General Counsel, VP of Legal Services & Privacy Officer

• Feb 2021 - Present

Chief Legal Officer

• Jan 2017 - Feb 2021

Serve as acting General Counsel providing general legal advice and strategy for small to mid-size Midwest Companies. Services include counsel on day-to-day Corporate Operations as well as negotiating, drafting and defending or pursuing Complex Contracts; Risk Assessment and Internal Investigations; Real Estate- negotiating, drafting, and reviewing commercial transactions and leases; Employment Matters; Intellectual Property issues; Privacy and Data Security; Healthcare Regulatory; Litigation, Arbitrations and Mediations. Show less

Deputy General Counsel

• Oct 2006 - 2016

Specializing in all areas of Corporate Operations including active management of Complex Litigation, Bad Faith Matters;Nationwide Risk Management Practices; Corporate Governance; Contract Compliance; Employment Law; Trademarks; Executive Development Specializing in all areas of Corporate Operations including active management of Complex Litigation, Bad Faith Matters;Nationwide Risk Management Practices; Corporate Governance; Contract Compliance; Employment Law; Trademarks; Executive Development

Senior Associate General Counsel

• Jun 2001 - Sep 2006

$1B medical services holding company. Served as primary legal advisor to corporate operations including underwriting, claims administration, appeals, regulatory compliance, and agency. • Reduced active health claim lawsuits from 88 in 2001 to 38 active cases at year-end 2003. • Reduced case reserves for claims litigation by more than 50% from $9 to $3.6 million in 2002 • Restructured appeals area to fully integrate the appeals process throughout the organization. • Negotiated a $12MM recovery from a third party vendor that contributed 41cents in pre-tax corporate earnings and 25 cents in after tax (EPS) earnings per share. Show less

Associate General Counsel

• Jul 1998 - Jun 2001

A $10B life, annuity and financial services holding company. Served as primary legal advisor to life and annuity operations. Duties include litigation, employment law, product development and compliance. • Established an agent/policyholder fraud investigation that achieved a $12MM reduction in policy face amounts and resulted in termination of 15 agents and cancellation of 90 life policies. • Redesigned corporate sales and agent retention practices. Created new "one signature" contract for product distribution system. Serve as team leader to reinvent customer service standards. • Led product development team to create a multi-choice annuity product. Negotiated and structured national marketing arrangements, licensing agreements, third party vendor contracts. Show less

Associate General Counsel

• Jan 1995 - Jun 1998

A $1.5B life, health and long term care company. Responsible for managing all corporate litigation such as life, health, disability, ERISA claims, agent/agency complaints and employment matters. • Reduced annual litigation costs by 44% from $3.5 to $1.4MM for a savings of $2.1MM. • Achieved a 50% reduction in cases under management from 177 to 88 in one year. • Successfully defended bad faith litigation to jury verdict in Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and California. • Established an ERISA based appeal process. Redesigned operating relationship between underwriting, claims and policy administration to establish "best practices" standard. Show less

Counsel

• Jun 1990 - Jan 1995

A $500MM life and health mutual insurance company. Served as sole in-house counsel. • Led a product development team to design and implement a new major medical product for college students. Forged corporate partnerships, joint ventures and marketing alliances. • Responsible for establishing corporate policy for employment matters such as EEOC complaints, employment agreements and employee handbook guidelines. • Performed as liaison to state insurance departments to create favorable legislation. Coordinated all state insurance department activity including hearings, statutory challenges and policy filings. • Developed corporate trademark program. Successfully pursued trademark infringement actions against the U.S. Commerce Department and U.S. Congress. Show less