BRANDEN L. STRICKLAND, ESQ.

Licensed Attorney in Florida

Pending License in D.C.

EMAIL: ac7m2l@r.postjobfree.com

786-***-**** cell

OCCUPATION:

Commercial Real Estate Attorney and In-House Legal Counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Company, with experience in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts, including commercial leases and purchase and sale agreements, handling transactions from LOI to closing and throughout the development process, resolving title issues, survey, easements, restrictive covenants and mineral rights, creating and managing corporate structures including joint ventures, ensuring corporate regulatory compliance, handling mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, preparing shareholder agreements, franchise agreements, and employment contracts, representing startup companies, drafting and negotiating construction contracts, commercial and land condominium documents, advising clients in the development of mixed- use and multi- family complexes as well as hotels and medical office buildings, and representing clients in probate administration and estate planning matters. 14 years of experience as a corporate and commercial real estate attorney. 21 years title insurance experience including hundreds of commercial and residential closings including HUD, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well as 1031 exchanges.

CURRENT AFFILIATION

STRICKLAND LAW FIRM, PL, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA OCTOBER 1, 2006-PRESENT

Founder and President of law firm which specializes in commercial, corporate, and real estate law.

I handle all manners of commercial real estate transactions, including drafting and negotiating contracts, lease agreements, non-disclosure agreements, construction contracts, closing documents, due diligence, financial security instruments, as well as revocable, irrevocable and land trusts. I represent hotel developers, owners and operators, buyers, sellers, developers, lenders, and foreign investors in all facets of complex commercial real estate transactions. I handle the drafting of documents in connection with real estate development and transactions including security instruments for banks, condominium documents for residential and commercial condominium developments, offering packages for developers and investors, opinions of title, restrictive covenants, corporate merger documents, as well as trusts and wills. I also handle real estate related litigation such as quiet title suits, foreclosures, loan workouts and title insurance claims.

I also handle all manner of commercial and corporate transactions, including drafting shareholder agreements, operating agreements, corporate structures, joint ventures, partnerships, franchise agreements as well as corporate and regulatory compliance. I represent new businesses from the formation and drafting the documents for the corporate structure, in real estate transactions from the letter of intent to the contract and closing, drafting and negotiating vendor agreements as well as employment agreements and contracts in addition to counseling and representing clients on all matters of corporate law, including mergers, acquisitions and estate planning.

Clients range from individuals and businesses to real estate developers hotel operators and institutional lenders.

As listed below I have been in-house legal counsel at Stewart Title since 2012. I am counsel to over 35 Stewart Title offices throughout Florida and handle all legal work for not only the Stewart offices but also Stewart’s clients. All the legal work is handled by the law firm as Stewart Title is solely an underwriting and title company.

STEWART TITLE COMPANY, INC., CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA

JUNE 1, 2012-PRESENT (IN-HOUSE COUNSEL AND CURRENTLY VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT)

Vice-President of Business Development for Stewart Title Guaranty, National Commercial Services Division. My territory is the US as well as Mexico and the Caribbean. Specializing in hospitality and mixed-use development.

Vice-President and In-House Legal Counsel for all 35 Stewart Title offices in Florida. Handles and resolves all legal issues for the Florida Stewart Title offices as well as any and all legal work for Stewart Title clients. All legal work and experience is listed above under Strickland Law Firm, P.L. Additionally, advises Stewart Title employees on legal issues that arose in offices around the State of Florida in regards to title commitment requirements, survey issues, easements and restrictive covenants, compliance, contract disputes, FIRPTA, Dodd-Frank and CFPB, liens, judgments, corporate structure and estate planning as well as closings. Duties at Stewart Title also include drafting and negotiating LOIs, commercial leases and purchase and sale agreements, reviewing and drafting documents such as operating agreements, condominium documents, interpleaders, short sale and REO files. Handles hundreds of residential and commercial closings including bank-owned properties, HUD, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Also provides legal and real estate training as well as lecturing and speaking on panels throughout Florida and the US. Some of the lecture topics are: FIRPTA, Ways to Structure a Business, Probate, Ways to Take Title, Trusts and Estate Planning and Title Examination. Beginning the last quarter of 2013, presented a 3-hour class all over the state to realtors, lenders, mortgage brokers, mortgage bankers as well as title agents and auction companies on the new Dodd-Frank Legislation, specifically the CFPB and related rules and regulations.

PRIOR EMPLOYMENT:

EXECUTIVE TITLE INSURANCE SERVICES, INC., CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA MARCH, 2006-SEPTEMBER 2006

REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY

JAY PHILLIP PARKER, P.A./CLEAR TITLE GROUP, INC., MIAMI BEACH, FL JUNE 2005-FEBRUARY 2006

REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY

ABSTRACT TITLE SERVICES, INC., LIVE OAK, FL

1996 UNTIL 2005 FULL TIME DURING SUMMER AND PART TIME DURING COLLEGE AND LAW SCHOOL REAL ESTATE CLOSER, PROCESSOR, ABSTRACTOR.

LEGAL EDUCATION:

STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW: JURIS DOCTORATE, CUM LAUDE (2004)

HONORS/ACTIVITIES: MEMBER OF PHI ALPHA DELTA, AMBASSADOR, MEMBER OF THE STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION, MEMBER OF THE PUBLICITY COMMITTEE, STUDIED ABROAD IN 2002 IN TALLIN, ESTONIA FOCUSING ON THE EMERGING EUROPEAN UNION, STUDIED ABROAD IN 2003 IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO FOCUSING ON NAFTA AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT, RECIPIENT OF THE WILLIAM F. BLEWS PRO BONO SERVICE AWARD.

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY: BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY (2001)

HONORS/ACTIVITIES: MEMBER OF FLORIDA PIRG (PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP), SMALL GROUP LEADER OF CHI ALPHA CHRISTIAN FRATERNITY, DIRECTOR OF THE DRAMA TEAM, TEAM CAPTAIN OF THE INTRAMURAL SOCCER LEAGUE, STUDIED ABROAD IN 2001 IN LONDON, ENGLAND, MISSION TRIP IN 2000 TO BOGOTA, COLOMBIA AND QUITO, ECUADOR TO WORK WITH ORPHANS, WORKED WITH THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT AS A TUTOR TO BLIND STUDENTS, DIRECTED INDIVIDUAL STUDY FOCUSED ON MOOD CHANGES AND THE ONSET OF EPILEPTIC GRAND MAL SEIZURES.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:

THE FLORIDA BAR

WASHINGTON D.C. BAR (Pending final approval and swearing in)

U.S. DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

U.S. DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA DADE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

CORAL GALES BAR ASSOCIATION

CREW

CIASF

MIAMI FINANCE FORUM

ULI

FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION

LICENSES:

TITLE AGENT INSURANCE LICENSE

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

I HAVE AN EXTEME PASSION FOR TRAVEL. I AM A FLORIDA NATIVE, A FAN OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL, PRO-FOOTBALL AND SOCCER. IN ADDITIONAL TO TRAVEL I ENJOY HIKING, SAILING AND GOLF. I SPEAK CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH.

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

PRE-INTERVIEW MEMORANDUM

To: Hiring Manager

From: Branden L. Strickland, Esq.

Re: Job Consideration for Legal Counsel

To Whom It May Concern:

Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the above referenced position. To prepare for a potential interview, and in order to optimize your time, I have prepared this memorandum to highlight my legal experience, background and personal information, so you can get a better sense of who I am and of my accomplishments. Based on the stated job requirements and my understanding of the company culture, I believe I am an excellent candidate for this position, and if chosen will excel in this role and become a valuable member of the legal team. I have summarized my legal experience below, and can provide any additional information, documentation or references at your request. Additionally, I am a Florida licensed attorney and have completed my application for admittance into the Washington D.C. Bar and am pending final approval and swearing-in. I am in the process of moving to Alexandria, VA and am available to start this position within two weeks.

I. LEGAL EXPERIENCE

My involvement in the real estate industry pre-dates my legal career, as throughout my time in college and law school I worked for a title company, and was involved in all aspects of the title business. Over this 7 year span I became an expert in title insurance, title examination, reviewing and understanding surveys, and confirming land entitlements. I also became highly experienced in the closing process from start to finish. I have 21 years of experience in the title insurance industry and throughout this time have handled hundreds of closings, advised on title commitment requirements and exceptions, reviewed surveys, advised on easements and restrictive covenant and any and all issues regarding clouds on title.

After graduation from law school, I have had over 14 years of intense commercial real estate legal experience both as a sole practitioner and as in-house legal counsel and Vice President of Development of Stewart Title, which is outlined below.

A. REAL ESTATE LEASES AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS

I have had an intense focus on commercial leases, with strong negotiation skills, efficient, focused and streamlined due diligence, drafting of complex agreements, negotiating and drafting tenant improvement agreements, work letters, and exclusive use agreements, SNDAs and NDAs. My focus on commercial leasing has been in the following areas:

- Commercial Office Leases for Businesses, Medical Offices, Restaurants, Retail Stores and Grocery Stores

- Ground leases with National REITS (KIMCO)

- Warehouse and Industrial Leases for food distributors, cold storage, distribution centers and truck bays

I am able to negotiate and draft leases and handle the leasing process from start to finish with no supervision. In addition to Commercial Leasing, I have reviewed, drafted and negotiated over 100 Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements, have drafted and negotiated Letters of Intent/Term Sheets, AIA Construction Contracts, A141 Design Build Contracts, Architect’s Certification and Agreements and other related documents.

B. MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

I have handled many company acquisitions from start to finish. This included drafting and negotiating the LOI/Term Sheet, handling the legal aspects of the due diligence process, drafting and completing a thorough due diligence checklist, drafting the Definitive Agreements with all the customary exhibits, schedules and addenda, as well as making sure all post-closing covenants have been completed according to schedule. I have handled both asset and stock sales. My experience has included:

- Acquisition of assets for many existing companies

- Acquisition of assets for existing restaurants

- Acquisition of stock for a construction company

- Acquisition of assets for an existing food fumigation and distribution company

- Acquisition of stock for a real estate investment company

- Acquisition of stock for an LLC that owned and managed rental properties

- Drafted LOI/Term Sheets

- Drafted Non-Disclosure and Non-Circumvention Agreements

- Drafted Definitive Agreements such as Stock Purchase Agreements and Asset Purchase Agreements (included in this is Representation and Warranties with appropriate Schedules)

- Drafted Employment Agreements

- Drafted Non-Compete Agreements

- Drafted Due Diligence Checklists as well as Disclosure Schedules

- Drafted Licensing Agreements

C. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

I have represented several developers, construction companies, investors and brokers over the course of my career. I also have first-hand development experience as a partner in a development company. I have worked on development projects for my clients from start to finish including condo conversions, multi-family residential development, truck bays, storage units and medical office buildings. My experience includes:

- Drafted Offering Packages

- Drafted and filed Condominium, HOA and land condominium documents

- Drafted site selection criteria and documents

- Negotiated, drafted and worked with the appropriate public authority to obtain entitlements

- Drafted and negotiated LOI and Purchase and Sale Agreements

- Negotiated contracts with architects, general contractors, land planners and worked with county officials for reduction of impact fees and tax credits

- Advised on zoning issues

- Drafted and negotiated broker sales agreements, marketing agreements, reservation agreements, NNN leases for investors and contracts with property management companies

- Drafted and negotiated site work contracts for horizontal infrastructure

- Worked on preparing budgets and proformas as well as project summaries for investment packages

I have a full grasp and working knowledge and experience on all facets of real estate development.

D. CORPORATE LAW

I have represented many corporations, limited liability companies, joint ventures and partnerships throughout my career. I have handled the following:

- Drafted and filed Articles of Incorporation

- Drafted Shareholder Agreements

- Drafted and filed Articles of Organization

- Drafted Operating Agreements

- Drafted JV Agreements representing both the GP and the LP

- Drafted Partnership Agreements

- Drafted and filed corporate conversion documents

- Drafted Stock Purchase and Sale Agreements

- Drafted UCC filings

- Drafted and filed By-Laws

E. GENERAL LAW

In addition to the above listed practice areas I had experience in the following areas:

- Represented hotel owners and purchasers as well as negotiated hotel operating agreements

- Drafted Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts as well as Land Trusts and Power of Attorney Agreements

-Represented banks in drafting financing agreements such as Notes, Mortgages, Personal Guaranties, Mortgage Modification Agreements and Subordination Agreements

- Retained by banks to prepare Attorney Opinion Letters

- Filed and handled to conclusion many Quiet Title and Foreclosure actions

- Represented Buyers/Sellers and Lessors/Lessees in contract and lease disputes

- Filed and handled many Probates.

F. FRANCHISES

I have several years of experience in franchise agreements. I have reviewed and represented my clients entering into franchise agreements with the following companies:

- Goin’ Postal

- Realty World

- Radisson Blu Hotel Management Agreement

II. PERSONAL INFORMATION

A. BENEFITS OF HIRING A SOLE PRACTICIONER

I am aware that many firms prefer to hire attorneys who have prior law firm experience. I understand that there are benefits to this; HOWEVER, I feel that there are also many benefits of hiring an attorney who has been a sole practitioner, for the following reasons:

1. Immediate access to clients. From day one I have had immediate and direct access to my clients. I did not have to work under an attorney or behind the scenes with no client access.

2. 100% accountability with no excuses. I have always had full accountability to my clients. If something needed to get done, I did it. No delegating tasks. I also had to accept full responsibility when things did not go as planned (not often but it does happen from time to time).

3. I have the privilege of having a sense of ownership of the outcome of a transaction or case. I work on all aspects of a transaction and I get to be involved from start to finish. I will carry this sense of ownership with me to your firm.

4. I have a wide range of experience and a diverse client base. I have had to handle all issues in a transaction without the benefit of bringing in additional attorneys to split the work by practice area. This broader legal knowledge base is an asset for this position. That being said, I also know my limitations and have no hesitation about asking others for help.

5. Every decision I have made while representing a client has reflected on me. My reputation and ability is how I provide for myself. I have been able to base my practice solely on referrals which is something I am very proud of.

B. BENEFITS OF HIRING ME

1. I am a hard worker. I have never worked traditional hours and have no problem working late nights and weekends to get the job done. You will not find another candidate who is a harder worker than me.

2. I do not get intimidated by tasks. Starting my practice basically right out of school has taught me a lot. There is no task or transaction that I am intimidated by. I have a great ability to teach myself anything. I am an excellent researcher and a fast learner. You will never have to show me or tell me anything twice.

3. I am an excellent team player. I love people and get along with almost everyone. I am humble and can easily accept tasks and orders. I treat other with respect and do not seek credit or praise, but am content to let my work speak for itself. I will easily work well with the other attorneys and outside counsel.

4. I take my work very seriously but not myself. I love to laugh. Life is short and should be enjoyed. Since the majority of time is spent working, it is important to not only love the work you do but the company you do it for and the people you do it with.

5. I am an easy fit in any social environment and find it natural to start and maintain conversations with others. I always look for common ground.

6. I have a great ability to think on my feet and have an uncanny ability to remember details.

7. I am stable. As evidenced by my resume, I do not jump from job to job. I place a high value on commitment and loyalty. I am looking for a company where I can spend the rest of my career.

8. I can easily adapt and thrive. I moved to Miami after law school without knowing anyone. I was able to get a job and start my practice and build my client base from scratch. Miami is a tough city for newcomers. I am proud of my accomplishments here. I can easily fit in to any environment and culture.

9. I am good at making others laugh. If you are having a bad day you can call me and I will have a witty anecdote to lighten your mood!

10. Over my career and time at Stewart Title I have developed a very large network of real estate professionals. I would be a good Ambassador and Business Development Officer for the firm.

C. FUN FACTS ABOUT ME

1. I love sports. College football, NFL, soccer, basketball, golf and sailing are my favorite.

2. I love animals.

3. I have thick skin. 39 years of dealing with my name will do that to you (I am a female with a male name)!

4. I love to cook. I love good food and wine.

D. WHY AM I APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION?

At this stage of my life and career I am ready for a change and a new challenge. This role will allow me to use the full scope of my talent and experience and I look forward to the next chapter in my career.

In closing I am the best candidate for the job and hope that you will give me the chance to prove it.

Contact this candidate