Promoting Partnerships To Improve Veterans’ Health

NAVREF General Counsel Services

Welcome to the NAVREF General Counsel (NGC) webpage. The NGC provides legal advice and assistance to NAVREF, its staff and Member nonprofit corporations on matters related to NAVREF or the affairs of the NAVREF’s members. NGC represents members on transactional matters and in litigation arising from or relating to the member’s business affairs or the performance of official duties and responsibilities of the member’s employees. NGC also represents NAVREF itself in a variety of business transactions and in litigation, both as a party and as amicus curiae in cases in which NAVREF has an institutional interest.

As a benefit of being a member, NAVREF offers general counsel services at competitive pricing for a range of services.


NGC Fees for FY24

Member pricing: $85 per hour

Non-member pricing: $255 per hour


Contact Info: legal@navref.org

NGC services include but are not limited to:

  • NPC vendor contracts
  • Employment agreements
  • NPC personnel issues
  • Problematic language in CDAs and subawards
  • Lack of payment/debt collection
  • Issues with the university affiliate
  • H-1B visas
  • VHA Innovation Ecosystem CRADAs
  • U.S. Treasury offset
  • Conflict-of-interest issues
  • NPC mergers and dissolutions
  • VA audits and investigations
  • Intellectual property questions

Our Team


Jacqueline Post Ladha

Jacki has extensive experience navigating complex land use and real estate matters for both the public and private sector. She previously led the nationwide land and utilization efforts for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the second largest land holder in the country. She is also the founder of a private-sector real estate investment and management company that was recently recognized by Inc. 5000 as in the top 10% of fastest growing businesses in the country.

Prior to her current position, Jacki represented the federal government in national land acquisitions, as well as complex land use and environmental matters. She has worked extensively with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and other associated regulations. Jacki has managed a $5B+ portfolio of acquisitions and land use matters involving assemblages in several cities, requiring her to navigate complex funding sources, public-private partnerships, overlapping  federal and state laws, and social justice matters, including leading public hearings.

Jacki is similarly skilled at navigating private sector deals, real estate investment and securitization matters, public hearings, and state-level laws involving water rights and permitting.

Jacki is also a former athlete who gets outside as much as possible. She is also committed to charitable causes and has worked extensively with the Cancer Moonshot Initiative to utilize venture capital investment to bring therapies and diagnostics to market.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Real Estate
Land Use
Environmental Law
Transactional/Corporate
Federal Real Estate

PRIOR ASSOCIATIONS

Rumah Capital
Post Real Estate Group
The Department of Veterans Affairs
Barfield LLP
Bunnell Woulfe LLP


EDUCATION

Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center
Tulane Law
Florida State University


BAR ADMISSION

Florida
*Pending admission to Colorado
United States Supreme Court


Caitlin Cunningham

Caitlin currently works for Scale LLP, following a 13-year career with the federal government, where she worked in both real estate program management and transactions, with a focus on commercial leasing, land acquisition/disposal, and land use issues. In this capacity, Caitlin gained a broad range of experience in multiple business lines, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, and partnerships; federal regulations; medical and agricultural research; healthcare; cemetery and memorial properties; and agricultural grants and programs. She also has experience working with homeowners’ associations and real estate brokerages in navigating compliance and governance issues. 

Prior to her government career, and throughout law school, Caitlin worked as a paralegal with a focus on commercial real estate transactions and financing, corporate governance, and trusts & estates matters. This experience honed a keen attention to detail and pragmatic approach that Caitlin brings to her practice today. 

Representative transactions:

  • Subcontractor to a federal agency to analyze the community, economic, environmental, and social impacts associated with the conveyance of 10 former federal properties to non-federal entities. The studies included land use analysis, title and survey review, site visits and interviews with community stakeholders, review of environmental studies and state data, and the drafting of a final report to present agency leadership.
  • Led a multi-year project to unravel the land records of a Medical Center and Cemetery properties, which date back to 1826, and to acquire additional land for expansion of the cemetery. This project involved the use of licenses and permits, acquisition and disposition of easements, working with the County Parks Department to negotiate a property transfer, and reviewing extensive title and survey documentation.
  • Acquired multiple parcels of land and negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement with natural gas company to support major construction project for National Cemetery expansion.  Project encompassed the acquisition of 137 acres of land and involved complex negotiations with two neighboring landowners, a natural gas company, and BLM, while keeping multiple Congressional offices up-to-date on progress. Project also involved significant archeological preservation efforts in partnership with local Native American groups as well as application of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies for acquisition of land. 
  • Led a matrix team of subject-matter experts in the transfer of 600+ acres of land on the San Francisco Bay, which included preservation and mitigation of endangered species habitat, partnership with several area conservation groups, re-negotiation of land use licenses, and agreements with the local government as to utility and street infrastructure. Project also included negotiations with the Department of Defense on mitigation and disposal of hazardous materials on-site. 
  • Conducted competitive procurement and lease negotiation for a 42,000 SF medical research and vivarium facility in San Francisco, and 50,000+ SF healthcare facilities in California, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Montana.
  • Drafted language that is now Federal Law that expands VA’s ability to acquire leased space directly from academic affiliates, state and local governments, and non-profits for the purpose of providing healthcare resources to Veterans.
  • Supported programs in USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture & Innovative Production and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, including roles in standing up the People’s Garden Initiative and the nationwide push to encourage sustainable and innovative farming practices in urban areas. Played a key role in the establishment of 17 first-of-their-kind urban service centers to provide financial and technical assistance to farmers in non-traditional locations.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Real Estate Transactions

Land Use Issues

Corporate Governance and Transactions

Commercial Leasing

Government Leasing, Programs, Regulations, and Contracts

PRIOR ASSOCIATIONS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

Potts-Dupree, Difede & Hawkins, Chtd.



EDUCATION

The George Washington University
Brooklyn Law School
Georgetown University
St. Paul’s School


BAR ADMISSION

New Jersey


1717 K ST NW Suite 900

Washington, DC 20006

202-951-7701  |  admin@navref.org

FEIN: 52-1784596

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