Lisa A. Mason
Washington National Harbor
Summary
Strategic business leader and former transactional attorney with extensive experience in procurement, contract negotiation, and cross-functional team leadership within matrixed organizations. Proven track record of aligning sourcing strategies with business goals and integrating legal and business strategies to mitigate risk. Known for fostering collaboration, elevating procurement teams, and leading cross-functional teams through complex sourcing events, contract management, and organizational change initiatives.
Overview
2024
2024
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Counsel
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP / Altheimer & Gray
Chicago, IL
- Structured, negotiated, and drafted real estate contracts for corporations and real estate investment trusts, collaborating with clients to optimize business strategies and minimize financial and legal risk.
- Created playbook of standard documentation to streamline business processes and negotiations, improving time management and optimizing outside counsel fees.
- Supervised and mentored junior associates; Maintained client relationship continuity across firm transition.
Senior Attorney, Law Department | Senior Real Estate Representative, Real Estate Department
BP America Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
- Advised senior leaders, sales, and operations on legal compliance, negotiated and drafted agreements, and synthesized business and legal considerations into actionable recommendations to support Amoco Corporation goals and mitigate marketing, refining, and chemicals business, financial and legal risks.
- Avoided $2.1M in relocation costs by anticipating landowner legal action and proactively implementing counterstrategy to protect major production facility from significant operational disruption.
- Resolved multimillion-dollar claim for less than .01% through successful negotiation strategy.
- Acted as lead real estate counsel in $400M acquisition of international chemical company, negotiating all real estate business and legal terms, conducting due diligence, collaborated with cross-functional deal team, and overseeing U.S. and EU real estate counsel.
- Managed litigation and dispute resolution, sourcing and supervising outside counsel and vendors for optimal results; Disseminated key take-aways internally for adoption as best practices.
- Represented ownership of significant Chicago office building in tenant relations, executing leasing strategy, and negotiating all deal terms; Increased asset revenue and marketability with new lease internal rates of return up to 84% and with innovative retail leasing strategy targeting changing tenant demographics.
- Supported negotiations and due diligence in ~$500M sale of Amoco Building (n/k/a Aon Center).
- Performed financial modeling and implemented cost control projects relative to budget variances and lease and equipment purchasing.
Corporate Associate
Schiff Hardin LLP
Chicago, Illinois
- Practiced public and corporate finance, general corporate and municipal law, and real estate law.
- Represented government entities and private companies in drafting and negotiating transaction documents and advising on law, pending regulation, and public policy.
Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing – Indirect
Exelon Corporation
Chicago, IL / Baltimore, MD
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Led $1.3B+ in indirect services procurement across 12 categories, overseeing the full sourcing lifecycle of strategic sourcing, vendor selection, negotiations, contracting, category management, vendor management.
- Directed 10+ supply professionals in Advertising & Marketing, Consulting, Customer, EV, Facilities, HR, IT, Labor, Office, Subscriptions, Travel, and Training services and technology sourcing strategies to improve cost control, vendor performance, and business alignment; Improved team engagement score by 36% to 94%.
- Managed team, and actively engaged, in negotiation of commercial terms, consultant rates and fee arrangements, vendor performance standards, and contract exit strategies.
- Collaborated closely with stakeholders, business partners, and senior leaders to review annual spend patterns, align sourcing and category management actions with business goals (including maximizing vendor value and cost-effectiveness) and ensure compliance with risk management and legal guidelines.
- Spearheaded all contract dispute negotiations to mitigate potential multimillion-dollar contract exposures, including replacing underperforming vendors and averting a $4.4M spend commitment.
- Persuaded HR to return $700M+ in spend to Supply governance, enhancing controls over privacy, cyber, and contractual risk.
- Partnered with Legal and IT in developing deal terms and contract structure of Exelon’s first IT business process outsourcing, creating model for the subsequent outsourcings of non-core business.
- Worked closely with in-house counsel and outside counsel to draft, redline, and enforce contracts and to manage legal, regulatory, and business considerations.
- Led Supply in enterprise review of contingent labor practices, risk analysis, and new policy; Implemented ACA compliance controls and Managed Services Provider program expansion, improving vendor performance, reducing co-employment risk, accomplishing merger integration, and achieving >50% diverse spend.
- Championed supplier diversity, supporting Exelon’s induction into the Billion Dollar Roundtable.
- Managed supply chain integration during mergers and divestitures – streamlining vendor base, consolidating or bifurcating contracts, harmonizing pricing, and addressing transition services arrangements.
Manager, Utility Performance Assessment
Exelon Utilities
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Evaluated and compared performance of critical utility functions across 3 operating companies, identifying and rectifying operational underperformance in claims, real estate, and fleet services.
- Standardized metrics for merger-related business integration, enhancing operational consistency, transparency, and stakeholder satisfaction; Initiated fleet procurement and telematics alignment, increased vehicle electrification, and emissions reduction.
Manager, Real Estate Asset Management
Commonwealth Edison
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Oversaw all real estate transactions, directing team of 14 in the purchase, sale, leasing, contract negotiation, rent collection of $19M, and management of company property and telecom rights.
- Directed strategy to resolve 500 lapsed land lease and recover $1.8M in back rent, boosting renewal rates to ~90% and streamlining internal approval processes; Managed outside counsel.
Portfolio Strategy Manager
Exelon and Commonwealth Edison
01.2007 - 01.2012
- Formulated long-term real estate strategy – early key contributor in founding Exelon’s real estate governance function, improving financial discipline, and asset value awareness.
- Assessed costs, savings opportunities, and limitations, performed financial analysis and business case development, providing leadership a comprehensive portfolio outlook before executing approved plans.
- Drove cost reduction through asset sales, facility management contract and lease renegotiations, and facility consolidations.
Education
MBA - Strategic Management, Finance, Marketing Management, Entrepreneurship
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
2005
JD -
Harvard Law School
1988
BA - History
Yale University
1985
Skills
- Strategic Sourcing
- Contract Negotiation
- Vendor & Contract Management
- Spend Governance
- Category Management
- Compliance & Risk Mitigation
- Supplier Diversity
- Leadership & Team Development
- Financial & Strategic Analysis
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Dispute Resolution
- M&A Integration
Certification
Licensed Attorney – State of Illinois, U.S. District Court (Northern District)
ADDITIONAL
Languages: Studied French, Spanish, German
Timeline
Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing – Indirect
Exelon Corporation
01.2015 - 01.2024
Manager, Utility Performance Assessment
Exelon Utilities
01.2012 - 01.2015
Manager, Real Estate Asset Management
Commonwealth Edison
01.2010 - 01.2012
Portfolio Strategy Manager
Exelon and Commonwealth Edison
01.2007 - 01.2012
Senior Counsel
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP / Altheimer & Gray
Senior Attorney, Law Department | Senior Real Estate Representative, Real Estate Department
BP America Inc.
Corporate Associate
Schiff Hardin LLP
MBA - Strategic Management, Finance, Marketing Management, Entrepreneurship
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
JD -
Harvard Law School
BA - History
Yale University