VANESSA LAWSON
Saint Paul
Summary
Compliance and legal operations expert with over 10 years of experience managing governance and compliance across military, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. Skilled in optimizing legal workflows and supporting over 800 entities, driving efficiency and reducing risk. Holds a Master of Science in Legal Studies from Cornell Law School, specializing in federal and multi-state regulatory frameworks.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
CORPORATE PARALEGAL & TRANSACTIONS MANAGER
Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Eden Prairie
08.2025 - Current
- Led a CEO-approved initiative to internalize corporate filings, reducing third-party vendor costs by 60%+ per matter while generating hundreds of dollars in additional billable revenue per transaction on average.
- Achieved 2.6× ROI on compensation over six months through billable legal operations work, while developing compliance infrastructure and process improvements that saved the firm hundreds of dollars per transaction on average and reduced client costs through more efficient, in-house compliance execution, increasing overall team utilization.
- Managed corporate governance and regulatory compliance for 900+ entities across multiple U.S. jurisdictions, including formations, conversions, reinstatements, annual renewals, and ongoing maintenance.
- Led firm-adopted process improvements that eliminated unnecessary reliance on third-party filing vendors, preserving internal margin and improving cost transparency for clients.
CORPORATE LEGAL ASSISTANT
Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
Eden Prairie
10.2023 - 07.2024
- Ensured compliance with governance and legal frameworks for a $6 billion nonprofit, advising on policies and reviewing contracts.
- Managed governance documentation and ensured compliance across jurisdictions for philanthropic organization, supporting legal operations.
- Coordinated logistics and vendor relations for board members' retreats, ensuring flawless execution and increasing event satisfaction.
PARALEGAL NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER
U.S. Army
Minnesota National Guard
06.2016 - 02.2024
- Supported 500+ legal matters across criminal, administrative, and contract domains over 8+ years, maintaining 100% procedural compliance with military justice and confidentiality standards.
- Provided legal support for units from battalion to brigade level, representing over 10,000 Soldiers during multiple operational cycles.
- Coordinated legal workflows for deployment and readiness, ensuring continuous legal services during all assigned mobilizations.
- Supported legal teams during civil unrest after return from 13-month deployment to Iraq and Kuwait, assisting with legal operations to uphold public safety measures in alignment with constitutional and civil rights standards.
Education
MASTER OF SCIENCE - LEGAL STUDIES
Cornell Law School
Ithaca, NY05.2025
BACHELOR OF ARTS - COMMUNICATIONS
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN12.2022
Skills
- Contract Negotiation
- Contract management
- Regulatory compliance
- Regulatory frameworks
- Legal operations
- Corporate governance
- Risk mitigation
- Legal research
- Vendor / supplier performance management
- Board & Executive Support
Timeline
CORPORATE PARALEGAL & TRANSACTIONS MANAGER
Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
08.2025 - Current
CORPORATE LEGAL ASSISTANT
Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
10.2023 - 07.2024
PARALEGAL NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER
U.S. Army
06.2016 - 02.2024
MASTER OF SCIENCE - LEGAL STUDIES
Cornell Law School
BACHELOR OF ARTS - COMMUNICATIONS
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities