Dara Cress
SUMMIT VENTURES
Knoxville,TN
1
Certification
10
years of professional experience
Corporate governance, legal operations and compliance professional with 10+ years of experience supporting general counsel and executive leadership in complex corporate, real estate, investment and operating environments. Experience includes EB-5 regulatory filings and project-level compliance, offering and fund documentation, agent administration, corporate governance across 350+ entities, commercial transactions, litigation coordination and enterprise risk management. Works directly with outside immigration, securities and litigation counsel to coordinate documentation, filings and legal matters across multiple business verticals.
Work History
Director of Corporate Governance / Senior Paralegal
6 Years 9 Months- EB-5 Regulatory, Agent & Project Support
- Coordinate and prepare USCIS EB-5 filings, including Forms I-956F, I-956K, I-956G and I-956H, working directly with outside immigration counsel for review and approval before execution and submission.
- Coordinate escrow agreements and related documentation with banking partners; support preparation and coordination of EB-5 offering documents, including PPMs, subscription and pre-subscription agreements, operating agreements, foreign finder agreements, and MOUs, collaborating with internal stakeholders and outside counsel to ensure compliance and accuracy.
- Coordinate agent onboarding and annual agent certifications, including collection and organization of required documentation and follow-up on outstanding items.
- Review and respond to FOIA requests and investor books-and-records requests, gathered responsive materials and collaborated with internal teams and counsel.
- Support project due diligence by collecting developer questionnaires and NDAs, coordinating third-party background screenings, reviewing screening reports, and escalating relevant concerns to the General Counsel, ensuring comprehensive risk assessment and compliance.
- Maintain and coordinate project-level compliance materials, including familiarity with EB-5 economic studies and business plans; track regulatory filing requirements, deadlines, amendments, supporting documentation and submission-related follow-up across projects.
- Corporate Governance, Legal Operations & Risk Management
- Provide comprehensive legal and operational support to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel on corporate matters, business operations, compliance, joint ventures and development projects across multiple business verticals.
- Oversee corporate governance and entity administration for 350+ entities, managing formations, amendments, foreign qualifications, dissolutions, registered agent coordination, annual reports, franchise tax filings, and adherence to state and federal requirements to mitigate legal risks.
- Draft, prepare and review a range of corporate and commercial documents, including contracts, NDAs, vendor agreements, operating agreements, commercial leases, amendments, resolutions and related corporate records.
- Coordinate litigation matters by maintaining case files, tracking deadlines and pleadings, communicating with outside counsel, compiling documents, supporting discovery and production requests, and organizing case materials.
- Oversee the renewal and administration of approximately 99 commercial property and casualty insurance policies, coordinating with brokers and internal stakeholders on coverage, renewals, and documentation.
- Coordinate business licensing and operational compliance matters, including applicable state and local licensing requirements for business operations.
- Support commercial real estate transactions and development matters through due diligence coordination, data room preparation, document collection and review, and coordination with internal stakeholders and outside counsel.
- Collaborate with Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Investor Relations and operating teams to coordinate legal documentation, compliance requirements and cross-functional projects.
- Promoted to this role in January 2024.
Litigation Paralegal
10 Months- Supported more than 10 attorneys across offices in Florida, Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., on litigation matters involving consumer financial services and related disputes.
- Organized and reviewed documents for production, prepared indices and privilege logs, and assisted with discovery and document management to ensure compliance with legal standards.
- Drafted litigation hold letters and pleadings, maintained case and pleading files, monitored court dockets and deadlines, and completed electronic filings to support timely litigation processes.
- Retrieved and analyzed client database materials, prepared research summaries, organized exhibits and materials for hearings, and provided case updates to litigation teams and clients for informed decision-making.
Corporate Paralegal
2 Years 6 Months- Provided legal and corporate support to the Vice President and General Counsel on subsidiary oversight, corporate matters and day-to-day legal operations.
- Prepared and filed domestic and foreign corporate registrations; drafted board resolutions and secretary certificates; and maintained corporate records and board books.
- Coordinated internal and external audits, liaised with vendors and Legal Department, and facilitated due diligence and third-party background reporting.
- Drafted legal documents, agreements, and correspondence; coordinated with outside counsel and facilitated implementation of contract management system.
- Maintained legal department's contract database; provided document production and litigation support; assisted with employee immigration matters under General Counsel supervision.
Education
Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice
Paralegal Certificate
Skills
EB-5 Regulatory & Project Compliance
USCIS Filing Coordination
Offering & Fund Documentation
Agent Onboarding & Certifications
Corporate Governance
Entity Management
Legal Operations
Outside Counsel Coordination
Litigation & Discovery Support
Real Estate Transactions
Regulatory Filings & Licensing
Due Diligence
Multitasking and organization
Technology
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Salesforce
- DocuSign
Certification
- Notary Public, State of Tennessee | Expires September 2027
- GRC Professional Certification | Expires Dec 2026
Timeline
Director of Corporate Governance / Senior Paralegal
SUMMIT VENTURES
02.2020 - CurrentRead More
Litigation Paralegal
LOCKE LORD LLP
04.2019 - 02.2020Read More
Corporate Paralegal
TROPICAL SHIPPING USA, LLC
10.2016 - 04.2019Read More
Florida Gulf Coast University
Paralegal Certificate
Read More
Indian River State College
Associate of Arts from Criminal Justice
Read More