ph: 310-694-4363
alt: 864-836-3385
lcruell
Professional Summary
Harvard Law School educated attorney with 10+ years extensive experience in legal research, case prep, doc review, and all types of legal writing from memos to summary judgments, motions, and briefs to sections of case books to legal blogs to collecting, analyzing, and communicating updates in the law for various practices areas and then conveying that information in non-legal vernacular for board members, corporations, and clients. Also, extensive experience in M&A, securities offerings and regulations, finance and financial institutions, corporate governance, business/corporate transactions, general contracts, etc.
Legal Experience
Attorney/Legal Consultant, Atlanta, GA/Greenville, SC 2003 – Present
· Counsels, negotiates, researches and drafts agreements, memos, briefs, correspondence, policies, stock purchases, etc. for private companies, firms, and individuals.
Attorney
· Researched and drafted memoranda, pleadings, motions, etc. for all stages of litigation for firms for commercial and civil cases, in instances providing crucial research that won the case. Frank X. Moore & Assoc.; Ragsdale, Beals, Seigler, Patterson & Gray; Mike Bothwell; Phears & Moldovan, etc.
Legal Researcher/Writer
· Took extremely complex international deal and broke it down into understandable language and materials for each - lawyers, board of directors, executives, and then clients. Long Aldridge & Norman LLP
· Researched and wrote chapters for new products liability casebook. Powell Goldstein LLP
Attorney, Invesco Capital Management
· Led extensive compilation, review, and transfer to computer system of entire company’s agreements. This went so well that we went on to do it for each of their subsidiaries as well.
· Ensured company was prepared for securities review and that internal policies met all securities regulations.
Attorney
· Conducted extensive review of discovery materials for a host of shareholder, patent infringement, bankruptcy and other commercial litigation cases. Conducted quality control and privilege reviews as well. Alston & Bird LLP, Mirant Corporation, AT&T, Kilpatrick Townsend Stockton LLP, etc.
40 Act Attorney, Enterprise Capital Management
· Worked directly under the CLO and COO.
· Analyzed the background, new, and relevant international law, negotiated, and drafted the following agreements for international banking and finance transactions: broker/dealer, clearing, administrative services, trading & NSCC fund/serv networking, sales, shareholder servicing, service, mutual fund service agent, sub transfer agency services, selling, selected dealer, financial services, subscription, sublease, license, confidentiality, end-user, fund servicing, retirement plan, etc.
· Researched new changes in the law and their applicability, advised General Counsel, COO and board and rewrote the companies policies and handbook regarding Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Record Retention, Fingerprinting Procedures, Record Maintenance Requirements, Market Timing, and Customer Identification Program (CIP) regulations to bring company into compliance.
· Researched and wrote memoranda on the above and also improved shareholder services agreements and administrative service agreements, reported on and made sure we were in compliance with new proxy rules, state trust laws, new obligations for directors, due diligence, OFAC policies and relevant international law.
· Led overhaul of all the company’s relevant agreements to include market timing and late trading amendments to all company contracts to bring into compliance with new changes in the law and company policy. Drafted and negotiated said amendments and contracts.
· Researched and advised board of directors, GC, and COO on global strategy, international M&A, capital deployment, legal and compliance, operational and regulatory/quality matters, corporate governance, shareholder relations, enterprise risk matters, etc.
· Researched, analyzed, updated, and rewrote the main website’s Terms of Use.
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Atlanta, GA
Associate
· Only first year associate in a corporate department that won a bonus for billing more hours than any corporate department in history of firm.
· Worked closely with lawyers and clients from every group. Negotiated and drafted numerous commercial contracts including arbitration, consignment, cooperation, exclusivity, employment, partnerships, joint ventures, NDAs, purchase and sales, non-competes, master service, e-commerce, vendor, outsourcing, IT, construction, licensing, loan, lease, distribution, representation, confidentiality, termination, etc.
· Assigned to Securities group. Assisted with IPOs and PPOs. Analyzed and advised clients on securities laws and ensured their compliance with regulations. Drafted, researched, compiled, and prepared annual reports, offering prospectuses, IPO and PPO memoranda, proxies, and all related board documents and resolutions.
· Assigned to M&A group. Advised, negotiated, and drafted documents for a large number of international mergers, acquisitions, incorporations, and corporate restructurings, particularly in the US and Japan, including drafting of all relevant corporate documents, operating agreements, bylaws, minutes, etc.
· Performed corporate due diligence for clients.
· Researched, analyzed, and drafted memos and newsletters on updates and changes in securities, blue sky, M&A, corporate governance, etc., laws, regulations, policies, and trends for practice groups and their clients.
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Atlanta, GA
Summer Associate
· Completed rotation through various practice areas, including intensive legal research and writing work in the areas of civil, criminal, copyright, employment, and entertainment law and litigation.
· Performed corporate due diligence.
· Drafted corporate and entertainment contracts.
· Researched and crafted legal memoranda exploring various legal issues, particularly in employment discrimination/labor and copyright law to aid senior associates and partners in current cases.
Judge Amy C. Sutherland, Family Court, Greenville County, SC
Summer Intern
· Researched and analyzed relevant legal authority regarding legal motions.
· Prepared memoranda on closed versus open adoptions, issues concerning guardian ad litems, etc.
· Drafted speech for Judge on closed versus open adoptions.
· Observed many hours of court proceedings.
Freelance Writing/Editing Experience
Freelance Writer/editor 2003-Present
· Professionally for a host of clients, including the American
Coalition of English Educators (ACEE), Kaplan, CNN
International, WIFTA, etc. Award-winning body of work
includes: Copy; Web Copy, Educational Materials; SAT/LSAT
Prep; Promotional and Marketing Materials; Speeches; Articles,
News, Corporate Communications and Videos, Essays,
Editorials, Commentaries, etc. along with film critiques,
short stories, scripts and films.
· Senior Editor/Admissions Essay Editor - for a host of
individual clients and essay editing services including
IvyEssays, Cyberedits, Feather Edits, Admissionado, etc.
Education
Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA Juris Doctorate
· Cum Laude
· American Association of University Women Professional Fellow
· Editor, Journal on Legislation
· Selected, critiqued, researched, and edited works for publication in nationally acclaimed and circulated journal.
· Legislative Research Bureau
· International Law Society
· Black Law Students' Association
· Women’s Law Association
Duke University, Durham, NC Bachelor of Arts
· Double Major: History; Medieval & Renaissance Studies; Minor: Film/Video Theory & Production
· Dean’s List
· Reginald Howard Scholar
· National Achievement Scholar
· Sirrine Scholar
· Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation Scholar
· Summer in Belgium and the Netherlands, Art History/History Program
Admissions/Associations
· Georgia Bar, Member
· American Bar Association, Member
Papers/Publications
· PRISONERS OF IMAGE AND VISIBLE INVISIBILITY - Turning The Camera On Discrimination In The Motion Picture/Television Industry - Problems? Effects? Solutions?
· THE SPIRITUAL CHILD - What Moral Rights Protection Will There Be For the Filmmaker and His Creation in 21st Century America?
· THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS - An Overview of the Past, Present, and Future of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Motion Picture Industry
Avocations/Interests
· Filmmaking – Writing/Directing as L.C. Cruell.
www.cruellworld.com, www.imdb.com/name/nm3145405
· Entrepreneurial Development – CEO/Founder - Cruell World Productions; Cruell Road Films; Cruell Words Publishing; Cruell Enterprises; Cruell Law; Cruell Essays; RedStateResistance.com
· Film Critic – multiple publications including IndieExpress and EInsiders
· Author – Over 25 published short stories
· Interests - Photography, Physics/Science, History/Archeology, Travel
· Member - OBS, WIFTA, SFWA, MENSA
· James E. Clyburn Fellow
Writing Samples available under "Services."
Giseli, Law School
"Thank you so much. You are amazing!! I love how it turned out. It is absolutely perfect! I tried to write the statement as a true reflection of me and my personal story, and I feel like I accomplished it. Thank you for making it perfect. I am considering hiring you to edit all my future law school legal writings!! :-)"
Gabrielle, Medical School
"I appreciated your feedback very much. I wasn't to sold about the Google idea either, but I included it because I wanted something to make my essay different/ standout than just having a traditional personal statement. However, I agree that its better to start strong."
Rui, PHD
"I have read your comment, which is great. Thanks again for your help and wish you best in the future."
Copyright 2016 Cruell Words. All rights reserved.
ph: 310-694-4363
alt: 864-836-3385
lcruell