Property Management Real Estate

Steven J. Messer

Phoenix, Arizona

*****.*********@*****.*** 602-***-****

Senior In-House Counsel/Transactional/Regulatory Attorney

Dynamic senior attorney, practice manager, and business leader with expertise in commercial financial and business leadership, and strategic planning. In-depth experience across all levels of business, executive leadership, case management, business development, strategic planning and regulatory issues, and everything in between.

Proven expertise in driving efficiency and productivity through evaluation of complex case matters and effective recommendations, representation, and advocacy. Strong leader with success as a written and spoken communicator, strategist, and business executive.

Financial and Management Competencies

Commercial and Residential Real Estate

Business Development

Strategic Planning and Implementation

P&L Accountability / Financial Management

Profit and Revenue Optimization

Regulatory Compliance

Career Experience

MLG & Associates, Phoenix, Arizona

Senior/Managing Attorney, August 2007 – Present

Direct all aspects of a law firm, including management of a four-member attorney / eight-member paralegal team, residential and commercial real estate matters, litigation, business development and start-ups. Oversee and negotiate complex leases and contracts, statutory and regulatory compliance. Created programs and videos to educate team members, clients on contractual rights and obligations, and for clients to use internally in their businesses. This includes creating training material and tools to facilitate education, awareness and understanding. As managing attorney, I play a huge role in all aspects of HR Management, with over 20 plus years of experience in this area.

Key Contributions:

Identified gaps in three existing benefit plans and used technology to merger into one flexible corporate plan, resulting in $71K annual savings while enhancing benefits for all employees, while mitigating risk and future losses.

Supervised applicant-tracking system modernization, resulting in a 27.67% increase of employee efficiency and 12.1% fewer clerical mistakes, minimizing legal risk for the firm and reducing profit losses.

Possess excellent critical thinking and problems solving abilities, all while staying emotionally calm and controlled when the work pressure increases.

Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite, Phoenix, Arizona

Staff/Regulatory Attorney, September 2014 – August 2016

Specially recruited to manage global regulatory compliance for complex cases involving S.E.C. reporting (GAAP analysis, ASC 450, FASB, FAS 5, and SOX regulations). Successfully aided clients in avoiding millions of dollars in fines and interest through comprehensive regulatory compliance improvements. Helped clients to develop new systems, use technologies, communications infrastructure and educational programs to minimize, catch mistakes, in order to prevent future reporting issues. Helped several multi-national corporations navigated through various complex State and Federal regulatory and statutory issues. Regulatory issues require a high quality of work, with high levels of detail, in order to meet all of the necessary requirements, and avoid all of the potential pitfalls and penalties.

Express Home Loans, LLC, Phoenix, Arizona

In-House Corporate Counsel/Board Member, March 2001 – August 2007

Excelled as senior leader and executive collaborator in charge of helping a start-up turn into an 11-office expansion. Including legal strategies, risk assessment and mitigation, operational strategic plans, and compliance with State and Federal requirements for residential home loans.

Key Contributions:

Reduced payroll administration and controlled expenses by 31% through on-site work processes optimization, and converting an outdated payroll system.

Catapulted annual revenues from $0 to $4.6M, within 2 years, through strategic expansion and navigating the various intricate risks and compliance issues of the State and Federal regulatory agencies.

Provided a full range of legal support and advice to management across a broad scope of commercial transactions, collaborated on new business models, and drafted/negotiated related agreements.

Prepared, drafted, and negotiated various types of commercial transactions with clients and suppliers, including sales agreements, service agreements, procurement contracts, technology licensing agreements, and more.

Additional Experience:

Associate Attorney/Manager – TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES, PLLC – Phoenix, Arizona – (3 years)

Owner and CEO – MESSER DISTRIBUTION – Cedar City, Utah – (1 year)

First Lieutenant, Field Artillery and Military Intelligence – UTAH ARMY NATIONAL GUARD – (15 years)

Executive Account Manager – WORLDWIDE WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION – Brazil – (2 years)

Education and Credentials

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Capital University Law School – Columbus, Ohio

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Southern Utah University (SUU) – Cedar City, Utah

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration and Marketing

Southern Utah University (SUU) – Cedar City, Utah

Professional Licensure

Member, Arizona Bar Association

Arizona Real Estate Agent License (3/2018, #140516)

Arizona Insurance Originator License, Health & Life (2017, #18349840)

Professional Development

Coursework in Commercial Sales/Leasing/Lending/Land Sales (Certified Specialist, Commercial Real Estate Institute (CREI)

Languages

Portuguese-Brazilian (Fluent – Spoken and Written)

Spanish (Beginning - Intermediate – Spoken and Written)

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