Experience

Certum Group

• Insurance
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director, Litigation Finance

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  I am a Director at Certum Group where I lead business development for litigation finance and affirmative solutions. Certum Group provides certainty in the uncertain world of litigation. We are the leader in offering comprehensive alternative litigation strategies for law firms, corporations, and claimholders, including litigation funding, claim monetization, class action settlement insurance, litigation buyout insurance, judgment preservation insurance, and adverse judgment insurance. I am a Director at Certum Group where I lead business development for litigation finance and affirmative solutions. Certum Group provides certainty in the uncertain world of litigation. We are the leader in offering comprehensive alternative litigation strategies for law firms, corporations, and claimholders, including litigation funding, claim monetization, class action settlement insurance, litigation buyout insurance, judgment preservation insurance, and adverse judgment insurance.



Permentum Capital

• United States
• Financial Services

• Senior Managing Director

  • Jun 2020 - Oct 2022

  I was Senior Managing Director for Permentum Capital, in charge of business development. Permentum is a litigation-finance firm that launched in January 2020 to bring a fresh approach to litigation finance, one that simplifies the relationship between the funder and its counterparties. It focuses on providing finance solutions for commercial disputes and purchasing assets where a legal outcome will be a significant driver of value. Permentum explores opportunities globally, with a heavy focus on legal disputes in the United States.



Sabalo Financial, LLC

• United States
• Legal Services

• Managing Director/Founder

  • Jul 2019 - Oct 2022

  Sabalo Financial, LLC was a commercial-litigation-finance advisor and broker. I founded Sabalo to help companies and law firms access the growing pool of capital that is available to fund meritorious cases and portfolios of claims. Sabalo Financial, LLC was a commercial-litigation-finance advisor and broker. I founded Sabalo to help companies and law firms access the growing pool of capital that is available to fund meritorious cases and portfolios of claims.



H&P Expo, LLC

• Founding Member

  • Jun 2007 - May 2020

  H&P Expo was a start-up that created and produced the Halloween & Party Expo, the largest trade show for the Halloween, costume, and party-supplies industry. H&P Expo sold the show in 2015. • Held first Halloween & Party Expo in January 2009 in Houston, Texas; • In its first year, the show outgrew its competitor and was profitable; • By 2010, the Halloween & Party Expo had grown to approximately 150,000 net square feet, and was one of the larger business-to-business trade shows in the United States; • Managed the daily operations of the trade show while onsite at the convention center. Duties included directing show staff, selling booths for the subsequent year’s trade show, overseeing customer service, and moderating educational panels; • Offsite duties included negotiating all contracts with convention centers, housing companies, exhibitors, and service providers; • Drafted press releases and provided copywriting for marketing materials (2008-2015); and • Negotiated sale of trade show in 2015.



Erwin Distributing Co. Inc.

• VP/General Counsel

  • Mar 2005 - Sep 2019

  Erwin Distributing operated a chain of retail stores, known as Wally’s Party Factory. It was, for a time, the largest privately-held specialty party-goods retailer in the United States. In addition to its retail arm, Erwin Distributing also imported party goods and Halloween products and distributed them to other specialty retailers. • Negotiated, drafted, and managed commercial leases for 26-store retail chain in Texas and Oklahoma, Wally’s Party Factory; • Managed litigation and outside counsel; • Led the Human Resources group. In this role, conducted all major investigations, drafted policies, and managed corporate-level recruiting. Also created an employee-recognition program and revamped the store-manager bonus structure to align compensation with sales and customer-service goals; • Negotiated all significant company contracts, including distribution agreements with major suppliers, requirements contracts for commodities, insurance contracts, and employment agreements; • Led the Marketing group. Championed the initiative to transform company’s marketing mix from heavily print-media centric to a combination of print, social media, email, and grass-roots initiatives; • From 2011-2013, led the team that engaged website developers and implemented company’s marketing website. Had significant input of site’s design, functionality, and content. Also managed the conversion of the marketing site to an ecommerce site; • From 2007-2010, led the Store-Operations group, which included four district managers and the store-facilities and maintenance teams; and • From 2005-2007, managed the purchase and implementation of company-wide information-technology infrastructure, including a Microsoft Dynamics enterprise resource planning system and SAP Retail point-of-sale software. Researched vendors, drafted the RFPs, narrowed the candidate field, and had significant input into the selection of the eventual partners. After selection, headed the implementation team.



Party Club of America, LLC

• General Counsel

  • Mar 2005 - Oct 2018

  Party Club of America was the largest buying group/trade organization for specialty party-goods and Halloween retailers. The members of Party Club received preferential pricing from manufacturers, access to an industry-leading direct-importing program, and a myriad of retail-operation services (including human resources support, marketing assistance, and networking opportunities). • Negotiated membership agreements and vendor contracts; • Created concepts for all marketing materials and company trade-show booths; • Led group that planned and organized the company’s annual meeting and 10,000 net-square-foot trade show in 2016 and 2017. Duties included selecting event sites, retaining meeting planners and contractors, and drafting exhibitor materials (including contracts and marketing materials); • In 2010, sourced and managed the implementation of the company’s secure intranet site on Microsoft’s Yammer platform, which significantly increased the online networking opportunities for the group’s members; and • In 2007, evaluated and engaged website developers to implement company’s marketing website. Had significant input of site’s design and functionality, and drafted 90% of the site’s content.



Figari + Davenport, LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate

  • Sep 2000 - Mar 2005

  • Attorney for one of Dallas’ original commercial-litigation boutiques; • Practiced general business, oil & gas, trade secret, insurance, and antitrust litigation on both sides of the docket; • Second chair, with substantial responsibility, in jury trials and one arbitration; and • Drafted discovery requests, took and defended depositions, argued motions at hearings, and drafted appellate briefs in both state and federal courts. • Attorney for one of Dallas’ original commercial-litigation boutiques; • Practiced general business, oil & gas, trade secret, insurance, and antitrust litigation on both sides of the docket; • Second chair, with substantial responsibility, in jury trials and one arbitration; and • Drafted discovery requests, took and defended depositions, argued motions at hearings, and drafted appellate briefs in both state and federal courts.