General Counsel with substantial in-house and law firm experience. Senior leadership and cross-functional experience in all aspects of technology and publishing, including licensing, distribution, product development, strategic partnerships, intellectual property strategy, litigation, M&A, data privacy, employment, and all forms of commercial transactions. Experienced in managing legal and business issues in fast-paced environments across multiple offices and geographies. Focused on making timely decisions and finding practical solutions that support business needs while managing risk. Builder and manager of legal teams that support all functional areas of the company. Able to balance āin the momentā legal decisions with short- and long-term company objectives while also building foundational processes and strategies.
Skills
Developing and executing strategy. Member of senior executive teams developing, approving and executing company strategic initiatives.
Legal matter management. Able to understand and manage varied legal matters across diverse business groups by providing early, integrated counsel to senior executives and staff.
Leading major external negotiations. Have led negotiations with large partners, including Microsoft, Starbucks, Apple, Google and Amazon.
Diversity.Ā Have assisted in developing and driving workforce diversity initiatives in both in-house and law firm settings.
Team management.Ā Structured and managed teams of lawyers to provide legal support to functional business groups. Managed and collaborated with attorney teams in connection with numerous M&A and
finance transactions.
Managing outside counsel. Engaged and managed outside counsel across varied legal matters and geography (both U.S. and international) to ensure delivery of services in a
cost-effective, efficient manner within budgets.
Internal investigations. Have led and managed internal investigations related to Human Resource issues.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAWPittsburgh, Expected in 2004 ā āJuris Doctor: - GPA:Honors and Publications: Graduated cum laude; Journal
of Law and Commerce, Executive Editor; Schmitz-Werke
GMBH & Co. v. Rockland Industries and the United
Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)
Interpretive Diffidence and Developing International Norms, 22 J.L. & Com. 77 (2003).
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITYSan Francisco, Expected in 2001 ā āBachelor of Arts: - GPA:French
Work History
Ameriprise Financial - General Counsel; Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs Woodland Hills, CA, 04/2015 - CurrentChief legal officer and corporate secretary for Dotdash, the fastest growing large, digital publisher in the U.S. according to comScore.
Direct report to CEO and am a member of Senior Management Team. Provide advice on major strategic initiatives, counsel senior executives on key legal issues, and develop and manage Dotdash's day-to-day legal function, which serves all product development, content and operational teams.
Played an integral role in Dotdash's launch of six new vertical brands over eighteen months, including About.com's ultimate rebrand as Dotdash in 2017. Handled all legal matters in connection with each new brand launch, including site policies, trademark/IP strategies, domain acquisitions, marketing and corporate communications.
Managed extensive audit and provided legal strategy in connection with certain independent contractor classification issues related to Dotdash's hundreds of independent contractor writers. Achieved compliance and settlements on classification issues arising in numerous jurisdictions, including New York, Wisconsin and California.
Conducted successful internal investigations related to sensitive Human Resource matters.
Partnered with Human Resource senior executives to drive diversity initiatives across Dotdash.
Ascential - Counsel Los Angeles, CA, 10/2009 - 04/2015Counsel to The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, the New York Post and affiliated digital and print properties
Provided legal counsel to all groups across Dow Jones's digital network. Negotiated and drafted strategic partnership agreements, in- and out-bound licensing and syndication agreements (domestic and international), mobile application development and distribution agreements (including e-publications, video and streamed content), marketing affiliation agreements, ad operations agreements (for both mobile and browser-based products), rights agreements (for image, music, video), and talent agreements.
Provided general counsel on compliance issues related to privacy, data security, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Served as primary legal counsel for production, operations and distribution of the print versions of The Wall Street Journal, Barron's and the New York Post. Advised on legal implications of global strategic initiatives (including antitrust and labor issues), assessed substantive merits of potential disputes, and managed outside counsel regarding potential and pending litigation and bankruptcy.
Served as primary legal counsel for Dow Jones's global sourcing and real estate groups.
Ascential - Associate Salt Lake City, UT, 04/2007 - 10/2009Business and Finance, Emerging Business Group
Negotiated and drafted (i) term sheets, (ii) articles of incorporation, (iii) investor rights agreements, (iv) co-sale agreements, (v) convertible security and debt notes, and (vi) board consents.
Interfaced with board members, executives, founders and investors to achieve financings for both startups and mature emerging businesses.
Negotiated and drafted (i) stock and asset purchase agreements (for both public and private companies), (ii) joint venture agreements, (iii) non-disclosure agreements, (iv) security agreements, (v) non-competition, non-solicitation and assignment of invention agreements, (vi) transition services agreements, (vii) voting agreements, (viii) employment agreements, (ix) releases and consents, and (x) diligence reports.
Reviewed company financial statements and related filings in connection with M&A, including SEC and other regulatory submissions.
THOMPSON HINE LLP - Associate City, STATE, 08/2004 - 04/2007Commercial Litigation Group
Researched and drafted pleadings, discovery requests and responses, memoranda of law for dispositive and nondispositive motions, and settlement agreements.
Conducted all aspects of discovery, including depositions, digital discovery, and expert witness preparation.
Assisted in developing privacy compliance strategies for a Fortune 200 company.
Affiliations, Bar Admissions
IAB Legal Affairs Council
Admitted
in New Jersey, Ohio and New York (as registered in-house counsel)Ā
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Resume Overview
School Attended
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
Job Titles Held:
General Counsel; Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs