Christopher Nowak Email & Phone Number

Birmingham, Alabama, Us

Lead 6 direct and many indirect reports across legal and business functions in USA and Mexico for 270-person company with 5500+ apartment units across USA – largest lessor of fully furnished apartments in USA. Develop legal and business vision and strategies and initiate/drive efforts. Oversee Investor Relations and Board of Directors matters.MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE TEAM: Meet weekly with CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, CAO, and SVP Sales to discuss key metrics, operational issues, and business strategies.BUSINESS STRATEGY: Co-develop business plans and future years’ budgets with executive team.INVESTOR RELATIONS: Manage investor matters for 600+ investors and current/former vested employees.LEGAL & COMPLIANCE LEADERSHIP: Manage contracting, leasing, litigation, and labor/employment issues. Develop legal and regulatory strategies. Oversee compliance for cybersecurity, data privacy, HUD requirements, and Federal Credit Reporting Act.CORPORATE SECRETARY: Attend Board meetings and manage minutes and Board consents. Established and serve on Audit, Compensation, and Governance/Nominating Committees. Maintain 9 entities in USA and Mexico.IP PORTFOLIO: Settled trademark dispute and expanded portfolio. Manage USA and foreign Trademarks and Patent Applications.TRANSACTIONS: Drafted operational and marketing templates Terms & Conditions, Privacy, and other agreements.BUSINESS FUNCTIONS LEADERSHIP: Direct senior Human Resource team (USA Human Resources, Mexico Human Resources, Training, Head of Social Impact, Corporate Recruiting). Supervise hiring, training, terminations, and benefits administration.HEALTH PLANS: Negotiated expanded offerings (such as mental health, long-term care (LTC), life insurance) during rapid growth (70 to 675 employees), with little increase in OpEx and employee cost.BUSINESS INSURANCE: Restructured business insurance program enabling growth and scalability as number of units fluctuated. Personally negotiated with broker saving 25%.

Advised virtual concierge and social networking tech start-up. Drafted legal documents and co-developed funding pitch

Dallas, Texas, Us

World’s fastest growing and 2nd largest hospitality company with 23K employees in 15 countries. USA market launched in late 2018.Supervised legal staff of 9 attorneys and paralegals to draft/administer/terminate contracts and licensing agreements, negotiate commercial transactions, and manage litigation, regulatory matters, and labor, employment, and immigration issues. Built up Legal Dept from 2 to 9 people. Recruited, hired, trained, and managed employees. Reported to USA CEO.STATE REGULATORY DISPUTE: Managed several state regulatory disputes avoiding $100K+ in fines and injunctive relief.COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS / ELIMINATION OF LIABILITIES: Developed town-by-town approach based on executive orders and local ordinances reducing and, in many cases, eliminating $Millions during the emergency.

Led +36-member legal team located in USA, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Singapore, and London supporting $1B Hotel division with 23K employees worldwide. Developed strategic legal and business initiatives. Controlled $30M budget. Reported to CEO.MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE TEAM: Met with CEO, CFO, CIO, CMO, SVP Sales, and Chief People Officer weekly.BUSINESS & LEGAL STRATEGIES: Defined legal strategies and co-created/executed business strategies for global Litigation, Intellectual Property, Franchise & Management Sales & Ops, and Wyndham Rewards loyalty program.LEGAL LEADERSHIP: Oversaw Litigation, Franchise/Transaction, Administrative Deals, and Procurement teams. Negotiated high-profile contracts directly. Merged 3 groups into single legal team. Set up teams in Latin America & Dubai; moved team to Shanghai.CONTRACT STREAMLINING: Launched new process simplifying contract process reducing contract turnaround time 25% globally.INTERNATIONAL SOURCING: Delivered vision and leadership on new international sourcing initiatives improving Wyndham brand.RESERVATION SYSTEM (Sabre): Negotiated development of industry-leading enterprise-wide property management & reservation system.

Negotiated franchise, mgmt., Master License, and partnership deals in Europe, Asia (India, China, Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore), M. East, Latin America, Canada, and USA. Restructured unsuccessful licensing/distribution arrangements in Mexico, Caribbean, and Latin America.

J.D.

B.A., Political Science

Political Science