Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
Not your traditional corporate attorney. As an MBA and former tech and software entrepreneur, I am a lawyer that truly partners with the business. I see legal issues in a commercial context, and I look for the ‘yes’ in even the thorniest situations. I bring a practical approach, unique project management skills, and sense of humor to my work. FRACTIONAL GC / GENERAL COUNSEL ► In roles of General Counsel, Deputy GC, and Fractional GC, I have led the global legal practices for public and private companies large and small. I have built teams and networks of external counsel, responsible to negotiate and resolve complex commercial agreements, agent and dealer agreements, and global supply agreements. I advise on corporate governance, employment law, competition law, IP enforcement, and litigation management. GLOBAL COMPLIANCE CONSULTING ► In permanent and fractional Compliance Officer roles, I have designed and implemented effective global programs – rolled out and maintained to up to 4,400 employees, in 22 countries, speaking 16 languages. Programs covering business ethics, anti-corruption (ABAC, FCPA, UKBA), privacy (GDPR, CCPA, PIPL), and trade (OFAC). Trusted advisor to Committees and Boards at public and private companies. I have led the planning and execution of scores of internal audits and ad hoc investigations. Privacy | ABAC | Ethics | Compliance | M&A | Acquisitions | Due Diligence | Integration | JV, Joint Ventures |Complex Commercial Agreements | Negotiation | IP | Employment | Corporate | Business Acumen | Training | Strategic Planning | Corporate Governance | Policy Development | Training | Matrix Organizations | External Counsel Oversight
CURRENT CLINIC - General Counsel (fractional). Responsible for all legal, corporate, and healthcare compliance efforts for this innovative start-up delivering total heart rhythm care. (Dec 2024 to present) JOSTENS – Senior Legal and Compliance Counsel (fractional). Advising on the design and implementation of the global compliance programs (ABAC, Privacy, OFAC). Ensuring compliance across the enterprise. Negotiating complex commercial agreements. Advising re global affiliate formation and governance. (Jan 2021 to present) VOYAGEUR UNIVERSITY - General Counsel (fractional). (Sep 2025 to present) WORRELL, LLC (n/k/a Veranex) – General Counsel (fractional). Responsible to ensure all legal and regulatory compliance for global design firm. Designed clinical research and human factors studies to be compliant with healthcare and privacy regulations. Negotiated research and study parameters with top-tier pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, hospital systems, and patient advocates. Designed and launched a robust global Ethics & Compliance program covering privacy, anti-corruption, and industry-specific standards. Guided the board and C-suite on strategic healthcare initiatives during the successful sale to Veranex. (Aug 2020 to Dec 2022) nLIGHT - Senior Legal and Compliance Counsel (fractional). Advising on strategic corporate governance and securities for the parent (U.S.) and global affiliates, litigation management, privacy compliance, and complex commercial agreements. (May 2022 to Aug 2025) SHUTTERFLY – Senior Legal and Compliance Counsel (fractional). Advised on the design and implementation of the global Trust & Privacy Program and Ethics & Compliance Program. Negotiated complex commercial agreements. (May 2020 to Dec 2020) MAGNA VITA CARE - General Counsel (fractional) and co-founder. (Jan 2021 to Sep 2021)
Led the international legal and compliance practice and team for a $1.2B multinational public manufacturer with 4,400 employees - de facto International General Counsel. Trusted advisor to leadership in 18 countries across Europe and Asia-Pacific ($400M in revenue). Designed and directed compliance programs and advised the Audit Committee of the Board. Managed external counsel and an annual compliance budget of $1M. M&A lead counsel on multiple projects. REDUCED LEGAL RISK WITH COMMERCIAL APPROACH • Lead counsel to 18 countries in the EMEA and APAC international BUs and the enterprise-wide procurement function • Responsible to negotiate and resolve complex commercial agreements, software and IT contracts, 400+ distributor agreements, and global supply agreements • Advised on employment law, competition law, and dispute management • Built strong cross-border, cross-functional relationships in matrix environment GLOBAL CORPORATE COMPLIANCE • Led the design and implementation of a global compliance program that meets DOJ and SEC guidelines, covering business ethics, anti-corruption (FCPA, ABAC), data protection (GDPR), and international trade • Rolled out and maintained to 4,400 employees, in 22 countries, speaking 16 languages • Deep experience in China and high-risk markets, developing strategies to the unique compliance challenges • Responsible for internal investigations, hotline reports, and BU audits • Board member on more than 50 affiliates across EMEA and APAC, providing legal, compliance, and commercial leadership to these entities M&A LEAD • Led all aspects of the cross-border $65M equity acquisition of a Chinese business, with a $2M integration budget; managing a team of up to 20 people in all phases of the project • Directed the legal-compliance integration of a $350M, 12-country acquisition; managed a $1M integration budget • Directed the employment-based legal compliance for a $60M SBU divestiture across France, Germany, and the UK
Early-stage companies need strategic advice on a broad array of legal and business topics – and it gives me a special sense of satisfaction to help get these clients up and running on a good path. This role as an Independent Adviser enabled me to share with these clients my ability to identify, advise on, and implement practical solutions that achieve business objectives while reducing legal risk. EARLY-STAGE STRATEGY AND FINANCING Advised clients in the strategic design of optimal corporate structure, legal entity formation, and early-stage financing. Prepared convertible debt agreements and private placement memoranda. COMPLEX AGREEMENTS AND IP PORTFOLIOS Negotiated and prepared complex commercial contracts with domestic and international suppliers, customers, and distributors. Managed IP portfolios and worked with external counsel to ensure that critical patent protections were in place for go-to-market planning. EMPLOYMENT MATTERS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION Investigated and resolved sensitive employment matters and advised on routine employment matters. Successfully negotiated the resolution of multiple commercial disputes.
Chief in-house counsel and compliance officer for $400M multinational public manufacturer - de facto General Counsel. Responsible for managing legal risk and developing and implementing the global compliance program across 18 countries. Trusted adviser to the Board of Directors. Broad generalist responsibilities, handling most transactional work in-house and managing a global network of external counsel as needed. Managed a team of up to four legal professionals. GLOBAL LEGAL OPERATIONS Designed and led a lean, high-performance matrixed global legal organization, driving efficient and practical use of external counsel. Responsible for global department strategic planning, budget, policies, organization design and resourcing, project management, vendor management, knowledge management, technology, and records management. GLOBAL CORPORATE COMPLIANCE Reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, directed all compliance matters and related enterprise risk assessment and management, including internal and government investigations, code of conduct and ethics, trade compliance, third-party risk management, data privacy, and training. DOMESTIC AND CROSS-BORDER M&A Directed and led all aspects of various M&A projects – including a $40M cross-border China asset acquisition, a $50M asset divestiture of a SBU, and a $45M equity divestiture of a SBU. SECURITIES COMPLIANCE & FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS Directed all aspects of U.S. Securities compliance, with oversight and ownership of all required disclosures including 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, Proxy Statement, and Forms 3-4-5. Advised and negotiated on complex financial transactions, including two accelerated stock repurchase programs ($25M and $30M) and currency swaps.
Founded and led the Law & Policy Group responsible for managing the legal affairs, regulatory compliance, and external relations for a $100M privately held Minnesota-based wholesale and retail telecommunications company. Broad generalist responsibilities, handling nearly all transactional work, in-house and outsourcing as needed. Managed a team of up to six legal professionals, including external counsel relationships. Primary areas of legal responsibility included (i) telecommunications regulatory compliance at the Minnesota state (MPUC) and federal (FCC) levels, (ii) commercial contracting, including the implementation of a work flow and contract management process, (iii) financial transactions, including a capital restructuring, two new classes of stock, new $25M credit facility, and $15M in debt repayment, (iv) M&A, including directing an 18-month auction process that led to a successful sale of the company, (v) litigation management, including recovering millions in cash settlements, avoiding millions more in erroneous claims, and directing the successful outcomes of two law suits appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, (vi) employment law, (vii) ethics compliance, (viii) training and development, and (ix) general client counseling and partnering. In 2005, founded a Professional IT Consulting strategic business unit. Authored a strategic business plan, secured the necessary funding, hired and managed the staff, and earned revenues of over $2 million by the end of the second year. Transitioned the SBU back to the core business on plan to achieve further growth in its third year.