Experience

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Counsel to Commissioner William I. Althen

  • Mar 2019 - Present

• Attorney Advisor in the Office of General Counsel

  • Jun 2014 - Present

  Provide legal advice to the Commissioners regarding cases on discretionary review before the five member appellate panel. Prepare memorandums that summarize the record and the parties’ arguments, analyze the relevant law, and suggest conclusions. Present factual summaries and the procedural posture of cases before the Commission at public decisional meetings. Draft decisions reflecting the position of the majority of the Commission.

• Attorney Advisor in the Office of Administrative Law Judges

  • Jan 2012 - Jun 2014

  • Drafted a variety of legal documents including memoranda, orders, and decisions• Performed substantive and procedural legal research in matters related to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, whistleblower/discrimination law, the Equal Access to Justice Act, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure• Maintained contact with parties to litigation to monitor compliance with ALJ's orders and managed case flow in absence of the judgeNoteworthy decisions drafted on behalf of Judge McCarthy: o USA Cleaning Serv. & Bldg. Maint., 33 FMSHRC 2264 (Sep. 2011) (finding that applicant was not a prevailing party and thus ineligible for EAJA fees), aff’d, 697 F.3d 651 (7th Cir. 2012) (Posner, R). o Long Branch Energy, 33 FMSHRC 1960 (Aug. 2011), rev’d, 34 FMSHRC 1984 (Commissioner Duffy, M., dissenting) (Dissent comments that the underlying decision is “a model of clarity, logic, persuasion, and adherence to Commission precedent”). o Knife River Corp., 34 FMSHRC 1109 (May 2012) (no deference due to Secretary’s unreasonable interpretation of regulatory language where her interpretation of an “elevated roadway” encompassed a mobile truck scale). Show less

• Junior Settlement Counsel

  • Mar 2011 - Dec 2011

  • Reviewed and drafted over 1,500 settlements of civil penalty proceedings drastically reducing the backlog of cases before the Commission• Developed procedures and templates for settlement orders, and trained and supervised 15-20 law clerks in the preparation and approval of proposed settlement motions



Florida State University College of Law

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Teaching Assistant

  • Aug 2009 - Dec 2009

  Supported Professor Tahirih Lee and professors at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade in the administration of the Chinese Trade Simulation class at the FSU College of Law. Supported Professor Tahirih Lee and professors at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade in the administration of the Chinese Trade Simulation class at the FSU College of Law.



Jingtian & Gongcheng

• China
• Legal Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Summer Intern

  • Jun 2009 - Aug 2009

  Represented the Export-Import Bank of China in the negotiation and drafting of large transnational loans and auxiliary documents for hydroelectric construction projects in Laos and Zambia. Researched and drafted memoranda advising attorneys on aspects of American law pertaining to product liability, contract law, and federal procedure. Represented the Export-Import Bank of China in the negotiation and drafting of large transnational loans and auxiliary documents for hydroelectric construction projects in Laos and Zambia. Researched and drafted memoranda advising attorneys on aspects of American law pertaining to product liability, contract law, and federal procedure.



Ogeechee Circuit Superior Court

• Summer Clerkship

  • May 2008 - Aug 2008

  Wrote legal memoranda and court orders; Responsible for addressing pro se motions. Redesigned website with added content including: forms for self represented litigants, ADR, and general information about the Court. Attended court proceedings. Wrote legal memoranda and court orders; Responsible for addressing pro se motions. Redesigned website with added content including: forms for self represented litigants, ADR, and general information about the Court. Attended court proceedings.



Edenfield, Cox, Bruce, and Classens PC

• Legal Assistant

  • Nov 2006 - Jul 2007

  Procured technology and managed current technological assets. Programmed a file management system (similar to LexisNexis’s Case Map) that was customized to meet the firm’s needs. Procured technology and managed current technological assets. Programmed a file management system (similar to LexisNexis’s Case Map) that was customized to meet the firm’s needs.