Real Estate Human Resource
Resume:
CARMEN JOSEPH MARZELLA, ESQ.
*** *********** ****, ****, ** 27519 Member, New Jersey Bar
T. 919-***-**** / F. 919-***-**** abhijy@r.postjobfree.com
CAREER OVERVIEW
Experienced Commercial Real Estate and Transactional Attorney,
concentrating in acquisition, sale, leasing, development, and management of
retail properties.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Of Counsel Attorney December 2009 to Present
Paris Ackerman & Schmierer LLP
Roseland, NJ
. Practice concentrated in the representation of Business and Franchise
clients in the transfer of multi-unit, multi-jurisdictional business
units.
. Preparation of corporate entity formation documents, shareholder
agreements, consulting agreements, finance closings documents,
purchase and sale agreements and lease agreements.
. Prepare complex Master License, Master Service, Distribution and Sub-
contractor Agreements for the pharmaceutical industry.
. Retail Commercial Lease preparation and review, consumption license
transfers, all for the hospitality sector
. Franchise document transfers, new franchise system document review,
and Franchise Litigation support.
Of Counsel Attorney April to December 2009
Ragsdale Liggett PLLC
Raleigh, NC
. Representing clients in the formation or acquisition of franchise
business systems, including large multi-unit openings, commercial real
estate acquisition and sale, and complex retail leasing.
. Represent pharmaceutical industry clients in complex business
transactions, equipment leasing, and human resource compliance.
. Negotiate and prepare complex Master License, Master Service,
Distribution and Sub-contractor Agreements for the pharmaceutical
industry.
. Full spectrum Real Estate engagements including Finance, Development,
Acquisition, Disposition, Leasing, Construction and Land Use Matters.
. Provide support to Litigation unit in a Complex Land Litigation
matter, including brief writing, legal research of Federal and State
RICO Statutes, active high volume document Discovery coding and
production.
Director of Business and Legal Affairs, March 2003 to April 2009
Cary Quick Serve Restaurants, LLC
Cary, North Carolina
. Founding partner in a multi-unit national Franchise system,
developing concept of operation, financing of projects, lease
negotiations and preparation, construction and opening of new store
locations.
. As Senior Managing Partner and Chief Legal Officer, I provided
counsel and support for all aspects of business, including
promulgation of Employment Policies and Human Resource Procedures,
handled of all Administrative Benefits Hearings filed by Employees,
negotiated all management level Employment Contracts. Responsible for
multi-unit P&L metrics and Management Team building.
. Maintained and provided documentation for employee Workers
Compensation and ESC Claims.
. Analyzed new Commercial Real Estate development for site inclusion,
negotiated and drafted Franchise Licensing Agreements, Site
Development Agreements, Commercial Lending Agreements, Lease and Real
Estate Purchase Contracts.
. Elected to National Franchise System Regional and Brand Advisory
Council for the Southeast Region, providing Board Level guidance for
new product deployment, marketing initiatives, and operational support
to the entire franchise system worldwide.
Managing Partner October 1995 to March 2003
Horn Marzella, L.L.C.
Nutley, New Jersey
. Founding Partner of a boutique Real Estate and Commercial
Transactional law firm in Northern New Jersey.
. Negotiated and drafted Employment Contracts, Employee Manuals,
Counseled Clients as to Employee Risk and Liability, prepared
requirements contracts, agency agreements, distribution agreements and
service agreements.
. Managed and mentored professional staff of Attorneys and Paralegals
in the efficient handling of client files.
. Provided legal advice to Medical Groups as to Partnership Agreements,
Anti-kickback provisions, Marketing Standards, provisioning/operations
activities in joint ventures.
. Lender's Counsel to the Trustcompany Bank, a 110 branch commercial
bank, for new commercial lending matters, and revolving credit
agreements. I drafted all forms and procedures for the Trustcompany
Residential Real Estate Lending and Mortgage Department, and was
review counsel of incoming loan packages.
. Client representation in Real Estate finance, development,
acquisition and sale, leasing, construction and land use / zoning
matters.
. Appointed as Panel Counsel to the New Jersey Joint Insurance Fund, a
self-insured association of Municipal entities, representing various
municipalities in negligence litigation involving municipal properties
and vehicles.
Environmental Staff Counsel, October 1993 to October 1995
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
Rutherford, New Jersey
. Managed outside counsel and file assignments of 2500 Nationwide Toxic
Tort and Industrial Exposure cases in both State and Federal Courts.
. Active participation in each phase of Environmental / Toxic Tort
Litigation practice, including DES, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer and
Asbestosis claims. Handled all pleadings, discovery, motion practice,
research and brief writing, extensive multi-party deposition practice,
and trial preparation for each case.
Litigation Attorney, November 1992 to October 1993
DeYeo, Heissentbuttel & Mattia
Wayne NJ
. Represented insured parties in product liability and negligence
litigation in New Jersey Superior Court and District of New Jersey
Federal Courts.
. I was responsible for all levels of file handling, including initial
pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, oral argument, and
trial.
. Assigned to the handling of County and Municipal Government
representation in Fire liability matters, stemming from my experience
as a trained Firefighter. I represented the City of Paterson Fire
Department, a lead defendant, in the largest fire liability case in
New Jersey history.
. Represented recycling and garbage carting companies in civil penalty
dumping cases.
. Handled all firm Subrogation Claims. I developed and wrote a macro
based WordPerfect merge document system for form generation of all
Subrogation and collection matters.
Judicial Law Clerk, December 1991 to November 1992.
Hon. Eugene H. Austin, J.S.C., Superior Court of NJ
Hackensack, NJ
. Researched and drafted opinions and bench memoranda as to dispositive
and discovery motions in civil cases.
. Conducted hundreds of Court sponsored settlement conferences as a
Certified Mediator.
EDUCATION
. Juris Doctor, Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
1991
. Bachelor of Science, Economics, Saint Peters College, Jersey City, NJ
1988
. Graduate, Sidney Reitman Labor Law Inns of Court 1993
. Graduate, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Petaluma, CA
1995
. Internship, IBM National Distribution Division Headquarters,
Montvale, NJ 1988
DISTINCTIONS
. Commissioner, Town of Cary, Economic Development Commission Current
. State Champion, New Jersey State Finals, National Labor Negotiation
Competition 1991
. National Finalist, National Labor Negotiation Competition 1991
. President, Computer Law Society 1990-1991
REFERENCES
James Melton
President/CEO Grancrete, Inc., Morrisville, NC
Jonathan R. Mehl, Esq.
Attorney, Rutherford, NJ
Kevin M. Budd, Esq.
Assoc. General Counsel, MetLife Ins. Co., Morristown, NJ
W. Andy Ferrell
President, Pharmaceutical Calibration and Instrumentation, Raleigh, NC
Richard O. Bolton, Esq.
Partner, Ragsdale Liggett PLLC, Raleigh, NC
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