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Melanie Stenson

123 Castle St., Apt. 18D • Boston, MA 01234 • (123) 456-7890 • (321) 098-7654 • stenstonm@aol.com

Summary

Highly talented and accomplished attorney with strong financial background. Experience in contracts, negotiations, and real estate law, as well as strategic business consulting and intellectual property law. Superior abilities in drafting contracts and other business documentation, reviewing and evaluating business materials, and consulting on special projects. Excellent presentation and reporting skills.

Professional Experience

Melanie Stenson, Boston, MA 2003 - Present
Consulting Attorney

  • Provide consulting services for law firms and major corporations, primarily in areas of contract and documentation review, preparation, and negotiation.
  • Contract Attorney for Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Reviewed over 600 investment guidelines, contracts, correspondence, and other documents from retail and institutional accounts to support ongoing compliance activities. Extracted relevant provisions relating to proxy voting, trading, brokerage, reporting requirements, and more to ensure compliance with Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and risk management specifications.
  • Performed document review as Contract Attorney for Shearman & Sterling. Assisted with evaluation of large asset purchase transaction for major retail chain. Reviewed leases, incentive program agreements, and contracts dealing with joint ventures, distribution, licensing, credit transactions, and more.
  • As Real Estate Attorney for Musso & Wei, negotiated and drafted commercial real estate sales and leasing transactions. Represented financial institutions such as Merrill Lynch, Chase, and CitiMortgage in closings. Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated mortgage refinancing and consolidation agreements.
  • Drafted and negotiated real estate lease agreements and other legal documents for T-Mobile USA, facilitating site acquisition, and structure management, and expansion activities. Reviewed title reports and remedied issues on real property restrictions.
  • Prepared and reviewed contracts and business documentation for Synchroneon's Los Angeles office.

Kennedy, Inc., New York, NY 1999 - 2002
In-house Counsel

  • Reviewed, drafted, negotiated, and modified vendor, service, and strategic alliance contracts, non-compete agreements, Internet-related transactions, and more for digital/special effects company.
  • Provided advice on intellectual property, employment, corporate, and business law practice issues.
  • Supervised work of sub-contracted attorneys and legal/administrative personnel.

Kennedy Corporation , New York, NY 1998
Summer Associate

  • Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda, with special emphasis on contract, business, and trademark law. Assisted attorneys with preparations for trials.
  • Drafted corporate documents, including purchase agreement assignments and security agreements.
  • Carried out general research for implementation of business prospecting strategies.

Kennedy Interconnect, Boston, MA 1995
Intern

  • Generated financial reports and assisted sales managers and account executives with proposals.
  • Worked with commercial coordinators on contract confirmations and commercial verifications.

Education

Harvard University School of Law, Boston, MA
Juris Doctor, 1999

  • Member, Labor and Employment Law Journal
  • Member, International Law Society
  • Judge, Students Appellate Advocacy Arguments
  • Research Assistant in International Law: conducted research, drafted chapters for research publications, prepared materials for speech/white paper delivered at international law conference in Hague.

State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY
BS in Economics and Business Management, 1996

  • Graduated magna cum laude
  • Dean's List Student; Merit Scholar
  • Member Golden Key National Honors Society and Phi Beta Kappa
  • Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Political Science (1995). Provided advisory sessions for 100 students. Performed examination reviews and assisted with administration of exams.

Licensure

New York State Bar licensed
Licensed Real Estate Broker

Professional Organizations

  • New York State Bar Association (Member, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law, Intellectual Property, International Law and Practice sections)
  • The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  • Women in New Media Association
  • Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

Community Involvement

Pro bono work for Network for Women's Services

Languages

Fluent in French, conversational in Russian

Technical Skills

MS Office, WordPerfect, Westlaw, Lexis-Nexis, Internet