Vicki Renner Schmitz
308 N. Fifth Street
Albion, IL 62806
618.878.9756 (Cell)
schmitzvr@gmail.com
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
March, 2007 - Current – Oil and Gas Paralegal/Independent Title Analyst & Abstractor, Mineral Title
Resources, LLC
Following divorce, returned to hometown in Illinois. Lack of law firms in the area led to introduction as
paralegal in the oil and gas industry. Formed LLC and continue to work under contract for various land
brokers, including Continental Land Resources, LLC, Mason Dixon Energy and Holland Services, as well
as directly with larger companies, including, Chesapeake, Range Resources, Exxon, Texhoma and Antero
Resources in various areas of the US, with heaviest concentration on the Appalachan Basin as well as the
Illinois Basin. Have worked both as in-house title analyst, examining and evaluating title reports prepared
by field landmen, and as a field abstractor, traveling as necessary to research county courthouse records in
order to provide clients with complete chain of title for both surface and severed mineral ownership. Title
projects have ranged in size and complexity from production of basic leasehold reports to preparation of
full drilling title examinations (present time back to land grants/patents) which requires experience using
government, university and other industry web-based research tools in both historical research as well as
research with regard to current well location/activity and leasing. Have also worked on large, fully
remote land projects which included review of applicable land records on-line with final title reports
submitted electronically to company/clients. Overall experience and legal background has provided
ability to efficiently collect, evaluate, summarize and then organize research into a professionallypresented compilation that the client could understand and have available for future reference on sites.
Additional Skills: Computer proficiency and training: Microsoft Office, advanced Word & Excel; deedplotting programs; survey & mapping software, including GIS based land-maps, ESER interactive maps,
PLSS source maps and ESRI Arc maps. Prior work with various remote programs: billing time &
expenses; LANDEX remote document retrieval and SPECPRINT maps; Familiar with using BLM webbased map services, GLO records and historical land grant information. Genealogy websites and
software use in title research.
Professional Affiliations: TSAPL; AAPL; NPA and IPA.
March, 2003 to February, 2005 - Senior Paralegal, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz,
P.C., Nashville, Tennessee.
Was asked to return to the Firm by Senior Partners as was made responsible for handling all files for
major client with medical office buildings and treatment facilities nationwide. Responsible for organizing
existing files, reviewing each for status and content. Created a computer tracking system for all sites
nationwide accessible by client as well as attorneys. Followed sites from construction contract through
lending and construction completion to insure compliance with all terms of contracts and postconstruction and leasing issues and terms. Extensive experience in large commercial transactions,
including multimillion dollar REIT’s. Experience with commercial construction and development,
commercial lending transactions and commercial leasing. Firm represented major banks on national and
international level, which allowed extensive experience representing both lenders and borrowers in all
sizes and types of commercial lending and real estate transactions. Both provided as borrower’s counsel
and reviewed as lender’s counsel due diligence including title commitment/policies, surveys, Phase I & II
environmental reports, corporate organizational documents/filings and required licensing and other
regulatory requirements. Gained additional experience in foreclosure, loan defaults/work-out and
bankruptcy.
CLE - Several courses taken including title law updates, environmental law, loan work-out
documentation, foreclosure and commercial leasing.
Professional Memberships - Nashville Bar Association and Middle Tennessee Paralegal Association.
September, 1998 to March, 2003 - Senior Paralegal, Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry, PLLC,
Nashville, Tennessee.
Was recruited by competing Firm that represented large cell phone companies, including Sprint, GTE and
Cricket Communications, during their initial expansion nationwide to join their real estate and regulatory
teams. Created heavy concentration on land title as well as lease review and analysis. Reviewed title and
underlying documents and handled curative title as needed. Extensive experience with surveys and their
role in land title issues. Drafted tower site and ground leases as well as reviewed existing leases.
March, 1988 to September, 1998- Paralegal, Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell, P.C. (f/k/a
Heiskell, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell) Nashville, Tennessee.
Upon moving to Nashville joined Firm and worked to level of senior paralegal specializing in all aspects
of commercial real estate transactions, including lending and mergers and acquisitions (see above).
Registered Lobbyist - Served as a Registered as lobbyist for the Firm at the Tennessee Legislature.
EDUCATION
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois - B.A.'s in Economics & English
REFERENCES
Available upon request