Frances M. Dufficy

adwr3t@r.postjobfree.com [***]331-1013

PROFILE

Experienced Certified Paralegal with more than 20 years of experience. Detail-oriented with independent judgment and decision-making abilities, excellent research, investigative and reporting skills. Highly organized with extensive experience in office management and client-attorney relation skills.

New Jersey Notary Public

Areas of Expertise

Real Estate, Title, Survey, Zoning, Banking, Corporate.

Conducted commercial and residential closings on behalf of Lenders, Purchasers and Sellers.

Reviewed, negotiated and cleared survey, zoning regulations and title violations and endorsements.

Building Management,

Real Estate - commercial and residential closings as well as IDA funded closings.

Research: Department of City Planning, the Department of Buildings, Department of Finance, Landmark Commission, as well as other various government and private agencies.

Cleared and/or researched resolutions for any violations on properties including research at Criminal Court.

Assisted in closings for large commercial transactions, including leasing and lending. Document preparation for Grant Deeds, Warranty Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds and Land Leases.

Reviewed loan documents from Lender, maintained checklists and coordinated with and was liaison to lenders, title companies, attorneys and insurance agents. Held and monitored Escrow accounts.

Assigned as point person for resolution of open issues or items that arose throughout the acquisition and through post-closing.

Prepared post-closing binders, reconciled cash disbursements.

Incorporated companies, form, qualify and obtain EIN and Corporate Kits.

Prepared form 1099 for Corporations and individuals

Microsoft Office [Word, Excel, PowerPoint], Adobe, Yardi, SiteCompli, CoStar, Pro Series 9, QuickBooks

Professional experience

Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt 9/2021 – Present

Paralegal

Prepare and maintain closing checklists and timelines for Commercial, Residential and Construction transactions

Review of title commitments and surveys, summarize underlying exceptions, identify title and survey issues, liaise with attorneys, title companies and surveyors to resolve,

Prepare title memos and recommended endorsements and affirmative insurance

Review and summarize zoning reports and leases

Order and review UCC and tax lien search reports judgment/lien/bankruptcy searches, good standing certificates

Prepare corporate formation documents for real estate entities, including minutes and consents for real estate transactions and prepare UCC’s and termination of formations

Review of Commercial Leases, prepare estoppel certificates and SNDA’s

Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation 1/2021 – 9/2021

Paralegal

Prepared drafts of commercial, office, showroom and storage space leases, subleases, amendments, notices, assignments.

Prepared estoppels, rent demand notices.

Assisted with miscellaneous litigation, including landlord tenant cases and miscellaneous cases as directed by Principals.

Assisted with Corporate matters, forming entities in various states, obtaining tax id or EIN and monitoring corporate dates and filings.

Assisted with occasional trademark and copyright matters. Including intellectual property and patent research.

Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. 8/2019 – 1/2021

Senior Real Estate Paralegal

Conducted legal due diligence for Commercial and Residential real estate transactions.

Reviewed and digested Agreements, including, but not limited to, Lease Agreements, Building License Agreements,

Prepared Lender Documents, Purchase, Sale and Assignment.

Title and Survey review and clearance.

Assisted in all aspects of Closings, from inception through post-closing, administering loan document production, clearing open violations and filing any and all required applications and certificates. Post-follow up clearing open items and preparing and distributing Closing Binders, in digital and hard copies.

Prestige - FSC Realty Management LLC 7/2017 – 8/2019

Legal Researcher / Senior Paralegal

Assisted in all aspects of the day to day operations of the Affordable Acquisitions side of the Company, including:

Project entity organization and formation, regulatory filings and relations facilitator between Lender, Government Offices, outside Counsel, Title and Survey. Applying for EIN, DUNS and SAMS numbers for master entities.

Reviewed and cleared title and survey to insure compliance with the ALTA requirements for each Project.

Prepared lease abstracts, estoppels certificates, SNDA’s, lease amendments and riders.

Assisted in all aspects of Closings, from inception through post-closing, administering loan document production, clearing open violations and filing any and all required applications and certificates. Post-follow up clearing open items and preparing and distributing Closing Binders, in digital and hard copies.

Reviewed, negotiated and terminated outside vendor contracts and agreements.

Partnered with Accounting Department and Compliance Team with rent compliance efforts with multiple buildings and direct point person for outside banking. Liaise with payroll Company for employees and staff of multiple buildings. Prepared master spread sheet for pending tax abatements

Assisted Construction Department as liaise with surveyors, title and applications.

Independent Paralegal - [David Moss & Associates and Frawley & Associates] 4/2012 – 6/2017

Investigative Researcher / Corporate, Real Estate Paralegal

Assisted General Counsel with all legal and corporate matters regarding the leasing, construction/redevelopment and management of the company’s office.

Reviewed, negotiated and facilitated resolutions for survey, title, and landlord tenant issues and leases.

Attended Landlord/Tenant court on behalf of Landlord to expedite resolutions.

Formed new entities, obtained EIN and maintained corporate documents.

Drafted, revised, reviewed new commercial leases; negotiated lease renewals of tenants in neighborhood shopping centers, retirement villages and office buildings.

Assisted in all due diligence, attended closings in person and virtually, prepared all closing and post-closing documents and closing binders.

Education

New York Institute of Art & Design

National Academy for Paralegal Studies, Certificate

Attended Fairleigh Dickinson University

Contact this candidate