CHANDRA G. HOUSTON

**** ****** **** ***, ** • Atlanta, Georgia 30329

678-***-**** • ac95rj@r.postjobfree.com

www.linkedin.com/in/chandrahouston

SENIOR TRANSACTIONAL ATTORNEY

A corporate generalist adept in advising, counseling and providing strategic support to corporate sales, operations, marketing, finance, business development and product management groups on operations and day-to-day business matters, commercial transactions and compliance. Significant experience drafting, interpreting and negotiating a wide variety of complex corporate agreements, including contracts covering software licensing, SaaS, professional services, and online terms and conditions. Proven in the exercise of sound legal judgement with the ability to produce high-quality work under urgent deadlines.

MOST PROUD OF

oProblem-Solving Skills

I employed to assist a major corporation in the development, launch and growth of one of its leading and most popular technology-based commercial products.

oPractical Legal Judgment

That won me the reputation of being the “most commercially reasonable lawyer” at a top-ranking Fortune 100 company.

oSound Business Perspective

Demonstrated by my part in the development, launch and continued success of an on-trend food company.

EXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Contract Attorney

LEGILITY (formerly Counsel on Call)

MAY 2019 – AUGUST 2019

Under the auspices of Legility, drafted, reviewed, edited and negotiated a variety of commercial contracts in support of sourcing transactions for TIAA and its affiliates, including software licensing agreements, Software as a Service contracts, professional services agreements, Master Services Agreements, Statements of Work and ancillary documents. Regularly negotiated limitation on liability, indemnity and data privacy terms on behalf of TIAA.

Founding Partner & Attorney

GLUVANA GLUTEN-FREE FOODS, LLC

JANUARY 2011 – MAY 2019

Gluvana Gluten-Free Foods manufactures a professional line of premium gluten-free flour blends used by industrial food producers to develop a wide variety of gluten-free counterparts to traditional foods distributed via retail and foodservice channels.

O Prepared and secured company IP, including trade and service marks.

O Negotiated, prepared and managed all legal matters and contracts on behalf of the company, including formation, NDA’s and product production, vendor and supply agreements.

O Lead design, development, and launch of five innovative gluten-free product systems. Formed then converted corporate organizational structure

Counsel, Contracts – National Accounts

ADP, LLC

MAY 2015 – MARCH 2019

Drafted, interpreted, negotiated and timely closed a wide range of commercial agreements and transactions including: Master Service Agreements, SaaS Agreements, Software Licensing Agreements, Service Level Agreements, Letters of Intent/Engagement, Termination & Transition arrangements, NDAs, Responses to RFPs, and Vendor and Alliance Agreements.

oSignificant experience negotiating indemnification, limitation of liability and data privacy provisions.

oSuccessfully closed deals adding over $10 million in new revenue during fiscal year 2018.

oConsistently recognized by internal clients for attention to detail and quick responsiveness.

Director of Compliance, North American Consumer Products

GEORGIA-PACIFIC, LLC

2007-2010

Redesigned and executed a successful compliance and ethics program across 14,000+ employees, 5 business units, 22 manufacturing operations across the US and Mexico.

oEngaged senior and executive leadership in annual strategic plans.

oOrganized and engineered a coveted divisional self-assessment process.

oDeveloped on-line and live training programs gaining 100% participation across operational facilities and businesses.

oDrafted and revised corporate compliance standards and policies to achieve better resonance with employees responsible for maintaining compliance.

Senior Division Counsel, North American Consumer Products

GEORGIA-PACIFIC, LLC

2001-2007

Principal legal support to 3 business units.

oDrafted, reviewed, negotiated and counseled clients with respect to a variety of commercial transactions, including service, vendor and procurement agreements, purchase and sales agreements, technology development and licensing, Software as a Service Agreements, merger & acquisition transactions, Cease & Desist letters and other IP protection mechanics, including complex non-disclosure agreements.

oContributed to a 50% increase in end-user placements by simplifying the contractual lease structure of the enMotion™ Dispenser System.

oEnsured legal appropriateness of pricing programs, market development, trade spending, and promotional programs of the B2B business segments and protected Company IP through internal client training, and draft and negotiation of appropriate NDAs.

Regularly collaborated, counseled and advised on strategic initiatives.

oDeveloped the “Call the Law” live and video-based training program to assist sales with complicated antitrust, contracts, IP and advertising concepts and requirements.

oConsistently recognized as “one of the most commercially reasonable lawyers of the corporation” by executive leadership.

Managed/reduced division’s outside legal fees and litigation.

Contract Attorney

SPECIAL COUNSEL, INC.

1999 - 2001

Georgia-Pacific Corporation

Critical member of finalization team during merger with Fort James Corporation.

Arnall Golden & Gregory, LLP

Drafted and negotiated a variety of corporate transactional agreements involving M&A activity, franchising, and commercial transactions.

Business Manager & Attorney

MBSTRUCTURES, INC.

1997-1999

Created, drafted, and implemented a set of standard form proposals and contracts for use in key business areas and on recurring special projects.

Assistant Corporate Secretary & Attorney

NORTHERN STATES POWER CO (now XCEL Energy)

1991-1997

Developed the Company’s first insider trading compliance program.

Advised corporate Board of Directors on governance matters.

oMaintained governance for 7 subsidiaries.

Responsible for corporate securities matters.

oCoordinated and prepared 1934 Act 10-K’s, 10-Q’s, 8-K’s, Annual Reports to Shareholders, Section 14 matters, including proxy statements and shareholder proposals, and Section 16 insider trading disclosures.

oCollaborated with Finance Department on preparation and closing of S-1, S-2, S-3 and S-8 securities registration statements, financing/underwriting agreements and corporate authorizations associated with equity and debt financing under the 1933 Act.

Bar Admission: Illinois State and Federal Northern District of Illinois

Juris Doctorate: Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C., Top 10%, Law Journal Bachelor of Arts, Journalism: Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, with Honors

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