National Association of Realtors hires new general counsel from within

The National Association of Realtors has a new general counsel. The 1 million-member trade group has chosen Katie Raynolds Johnson, the group’s associate counsel, as the successor to NAR’s longtime legal champion Laurie Janik, who retired last year.

Johnson earned her law degree in 2005 and spent nearly two years at Chicago law firm Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona before coming to NAR as associate counsel in October 2007. She is currently completing a Master of Laws degree in information technology and privacy law at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, a program for practicing attorneys. She grew up with both parents working as Realtors.

Johnson begins her new role today. Among the challenges she will face, one looms particularly large: litigation with NeighborCity.com operator American Home Realty Network. Two large multiple listing services filed copyright infringement suits against the real estate technology company in 2012; American Home Realty Network responded with counterclaims alleging antitrust on the part of the MLSs and, in one case, NAR. The cases are ongoing.

Katie Raynolds Johnson

“I am excited and honored to be offered this opportunity,” Johnson said in a statement. “I am looking forward to my new leadership role as part of NAR’s stellar legal team, continuing our work on behalf of the association and its Realtor members.”

Johnson was chosen as NAR’s senior vice president and general counsel as part of a comprehensive national search conducted by executive search firm Leonard Pfeiffer & Company, NAR said, adding that the search committee considered more than 50 senior-level attorneys for the job.

“After many years of outstanding service from our former General Counsel Laurie Janik, who retired last year, NAR took this search very seriously,” said CEO Dale Stinton in a statement.

via:http://www.inman.com/2014/02/24/national-association-of-realtors-hires-new-general-counsel-from-within/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reindustrynews+%28Inman+News+Industry+News%29