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Derek is one of the founding partners of Hartman & James LLP. His practice areas include commercial and residential real estate, business formation, commercial transactions, and probate/estate planning. Prior to joining Hartman & James LLP, Derek was employed in the oil and gas industry as a contract attorney for one of the largest midstream companies in North America.. His responsibilities included drafting, reviewing, and approving modifications to boilerplate contracts, reviewing township and railroad permits, and serving as lead negotiator on several easement and fee purchase acquisitions for pipeline right of ways, customer delivery points, and compressor stations. Derek was also responsible for curing title issues and offering legal advice and risk-assessment to upper management on day-to-day operations.. Derek received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law. He graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology and Paralegal Studies from Kent State University. He currently resides in Akron, Ohio.. Derek was born and raised in a rural community located outside of Salem, Ohio. He came from a family of five and is blessed to count his mother, father, brother, and sister among his closest peers. In his spare time, Derek enjoys golfing, playing softball, and watching Cleveland sports.