Zoë Taff
Vancouver,CA
Summary
I am a skilled Legal Manager with a talent for analytical problem-solving. I thrive in high-pressure environments and can manage multiple projects simultaneously with exceptional organizational skills. My ability to analyze data and find trends allows me to develop strategies to improve operational efficiency. I communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and senior management, keeping professionalism and ensuring compliance with regulations. I champion inclusiveness and apply reasonable judgment in interpreting and applying corporate legal policies to mitigate risk.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Corporate Legal Service
QuadReal Property Group
Vancouver, BC
01.2022 - 11.2023
- Built Corporate Legal Services team consisting of 3 paralegals who provided support to 12 lawyer Legal Teams, Portfolio teams, Finance, Treasury, and external law firms and partners.
- Managed compliance of 900+ legal entities in foreign jurisdictions, overseeing diverse business matters and transactions
- Oversaw the performance, recruitment and development of paralegals to ensure their exceptional commitment to business and clients.
- Increased operational efficiency by implementing a comprehensive global entity management software solution.
- Streamlined operations and prioritized tasks, resulting in increased value-added productivity for senior staff
- Utilized skills in identifying and strategizing solutions for legal challenges within the corporation
- Successfully achieved cost savings and improved company representation by making informed decisions when selecting and managing external counsel
- Maintained adherence to corporate legal standards throughout the department's application process
- Led the development of a new contract management system, optimizing operations in the corporate legal services department
- Devised and deployed strategies that optimized Support Services, resulting in increased client satisfaction
- Provide support to the Chief Legal Officer and Corporation Secretary in managing corporate governance matters with both the Board of Directors and Executive Management Team
- Directly engaged with Board Members and Executive Management through communication, coordination of meeting logistics, preparation of agendas, drafting minutes, and distributing materials
- Maintained the Board database for governing documents, policies, and written consent resolutions
- Oversaw and enhanced the efficiency of board meeting operations, IT support, catering coordination, travel logistics management, meeting scheduling accuracy,and overall event execution.
- Managed compliance with Brokerage Regulation matters and foreign license filing requirements.
- Managed the utilization of Management Information systems for tracking, reporting, and auditing legal matters within the corporate environment while also leading the development and maintenance of the department's Management System to improve service delivery and maintain compliance with legal standards.
Senior Corporate Paralegal
QuadReal Property Group
Vancouver, BC
06.2019 - 11.2023
- Oversaw the organization and maintenance of virtual minute books, corporate records, and databases for a diverse range of 900+ global legal entities.
- Prepared corporate documentation for Canadian entities, such as incorporations, name changes, alterations, amalgamations, restorations, dissolutions, annual resolutions, changes to directors and officers. Also responsible for banking resolutions and documenting flows of funds.
- Prepared and filed documentation for creating/maintaining limited partnerships, business names, and extra-provincial registrations across Canada.
- Efficiently handled day-to-day requests on Corporate Legal matters for various stakeholders, including lawyers, business teams, and external counsel.
- Conducted due diligence reviews on corporate records and drafted rectification resolutions when required
- Coordinated the preparation of Disclosure Documents for multiple corporate clients. Executed public searches to support due diligence procedures. Supported with Know-Your-Client and Anti Money Laundering inquiries regarding new and ongoing investments.
- Prepared complex legal entity structure charts and supported corporate projects, contributing to improved workflow and compliance adherence within Corporate Legal Services team.
- Identified and resolved complex legal issues, enhancing operational efficiency
Corporate Paralegal
Lawson Lundell LLP
Vancouver
04.2016 - 05.2019
- Managed corporate records for one client's company and its subsidiaries with over 300 corporations, limited partnerships and trusts at Federal and Provincial level, public sector pension plans and tax-exempt entities
- Prepared and filed documents to incorporate and organize all corporations, draft special rights and restrictions, document transactions to accurately keep corporate records changes of directors, officers, signing officers, banking documents, share transfers, continuations, amalgamations, dissolution's, reorganizations, extra-provincial registrations, business names and annual maintenance
- Formed limited partnerships, Trusts, filed business name registrations
- Prepare investment based and overreaching structure charts
- Managed database to ensure all records are up to date, ensures maintenance and compliance of corporate records, including due diligence reviews to correct any deficiencies
- Drafted legal documents related to corporate and tax reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, financings and related business agreements
Corporate Paralegal
ALF Software Inc
Vancouver
03.2015 - 03.2016
- Documentation of software and creation of manuals and online resources
- Optimization of legal templates, specifically automation of Word templates to make best use of client database
- Software performance testing, template coding, and demonstrations
- Performed user support, including on-site and remote training, telephone queries, and troubleshooting
Corporate Paralegal
LaBarge Weinstein LLP
Vancouver
08.2014 - 02.2015
- Managed corporate records of 200 private and public corporations
- Prepared and filed documents for incorporation's, dissolution's, restorations, continuations, amalgamations and extra-provincial registration, change of directors, registered address and change of name
- Organization of board meetings and annual shareholder meetings
- Prepared stock option agreements, plans, issuance and agreements for founder, employees, confidentiality and shareholders
- Document transactions for share transactions, private placements, declaring dividends, approving agreements Annual filings for public and private companies in BC, Federal, Nevada and Delaware
Corporate Paralegal
Clark Wilson LLP
Vancouver
06.2012 - 07.2014
- Managed 400 private and public corporations within firm's securities department
- Corporate minute book reviews Annual maintenance in BC, Federal, Nevada and Delaware, including annual filings, resolutions
- Managed and kept the company's compliance with Securities Law, reducing potential legal risks
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Paralegal Studies
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver, BC09-2014
Some College (No Degree) - Legal Administrative Assistant
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver, BC06-2012
Skills
- Corporate Law
- Corporate Governance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Legal Writing
- Legal Research
- Anti Money Laundering
- Know Your Client
- Regulatory Legal Compliance
- Due Diligence
- Organizational Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Time Management
- Reliability
- Analytical Skills
- Task Prioritization
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Written Communication
- Interpersonal Communication
- Problem-Solving
- Team Leadership
- Performance Metrics
- Training and Development
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Vendor Management
- Project Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Performance Management
- Operations Management
- Policy Implementation
- Process Improvement
Personal Information
Title: Manager, Corporate Legal Services
Timeline
Manager, Corporate Legal Service
QuadReal Property Group
01.2022 - 11.2023
Senior Corporate Paralegal
QuadReal Property Group
06.2019 - 11.2023
Corporate Paralegal
Lawson Lundell LLP
04.2016 - 05.2019
Corporate Paralegal
ALF Software Inc
03.2015 - 03.2016
Corporate Paralegal
LaBarge Weinstein LLP
08.2014 - 02.2015
Corporate Paralegal
Clark Wilson LLP
06.2012 - 07.2014
Some College (No Degree) - Paralegal Studies
Vancouver Community College
Some College (No Degree) - Legal Administrative Assistant
Vancouver Community College
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