Experience

Libation Labs, Inc.

• United States
• Technology, Information and Media
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel

  • Jun 2023 - Present

  Libation Labs, Inc., dba Cuvée Collective helps wine consumers connect to exclusive experiences in wine country. Libation Labs, Inc., dba Cuvée Collective helps wine consumers connect to exclusive experiences in wine country.



Spin

• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 200 - 300 Employee

• General Counsel

  • Jun 2022 - Feb 2023

  Led legal disclosures and compliance audit for nine-figure company acquisition. Led Legal Team of four lawyers, a dozen outside counsel and seven-figure legal services budget. Led crisis management and successful containment of confidential information security breach. Performed corporate governance for Board of Directors, served as officer and managed legal needs of international affiliates, including wind-down of operations.

• Senior Director, Managing Counsel, Legal

  • Feb 2022 - Jun 2022

  Head of Legal department during acquisition by Tier from Ford. Leadership of transition to international parent company, integration of legal team processes and procedures. Reported to Chief Executive Officer and parent company General Counsel while managing five person legal team. Decision-making authority on litigation, insurance and risk, signing of agreements and official records and applications.

• Senior Managing Counsel, Commercial

  • Jul 2021 - Feb 2022

  Added management of Real Estate counsel and Insurance counsel to participating role as lead commercial counsel on agreement drafting and negotiation. Provide employee reviews, mentorship, training.

• Commercial Contracts Counsel

  • Mar 2020 - Jul 2021

  Reviewed, revised and drafted commercial agreements with vendors, cities and universities, suppliers, recruiters, placement agencies and partners. Procured contract management software provider to collect, organize and establish contract review and approval workflows. Reviewed and closed 500+ agreements without any subsequent litigation over terms.



Law Office of James McPherson

• San Francisco Bay Area

• Attorney at Law

  • Dec 2005 - Mar 2020

  Managed own law practice for 13 years. Contract and tort litigation practice, insurance law. Extensive client communications. Handled every aspect of individual disputes and cases, including discovery and motions, opinions, letters, and research memoranda on intellectual property, bankruptcy, taxes, public liability and immunities, privacy, housing discrimination, and complex third party indemnity relationships. Published and presented on matters of autonomy and new mobility technology. Managed own law practice for 13 years. Contract and tort litigation practice, insurance law. Extensive client communications. Handled every aspect of individual disputes and cases, including discovery and motions, opinions, letters, and research memoranda on intellectual property, bankruptcy, taxes, public liability and immunities, privacy, housing discrimination, and complex third party indemnity relationships. Published and presented on matters of autonomy and new mobility technology.



VALINOTI & DITO LLP

• United States

• Attorney (Of Counsel)

  • Dec 2005 - Aug 2015

  Commercial transaction and litigation practice, representing business owners and landlords, Class A shopping centers, property and asset managers. Extensive writing, editing, interpreting of agreements and contracts related to intellectual property, cell tower leases, bankruptcy matters, taxes, parking leases and charging licenses, First Amendment and trespass, public liability and immunities, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defense, and complex third party indemnity relationships. Commercial transaction and litigation practice, representing business owners and landlords, Class A shopping centers, property and asset managers. Extensive writing, editing, interpreting of agreements and contracts related to intellectual property, cell tower leases, bankruptcy matters, taxes, parking leases and charging licenses, First Amendment and trespass, public liability and immunities, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defense, and complex third party indemnity relationships.



LHB Pacific Law Partners, LLP

• Berkeley

• Associate Attorney

  • 2003 - 2005

  Specialized in first-party bad faith insurance defense litigation on behalf of insurers, and third-party complex contribution matters, including Northridge earthquake coverage litigation and construction defect matters. Edited and updated Croskey, Insurance Litigation, (Rutter Group), Chapter on Equitable Contribution for 2005-2006. Also provided technical support for firm presentations. Specialized in first-party bad faith insurance defense litigation on behalf of insurers, and third-party complex contribution matters, including Northridge earthquake coverage litigation and construction defect matters. Edited and updated Croskey, Insurance Litigation, (Rutter Group), Chapter on Equitable Contribution for 2005-2006. Also provided technical support for firm presentations.



InfoCentricity

• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel

  • 2000 - 2002

  Advised founders of advanced analytic data technology software start-up, including officer and director liability, technology licensing, intellectual property, employment, equipment and real estate leasing, and securities regulation. Drafted commercial agreements for software licensing, terms of use, and user manual, for analysts and executives to use analytic software to derive automated insights from relational databases. Advised founders of advanced analytic data technology software start-up, including officer and director liability, technology licensing, intellectual property, employment, equipment and real estate leasing, and securities regulation. Drafted commercial agreements for software licensing, terms of use, and user manual, for analysts and executives to use analytic software to derive automated insights from relational databases.



Lewis Brisbois

• United States
• Law Practice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Attorney

  • 1998 - 2000

  Represented and counseled clients in complex civil, commercial, and coverage litigation disputes; personal injury (defense) for businesses and landlords. High level of understanding of risk management, complex commercial indemnity relationships, corporate law, employment law, and officer and director liability. Represented and counseled clients in complex civil, commercial, and coverage litigation disputes; personal injury (defense) for businesses and landlords. High level of understanding of risk management, complex commercial indemnity relationships, corporate law, employment law, and officer and director liability.



John F. Kennedy University

• Walnut Creek, California

• Adjunct Professor

  • 1997 - 1998

  Instructed Legal Research, Writing and Analysis course to first-year law students. Taught how to read case law, identify issues, apply rules to analysis and write clearly, objectively and persuasively. Instructed Legal Research, Writing and Analysis course to first-year law students. Taught how to read case law, identify issues, apply rules to analysis and write clearly, objectively and persuasively.



Gudmundson, Siggins, Stone & Skinner, LLP

• San Francisco Bay Area

• Associate Attorney

  • 1996 - 1998

  Performed all aspects of civil litigation practice, including client development, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, depositions and settlement negotiations in cases of employment discrimination, personal injury and insurance defense. Performed all aspects of civil litigation practice, including client development, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, depositions and settlement negotiations in cases of employment discrimination, personal injury and insurance defense.