Accomplished attorney with organizational leadership success directing the legal affairs of a non-profit organization and its for-profit affiliates. Proficient in advertising/marketing, antitrust, contracts, employment, intellectual property, internet e-commerce, and media. |
Licensed to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia
Admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
Accomplished attorney with organizational leadership success directing the legal affairs of a non-profit organization and its for-profit affiliates. Proficient in advertising/marketing, antitrust, contracts, employment, intellectual property, internet e-commerce, and media.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
National Trade Association 1990-2012
Vice President, General Counsel, and Assistant Corporate Secretary (2003-2012)
* Led the Association's advocacy activities in providing membership amicus support in several cases won before the U.S. Supreme Court
* Equipped membership to defend costly lawsuits successfully by leading Association's efforts in organizing several legal conferences for their attorneys, in collaboration with two other organizations
* Positioned the Association's for-profit subsidiary for entry into the $1.6 billion mobile advertising field by negotiating mobile platform license including consumer privacy provisions
* Increased efficiencies by negotiating and drafting software licensing agreement with vendor to implement its association management system (AMS)
* Preempted liability by initiating corporate governance policies and procedures before compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley rules was required
* Improved members' collective bargaining position with labor unions by providing access to a proprietary database of newspaper-specific labor contracts and arbitrations
* Safeguarded company assets by initiating audits of the overtime exempt status of employees, in collaboration with Human Resources (HR) Department
* Mitigated risk by initiating internet and privacy policies and by writing compliance materials related to CAN-SPAM, Lanham Act, online privacy, telemarketing, and sweepstakes promotions
Assistant General Counsel and Director, Legal Affairs (1992-2003)
* Spearheaded strategies for defending intellectual property claims, saving over $4 million
* Salvaged $10 million by successfully negotiating vendor advertising services agreements
* Safeguarded $600,000 by successfully negotiating settlement of breach of contract lawsuit
* Preserved industry's ability to suggest maximum retail newspaper prices charged by carriers, preventing per se antitrust liability by convincing U.S. Supreme Court to apply rule of reason
* Successfully urged the Department of Labor to revise its outdated and burdensome overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act
* Minimized risks by initiating company's first document retention policy and implementing appropriate document litigation holds
* Increased effectiveness of the Legal Department after Association's merger
Manager, Legal Affairs (1990-1992)
* Safeguarded the industry's annual $16 billion retail advertising revenues, by successfully lobbying the Federal Trade Commission to retain its co-operative advertising guidelines (for which I received an industry award in appreciation for Federal Trade Commission Contributions and Leadership)
* Averted liability under the Department of Housing and Urban Developments fair housing regulations by convincing HUD officials to modify the agency's interpretive guidance
* Protected business interests of the membership by securing strategic alliance with Federal Communications Commission-certified frequency coordinator to manage frequencies used by the industry
* Converted Legal Department into strategic corporate partner with business units of the organization through relationship building
PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
OFFICE OF CORPORATION COUNSEL, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
(currently Office of the Attorney General)
Assistant Corporation Counsel
* Litigated and won 90 percent of civil cases
* Negotiated successful settlements in personal injury cases and property damage collections
* Recovered more revenues from statutory forfeitures than previously recovered by the Office
* Improved the tracking of lawsuits and claims referred to the Office by revamping the administrative system
U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Law Clerk to the Honorable Norma Holloway Johnson (deceased)
* Assisted Judge in negotiating settlements and participated in court proceedings
* Researched, summarized, and analyzed cases
* Drafted court opinions, which the Judge adopted with minimal edits
* Developed procedures for increasing efficiencies of Judges case load management system
PUBLICATIONS
ADVERTISING:
* Fair Housing Advertising Guide
* Non-discriminatory Employment Advertising Guide
* Telemarketing Compliance Guide
EMPLOYMENT:
* Guide on the Direct Seller Amendment
* Labor and Employment Law Letter
* Successful Practices and Case Studies in Independent Contractor Relationships (editor)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Bar Association
American Society of Association Executives
Association of Corporate Counsel
Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area
Society for Human Resource Management
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor, Law, THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, COLUMBUS SCHOOL OF LAW, Washington, DC
* Semi-finalist in Moot Court Competition
* Best Brief in Moot Court Competition
* Bureau of National Affairs Scholastic Award
Bachelor of Arts, Religion, OBERLIN COLLEGE, Oberlin, Ohio |
