PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
eHarmony, Inc.
Vice President, Legal Affairs and Secretary
August 2006 – August 2009
Pasadena, CA
General counsel and corporate secretary to $200+ million consumer Internet company, reporting to the CEO. Led internal and external legal teams to support the worldwide operations of its flagship eHarmony® service, the Internet’s #1 trusted relationship service with more than 22 million registered users, as well as the company’s network of dating advice, wedding planning and parenting websites. Served as strategic legal advisor to senior executives and the Board of Directors. Oversaw full range of regulatory and government affairs, privacy/data protection, risk management and stock administration. Provided operating legal support for product launches in three international markets. Executed four acquisitions and formation of joint venture, distribution and co-branding relationships. Led litigation team in patent infringement suits, consumer class actions, state attorney general administrative action, employment and trade secret litigation. Built the in-house legal function from scratch, managing three direct reports and more than a dozen outside law firms across five countries with a budget in the $3 million range.
Intermix Media, Inc. / MySpace.com (acquired by Fox Interactive Media)
Assistant General Counsel
July 2004 – July 2006
Los Angeles, CA
Served as lead corporate attorney to publicly traded online entertainment and product marketing company with annual sales of more than $100 million (AMEX: MIX), reporting to the General Counsel. Principal in-house attorney responsible for mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic transactions, working closely with the senior management team. Handled business and legal affairs of centralized corporate functions such as finance, human resources and information technology. Responsible for securities law compliance, corporate governance and stock administration prior to acquisition by Fox Interactive Media in September 2005. Provided wide range of operating legal support to MySpace.com business unit, the premier lifestyle portal and social networking platform and one of the most highly trafficked websites in the United States, with more than 100 million monthly unique visitors and 45 billion monthly page views. Negotiated and drafted a broad variety of agreements providing for strategic partnerships, content and technology licensing, Internet advertising and marketing, professional services and entertainment transactions. Managed paralegal and outside counsel.
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.
Director of Legal Affairs
July 2002 – June 2004
Los Angeles, CA
Represented technology and media company with annual revenue of nearly $1 billion (Nasdaq: GMST) as principal corporate/securities counsel, reporting to the General Counsel. Led overhaul of public disclosure and securities compliance practices in corporate turnaround situation. As Chairman of the Disclosure Committee, designed and implemented disclosure controls, procedures and policies enabling the company and its subsidiaries to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC and Nasdaq requirements. Represented the company in strategic transactions including acquisitions and divestitures of business units. Negotiated and drafted commercial contracts such as professional services agreements and executive employment agreements. Counseled online business units on Internet and privacy-related matters. Coordinated internal investigations and document production in litigation matters. Served as Corporate Secretary for approximately 100 domestic and foreign subsidiaries. Managed junior attorney, paralegal and outside counsel.
Excite@Home
Director, Corporate Counsel
May 2000 – March 2002
Redwood City, CA
Served as primary corporate/securities/M&A counsel to pioneering broadband Internet access and content provider with annual sales of $600 million (Nasdaq: ATHM), reporting directly to the General Counsel. Supported the corporate and business development team in strategic transactions including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, equity investments and corporate finance transactions ranging in value up to $150 million. Coordinated cross-functional working groups and managed outside counsel. Drafted and reviewed a broad variety of commercial contracts. Managed the disposition of some 4,000 executory contracts, asset sales and termination of joint ventures as part of the company’s liquidation in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Supervised three-member Stock Administration group.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Associate
May 1998 – April 2000
Palo Alto, CA
Represented emerging growth companies in the Internet services, telecommunications equipment, information technology and life sciences industries, as well as venture funds, corporate investors and underwriters in general corporate, transactional, securities compliance, intellectual property and employment matters. Transactions included venture capital financings, M&A, IPOs, international joint ventures, intellectual property licensing and equipment financing transactions. Managed relationships with entrepreneurs and executives at a roster of 15-20 startup company clients. Supervised and trained two junior associates and seven paralegals.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Associate
Sept. 1996 – April 1998
Los Angeles, CA
Represented major corporations and financial institutions in strategic transactions including M&A, public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities, asset securitizations, syndicated credit facilities and real estate financing transactions, ranging in value up to $3 billion. Drafted agreements and public offering documents; conducted due diligence investigations, coordinated closing logistics and prepared regulatory filings. Conducted legal research.
EDUCATION:
Columbia University School of Law
New York, NY
J.D. 1996; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Production Editor, Columbia-VLA Journal of Law and the Arts
Musical Director, Columbia Law Revue and Cabaret
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
B.A. cum laude, Economics, 1993
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
Association of Corporate Counsel
Los Angeles County and California Bar Associations
OTHER:
Lived abroad and studied economics at the University of Cambridge, England.
Interests include music performance and composition, skiing, hiking and international travel. |
