Counsel II-Real Estate

OVERVIEW

Realize new levels of autonomy and professional ownership. At Ulta Beauty, our Legal, Risk & Governance team provides clarity and continuity in ways that have made our growth a seamless venture, with keen insights that have opened up new and previously unexplored areas of opportunity. Through superior leadership and work that continually challenges, you’ll have the chance to help set strategic direction through ethical and collaborative thought and practice.

Our Legal, Risk and Governance team seeks an experienced attorney with deep technical expertise in retail real estate leasing to provide legal support to our Growth & Development business partners who are responsible for new store development and management of our existing fleet. In this role, you will report to the Senior Counsel, Real Estate, partner regularly with G&D team members providing retail real estate legal services, and work closely with all other members of the LR&G team.

This Counsel II role will be responsible for protecting the legal interests of the Company, balancing risk with profitable growth, and ensuring G&D’s and the Company’s strategic objectives are timely met. This role will also provide counsel and leadership on the resolution of real estate issues and disputes and will have responsibility for managing outside counsel, budgets and reporting related to services provided.

• Contribute retail leasing expertise to support business objectives and collaborate with G&D leadership and team members on a wide variety of challenges and issues impacting business operations.
• Draft, negotiate and review a wide variety of retail leasing related documents in support of business growth initiatives and the existing store fleet. Such documents include lease amendments and modifications, renewals, letter agreements, construction contracts and agreements, work letters, guarantees, SNDA’s, estoppels, exclusives and use restrictions, restrictive covenants and conditions, default notices and responses to same, and similar real estate related documents.
• Manage and direct outside counsel in the efficient negotiation and execution of leases and amendments. Intervene proactively in negotiations to resolve issues, avoid delays, and expedite execution. Maintain uniform leasing standards on behalf of the Company while reviewing work performed by various outside counsel. Track and periodically report progress on negotiations to partners in G&D.
• Support work prepared by senior paralegals and lease specialist, review and proof documents for execution.
• Provide legal support for developer disputes and pre-litigation matters as well as issues relating to store construction and maintenance, lease payables audits, and lease administration matters.

• Provide business focused guidance and counseling.
• Develop and effectively manage budgets for external legal support.
• Provide reporting and data to track and manage workflow, support projects, and manage risks.
• Participate in the maintenance and data integrity of the portfolio management system and legal drive.
• Support special projects as assigned by the current VP, Assistant General Counsel and/or Chief Legal Officer, on an as-needed basis.

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school. Admitted to practice law and in good standing in the State of Illinois.
• 5+ years of real estate legal experience with strong emphasis on retail leasing in the shopping center industry; experience in negotiating and drafting retail leases and amendments and related documents.
• In-house experience with a national or regional retailer or developer is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to supervise outside counsel independently and effectively.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with the legal team, business teams, and executives; demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Excellent drafting, analytical, and organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects at once, follow through, and meet concurrent deadlines. Demonstrated ability to work independently with attention to detail, manage tight…