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John Riggs Verified Account

Senior Director & Assistant General Counsel
  • Denver, Colorado , USA
  • About John


    Experienced legal professional with expertise in large-scale construction projects (including RFPs and procurement), commercial transactions, corporate law, real estate transactions, and contract negotiations. Demonstrated ability to provide strategic counsel and navigate complex legal matters in the sports and entertainment, construction, and project development industries. Licensed in Colorado, Texas, and North Dakota (inactive). Seeking a new legal role to leverage my skills and contribute... Read more

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    Professional Experience


    CAA ICON

    Assistant General Counsel & Senior Director June 2018 - December 2022

    (promoted to Director in November 2019 and Senior Director in January 2022)
    • Negotiate, draft, and advise on architectural, construction, and consultancy agreements for $4+ billion in new construction and renovations of NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NCAA, EPL, and Serie A venues and ancillary development
    • Negotiate and draft project ground leases, easements, purchase orders, professional service agreements, consulting agreements, non-disclosure agreements, consents, licenses, development documents and definitive agreements
    • Counsel sports and entertainment clients on risk management and issues relating to development and public/private governing agreements; the design, development, and construction of venue projects; and compliance with league rules, technology, and project programming
    • Assist clients in real estate and development issues relating to project development, including the creation of workflows for the efficient drafting, negotiation and finalization of necessary project documents and agreements, as well as educating on legal concepts where necessary
    • Prepare and review presentations, proposals, and RFP responses for potential and existing clients
    • Liaise with all internal business teams and advise and educate on a wide rage of legal topics, including compliance with internal compliance framework and parent company policies
    • Draft, negotiate, and advise internal business teams on issues related to non-disclosure agreements, engagement agreements, proposals, and property/lease agreements

    Sherman & Howard L.L.C

    Associate - Real Estate Group & Business/Corporate Group August 2016 - May 2018

    Led real estate transactions from initial due diligence through closing, including acquisitions and dispositions,
    equity financing, land use, and construction
    • Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated various land agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, loan documents, master service agreements and associated statements of work, leases, easements, management and leasing agreements, estoppel certificates, non-disclosure agreements, legal opinions, corporate organizational and authority documents, client counseling, and legal research
    • Experience with title policy and ALTA survey review, conducting land use research and drafting related memoranda, drafting deeds of trust and promissory notes, drafting and reviewing purchase and sale contracts, and engaging with local governments regarding entitlements and zoning
    • Negotiated and drafted various corporate documents (e.g., resolutions authorizing sale of oilfield services entity and associated distribution of proceeds, repurchase of a member's LLC units, operating agreements, etc.)
    • Led the research for, and helped draft an extensive land use memorandum for a $150+ million project in RiNo
    • Negotiated and closed over 180 master service agreements for an oil and gas client in a six-month timeframe

    Sherman & Howard L.L.C

    Sherman & Howard Fellow January 2015 - June 2016

    • Worked as the sole in-house counsel for Zavanna, LLC under the supervision of Sherman & Howard, L.L.C.
    • Drafted and revised various corporate governance documents for Zavanna, LLC and its affiliates (e.g., LLC Agreements, Operating Agreements, sale of affiliate interest)
    • Oversaw outside counsel on litigation matters
    • Negotiated and revised master service agreements, non-disclosure agreements, oil and gas leases, vendor contracts, and other similar contracts

    Peissel Law Firm

    Law Clerk September 2013 - May 2014

    • Researched onshore oil and gas law to enable title curative measures
    • Drafted memoranda on leasing and title issues focusing on prospects in North Dakota, Montana, and Texas
    • Prepared lease summaries, lease assignments, and mineral ownership tables

    Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos

    Law Clerk May 2013 - August 2013

    Mexico
    • Researched the health, safety and environmental standards for hydraulic fracturing in the United States in order to draft the first ever shale gas regulations for Mexico
    • Prepared memoranda on hydraulic fracturing safety issues such as well integrity, water contamination and acquisition, and other health, safety and environmental issues

    University of Houston Law Center

    Professor Susan Maples January 2013 - May 2013

    Research Assistant University of Houston Law Center
    • Researched the Constitutions of all Portuguese speaking countries, as well as the UK and Russia, specifically focusing on trends driving Constitutional language in foreign investment, foreign agreements, natural resources, and oil and gas

    Veirano Advogados

    Summer Associate June 2012 - August 2012

    Brazil
    • Prepared memoranda on the oil and gas industry in Brazil, with a focus on local content requirements for international companies looking to invest in Brazil
    • Drafted various contracts and service agreements for oil and gas clients
    • Translated English documents into Portuguese, as well as Portuguese documents into English

    Education


    Urban Land Institute

    CertificateGraduated in 2017


    University Of Houston Law Center

    Juris DoctorGraduated in 2014


    Arizona State University W.P. Carey School Of Business

    Bachelor of ScienceGraduated in 2009