Joint Venture Contract Lawyers

Rhea de Aenlle is a business-savvy attorney with extensive experience in Privacy & Data Security (CIPP/US, CIPP/E), GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, FERPA, Intellectual Property, and Commercial Contracts. She has over 25 years of legal experience as an in-house counsel, AM Law 100 firm associate, and a solo practice attorney. Rhea works with start-up and midsize technology companies.

For the last 25 years I've focused on representing businesses and entrepreneurs in transactional law deals, including LLC creation, operation and sale of businesses; real estate sales and leasing; and general contract negotiation and drafting. While I've helped all manner of businesses work out a variety of contract and business matters, I am an expert at helping clients with buying and selling commercial properties including multi-family and office projects and buildings, subdivisions, and retail shopping centers. I am also a recognized expert negotiating leases for retail and office tenants and landlords. Over 25 years I've honed my skills a lawyer at one of the largest law firms in the world, an elite real estate boutique in Aspen, Colorado and a highly regarded firm based in Denver, Colorado, before starting my own practice in 2016. Since 2016 I've been helping my clients with real estate and business deals. I'm a commercial real estate and business expert with a passion for helping clients forge successful ventures in an efficient and understandable manner.

I am an attorney licensed in both California and Mexico. I offer a unique blend of 14 years of legal expertise that bridges the gap between diverse legal landscapes. My background is enriched by significant roles as in-house counsel for global powerhouses such as Anheuser-Busch, Campari Group, and Grupo Lala, alongside contributions to Tier 1 law firms. I specialize in navigating the complexities of two pivotal areas: AI/Tech Innovation: With a profound grasp of both cutting-edge transformer models and foundational machine learning technologies, I am your go-to advisor for integrating these advancements into your business. Whether it's B2B or B2C applications, I ensure that your company harnesses the power of AI in a manner that's not only enterprise-friendly but also fully compliant with regulatory standards. Cross-Border Excellence: My expertise extends beyond borders, with over a decade of experience facilitating cross-border operations for companies in more than 20 countries. I am particularly adept at enhancing US-Mexico operations, ensuring seamless and efficient business transactions across these territories.

I have been a California since 2003 when I graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law and have worked in-house and at several major law firms before starting my own practice. I specialize in intellectual property and other business-related issues and have helped many entrepreneurs grow their ideas into profitable businesses.

I've represented small, medium, and Fortune 500 companies in business and litigation matters over the past twenty years. Working for various clients exposed me to a wide range of practice areas and issues. I now manage and own my firm. Contract review and drafting, negotiating agreements and settlements, and defending a variety of lawsuits is the heart of my practice. I'm efficient, solution driven, and work well with clients, other parties, and opposing counsel. I was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award in Advanced Legal Writing and am an excellent writer. I'm also the recipient of the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award and the ABA Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award. I'm a Marine Corps veteran. My attitude, experience, and expertise will help you achieve your goals.

I have been working as a document review attorney since 2011. I have also done some business and estate planning work. I am fluent in English, Chinese, French, and Japanese.

Zurick T. Smith is the founding member of The Law Office of Zurick T. Smith, PLLC. His firm services DC residents with Trusts & Estate Planning, simple to complex employment and business matters as well as business formations.