Experience

• 

  The John Benton Law Firm

  • Houston, Texas Area

  • Attorney

    • Jun 1984 - Present
    • Houston, Texas Area

    litigation and business transactions, especially complex matters for select clients, including oil and gas leases, exploration and production, intellectual property agreements and lawsuits, and business organization, agreements and law suits

• 

  The Howell Corporation

  • Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

    • Dec 1979 - Jun 1984

    Responsible for all corporate acquisitions, divestitures and mergers, and litigation, principally in areas of hydrocarbon refining, exploration and development, and government regulation.

• 

  Gimbel Brothers, Inc.

  • New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin

  • Vice President, Board of Directors, Secretary, and General Counsel

    • Jun 1976 - Dec 1979
    • New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin

    Responsible for all legal and real estate matters relating to management of a major department store chain with operations in areas of New York City, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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  Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc.

  • Assistant General Counsel

    • Jul 1973 - Jun 1976

    Managed an extended law department with major emphasis in government regulation and employment administration and regulation, including responsibility for major acquisition of that time by Mobil Oil Corporation.

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  National Broadcasting Company, Inc.

  • Senor Counsel

    • Jun 1969 - Jul 1973

    Responsible for matters relating to government regulations, operations, and broadcast content, including regulatory matters for recording studios, West Coast Operations, and RCA Records.

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  Private Practice (as John Benton Law)

  • Attorney at Law

    • Apr 1965 - Jul 1973

    Advised and represented select clients on antitrust, regulatory, and federal legislative matters, principally involved in precious stones, metals, and jewelry industries, including drafting and passage of federal legislation amending disclosures for precious metals.

• 

  Federal Trade Commission

  • Attorney

    • Jun 1960 - Apr 1965

    Advising and holding hearings on industry-wide trade regulation problems of various industries including Jewelry Industry, Phonograph Record Industry, and Gypsum Industry, with the latter leading to recommended indictments by the Department of Justice.

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  United States Marine Corp

  • United States Marine Corp

  • Sargeant

    • 1953 - 1956
    • United States Marine Corp

    Radio Relay station chief, Korea, Japan, U.S.; Sergeant at time of release