Experience

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  BP

  • Chicago, Illinois & Houston, Texas

  • Commercial Real Estate Attorney

    • Nov 2012 - Present
    • Chicago, Illinois & Houston, Texas

    BP in-house Corporate Real Estate Counsel working on various commercial real estate and M&A projects within the US, South America and Canada providing legal representation in contract drafting and negotiation for corporate owned and leased real estate including offices, refineries, various facilities and vacant land: • Management of corporate real estate assets, acquisitions, dispositions and sale leasebacks.• Pipeline and utility easement drafting, negotiation and condemnation defense.• Agricultural and grazing leases, mineral right sale and leases. • Office leases, subleases, amendments, terminations, renegotiations, dispute resolution.• Oversight and management of outside counsel.BP Products North America, Inc. Worked as Contract Counsel with Portfolio and Business Development Team, downstream portfolio divestment and legal representation regarding legacy issues, enforcement and protection of reserved property rights and restrictions as well as supporting the Sales team working with Jobber, Dealer and Franchisee issues. Provided representation and support for all real estate related matters including retail site acquisition, disposition and BP secured loans to franchisees.

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  Edward J, Krzyminski, Ltd.

  • Attorney at Law

    • May 1982 - Present

    Sole practitioner in general practice with focus on real estate, construction, general business and commercial contracts. Limited to assisting family and friends when possible.

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  McDonald's

  • Senior Counsel, Team Leader

    • Jan 1996 - Jan 2009

    MCDONALD’S CORPORATIONSenior Counsel, Director, Team Leader/Manager, U.S. Legal Department (2001 – 2009) Team Leader of the Special Venues Legal Team. (2006-2009)Established a specialized team providing legal support to bid, negotiate, amend, renegotiate and draft complex commercial leases, office leases, concession agreements, licenses and management contracts in nontraditional retail venues for all McDonald’s Regions throughout the U.S. and some international transactions (includes Wal-Mart, Disney, Six Flags, shopping centers, malls, hospitals, casinos, hotels, governmental contracts, toll ways and turnpikes, airports, military bases, stadiums, Olympics and others).• Established and developed a new independent Special Venues Team managing multiple priorities supporting approximately 1,300 existing sites plus new transactions.• Oversight and management of outside counsel in real estate transactions and litigation.• Provided legal support and training to McDonald’s regional management and personnel.• Partnered, strategized and provided legal support for the Facilities and Systems Department managing, constructing, renovating company owned and leased real estate including, offices, hotel, training and conference facilities, and Ronald McDonald Houses across the country.

  • Center of Excellence for Construction Law

    • 1996 - 2009

    Center of Excellence for Construction LawAdvised and made recommendations to McDonald’s Officers and Executive Management, training and assisting McDonald’s attorneys and home office and field personnel on construction related matters as well as providing legal support to McDonald’s Facilities and Systems Department, World Wide Restaurant Design Group, the McDonald’s European Design Studio with design and construction contracts. • Drafted Master Professional Services Agreement for use in hiring outside architects and engineers and worked in conjunction with the RDG to establish the policies and procedures that are followed in hiring outside architects and engineers by the RDG and the field personnel throughout the McDonald’s system, including oversight of corporate compliance.• Worked in collaboration with various departments including accounting and purchasing in the development of a new automated procurement system integrating master contracts with purchase order processes and procedures. Initiated and participated on the core team that established the training, policies and procedures for American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance that was implemented throughout the system. • Drafted and negotiated contracts with an external construction management companies to examine and bring McDonald’s owned restaurants into compliance with ADA.• Negotiated the construction contract for the temporary structure housing the McDonald’s restaurants at the Beijing Olympics.• Proactively provided advice and support to McDonald’s Facilities and Systems Department participate in meetings and contribute to establishing policies and procedures, draft and negotiate contracts with landlords, contractors, management companies, architectural firms dealing with McDonald’s owned and leased offices, hotel, university and facilities at home office and across the country. • Other Roles, Responsibilities, and Projects Completed as well.

  • Team Leader of the Asset Management & Special Venues Legal Team

    • 2002 - 2006

    Team was responsible for providing legal support for the portfolio of all U.S. leases held by McDonald’s including the renegotiation, extension, termination, exercise and close transactions for the purchase of all purchase options. Team members were also responsible for support of the Special Venues as described above.• Implemented a process for tracking lease options and provided notification to the Asset Managers to ensure that lease renewals and purchase option exercise dates were not missed.• Oversight and management of outside counsel in real estate transactions and litigation.• Assisted in the formation and member of the McDonald’s Asset Management Council, for oversight and coordination of the business, legal and regional objectives and implementation.• Earned Significant Contribution Award.

  • Team Leader of Donato’s Pizzeria Real Estate Legal Team

    • 2000 - 2002

    Participated in McDonald’s due diligence M&A of Donato’s Pizzeria, an Ohio company with a chain of pizza restaurants in several states with the intent to expand the development of the pizza business.• Managed Real Estate Legal Team established through McDonald’s to provide legal support and counsel for Donato’s real estate acquisition, management, development and construction. • Developed and implemented Policies and Procedures Manual in collaboration with the business managers to establish guidelines for the business and legal team regarding acquisition, development and disposition of real estate.• Actively managed and participated in the successful resolution of Donato’s real estate development and construction matters, direct oversight of outside litigation counsel.• Provided legal support and training.

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  Edward J. Krzyminski, LTD.

  • Chicago, Il & Orland Park, IL

  • Attorney At Law

    • 1986 - 1996
    • Chicago, Il & Orland Park, IL

    Private Law Practice• Concentration in general business, corporate, commercial, industrial and residential real estate representing individuals, contractors, developers, commercial property owners, business owners, corporate/LLC formation and representation, transactional and litigation. • Representation of developers, general contractors, subcontractors, homeowner associations and individuals involving issues of construction law, mechanics liens, contract review, negotiation, drafting, dispute resolution and litigation. Draft and negotiate financing, development agreements, declarations, covenants conditions and restrictions, represent clients at public hearings, building code and zoning variances and code modifications.• Trial attorney engaged in all aspects of litigation from pleadings, motions, discovery through trial.• Business Practice. Representation of Business Practice clients in: formation of corporations and LLCs, drafting of operating agreements, buy-sell agreements, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, dispute resolution, settlement agreements, partner disputes and related litigation. • Arbitrator for the Illinois Mandatory Arbitration Center and acted as panel chair for several cases.

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  Chicago Glass Block & Window Co.

  • Chicago, IL

  • Vice President & General Counsel

    • 1986 - 1994
    • Chicago, IL

    PETER BEYER & SON, INC. A/K/A CHICAGO GLASS BLOCK & WINDOW CO.; Chicago, Illinois (1986-1994)A General and Mason Contractor specializing in architectural, industrial, commercial and residential glass block construction and installation, as well as a manufacture of glass block windows and panels. A distributor of Pittsburgh Corning glass block and related products. Vice President & General CounselConcurrent with Private Law Practice. Provided all legal representation for the company also formed and represented the affiliated companies California Glass Block, Inc. and San Diego Glass Block, Inc.

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  Grochocinski, Grochocinski and Krzyminski, LTD.

  • Bridgeview, IL

  • Partner

    • 1982 - 1986
    • Bridgeview, IL

    Focus of the law firm was business, contract law and creditors rights (clients included Banks, Savings and Loans and Credit Unions). Partner. Responsibilities included general business law, real estate, and construction related matters for the firm including collections, contract litigation, mortgage foreclosures and UCC Sales. Customized second mortgage loan documentation packages for various Bank and Credit Union clients. Representation of residential and commercial real estate developers, negotiation of project financing, joint venture agreements and related contracts.