PAULA J. HANNAH

8617 South Winchester, Chicago, IL 60620

(773) 339-8648 / pjh1122@gmail.com

 

CORPORATE IN-HOUSE EXPERIENCE

 

 

McCormick Place, Chicago, IL                                                                                                  February 2014 – Present

Procurement Contract Specialist (short-term contract)

Responsible for assisting the McCormick Place (Chicago Convention Center) Purchasing Manager with procurement contracts; Analyze and determine standard insurance requirements for 150 agreements; Draft and submit invitations for bids on McCormick Place’s procurement site, which includes but is not limited to meeting with requestor to outline need, draft bid agreement, research potential vendors  and create contact list, prepare timeline for project completion, submit bid for review, finalize and post on Company’s site, respond to any Bidder’s questions via addendum, and ultimately report the successful bid; Published 3 bids to date, and has 4 awaiting approval.

                                                                                   

Mark Anthony Services Inc., Chicago, IL                                                                            August 2013 – December 2013

Contracts Specialist (short-term contract)

Assists the General Counsel with distributor contract negotiations; manage drafting, executing and administrating US Distributor Agreements and Amendments; update databases, creating and maintaining complete and accurate records/files of distributors and distributor related transactions; conduct research, gathering and compiling data, providing knowledgeable translation of Distributor Administration and compliance information; Facilitate US product launches and other team projects as needed.

 

Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH                                                         October 2005 – November 2012

Corporate Compliance Paralegal
 

Corporate Specialist

Drafted, reviewed and revised operative and supporting agreements to facilitate successful acquisitions; developed method of document retention for the safekeeping of executed agreements; primary contact for fulfillment of due diligence request by internal and external audit teams including but not limited to PricewaterhouseCoopers/Deloitte & Touche and the IRS; lead the procurement of all operative and supporting agreements to fulfill audit due diligence; owned the safeguarding of all privileged documents in addition to developing an intercompany loan procedure in keeping with client privileges; took initiative to remain abreast of statutory filing requirements ensuring efficient filings to  eliminate rejected submissions; strengthened relations with outside counsel by establishing myself as the primary contact person for all matters relating to legal entities; established a cohesive flow of communication to promote sound work product allowing all participants to limit the amount of work required by each organization (Accounting/Treasury/Legal/HR); performed miscellaneous filings in addition to leading the process of incorporation and or qualifying newly formed entities as well as dissolving and or withdrawing in multiple jurisdictions at state and or county level where applicable.

 

Compliance Administrator

Lead the process of data gathering for the completion of applications required by applicable US Regulatory Agencies including but not limited to the SEC, FRS, ICC and IRS); managed the procedure of preparing and execution of internal company agreements as well as creating templates and guidelines for further preparation by others outside of business organization; primary contact for initial review of prepared contracts determining their participation in company Cash Pool; developed registry of active agreements; coordinated supporting documentation for SEC filings, review accuracy of data prior to filing.; owned the process of securing signatures from senior management worldwide; developed a retention process securing proper storage in fulfillment of internal audit requirements; improved current maintenance database of key Agreements and Regulatory filings facilitating at hand data collection in a timely manner; strengthened relations with Agencies as the designated authorized person able to obtain confidential information and to filter complex submissions resulting in swift resolutions for successful outcome of pending filings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAW FIRM EXPERIENCE

 

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.LP, Cincinnati, OH                                                                   July 2001 - November 2004 Corporate Paralegal

Drafted, reviewed and revised operative closing documents for business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and low financing transactions for general business and banking clients; prepared documentation to incorporate, qualify and/or withdraw entities in multi-state jurisdictions; prepared initial organizational documents for newly formed organizations and or annual minutes for established clients; conducted online searches for data relating to corporations, SEC filings, patents and trademarks; conducted Uniform Commercial Code searches at state and county level; prepared UCC-1 and UCC-3 financing statements for submission in various jurisdictions; drafted deeds, mortgages and other real estate related documents for filing at county level; established and maintained working relationship with service vendors and clients.

 

Goldberg, Kohn, Bell, Black, Rosenbloom & Mortiz, Ltd., Chicago, IL                          September 2000 - June 2001

Corporate Paralegal

Drafted, reviewed and revised documents prepared for SEC filings; assisted with the coordination and distribution of annual questionnaires to officers/trustees/directors; assisted attorneys with preparation and review of mutual fund board meeting materials, prepared instrumentation for mergers and acquisitions; preformed due diligence; prepared necessary documentation for incorporating, qualifying and withdrawing entities in multi-state jurisdictions; prepared and obtained Federal Employer Identification Numbers from IRS; prepared annual reports, annual consents and maintained corporation minute books; conducted corporate research via online databases; ongoing client contact.

 

Jenner & Block, Chicago, IL                                                                                           October 1999 - September 2000

Corporate Securities Paralegal

Lead the registration and annual renewal with the Securities Exchange Commission for Investment Adviser and Broker Dealer clients; prepared Form 10-K and 10-Q reports for electronic filings; prepared Form ADV for filing; registration and compliance duties for clients regulated by Commodity Futures Trading Commission, National Futures Association and National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; facilitated corporate transactions including but not limited to preforming due diligence; prepared documentation for closing transactions; drafted resolutions and agreements; secured signatures; submitted supporting documentation with varying agencies advising of acquisitions (Trademark, SEC, IRS); conducted Uniform Commercial Code searches and prepared UCC-1 and UCC-3 for filing in various jurisdictions; formed corporations and limited liability companies; preformed stock transfers and prepared stock certificates.

 

Bell, Boyd & Llovd, Chicago, IL                                                                                           March 1997 – October 1999

Corporate Paralegal

Drafted and filed articles of incorporation; bylaws; notices of organizational meetings; conducted corporate maintenance including but not limited to drafting  initial organizational documents (meeting of incorporator(s), stockholders or board of directors consents); prepared documentation for the issuance of  stock certificates; prepared and filed application for federal employer identification number and other  appropriate Internal Revenue Service forms; prepared various applications and reports required by jurisdiction of incorporation and or qualification; prepared and filed license applications required for Insurance clients as well as other business applications as necessary; performed legislative history; research via online database and maintained working relationship with state and local agencies as well as vendors.

 

Lawrence Kamin Saunders & Uhlenhop, Chicago, IL                                                  February 1996 - February 1997

Securities Paralegal

Drafted for review portions of registration statements and prospectus; coordinated timely filings of registrations, amendments, exhibits and or annual renewals with the Securities Exchange Commission for Investment Adviser and Broker Dealer clients; prepared Form 10-K and10-Q reports for electronic filings; worked with various agencies to obtain CUSIP number, NASDAQ listings, and listing in Standard & Poors’ and Moodys Securities Manuals; formed and prepared organizational and incorporation documents and underlying documents including operating and limited partnership agreements and organizational consents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Altheimer &Gray, Chicago, IL                                                                                                   May 1994 -January 1996

Securities Paralegal

(Was promoted from Assistant Reference Librarian November 1989 - April 1994)

Drafted for review Blue Sky registration for broker-dealer/investment advisor clients; conducted research regarding State laws relevant to registrations in addition to working with State securities officers confirming filing requirements; prepared Forms 8-K, 10-Q, 10-QSB,10-K, 10-KSB and secured signatures of the same; registration and compliance duties for clients regulated by Commodity Futures Trading Commission, National Futures Association and National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state securities commissions; prepared and submitted for filing, domestic and foreign formation documentation; maintain organizational minutes or shareholder/member meeting minutes, director meeting minutes, bylaws, operating agreements and subsequent compliance filings as necessary; assisted in transactional work for various entities including the researching and preparation of UCC filings necessitated by either mergers or acquisitions; notarized documents and obtained apostils as required for legalization in foreign jurisdictions.

 

 

EDUCATION

BA Liberal Arts, Mundelein College/Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois - 1989             

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
 

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Westlaw, Lexis, CT Advantage, SharePoint, EDGAR filing; broad understanding of Investment Company Act of 1940; general knowledge of hedge funds documentation, including but not limited to offering memorandums and general knowledge of ISDA Master Agreement