LES R. KRAMSKY, ESQ.
732.239.6767
lesrkramskyesq@yahoo.com

IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
Contract Drafting  Business Advice  Real Estate and Financing  Claims Management
Business and real estate lawyer with more than twenty years of experience working as a trusted advisor to principals and senior executives on strategic legal matters and management decisions. Skilled at negotiating, drafting, and structuring commercial contracts and handling major real estate transactions to maximize tax savings and achieve other business objectives. Excellent writing, oral presentation, and interpersonal skills.

EXPERIENCE

The Money Store, Florham Park, New Jersey
General Counsel, 2010 – Present
• Handled legal and compliance issues for nationwide mortgage company and title company.
• Negotiated all contracts with warehouse lenders, investors, vendors, etc.
• Served as the liaison with outside counsel on all litigation issues and managed all legal matters, including foreclosure litigation.
• Acted as closing attorney on various real estate and financing projects.
• Supervised processing, underwriting, closing and post-closing departments.
• Worked closely with top executives regarding business decisions and risk assessment.


REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT FIRM, New York, New York
General Counsel, 2008 – 2010
• Advised executives of real estate development, investment, and management firm, working closely with outside attorneys and accountants on business and real estate strategies, including risk assessments on potential investments and business proposals.
• Managed compliance, human resources, real estate and other legal claims.
• Directed a team of ten real estate paralegals, property accountants, human resources, and other employees.

Real Estate
• Handled real estate deals from contract to post-closing, including drafting leases, amendments, and license agreements for company owned and managed properties.
• Negotiated and drafted loans and leases for businesses and properties, liaising with lenders, title companies, and finance companies to arrange for loans.
• Evaluated residential and commercial titles to ensure titles were insurable and marketable.
General Corporate
• Drafted and maintained entity formation and governance documents. Reviewed and drafted brokerage agreements, property management contracts, vendor contracts, and proposals for company-owned properties.
• Worked with senior management on corporate restructuring strategies and execution, handling legal work associated with real estate and business loan restructurings.
Outside Counsel Oversight & Collections
• Streamlined outside legal fees by 75% by auditing legal bills, negotiating reduced billing rates, settling appropriate matters in-house, and actively supervising outside counsel.
• Handled company’s collections against delinquent tenants and other parties.


PARAMOUNT PROPERTIES, Marlboro, New Jersey
General Counsel/Executive Vice President, 2005 – 2008
• Handled all legal matters and worked closely with executives, management teams, and real estate brokers on management and other business decisions for real estate development, property management and investment business. Supervised staff of ten, including paralegals, property accountants, and human resources colleagues.

• Drafted and negotiated a broad array of real estate contracts, including commercial and residential leases, brokerage agreements, property management contracts, and vendor contracts.
• Reduced legal fees by 75% by auditing legal bills, negotiating reduced billing rates, settling appropriate matters in-house, and actively supervising outside counsel.
• Drafted entity formation and corporate governance documents; performed real estate closings for commercial and residential projects.

LAW OFFICES OF LES R. KRAMSKY, LLC, Marlboro, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York
Principal, 1990 – Present
• General corporate, real estate, and collections practice in New York and New Jersey.
• Represented banks, other businesses, and individuals in real estate closings, and refinancings, handling contract negotiations, property inspection issues, and clearing title.
• Drafted all types of real estate contracts, business agreements, commercial contracts, leases, amendments and vendor contracts.

CONSUMERS TITLE AGENCY, INC., New York and New Jersey
General Counsel (Part-Time), 1998 – 2008
• Handled all legal matters for title insurance and settlement services company. Worked closely with title underwriter and claims counsel on clearing title issues and title claims.

EDUCATION
BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL, Brooklyn, New York
Juris Doctor, June 1990
GPA: 95

RUTGERS COLLEGE – RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Bachelor of Arts in Economics – Minor in Accounting, May 1987
GPA: 3.8