Steve Graham Named Director, Legal Affairs for the Missouri Association of REALTORS®

March 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Russ Cofano, CEO of the Missouri Association of REALTORS®, announced today that Steven D. Graham will be joining the Association as Director, Legal Affairs effective April 2, 2012.

Graham has spent the past 25 years with St. Louis-headquartered Thompson Coburn, LLP, first as an associate and since 1996, as partner.  His practice has been devoted to representation of real estate brokers, owners, developers, lenders, and other real estate professionals in all areas of real estate law. Graham has extensive experience in both corporate and real estate law, concentrating primarily on property acquisition and sales, financing, development, brokerage licensing and compliance matters, property management, real estate tax appeals, and condemnation law. Graham has also acted as the Association’s Contract and Forms Legal Counsel for over 15 years.

“Our Association needs to become the ‘go to’ source for real estate industry legal information. With Steve on board, we now have the industry knowledge and credibility to begin that journey,” said Cofano. “Near term, Steve will be directly responsible for bringing the Association’s Legal Hotline in house. He will also be critical in adding two other essential legs to the legal information stool through innovative Continuing Education classes, as well as the development of an online legal information database that members can access 24/7/365.  REALTOR associations are looking for ways to deliver value to their members and adding Steve Graham to our staff will bring instant value to our members.”

Graham holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Iowa and received his Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law.  He is licensed to practice in both Missouri and Illinois and is a member of the Missouri, Illinois and American Bar Associations. In addition to operating the Association’s Legal Hotline program and serving its Contract and Forms Committee, Graham also sits on the Real Estate Committee for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL).

Graham and his wife of 27 years, Ann, a pre-school teacher, have two daughters (ages 24 and 22) and two sons (ages 19 and 12). His civic and community involvement has included volunteer work with Catholic Social Services, the Employment Connection (a United Way affiliate organization), Signal Hill Education Foundation, and the Southwestern Illinois Leadership Council.

“I am excited by this unique opportunity to support the American Dream of home ownership for all Missourians,” said Graham. “I am fortunate to have worked with the Association for many years on a contractual basis, but I’m really looking forward to playing a more active, day-to-day role. REALTORS are the primary advocates for the property rights of Missouri citizens and they can have a significant impact on the state’s economic growth. It will be my responsibility to provide our members with the best information and legal advice possible, enabling them to perform at the very highest level.”

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Founded in 1936, the Missouri Association of REALTORS® is the second of the largest trade association in the state of Missouri with nearly 18,000 members. Through the collective strength, influence and professionalism of its members, the Association is dedicated to protecting the private property rights of Missouri citizens, promoting real estate as a catalyst for economic and community development, and fostering a business environment in which all members can succeed. For more information, go to: MissouriRealtor.org