Experience

Selman Munson & Lerner P.C.
• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Of Counsel

  • Mar 2020 - Present


Whitestone REIT

• United States
• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Corporate Counsel

  • Sep 2017 - Mar 2020

  NYSE listed REIT with retail shopping center properties in growth oriented markets. Acquiring, developing, operating and liquidating portfolio assets. Managed four-person team that improved lease generation as key driver of business and developed/implemented process for lease template improvement. Reduced ordinary outside legal spend by more than $600K NYSE listed REIT with retail shopping center properties in growth oriented markets. Acquiring, developing, operating and liquidating portfolio assets. Managed four-person team that improved lease generation as key driver of business and developed/implemented process for lease template improvement. Reduced ordinary outside legal spend by more than $600K



Innovation First International, Inc.

• United States
• Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel

  • Jun 2010 - May 2017

  This privately-held company, through several domestic and international subsidiaries and with offices in several different countries, manufactures and sells products in three different global markets – battery-powered miniature toys, computer server racks and educational robotics products and kits. Company currently has 8 offices in 5 countries. Effected reorganization of two companies under common ownership into multi-level holding company structure with subsidiaries for each business line, including a subsidiary to handle import/export from China to the US, Canada and countries in Europe, South America, Middle East and Southeast Asia; reorganization purpose was to streamline operations and isolate risk Supervised intellectual property litigation - trademark and patent, including ITC challenge Assisted subject-matter counsel in implementation and supervision of aggressive anti-knockoff program – litigation in foreign jurisdictions, customs interdictions, trade show closures and internet take-downs Supervised negotiation and documentation of acquisition of strategic partner Show less



Trust Services, Inc.

• United States
• Medical Device

• General Counsel

  • Aug 2004 - Mar 2010

  Interface with Claimant's counsel as to claim outcomes and evidentiary standards Advise trustees as to trust policy and developments in trust policy across other asbestos settlement trusts Implement ADR procedure to resolve disputed asbestos injury claims Manage litigation expense and coordinate strategy Negotiate leases and contracts Supervise hiring and reduction-in-force. Interface with Claimant's counsel as to claim outcomes and evidentiary standards Advise trustees as to trust policy and developments in trust policy across other asbestos settlement trusts Implement ADR procedure to resolve disputed asbestos injury claims Manage litigation expense and coordinate strategy Negotiate leases and contracts Supervise hiring and reduction-in-force.



Cornell Corrections, Inc.

• United States

• General Counsel

  • Aug 2003 - Jul 2004

  Served as Corporate Secretary; Managed 1934 Act filings and compliance with 1934 Act (primarily Sec 16 and periodic reports); Assisted in Sarbanes-Oxley implementation; Managed response to real estate escrow fraud and associated outside investigation; Coordinate due diligence on potential target and potential merger with comeptitor Served as Corporate Secretary; Managed 1934 Act filings and compliance with 1934 Act (primarily Sec 16 and periodic reports); Assisted in Sarbanes-Oxley implementation; Managed response to real estate escrow fraud and associated outside investigation; Coordinate due diligence on potential target and potential merger with comeptitor



ProTrader Group, L.P.

• General Counsel

  • Apr 2000 - Jul 2003

  This company, through various subsidiaries including a broker-dealer, offered electronic securities trading services over the internet and in a number of retail locations in various states Coordinated and managed all legal affairs; supervised compliance department; responded to NASD investigations and customer complaints; managed customer arbitrations and private litigation, including substantial litigation with former joint venture partners Supervised installation of intellectual property program; coordinated filing of available copyright and trademark applications and notices; commenced patent harvesting program with software development team and outside patent counsel Advised and assisted senior management in restructuring of the company’s business model that reduced overhead by more than 50% Negotiated and handled acquisitions of independently owned retail offices; drafted and implemented document retention policy Provided guidance in connection with all aspects of the $150 million sale of the company to a publicly traded company, from the initial confidentiality agreement and letter of intent through due diligence, negotiation of definitive transaction documents; Negotiation of multiple documents related to the company’s post-acquisition relationships with former owners, coordination of negotiations, settlements and litigation with third-party claimants relative to the transaction, and closing of the acquisition Show less



ProTrader Securities

• United States
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel

  • Apr 2000 - Jul 2003

  Coordinated and managed all legal affairs for this holding company and all of its subsidiaries, including an NASD registered broker/dealer serving the “active trader” market segment; supervised compliance department; responded to NASD investigations and customer complaints; managed customer arbitrations and private litigation, including substantial litigation with former joint venture partners. Supervised installation of intellectual property harvesting program; coordinated filing of available copyright and trademark applications and notices; commenced patent harvesting program with software development team and outside patent counsel. Advised and assisted senior management in restructuring of the company’s business model that reduced overhead by more than 50%. Negotiated and handled acquisitions of independently owned retail offices; drafted and implemented document retention policy. Provided guidance in connection with all aspects of the $150 million sale of the company to a publicly traded company, from the initial confidentiality agreement and letter of intent through due diligence, negotiation of definitive transaction documents, negotiation of multiple documents related to the company’s post-acquisition relationships with former owners, coordination of negotiations, settlements and litigation with third-party claimants relative to the transaction, and closing of the acquisition. Show less



Kuperman, Orr, Mouer & Albers

• United States

• Shareholder

  • 1995 - 2000

  This was a general business law firm Represented and advised clients in public and private offerings of equity and debt securities and SEC, NASDAQ and "blue sky" compliance and filings; negotiated and drafted offering documents, underwriting agreements, periodic reports and proxy statements; negotiated effectiveness of registration statements with SEC and state securities registration authorities Represented and advised clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, incentive compensation plans, structuring of business operations and general corporate matters Negotiated, drafted and reviewed various agreements for commercial transactions, including agreements for strategic alliances, distribution, agency, licensing, consulting, employment and commercial real estate leases Represented start-up companies with respect to seed and venture capital financing transactions Show less


Saegert, Angenend & Augustine
• Associate

  • 1995 - 1997

Shapiro, Edens & Cook
• Associate

  • 1985 - 1992