Real Estate Management
Resume:
DONALD J. STRAKA, ESQ.
Hartland, WI 53029
Res.: 262-***-****
Cell: 262-***-****
abnose@r.postjobfree.com
CAREER SUMMARY
I am an experienced Business Transaction Attorney with extensive legal background in representing
various public and private business entities, including, financial institutions, manufacturing concerns,
insurance companies and regulatory authorities. Practice areas include business transactions and
litigation, contracts, finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities, general corporate matters and
governance and employment law.
I am a highly motivated legal and management professional who is resourceful in identifying and resolving
challenging issues and who has proven leadership, project management and planning skills. My
collaborative working style is adept to building teams and working with executives and professionals at all
levels. I am an AV rated attorney licensed to practice in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DONALD J. STRAKA LAW
(June 2005 to present)
Accomplishments: Boutique private practice representing businesses and owners in corporate
organizations, mergers and acquisitions, business transactions, finance, real estate and employment
matters.
CANRON CORPORATION, Chicago, Illinois
(2002 to present)
Director
(Also served as Chief Executive Officer from March 2003 to June 2005)
Accomplishments: Responsible for wind down, break-up and voluntary liquidation of large steel
fabrication and erection company with operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and
overseeing related legal matters. The voluntary liquidation is continuing, has been largely successful,
resulting in the repayment of over $30.0 million in secured debt and shareholder distributions to date in
excess of $5.0 million.
CIB MARINE BANCSHARES, INC., Pewaukee, Wisconsin
(July 1997 to June 15, 2005)
Sr. Vice President and Of Counsel
(April 2005 to June 2005)
Sr. Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
(July 1997 to April 2005)
Additional Positions:
• Supervised the Legal, Security and Human Resources Departments.
• CEO and Director of Canron Corporation, a steel fabrication and erection company with
operations in Canada, United States and Mexico.
• CEO and Director of MICR, Inc., a manufacturer of magnetic ink recognition systems
headquartered in Seattle, WA.
• Served as Director, Manager and/or Officer of various other affiliated bank and non-bank entities.
• Served on Executive Management, SEC Disclosure, and Risk Management Committees.
Accomplishments:
• Negotiated acquisition of privately and publicly held state and national banking organizations
(aggregate assets in excess of $135.0 million), branch banking facilities (aggregate total deposits
in excess of $150.0 million), mortgage business and various other non-banking business
operations, including manufacturing concerns, in complex transactions.
• Responsible for the organization of de novo Indiana state chartered commercial bank with initial
capital of $10.0 million, Federal Savings bank in Omaha, Nebraska with initial capital of $10.0
million, Illinois Trust Company, Mezzanine Finance Company and various other affiliated entities.
• Responsible for oversight of all legal matters involving real estate leasing, acquisition activities
and regulatory matters relative to the organization of over 25 branch banking facilities in
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, and Grand Cayman Islands.
• Negotiated, drafted and interpreted numerous transactional agreements, loan agreements,
forbearance agreements, corporate policies and other legal documents for all departments,
including engagement and advisory agreements with various investment banking firms.
• Lead in-house counsel in advising directors and officers of rights, obligations and responsibilities
under Memoranda of Understanding and Cease and Desist Orders.
• Lead counsel with respect to numerous private placement offerings raising in excess of $25.0
million in private equity and issuance of approximately $60.0 million in guaranteed trust preferred
securities.
• Lead in-house counsel relative to sale of the company’s largest banking subsidiary with total
assets of approximately $1.3 billion at time of sale.
• Responsible for in-house legal review of company’s SEC Reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q
and 8-K, definitive proxy statements, registration statements, etc.
• Advisor to board and management with respect to corporate governance matters, including duties
and responsibilities under Sarbanes – Oxley.
• Lead role in controlling employment claims and defense costs through development and
implementation of employment policies, procedures and programs.
• Developed corporate code of ethics policy and implemented monitoring and reporting procedures.
• Managed outside counsel relationships and billing guidelines.
• Worked closely with executive management team in the development and implementation of
reduction in force and related severance plan.
BRASHEAR & GINN, Omaha, Nebraska
(June 1989 to July 1997)
Partner with medium-sized law firm located in Omaha, Nebraska (formerly Omaha office of Heron,
Burchette, Ruchert and Rothwell, a large national law firm with its main office in Washington D.C).
Practice Areas: Commercial, business and banking transactions and litigation, mergers and acquisitions,
insurance defense, real estate, anti-trust and employment law.
EDUCATION
Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska: J.D. May 1987
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: B.A. June 1984
BAR ADMISSIONS
Wisconsin September 1987 Illinois September 1997
Nebraska August 1989 Texas (currently inactive) October 1994
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