Houston, Texas, United States
I am the VP of Ethics & Compliance for the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a 162-year-old classification society operating in 70+ countries. Our team manages complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations, sanctions compliance, export controls, cybersecurity assessments, data privacy, and AI governance. What sets me apart: I don't just talk about AI in compliance. I build with it. I have designed and deployed AI-powered automation systems that handle real compliance and legal workflows. These are not experiments or demos. They are production tools that compress hours of manual work into minutes, improve consistency, and free my team to focus on judgment-intensive tasks that actually require a human. I approach AI the same way I approach compliance: systematically, with rigorous testing, clear documentation, and a relentless focus on practical outcomes. This mindset extends beyond my day job. On my own time, I built an AI-powered medical image analysis tool to help interpret complex diagnostic imaging. Building across completely different domains (corporate compliance, healthcare) has given me a deep, transferable understanding of how to design AI systems that augment human expertise rather than replace it. I write regularly about the intersection of AI, export controls, sanctions, FCPA enforcement, and compliance strategy for a global audience on Substack and LinkedIn. Topics I cover include the US-China technology decoupling, BIS export control developments, UK sanctions enforcement, AI copyright law, DOJ enforcement trends, and practical applications of AI in the compliance profession. Before joining ABS in 2015, I practiced law for 15 years in commercial litigation, international arbitration, and energy law. I hold a JD and two LL.M. degrees from the University of Houston Law Center (International Law; Energy, Environment & Natural Resources) and a BBA in Finance from UT Austin. I believe compliance professionals who learn to build with AI will define the next decade of the profession. Those who wait for vendors to hand them a solution will be left behind. Let's connect if you work in or care about: AI-powered compliance, investigations, FCPA, sanctions, export controls, CMMC/NIST, AI governance, or maritime regulatory issues.
Global VP of Ethics & Compliance function for a 162-year-old maritime classification society with operations in 70+ countries. Manage complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations, sanctions compliance, export controls, and cross-functional program delivery across Legal, HR, IMS, and regional teams. Core areas of responsibility: - Direct investigations across 13+ countries involving fraud, conflicts of interest, credential misrepresentation, social media misconduct, and vendor relationship issues - Support cybersecurity compliance initiatives including NIST 800-171/CMMC Level 2 assessments, SSP development, and secure enclave architecture (Eagle-G) - Support enterprise AI governance assessments against DOJ ECCP, NIST AI RMF, and ISO/IEC 42001 standards - Support data privacy framework development and compliance - Manage government contract compliance including FAR/DFARS clause analysis and GovPro system auditing - Develop and deploy AI-powered automation systems that transform how the compliance function operates, compressing manual workflows into rapid, consistent, production-grade outputs Published thought leadership on export controls (BIS 50% rule, affiliates rule), US-China technology decoupling, UK sanctions enforcement, FCPA developments, AI copyright law, and practical AI applications in compliance.
Directed the compliance program. Led compliance initiatives, identified potential compliance risks, and provided strategic guidance on compliance issues to executive leadership. Established foundational processes and relationships that enabled later technology-driven transformation of compliance workflows.
• Led the strategic development and execution of a comprehensive compliance program across 13 countries in the Americas, overseeing 2,000+ employees across 80+ offices. • Served as trusted advisor to executive leadership on critical compliance matters, delivering regular updates to the Board of Directors, Audit Committee, and Executive Compliance Committee. • Spearheaded the implementation of an automated due diligence system for high-risk third parties, significantly enhancing risk management capabilities and operational efficiency. • Directed complex internal investigations, including investigation planning, witness interviews, evidence analysis, and development of corrective action recommendations. • Designed and delivered multilingual compliance training programs in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, covering anti-corruption, trade compliance, antitrust, and ethics. • Led proactive risk assessment initiatives and anti-corruption audits in high-risk jurisdictions, implementing targeted controls and providing on-site training. • Provided expert guidance on export control, sanctions, anti-bribery, and trade compliance regulations, ensuring adherence to complex international requirements. • Managed corporate and personal conflicts of interest through systematic evaluation and implementation of effective mitigation strategies. • Established streamlined approval processes for charitable contributions, business expenses, gifts, and entertainment, balancing business needs with compliance requirements. • Created and executed compliance initiatives that identified and mitigated potential risks while supporting business objectives across diverse regional operations. • Reported directly to the Chief Compliance Officer while maintaining strategic partnerships with business operations and support functions.
Serve as first-chair attorney in more than 2,000 federal, state and administrative court proceedings Conduct more than 5,000 witness examinations/depositions/interviews Advise clients on compliance with the FCPA, UKBA, EAR, and ITAR
• Edited and revised "Joint Operating Agreements: Comprehensive Training Module on Worldwide Arrangements" • 400+ page comparative analysis and comprehensive training and reference guide to 14 international and domestic JOA forms, their features and commonly-encountered modifications for projects involving horizontal drilling, production sharing contracts and civil law jurisdictions • Coverage includes all current versions and some prior versions of Joint Operating Agreements published by the AIPN, AAPL, RMMLF, API, CAPL, UKOOA and AMPLA • Topics include Scope of Operations; Compliance with Granting Instruments; Title Approval, Review and Loss Provisions; Duties of Operators and Non-Operators; Work Programs, Budgets, and Operational Phases; Sole-Risk and Non-Consent Operations; Accounting Procedures and Payment of Costs; Default; Transfer of Interests, Preferential Purchase Rights and Rights of First Negotiation; Withdrawal and Surrender; Tax Issues; Entitlements, Lifting, Marketing and Balancing; Insurance Requirements; Term and Termination; Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, and Sovereign Immunity; and Confidentiality and Restrictions on Use of Information
Advise and represent clients in commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters Negotiate and draft contracts, promissory notes, and releases