Directed the USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) project, a five-year program that enhanced the business enabling environment and facilitated linkages between Vietnamese private firms and international supply chains. Supervised technical assistance in administrative reform, SME participation in global supply chains, access to finance, and digital transformation. Within the first year of tenure (having arrived approximately two years after project launch) transformed a… Show more Directed the USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) project, a five-year program that enhanced the business enabling environment and facilitated linkages between Vietnamese private firms and international supply chains. Supervised technical assistance in administrative reform, SME participation in global supply chains, access to finance, and digital transformation. Within the first year of tenure (having arrived approximately two years after project launch) transformed a substantially troubled project into one well regarded by both government counterparts and USAID. Show less

Provided advice on incoming investment, trade, and economic reform in the Mekong region. Per an engagement with former employer Nathan Associates, Inc., authored a consultation paper on resolving corporate insolvency in APEC economies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Published at https://www.apec.org/Publications/2021/05/Consultation-Paper-on-Resolving-Corporate-Insolvency.

Provided advice and support with respect to Lao PDR's efforts to join the ASEAN Single Window (an integrated platform for facilitating trade through faster clearance and release of cargo); advised on the startup of a private sector development project in Myanmar/Burma; authored a comparative study on corporate governance of SMEs in the Asian Pacific region.

Directed technical assistance on a USAID-funded project designed to assist the Lao government in meeting its multilateral and bilateral trade and investment commitments and improving the business-enabling environment. Having joined the project as COP in mid-stream, successfully reoriented counterparts to focus more closely on measurable and impactful results. Regularly briefed US ambassador and senior government officials on project matters and the Lao trade/business environment. Received… Show more Directed technical assistance on a USAID-funded project designed to assist the Lao government in meeting its multilateral and bilateral trade and investment commitments and improving the business-enabling environment. Having joined the project as COP in mid-stream, successfully reoriented counterparts to focus more closely on measurable and impactful results. Regularly briefed US ambassador and senior government officials on project matters and the Lao trade/business environment. Received accolades from client for innovation and effectiveness in counterpart relations and project management. Focused in particular on intellectual property rights, technical barriers to trade, regulatory transparency, and ASEAN integration. Show less

Offered courses (both remotely and face-to-face) to prosecutors, private attorneys, and judges on Competition Law, Common Law Contracts, ASEAN Trade and Investment Law, and Insolvency Law. Also taught Comparative Corporate Bankruptcy as a visiting professor at the Central University for Finance & Economics in Beijing (Foreign Law Program established by the University of Maryland Law School).

Led a team of economists developing a proposal for reforming Zimbabwe’s insolvency resolution system for financially distressed corporations. Developed and presented on initial findings and recommendations. Wrote a 50+ page initial draft of the research report on part-time basis from offsite, which has since been published on USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC): http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00M6ZB.pdf.

Regularly served as the Acting Chief of Party when COP was away from post and was formally recognized as an outstanding employee on the project. Oversaw the development of a multi-media, fully automated e-learning system for bankers and government officials on anti-money laundering principles. Led a multi-million dollar program component that promoted commercial law and administrative reform while simultaneously overseeing the provision of technical assistance on banking supervision, anti-money… Show more Regularly served as the Acting Chief of Party when COP was away from post and was formally recognized as an outstanding employee on the project. Oversaw the development of a multi-media, fully automated e-learning system for bankers and government officials on anti-money laundering principles. Led a multi-million dollar program component that promoted commercial law and administrative reform while simultaneously overseeing the provision of technical assistance on banking supervision, anti-money laundering, and enhanced risk management practices to Azerbaijan’s Central Bank. Initiated the discussions that led to the country’s recent accession to the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Show less

Oversaw policy reform project; engaging with various business organizations and government agencies in the Philippines.

Provided training and advice to counterparts pertaining to Indonesia’s bankruptcy regime. Successfully advocated several reforms on creditor hearings, record keeping, and sales procedures. Oversaw the development of a detailed commentary on bankruptcy law for Indonesian judges and developed a practical guide for judges on how to organize and hold creditor hearings. Co-organized with local bankruptcy administrators a major conference focusing on bankruptcy and the global financial… Show more Provided training and advice to counterparts pertaining to Indonesia’s bankruptcy regime. Successfully advocated several reforms on creditor hearings, record keeping, and sales procedures. Oversaw the development of a detailed commentary on bankruptcy law for Indonesian judges and developed a practical guide for judges on how to organize and hold creditor hearings. Co-organized with local bankruptcy administrators a major conference focusing on bankruptcy and the global financial crisis. Presented paper on policy choices facing Indonesia regarding bankruptcy reform. Show less

Developed and rolled out an innovative training program for creditors to protect their rights under Serbia's recently passed insolvency law. The materials and insights from these trainings were consolidated in a book "Protecting Creditor Interests in Bankruptcy"; published in Serbia in 2008.

Working on an intermittent basis, advised the committee of the Philippine House of Representatives that was writing bankruptcy legislation and edited two benchbooks (one on liquidation and one on reorganization) that were eventually published by the Supreme Court.

Prepared and advanced legislative proposals that reformed Iraqi laws concerning corporate formation and governance, secured transactions, and bankruptcy. See, e.g., CPA Orders No. 64 (on corporations) and 78 (on bankruptcy). Served both inside Green Zone and remotely from home office in Manila, Philippines.

On a short term assignment consisting of two trips to Sarajevo, developed a strategy for supporting more vigorous implementation of laws concerning secured transactions, mortgages, and bankruptcy, which became the basis for a multi-year legal reform project.

Directed office that develops legislation governing commercial activities in Kosovo. Oversaw and directly worked on the development of legislation on bankruptcy, mortgage, antitrust, and privatization. Authored and successfully advocated legislation that established an asset management company for administering state-owned enterprises prior to their privatization.

On a short-term assignment, advised government officials in Armenia on privatization through bankruptcy procedures.

Advised the Philippine SEC (which acted as the country’s bankruptcy court) and the Philippine Supreme Court on insolvency/restructuring policy and judicial training. Served as the primary drafter and secretariat for detailed SEC regulations on corporate recovery and wrote a comprehensive first draft of a law on insolvency and corporate restructuring that is currently under consideration by the Philippine legislature.

Managed four expatriate advisors and a local staff of thirty employees on a capital markets project that provides advice, training, and technological support to the Kazakhstan Securities Commission, the Kazakhstan Department of State Property and Privatization, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, and individual broker-dealers. Focused particularly on legal matters relating to corporate governance, privatization, corporate debt securities, and restraints on foreign capital flows.

Managed 20 local and expatriate attorneys and consultants under USAID’s primary law reform project in Kazakhstan (implemented by the IRIS Center at the University of Maryland) that contributed significantly to the development of Kazakhstani legislation on corporate formation and governance, secured transactions, competition policy, and bankruptcy.

Managed the activities of three expatriate attorneys and 20 local attorneys and consultants in two countries on a project under Booz•Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Primary efforts included drafting amendments to bankruptcy legislation, designing regulatory mechanisms for privatization through liquidation, and participating in the liquidation or debt restructuring of a half dozen insolvent enterprises. Also successful in persuading the Kazakhstan Parliament to introduce amendments to the… Show more Managed the activities of three expatriate attorneys and 20 local attorneys and consultants in two countries on a project under Booz•Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Primary efforts included drafting amendments to bankruptcy legislation, designing regulatory mechanisms for privatization through liquidation, and participating in the liquidation or debt restructuring of a half dozen insolvent enterprises. Also successful in persuading the Kazakhstan Parliament to introduce amendments to the bankruptcy law that provided greater protections to secured creditors. Show less

Lead effort to develop a 100+ page debt restructuring manual for use by privatization funds for buying companies coming out of privatization with substantial amounts of debt. Approximately 500 copies sold to funds and private companies.

Managed a team of economists and lawyers developing proposals for demonopolizing large enterprises in the course of their privatization. Conceived of and led successful effort to role back price controls in place since the Soviet era.

Worked on various antitrust, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation matters.