Areas of Practice Emphasis

• Information Technology & Security Law
• Technology Licensing and Transfers
• Corporate
• Intellectual Property
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• International

Representative Clients

• Carhartt, Inc.
• Caterpillar Inc.
• FANUC Robotic America, Inc.
• Hagiwara America, Inc.
• KMT Robotics Solutions, Inc.
• Precision Parts International
• Evangelical Homes of Michigan
• Rofin-Sinar, Inc.
• Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
• USAutoPARTS

Prominent Assignments

• During five year tenure as chief legal officer of a worldwide leader in factory automation, developed and implemented policies and procedures to minimize legal risks/reduce the use of outside legal resources, interfaced directly with Japanese parent company, supported subsidiaries in Canada and Mexico and established Brazilian subsidiary, negotiated and helped administer multimillion-dollar federal procurement contracts (including a sole source project), had a lead role in establishing vertical distribution network, handled inquiries from the U.S. Customs Service, and developed several intercompany technology-related agreements in compliance with transfer pricing laws and regulations.
• Represented Fortune 100 company in negotiation and documentation of IT transactions (including global enterprise solution and outsourcing deals), aggregating more than 1 billion dollars, with vendors including IBM, Hewlett Packard, Oracle, SAP, PeopleSoft, Microsoft, and EDS
• Managed attorney team engaged to revise major telecommunications provider's standard customer agreements, with a total document count exceeding 100
• Represented several companies in resolving claims of unauthorized use or copying of software, including claims brought by the Business Software Alliance, Oracle, and SAS Institute
• Represented numerous clients in licensing transactions ranging from trading cards to footwear to ice cream to automotive components
• Represented international rental car company in negotiation and documentation of large IT outsourcing and call center contracts
• Experience representing buyers and sellers in numerous asset and equity-based business sales.
• Assisted multinational (operations in 35 countries) Southeast Asia-based oil and gas company in the creation and establishment of an intellectual property asset management program intended for implementation throughout the client enterprise.

Education

• J.D. (cum laude), University of Georgia, 1988
• Graduate coursework in Economics, Wayne State University, 1980-1981
• B.A. in Urban Planning, Western Michigan University, 1980

Admitted to Practice

• Michigan, 1988
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1989
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1989
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1989

Professional and Community Involvement

• Board of Directors, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, (2007-present)
• Board of Directors, Automation Alley (2006-present)
• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Project SALUTE (Veteran's Law Pro Bono Clinic)
• Probono representation Michigan Children's Law Center
• Board of Directors, St. Anne's Mead Assisted Living (2001-2003)
• ABA Cyberspace Law Committee (subcommittee activities)

Publications and Presentations

• Author, "Structuring and Managing Multi-Party Licensing Agreements", September 2008, The Licensing Journal Volume 28, Number 8
• ACI Advanced Forum on Technology Licensing Agreements, panel member on "Structuring and Managing Multiparty Technology Licenses," April 2008
• ICN Annual Conference, Chicago, presenter on "Business Continuity Planning," November 2003
• ABA IPL Section Publication, Contributing Editor, "Marketing Your Invention," 2000
• ABA IPL Section Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C., Moderator, Panel Discussion on "Inside and Outside Counsel Relations," 1996
• Schoolcraft College, Instructor, International Trade Survey