Denise Harris Email & Phone Number

Bethesda, Maryland

Managed contracts for U.S. and Canadian hotels for world’s largest hotel company with 7K+ properties and 30 brands in 130 countries and territories, as member of the Corporate Transactions and North America Hotel Development group. Performed organizational due diligence; obtained required information, disclosure, and collateral documents for franchise agreements through interactions with franchisees; addressed inquiries from franchisees and their counsel. Prepared franchise documents—franchise and contract agreements, comfort letters, and amendments.- Recognized as the first person in organization’s history to successfully pivot and provide support to both development and operations departments; enabling both departments to meet year-end deadlines and goals.- Rapidly mastered role and contributed to company and departments’ achievements, closing 30 new files in initial states within 60 days of employment.- Mitigated potential risks for company by ensuring full and complete execution and filing of franchise documents.

Bethesda

Prepared transaction documents and materials for asset purchase, finance, and securitization transactions. Drafted loan documents, reviewed titles and surveys, secured organizational/corporate documents, and prepared and maintained loan closing checklists. Managed and assisted with closing transactions, and prepared, coordinated and organized closing binders; prepared and filed UCC financing statements and amendments.- Acknowledged for exceptional work as sole paralegal on transactions; successfully obtained financing for 90 properties and closed within three weeks of receipt.- Delivered results in high-volume, fast-paced firms that performed complex, multi-state and multi-property transactions for financial institutions and commercial mortgage-backed securities.- Surpassed billable hours of 1600 per year consistently, which enabled the firm to obtain annual goals.

Matthews, North Carolina Area

Managed acquisition and disposition of company assets, primarily real estate, for diverse holding company comprised of 40 entities. Drafted purchase, sales and lease agreements, corporate and entity formation documents, and a wide variety of legal documents, such as license, brokerage, subletting, confidentiality, temporary use, and telecom agreements. Reviewed surveys, titles, insurance policies, appraisals, and engineering reports, and performed legal research. Managed outside counsel and supported closings. Partnered closely with General Counsel.- Implemented formal communications processes with legal and management teams which elevated accountability and improved role clarity. - Boosted regulatory compliance and reviewed and brought each corporate entities’ books current; designed and instituted procedures to streamline and facilitate maintenance of required documentation.- Recognized by General Counsel early in role for expertise and efficiency; earned promotion to Sr. Paralegal.

Maryland

Sold insurance and financial solutions to small businesses and individuals. Completed in-depth review of clients’ financial circumstances and future goals. Created and initiated targeted marketing campaign to generate leads.- Provided written and oral recommendations on retirement, insurance, estate and income tax planning, budgeting, debt, and asset management; enabled clients’ ability to navigate challenging, stressful life changes with increased peace-of-mind and confidence.- Leveraged knowledge of SEC, FINRA, NYSE and legislative expertise to ensure regulatory compliance.

Managed Federal government portfolio of lease acquisitions in four U.S. regions. Total portfolio about 500K sq. ft. of office and warehouse property, with sites from 3K to 200K sq. ft. Drafted and negotiated contracts.- Supported Federal government’s agency housing needs; ensured sound financial decision making by providing analyses, counsel, and thorough reporting to high-level U.S. Government GSA officials.- Improved processes for Request for Qualifications, Request for Offers and Solicitation for Offers by creating and implementing new workflows and procedures.- Earned “exceeds and very good performance” feedback from GSA for facilitating high-quality, timely service.

Led program technical support for acquisition, expansion and extension of leaseholds and related commercial real estate services for the Federal Government nationally as a National Broker Contractor. Orchestrated efforts across five state regions; facilitated requirements gathering, RFP/SFO creation, offer presentation, analyses, selection, and final reporting. Drafted and presented leader documents, reports and Solicitations for Offers (SFOs). Coordinated post-award requirements and provided technical federal procurement regulatory advice to regions.- Project managed 30 to 40 task orders simultaneously; coordinating calls between agency leader, contracting office, and broker to identify client needs, prepare solicitations, review offers and finalize selections.- Secured additional requisitions from contracting officers by building sound relationships and delivering seamless experience for federal agencies.

Mba In Progress

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Business/Corporate Communications - Business Development

I was a very involved and active student while attending The University of Illinois. I received several distinctions, honors and awards.

Certificate, Commercial Contracts