Experience

• 

  Avon Products, Inc.

  • 777 Third Avenue, New York, NY

  • Chief Trademark & Copyright Counsel

    • 1996 - Apr 2015
    • 777 Third Avenue, New York, NY

    Senior global management responsibility for all aspects of trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition, litigation, domain names, acquisition and divestiture, licensing, internet and other intellectual property matters for this direct and retail selling consumer products company in the fields of cosmetics, fragrances, toiletries, health and wellbeing, jewelry, fashion, toys, gifts and collectibles. Manage department with a portfolio of over 38,000 active trademarks worldwide. Highlights Include:Risk Management: As a result of my providing robust clearance counseling, instances of infringement complaints and litigation were vastly reduced resulting in a Risk Management Department decision to self insure and to eliminate the carrying of highly expensive advertising risk policies resulting in a substantial annual reduction in insurance costs.Litigation Avoidance: Because of my networks, good industry reputation and personal trusted relationships with key persons in competitive companies, Avon avoided the threat of multiple copyright cases saving Avon an estimated $5 Million in litigation costs, damages and attorney fees in one year alone. Due to appropriate training no further instances occurred during my tenure. Because of my reputation for integrity, there are many instances where cordial win-win solutions were negotiated with competitors avoiding costly litigation.Risk Curtailment: "All hands on deck" training programs increased timely communications with legal to better manage potential risks. Cost Containment & Quality Improvement: Input to, and negotiation with, database providers resulted improved product quality and reduced costs of approximately $100,000 annually.

• 

  Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker

  • New York, NY

  • Of Counsel

    • 1995 - 1996
    • New York, NY

    Responsible for trademark and copyright counseling and litigation matters for such clients as The Trump Organization, Merrill Lynch, Alliance Capital, GAF, Expedite, Kellogg’s, the Estate of Bob Marley and Hotelvision, L.L.C.

• 

  Colgate Palmolive

  • 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY

  • Associate General Counsel, Chief Trademark & Copyright Counsel

    • 1990 - 1995
    • 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY

    Senior global management responsibility for all aspects of trademark, copyright, unfair competition and related matters for this consumer products company in the fields of oral care, personal care, detergents, household cleaning, bleach and pet foods. Manage a portfolio of over 30,000 active trademarks and a staff of 12. Representative brands include Colgate, Palmolive, Ajax, Fab, Dynamo, Softsoap, Mennen, Murphy Oil Soap, Hill’s Science Diet and Prescription Diet and Princess House.

• 

  Nims, Howes, Collison & Isner

  • New York, NY

  • Partner

    • 1986 - 1990
    • New York, NY

    Handled all trademark and copyright counseling, licensing, litigation and related matters globally for personal clients Union Carbide, First Brands, Acustar subsidiary of Chrysler and all such U.S. matters for Cooper Canada Ltd. Also involved in litigation matters for Weight Watchers and Dow Chemical, anti-counterfeiting and franchise matters for Cartier and acquisition due diligence matters for Hershey Foods. Handled international matters for Forschner (Swiss Army Brands).

• 

  Union Carbide Corporation

  • 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY

  • Chief Trademark & Copyright Counsel

    • 1980 - 1986
    • 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY

    Senior global management responsibility for all trademark, copyright, unfair competition, licensing, litigation and related matters for this then $10 Billion multinational in the fields of consumer products, industrial gases, carbon products, films & packaging, welding products, commodity chemicals, medical gases, specialty chemical & plastics, industrial services inter alia. Well known brands include Eveready, Energizer, Glad, Prestone, STP, Simoniz, Ucar, and Linde (now Praxair).

• 

  MasterCard

  • New York, NY

  • Associate General Counsel & Assistant Secretary

    • 1976 - 1980
    • New York, NY

    Senior Global responsibility for matters relating to Advertising & Marketing Department, intellectual Property, Office of the Secretary, Global Licensing, International and Security Departments, ERISA compliance and communications law matters; member of a small team establishing the MasterCard Travelers Check; Antitrust litigation.

• 

  Citibank, NA

  • 399 Park Ave, New York, NY

  • Trust Officer

    • 1967 - 1976
    • 399 Park Ave, New York, NY

    Rotated through Personal Banking, Real Estate, Commercial Banking & Trust & Estate Group. Took Educational Leave to attend Law School.