OUR TEAM
The entire team at the Center for Economic Development Law has experience working on public-sector legal issues and on projects involving close coordination between the private and public sectors. The members of the firm value their relationships with clients and demonstrate a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards, enjoying the opportunity to assist clients on projects for Oklahoma communities.
Attorneys
Emily K. Pomeroy
Emily K. Pomeroy is president of the firm and serves as General Counsel to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority and the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority. She also serves as development counsel to cities and other public entities across the state of Oklahoma, assisting them in the strategic, procedural, and financing aspects of their redevelopment endeavors. Her transactional practice focuses on the adoption and implementation of public-private redevelopment projects. Her litigation practice consists of representing public entities with the power of eminent domain in land acquisition for urban renewal projects and defending clients when issues arise from redevelopment projects.
As legal counsel to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, Emily assisted in the real estate transactions and financing authorizations for the development of the Devon Energy World Headquarters, including the establishment of a tax increment financing district, which funded the Project 180 infrastructure improvements in downtown Oklahoma City. On behalf of the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority, Emily assisted with the adoption of and amendments to the Oklahoma Regional Innovation District Project Plan and the negotiation of agreements to allow for the financing and development of the Convergence Project, including Oklahoma City’s Innovation Hall. As General Counsel to the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority, Emily and the firm support the ongoing expansion and growth of the Innovation District, a vital piece of the City’s economic engine.
Emily led the effort to establish the Midwest City Urban Renewal Authority and served as legal counsel to the City of Midwest City in their efforts to redevelop and revitalize the City’s original downtown area. Emily also served as development counsel to the City of Norman for Norman’s development of Norman University North Park, a project that includes a large retail center, public park, and property dedicated to attracting companies creating quality employment opportunities.
Emily joined the firm in 2003 after receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She received her undergraduate degree from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. She played volleyball for the Division I program, receiving the Patriot League’s Most Valuable Player Award her senior year, along with All-Academic Team honors. She serves as a board member for Wilson Arts, Inc., is on the Management Committee of Urban Land Institute Oklahoma, and is a member of the Oklahoma County Bar Association. She previously served as President of both Phi Beta Kappa of Oklahoma City and the Plaza District Association. Emily was born in Oklahoma City and attended Casady School. She and her husband, Trent Hancock, live near downtown Oklahoma City with their twins.
Lisa M. Harden
Lisa M. Harden is a partner in the firm as a real estate and business transaction attorney who has extensive experience in a broad range of business, real estate, commercial, and development transactions. Lisa provides legal services and representation to both public and private entities in all aspects of real estate, construction, and development projects, as well as in organizational, operational, contractual, and strategic matters. Lisa’s current work includes providing legal counsel to municipalities and public trusts throughout Oklahoma to assist with developing strategic policies and implementing economic development projects. Lisa serves as Special Counsel for Economic Development for the City of Stillwater and the Stillwater Economic Development Authority, and as Assistant City Attorney to the City of the Village.
Prior to joining the firm as a partner in 2012, Lisa was General Counsel to the owner and developer of Gaillardia, a local 600-acre master planned mixed-use community, where she provided legal advice and representation on all business, development, organizational, operational, contractual, financial, and employment matters. Before 2005, Lisa was an associate at Phillips McFall firm where her transactional work included representation of clients in all phases of commercial real estate and business transactions.
Lisa earned her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the Oklahoma City University School of Law, and her degree of Bachelor of Arts in Letters from the University of Oklahoma. Lisa is a member of the American Bar Association, the Oklahoma Bar Association, and the Oklahoma County Bar Association. She has served for many years as a volunteer on the Board of Admissions for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, has been a volunteer for Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, and has previously served on the Board of Trustees for Ballet Oklahoma.
Jeff Sabin
Jeff Sabin is a partner in the firm and advises clients on zoning and land use, community development program compliance, municipal law, and general real estate and economic development issues. He works with public and private sector clients to guide projects through community and governmental approval processes and assists clients in assessing the impacts of redevelopment projects and proposals.
Jeff has significant experience interpreting municipal land use regulations and guiding clients through community development planning efforts. Relevant experience includes the drafting and adoption of numerous development-related ordinances, including general land use codes and focused overlay and form-based zoning districts. On behalf of his public entity clients, Jeff analyzes financial and economic impacts reports, and has prepared multiple applications to the state of Oklahoma for matching payments to assist local projects under the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. As legal counsel to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority, the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity, Tulsa Ports, and many other local governments and economic development agencies, Jeff prepares and assists in the implementation of redevelopment and economic development agreements for projects all over Oklahoma. Jeff also serves as the City Attorney for The City of The Village.
Prior to joining the firm as a law clerk in 2012, Jeff worked as a city planner in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area. Jeff received his Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. While in law school, Jeff was a Dean’s Scholar, received the Excellence in Real Property Law Award from the Oklahoma City Real Property Lawyers Association, and the Technical Editing Award from the Oklahoma City University Law Review. Jeff is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, American Bar Association, the American Planning Association, the Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Urban Land Institute.
Staff
Zach Christ
Zach Christ is a senior legal assistant at the firm. Zach assists the attorneys with legal research, drafting and proofreading documents, and communicating with clients. Zach’s responsibilities include agenda coordination and preparation for the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority, and the Delaware County Economic Development Authority. Zach provides administrative support to the attorneys through schedule coordination, tracking legislation, and organizing and maintaining case files, attorney notebooks, databases, spreadsheets, and other materials. Zach handles information technology needs by ensuring the firm’s systems are running smoothly and providing help-desk support.
Prior to joining the firm, Zach worked as an Administrative Coordinator for the Oklahoma City Planning Department. In that role, he provided administrative support to the Planning Director and Assistant Director. He also served as staff to the City’s Arts Commission. Before working for the City, Zach managed an upscale Italian restaurant, Trattoria il Centro, in the historic Montgomery building in downtown Oklahoma City and was a sales manager for Aunt Pittypat’s Catering. Zach received a paralegal certificate from the Paralegal Studies Program at the University of Oklahoma Law Center and is a member of the Urban Land Institute.
Olivia Gutierrez
Olivia Gutierrez is the Business Manager for the firm. Olivia handles client billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other financial and human resources activities for the firm, as well as scheduling for attorneys and various design-oriented tasks for clients.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Oklahoma State University. She lives in Oklahoma City and loves spending time with family, Gus, her Goldendoodle, and staying active with friends around the city.