LaRee DeFreece, LLC

Corporate Real Estate Legal Services

2002 - Present

Identify, assess, manage and organize national real estate portfolio of over 4,000 owned and leased files; develop and implement standard real estate forms and practices; process national requests for easements and vacations of easements; prepare recordable documents for each county and state; support various corporate functions dependent upon real estate assets; hire and manage local counsel; support ongoing management of national real estate functions.
Manage legal services for corporate operations in the Great Lakes Division for one year until permanent counsel hired in Madison, WI; services included negotiation and drafting of contracts involving vendor relationships, governmental matters, operational matters, utility matters, tax matters; hire and manage local counsel; intake of all initial legal inquiries from the division.
Organize and manage real estate portion of internal due diligence in support of corporate acquisitions and divestitures of national cable, broadband and telephone systems.
Utilizing appropriate consultants, manage national environmental issues.
Develop and conduct training for personnel.

2001-2002

Provided corporate counsel for creation, formation and organization of Foundation with over $1 billion in assets; supported its Board and committees; prepared standard forms; provided counsel at Board and committee meetings; prepared legal opinions; created conflict of interest policy and code of conduct.

1996-2001

Provided corporate counsel for acquisition of over 500 parcels of real estate for 30-mile extension of light rail system from St. Louis, Missouri to Belleville, Illinois; created minority business utilization plan for Agency in conformance with FTA regulations and provided ongoing counsel regarding implementation of such plan.

2000-2001

Provided corporate counsel for formation and organization of the tax-exempt Initiative under the auspices of The Danforth Foundation; negotiated and drafted agreements with developers of real estate and lease and use agreements; provided counsel regarding minority utilization, corporate policy and strategy and board development.

1996-2000

1992-1996

1991-1992

Practice specialized in areas of corporate and real estate law; managed fundraising and development activities; prepared standard forms; provided counsel at Board and committee meetings.

1988-1991

LaRee DeFreece, LLC

151 Woodridge Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122

314-680-6801