Experience

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  City of Corpus Christi

  • Corpus Christi, Texas, United States

  • City Attorney

    • Aug 2014 - Present
    • Corpus Christi, Texas, United States

    Managed 15 attorneys and associated support staff for self-insured city (population 325,000) that performs litigation in-house (70+ pending civil suits), has more than 3,000 employees, an international airport, two large reservoirs and extensive water rights and water transfers across multiple water basins, convention center, collective bargaining and civil-service for the fire and police department, and other services typical of a large municipality. Managed Risk Management division administering self-insured workers comp program, insurance programs, claims investigation, claims adjusting, subrogation, and litigation.Managed a Human Relations division that pursued EEOC, Fair Housing, and Disability claimsNegotiated consent decree with U.S. Dep't of Justice and EPA concerning $700 million+ of wastewater improvements. Negotiated settlements with TCEQ concerning alleged water and wastewater violations. Selected and assessed law firms to represent City and City-police officers in civil rights actions, evaluated settlement values, hired experts, and engaged in mediations of such civil rights actions.Coordinated with lobbyists in opposition & passage of legislation and administrative actionsRepresented the City as President of the Texas Coalition for Affordable Power (TCAP), an aggregationcorporation that purchases electricity for approximately 150 Texas cities Assessed, promoted, and terminated attorneys and counseled City leadership in dealing with complex employment law disputes involving claims of discrimination, whistleblower, FLSA, and other alleged violations.

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  City of Wichita Falls

  • Wichita Falls, Texas

  • City Attorney

    • Mar 2009 - Aug 2014
    • Wichita Falls, Texas

    Managed four attorneys and associated support staff for self-insured city (population 100,000+) that performs litigation in-house, has more than 1,000 employees, airports, four large reservoirs, convention centers, a civil-service police department, and other services typical of any large municipality Reviewed more than 800 Wichita Falls City Council resolutions and ordinancesReviewed dozens of contracts between the City of Wichita Falls and other legal entitiesDrafted legislative updates and communicated with legislators on pending legislative actionsObtained election pre-clearances from U.S. Justice DepartmentDeveloped agenda and manage actions, budget, and contract issues for 4A and 4B economic development corporationsPrepared and/or reviewed economic development performance agreements, notes, and financing & security documents for economic development assistance that recruited more than a dozen companies with more than 2,000 employee positions to Wichita FallsCoordinated economic development actions with Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and IndustrySuccessfully defended investigations by Texas Railroad Commission alleging City damage to gas linesRe-drafted & updated many of the City’s major contract forms, including public works construction contractsUpdated Legal Dept software and answered after-hours information systems related questions from other departmentsChaired Employee Benefit Trust, which manages employee benefits for employees & retirees of City of Wichita FallsCoordinated successful multi-entity intervention in Public Utilities Commission proceeding involving utility lines adjacent to Air Force BaseAdvised City-County Hospital Board in meetings, corporate actions, and transactions

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  City of Victoria, Texas

  • Victoria, Texas

  • City Attorney & Sr Ass't City Atty & Ass't City Atty

    • Oct 1994 - Mar 2009
    • Victoria, Texas

    Managed staff of 12 employees as a City Department Head, including City Attorneys Office, City Secretary's Office, and Municipal Court Reviewed and drafted more than 1,000 contracts between the City of Victoria and other legal entities. These contracts were with private entities, state universities, regional councils of governments, colleges, school districts, counties, various agencies of the state and federal government, as well as with various City-affiliated corporations and private companies. The collective value of these contracts is several hundred million dollars. They included contracts to:o construct roads, sewers, and other public improvementso provide engineering and architectural services to the City of Victoriao purchase computer systems for Computer Aided Dispatch, court dockets, & financial management o lease City-owned property to individuals and non-profit and for-profit organizations o provide and purchase services from other local governments (Interlocal Cooperation Act agreements)o obtain & manage federal, state, and private foundation grants for various City programsReviewed and/or drafted legal documents to purchase several hundred easements and interests in land for the City Reviewed dozens of employment law issues, including litigation management, terminations, firings, EEOC investigations, internal investigations, and general adviceDrafted more than 2,500 resolutions and 400 ordinances for the Victoria City CouncilPrepared agendas for more than 500 City Council meetings and various other City corporations and commissionsPrepared more than 1,000 letters to Texas Attorney General requesting information be withheld pursuant to Texas Public Information Act. Assisted in defense and prosecution of more than 100 lawsuits involving City of Victoria as a party, including drafting briefs & motions, compiling discovery, arguing summary judgments, and other litigation activities

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  Victoria College

  • Victoria College Adjunct Instructor

    • 1999 - 2002

    Adjunct Instructor – taught Introduction to Legal Systems and Business Organizations

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  Byington, Easton & Risley P.C., Austin, Texas

  • Austin, Texas

  • Attorney

    • May 1993 - May 1995
    • Austin, Texas

    Attorney (General Civil and Criminal Practice)--Managed a caseload of more than 100 civil cases and 50 criminal cases simultaneously. Conducted discovery and trials in criminal and civil cases, including cases involving DTPA/contract law, family law, intellectual property law, and probate. Planned estates for taxes and creditor protection. Formed corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, and trusts. Drafted contracts, petitions, injunctions, wills, and other legal documents. Negotiated civil litigation, property, and child custody settlement agreements. Researched state & federal litigation issues. Drafted briefs and motions. Acted as managing shareholder in a five attorney law office.

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  U.S.

  • various

  • U.S. Army & U.S. Army Reserve

    • 1985 - 1991
    • various

    549th Military Intelligence Bn. -- commanded 53-soldier unit & managed maintenance of $20,000,000+ worth of equipment. Handled other miscellaneous duties as a military intelligence officer including intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination. 413th Civil Affairs Bn. --- Developed methods & training for coordinating with foreign agencies & allied governments. 2/327th Infantry Bn. of 101st Airborne Division --- Infantry soldier, team leader