Experience

AgoneX Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Legal Officer

  • May 2016 - Present

• Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

  • May 2016 - May 2016

  BioHealthonomics Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology & healthcare companydedicated to developing and commercializing high-impact, effective and side effect free therapeuticsthat address critical unmet needs in the treatment of migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease,Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. BioHealthonomics Inc. began operations in July 2011 in SantaMonica, California.

• Chief Legal Officer

  • May 2016 - May 2016



Solutions Business Group

• Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

• Legal, Business and Executive Management

  • 2009 - Present

  Solutions Business Group assists for-profit companies and non-profit organizations overcome difficult legal and business challenges, achieve stretch goals through creative approaches to legal and regulatory issues, and successfully navigate periods of change while minimizing risk. I enjoy working with dynamic and forward-thinking leaders who are forward focused, yet facing potential threats to strategic objectives arising from friction with third party stakeholders or difficult organizational transitions or change. Working closely with outstanding executives, managers and business owners, Solutions collaborates with staff throughout the organization to reduce risk, manage change and solve vexing problems with third-party stakeholders. Some clients are focused on organizing and launching their businesses to deliver early and sustainable success. Others seek out Solutions to take advantage of the perspectives that I offer as a seasoned general counsel, executive and engineer. Show less



Builders of Hope

• United States
• Construction
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel, Executive Vice President

  • 2011 - 2013

  During my tenure as EVP of Legal, Performance and Human Resources, I was fortunate to work with a truly outstanding team of executives and development professionals as we supported our vision and mission of acquiring and rehabilitating housing to create safe, affordable and energy-efficient homes for low-income and workforce individuals and families. Since the industry's reliance on government and grant funding was not economically sustainable, we recognized the need and opportunity to become a pioneer in the non-profit affordable housing community by diversifying our funding sources. By working closely with our CEO, President, members of the board and staff, I ensured that all of the legal, human resource and performance standards and metrics necessary for this effort were in place and functioning well. At the same time we established numerous mutually beneficial relationships and innovative partnerships with for-profit investment entities in our journey to find sustainable sources of the capital that enable us to achieve our mission and vision. Along the way the team and I foresaw the inevitable challenges and worked together to implement processes, protocols and systems that paved the way to operational excellence. I take pride in the much needed benefits that Builders of Hope is providing the communities it serves, as well as the many professional relationships that I enjoyed in support of our worthy objectives. Show less



Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc.

• United States
• Biotechnology
• 200 - 300 Employee

• General Counsel, Vice President Human Resources, Vice President Compliance and Ethics

  • 2003 - 2009

  Talecris was formed by the spin-off of Bayer HealthCare's Biological Products Division. Talecris’ leadership team included top executives from the private equity world and the former Biological Products Division. I was pleased to work with these outstanding individuals in three executive roles - General Counsel, VP HR and VP Compliance. In these roles I helped restructure the company for a successful IPO, growing the company value by 1,333% in 5 years. Immediately after launch of the new company, we determined one of our competitors was marketing a product that likely infringed on one of our utility patents. I engaged a leading patent litigation firm and we developed an aggressive strategy for taking the offensive against our much larger competitor. We filed suit in a favorable jurisdiction, and when the competitor rejected our early attempts at a negotiated settlement we stood toe to toe through protracted discovery, depositions and motion practice. We secured favorable rulings all the way to eve of trial, when the competitor was forced to capitulate. The resulting settlement was worth in excess of $50 million to Talecris. We used a similar strategy shortly thereafter when we discovered a former distributor was planning to use proprietary and confidential Talecris information to gain a competitive advantage. With the facts on our side, we filed for a Temporary Restraining Order which was granted. We ultimately obtained preliminary and permanent injunctions, protecting a $200 million product line from an unlawful competitive threat. Talecris was subject to stringent federal regulation. At the outset, regulators sought to impose Bayer's Corporate Integrity Agreement on the new company. With experienced outside counsel I developed the strategy and plan to convince the Office of Inspector General that it was neither lawful nor appropriate for the CIA to be applied to Talecris. In short order the OIG agreed, saving millions of dollars in compliance costs. Show less



Bayer

• Chemical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President & General Counsel

  • 1998 - 2003

  From 1998-2003 I worked in an environment of change and transition. As GC and a member of the senior management teams, I helped to successfully complete a merger and a divestiture while maintaining staff morale and performance. In 2001 Aventis became embroiled in a nationwide controversy arising out of unauthorized release of genetically modified corn. The Federal government prohibited its use for human consumption; strict control and compliance programs failed and the corn was discovered in a variety of foods. Federal and state governments, farmers, haulers, distributors, food processors and retailers/interest groups all demanded compensation, redress and penalties, creating a legal and public relations nightmare for Aventis. Our management team appointed a crisis manager whose task was to quickly resolve all elements of the controversy without "lawyering up." Due to the myriad legal issues to be managed, I was designated to work closely with the crisis team to help develop and implement a strategy that engaged all parties on a cooperative basis while protecting our legal interests. Our leadership knew full resolution could cost up to $1 billion but recognized a proactive, non litigious approach could significantly reduce overall costs. Armed with their strong support, the crisis team developed corrective measures to satisfy stakeholders' concerns in reasonable, cost effective ways. We methodically implemented our plan, first gaining critical support from farmers and grain elevators. As a result those most directly affected expressed appreciation and support as we reimbursed all reasonable costs and prevented further losses. Building on this success we resolved the claims and concerns of Attorneys General of 17 states, federal agencies, insurance companies and other possible litigants. We achieved fair resolution while avoiding expensive and contentious litigation and further reputational damage. The actual cost to Aventis was about $300 million. Show less