Experience

GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL

• United States
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Expert Consultant

  • Jul 2016 - Present

  Supporting the RESTORE Council in providing legal counsel and federal assistance law expertise to Council management and staff. Supporting numerous Council initiatives, including records management and updating the Council’s regulations and grant-making documentation. Supporting the RESTORE Council in providing legal counsel and federal assistance law expertise to Council management and staff. Supporting numerous Council initiatives, including records management and updating the Council’s regulations and grant-making documentation.



U.S. Economic Development Administration

• United States
• Government Administration
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Deputy Chief Counsel

  • Jun 2015 - Apr 2016

  Supporting a Federal granting agency with comprehensive legal services, including evaluating construction and non-construction projects for compliance with Federal grants law and policy; providing legislative, regulatory, and policy drafting assistance to support programmatic objectives; developing creative and practical solutions to resolve complex program and award issues; and actively engaging with stakeholders to advance agency goals. Providing a broad range of legislative and regulatory drafting services to meet policy, legal, and other stakeholder goals. Assisting the Chief Counsel in drafting the agency's reauthorization proposal to address evolving programmatic needs and policy concerns. Providing legal interpretations of all legislation or regulations that affect agency practice, often on questions of first impression and developing legal advice on a broad range of laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, including appropriations and budgetary law, environmental requirements, conflicts of interest, records management requirements, and grants requirements generally. Communicating nuanced issues to clients clearly and completely.Managing and supporting two headquarters attorneys and coordinating a team of nine remote regional counsels to provide exceptional legal service to the agency on a wide range of legal and programmatic issues.Reviewing grant applications and project files to identify and resolve potential legal and program issues before they become challenges. Evaluating complex factual situations in the context of Federal grants law and recommending effective legal and policy solutions.



U.S. Department of Commerce

• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Attorney

  • Feb 2014 - Jun 2015

  Provided user-friendly counsel on a wide range of complex legal, policy, and program issues to Federal granting agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and International Trade Administration (ITA). Topics included the allowability of complex and unusual costs under Federal awards, strategizing to best method protect the Federal interest when real property and equipment is purchased under an award, and assessing the impact of appropriations law on program decisions. Developed practical and comprehensive solutions to difficult issues quickly, efficiently, and with an eye toward avoiding or mitigating problems in the future. Coordinated responses to award audit appeals. Supported program staff by providing advice on resolving Office of Inspector General (OIG) determinations.Assisted policy staff across the Department in implementing new government-wide regulations with broad impacts on their business and administrative systems. This included revising Department wide Federal assistance standard terms and conditions and completely revising relevant policies and procedures. Reviewed Federal awards from start to finish, from the announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) and the award package to post-¬award amendments and project close-out.



State Small Business Credit Initiative, U.S. Department of Treasury

• Senior Policy Advisor

  • Feb 2013 - Feb 2014

   Supported stand-up of a new program designed to increase the availability of credit for small businesses through clear policy formulation and active work with oversight bodies. Analyzed new questions on how to best implement the program, including combining various Federal funding sources, evaluating conflicts of interest, and assessing the eligibility of specific uses of funds. Developed appropriate guidance based on existing law, regulations, and precedent that also incorporated stakeholder input and addressed the practical effects of the guidance on agency operations. Coordinated program oversight, including the OIG, U.S. Government Accountability Office, and Congressional Research Service. Researched and answered oversight inquiries appropriately.



U.S. Economic Development Administration

• United States
• Government Administration
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Acting Deputy Chief Counsel

  • Mar 2007 - Apr 2013

  • Lead a team of nine attorneys around the country in providing legal services to a Federal granting agency. Tasks include developing strategies to help agency analyze and meet evolving legal and program requirements, conducting due diligence on proposed grantees, and enforcing agency requirements.• Research and draft legal and policy memoranda on complex and novel issues, including appropriations law, organic agency authority, Constitutional law, conflicts of interest, project finance techniques, and expanding the scope of agency services.• Review appropriations language and provide advice on proposed utilization strategies. • Provide legislative analysis, drafting, and implementation assistance. • Lead the agency’s regulatory revision initiative.• Provide legal support for program initiatives to advance Administration initiatives, including negotiating complex multi-partner agreements and drafting funding announcements. • Process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests. • Brief agency officials and staff on programmatic and legal requirements.

• Attorney

  • Mar 2007 - Jan 2012

  Drafted legal and policy memoranda on appropriations law, organic agency authority, Constitutional law, conflicts of interest, project finance techniques, and expanding the scope of agency services.Provided legislative analysis, drafting, and implementation assistance.Leading the agency's regulatory revision process, including a wholesale review and overhaul of the agency’s regulations, obtaining and organizing input from both internal and public stakeholders, concisely presenting proposed revisions to agency leadership and stakeholders, and drafting proposed and final rules.Negotiating and managing complex interagency funding initiatives, drafting effective memoranda of agreement and working closely with policy, legal, and program staff from multiple stakeholders to anticipate and resolve challenges along the way. Collaborating with both internal and external program and legal staff to craft creative, efficient solutions to programmatic and legal challenges to advance agency initiatives.



Texas Legislative Council

• United States
• Legislative Offices
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Legislative Attorney

  • Jan 2007 - Mar 2007

  Collaborated with State legislators aides, and attorneys to draft legislation that met clients’ goals in the subject areas of water, education, health, and safety.Conducted thorough research and examined multiple scenarios to ensure that proposed legislation would withstand legal and policy scrutiny. Collaborated with State legislators aides, and attorneys to draft legislation that met clients’ goals in the subject areas of water, education, health, and safety.Conducted thorough research and examined multiple scenarios to ensure that proposed legislation would withstand legal and policy scrutiny.