Richard Ballot, Esq - Experienced Attorney

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Rich's career has been anchored in leading through complexity, managing sophisticated corporate disputes, accelerating growth, and cultivating world-class teams. 

Rich practiced for 10 years as a commercial litigator in private practice and spent 20 years in-house. He developed deep expertise as a trial and appellate attorney, specializing in franchise law, and expanded his skill set to include front-line Merger & Acquisition (M&A) deal making and finance—immersed in every aspect of due diligence and post-closing integration—as part of GMAC, Prudential, and Brookfield Asset Management, the predecessor entities to BGRS. 

During his tenure with GMAC, Prudential, and Brookfield, Rich culminated his experience in the role of General Counsel at BGRS, overseeing 40 companies across more than 10 countries, while reporting directly to the CEO and serving as one of four executives shaping the global growth strategy. His leadership extended well beyond that of a traditional Chief Legal Officer, guiding teams across various areas such as sustainability, compliance, government affairs, federal contract procurement, data privacy, education seminars for the company's real estate brokerage network, business continuity planning, and the automation of supplier due diligence and supply chain auditing. He also spearheaded the establishment of new offices in Germany, Poland, and the UAE. 

Crisis leadership has been a hallmark of Rich's career. He played a crucial role in leading GMAC Home Services through the subprime mortgage crisis, the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program bailout, and its subsequent bankruptcy. Rich led BGRS's legal response to the COVID-19 pandemic—including the mandate for immunizations due to our status as a federal contractor—navigating a ransomware incident, numerous high-profile lawsuits, whistleblower claims, and government audits, while also managing the company’s exit from Russia amidst federal sanctions after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine—all while safeguarding continuity of operations and brand trust. 

Rich flourishes in demanding situations where strategic vision, operational excellence, and resilience drive growth, manage organizational and business-model complexity, and deliver success.