Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Senior in-house legal executive with more than 20 years of experience, including early career employment law and commercial litigation law firm practice and over a decade in progressively senior in-house leadership roles within private-equity backed and global consumer brand organizations. Currently serving as Acting General Counsel for GoTo Foods LLC, a multi-brand restaurant franchisor generating $4.1B+ in system-wide sales across 6,900 locations in the United States and over 65 countries. Strategic advisor to executive leadership on growth initiatives, brand protection and expansion, enterprise risk management, compliance strategy, operational decision-making, and complex commercial transactions. Deep experience across intellectual property and brand licensing, employment and workforce risk, litigation and investigations, regulatory compliance, government affairs, and international operations. Proven leader of multidisciplinary legal teams supporting franchised business models, multinational apparel manufacturing, and consumer products licensing platforms, with a pragmatic, commercially focused approach to legal risk and value creation.
Senior counsel in a three-person, high-volume legal department with responsibility for all US and international legal matters for three wholly-owned subsidiaries and other affiliated companies of VF Corporation (VFC).
During my nearly eight years with Baker Donelson, I worked in the firm's Birmingham and Nashville offices representing clients before state and federal administrative agencies and courts in a variety of business litigation matters, including contractual disputes, financial litigation, multi-party construction litigation, business torts, trade secrets, unfair competition, non-compete agreements as well as defending employers against employment discrimination claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and other state and federal statutes. Representative matters: --First chair trial counsel representing community bank in favorable jury verdict enforcing loan agreement and deed of trust in state court case against unincorporated association over claims that its representatives lacked requisite authority to execute loan documents. --Drafted appellate briefs and presented oral argument before Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in successful reversal of summary judgment confirming an arbitration award on ground that arbitrability of claims was reserved to the court and not the arbitrator. --Obtained summary judgment on affirmative defenses in state court case on behalf of the lessee over claim seeking rescission of commercial lease agreement by lessor due to allegedly unconscionable terms. --Obtained summary judgment on breach of contract, conspiracy and tortious interference counterclaims for regional bank in state court litigation brought by commercial borrower arising from its default of residential subdivision development loan. --Counsel in successful summary judgment defense of national consulting and engineering firm in state court wrongful death case alleging negligent design of elevated highway. --Counsel in successful defense of employer over retaliation claim in federal court case filed by former employee.
Supported environmental awareness education in schools and promoted environmental conservation practices at the community level. Worked with teachers and students on specific environmental themes and non-governmental organizations working in the area to encourage civic participation and dialogue between private businesses and government officials about environmental issues of concern in the community.