About
Jocelyn A. Walters-Hird focuses her practice on conservation law and other real estate matters. She has provided counsel on dozens of conservation easement transactions as well as fee sales and acquisitions, including the structuring, negotiating, and closing of such projects. Prior to joining the conservation community, Jocelyn worked as a litigator, which has informed her approach to drafting workable documents and resolving post-transaction issues.
With both in-house counsel and private practice experience, Jocelyn has a unique skillset allowing her to problem solve and provide sound legal advice to land trusts, landowners, and other organizations. She is the former Sr. Staff Attorney at the Minnesota Land Trust, where she led the legal team of the state’s largest non-profit land trust. She also worked as Attorney for Conservation Partners, LLP, a nationally-recognized boutique law firm that has assisted land trusts and landowners in protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of land. Jocelyn now serves as Contracted Counsel for the firm.
Jocelyn is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and Illinois, and is admitted to the US District Court of Minnesota. She earned both a Juris Doctor, cum laude, and a Master of Environmental Law and Policy, cum laude, from Vermont Law School in 2013 and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2008.
Services
Conservation Easements
Draft, review, and negotiate conservation easements, option agreements, and other documents. Structure conservation easement transactions. Manage and/or review title work; legal descriptions; surveys; appraisals; baseline reports; habitat management, agricultural, and restoration plans; mineral assessments; and environmental reports. Review closing documents and arrange closings. Evaluate tax implications of donated and partially-donated easements. Assist with preparation of IRS materials for charitable conservation contributions.
Stewardship Issues
Help address post-transaction matters arising in the stewardship phase of easements, through assisting with enforcement issues, developing creative solutions, and drafting, reviewing, and negotiating documents such as amendments.
Fee Dispositions and Acquisitions
Structure transactions for the purchase and sale or donation of fee property intended for public ownership. Draft, review, and negotiate purchase and sale agreements, donation agreements, deeds, and other documents for fee acquisitions and dispositions. Conduct due diligence. Review closing documents and arrange closings.
Compliance
Guide land trusts in operating in accordance with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices. Assist land trusts in navigating the nuances and complexities of grant funding rules and requirements within the real estate transaction context. Draft and review grant required documents, such as Notices of Funding Restriction (NOFR). Overall, ensure land trusts maintain the highest standards in conservation real estate transactions.
Contact
To inquire further about our services or to set up a consultation,
please reach out via phone or email:
Phone: (312) 882-4500
Email: jwhconservationlaw@outlook.com
*The contents of this website do not constitute legal advice. Contacting Walters-Hird Conservation Law
or Jocelyn Walters-Hird does not create an attorney-client relationship.