- July 2015: Contract Project Coordinator-SAC Wireless. Work with AT&T using Pace, Siterra, and other systems for vendor management in their Mobility network. Temporary project.

December 12, 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. Work to ensure that all sites follow the FAA requirements for air space in the United States. Assist AT&T’s Corporate Real Estate Department in the preparation of the Leases and related documents for approval.

March 2010 – October 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.

September 9, 2009 – March 2010- Harris Bank (Contract Paralegal)

Working in the Legal Services Department to open, researching and closing subpoena and summons related 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.

June 6, 2009 – September 9, 2009: 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.

January 1, 2009 – June 6, 2009 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.

April 4, 2008 – November 11, 2008: - 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 lease or Land Lease the cell 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 all rent related terms per the lease.

Confirm and verify all commencement and expiration dates

Prepare lease and all submission documents for AT&T legal

November 1, 2007 – April 2008: 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, 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.

August 8., 2007- November 11, 2007: 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.

June 6, 2007 – August 8, 2007: 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.

March 7, 2007- June 2007: Arnstein & Lehr, Chicago, IL: (Contract Paralegal)

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

September 2006 -March 2007 – Ryan Connolly & Associates (a/k/a RCR & Associates), Burr Ridge, IL (Contract Paralegal)

Contract and real estate lease review specialist

July 2006- September 2006 – September 2006: Real estate closing services / various attorneys. (Contract Paralegal)

Completed approximately five closings per week.

February 5, 2005- July 2006: 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.

February 2000- November 2004: Neal and Leroy /Senior Real Estate Paralegal

Prepared documents, administered commercial, residential, municipal/governmental closings. Worked on title clearance, survey, tax issues, building violations for our professional clients. Also worked on Eminent Domain files. Produced via the public records, etc., legal descriptions and PINs for the various properties that were to be submitting to the city for approval consideration for acquisition by the City of Chicago. Prepared Council Ordinances to be voted on for approval under eminent domain. As well as any and all disclosures that were required, and all affidavit’s, etc. Projects were usually for the public use like a new fire station, police station, library, an open space or a public works project like a new parking facility, or whatever would be approved by the City Council, via the public building commission. Performed Tract Book Title Searches and legal research using Westlaw.

Prepared documents on behalf of the governmental entities for the Tax Exemption process after acquisition 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. For final reports to the city for the year’s projects.

September 1999 – February 2000: 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. Aided the Closing Agents to open new stores on schedule by reviewing and analyzing new construction documentation.

August 1989- September 1999: Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, Chicago, IL /Construction/Commercial Manager

Received title orders; started, administered, closed commercial and construction escrows.

Supervised Construction/ Commercial 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).

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