Founder of IP EXCELLENCE, and has more than 30 years of IP experience in creating, leading, and managing Intellectual Property and IP departments for global Fortune 500 companies including ExxonMobil, Cabot, Chemtura and Celanese. He has extensive knowledge and global practical IP experience specifically providing senior executives and lawyers sophisticated and differentiated counsel for delivering IP value.

Key member of the executive team responsible for leading corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives and providing the board, CEO, CFO, and senior management with effective legal support, advice and counsel on company strategy and implementation. Manage and develop a legal function that is viewed as results focused, proactive and a trusted advisor by the Board, management team and employees. Act as Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer responsible for global compliance processes and systems. Manage and oversee outside counsel and provide counseling for all litigation matters including intellectual property, commercial, and labor and employment. Draft, review and negotiate complex business transactions and other commercial contracts including leases, supply agreements and tenders, and implement contract processes and systems. Partner with Environmental, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Information Technology and Security, and Finance and Tax teams to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Maintained global accountability and management for all intellectual property (IP) matters (patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets) and enterprise-wide corporate IP strategy and execution. Led IP functional team of two to six U.S. lawyers, one EP patent attorney, and ten to fourteen paralegals and administrative staff. Managed one information specialist responsible for global competitive intelligence. Oversaw multi-million dollar budgets. Supervised outside counsel and agents globally. Implemented best-in-class cost structures for improving business awareness and transparency into IP decisions and related spend. Developed zero-based budget processes for tracking IP spend with improved forecasting and predictability. Developed and executed strategies for maximizing portfolio value and minimizing legal risks. Reviewed critical IP issues with CEO; served as member of changes in law committee; and participated in general counsel initiatives, including staffing effectiveness/training, preferred outside counsel initiatives, and mentorship programs.• Rebuilt IP legal team into a single, global and cohesive group; and increased identification of inventive subject matter tenfold with targeted IP programs and global training.• Managed all contentious IP matters, including litigations globally, specifically in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.• Managed trademark portfolio, and contentious matters.• Led and conducted IP due diligence for Business Strategy and Development group responsible for M&A and major projects worldwide.• Managed and negotiated license, settlement, joint development, and other IP agreements; integral in establishing principal operating tax structure in Netherlands.• Developed and implemented branded, global protection policies/procedures to enhance security for confidential information and IP; responsible for training materials and messaging.

Maintained worldwide responsibility for all IP matters, including management of IP attorneys, agents, paralegals, and administrative assistants located in U.S. and abroad. Managed multimillion-dollar IP budget as well as all facets of IP acquisition, maintenance, and enforcement. Guided career development, appraisals, salary planning, and training for all direct reports. Implemented contract management system and processes for entire corporation. Worked closely with general legal in mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence reviews. Prepared joint venture/development, franchising, technology and licensing, and employment agreements. Oversaw all trade regulation matters, including developing and implementing global export control compliance program.• Provided direction/support to HR for all confidentiality and trade secret employment matters and to environmental health and safety on confidentiality and trade compliance issues associated with REACH.• Collaborated with finance and tax to develop/implement corporate policy for timely, accurate, and consistent classification, recording, and valuation of intangible assets.

Acted as IP counsel and active member of management team reporting to board, providing all IP and other general legal services to company’s largest research and development activities for new businesses located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Established legal department, including hiring of legal staff of attorneys and paralegals. Managed substantial legal budget. Developed systems/guidelines for effectively managing IP, including implementing various processes for docketing, competitive tracking/monitoring, and invention recordation. Implemented and developed agreement templates and contract management process. Provided guidance and support in developing focused IP strategies. Partnered with business and finance in negotiating and managing various government contracts with U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense.

Served as supervisor for IP matters, including patent portfolio management and administrative responsibilities for largest and most important research and development activities within company. Managed multimillion-dollar budget. Provided work direction for several in-house and outside lawyers as well as numerous legal staff. Prepared patent applications, opinions, contracts, and licenses. Developed and implemented patent strategies, tripling patent portfolio in less than two years. Promoted general client counseling, including patent gap analysis, invention mining, and competitive assessments. Provided discovery and witness preparation support for a major Exxon Mobil litigation.Worked on assignment from Exxon Mobil to manage all IP matters for joint venture. Created IP law department from ground up. Developed procedures/practices, oversaw staffing matters, and implemented various computer systems for managing patent dockets and competitive activities. Developed and implemented strategic patent procurement process, filing over 100 patent applications. Supervised and trained attorneys in preparation and prosecution matters. Managed outside counsel. Prepared budgets. Developed competitive monitoring process. Prepared non-infringement and invalidity opinions. Utilized experience in Japanese patent prosecution, negotiation, and litigation; assisted in merger-related matters, including due diligence reviews; and deposed and testified at trial for Exxon Mobil in a U.S. patent litigation. Partnered with business general manager in patent licensing negotiation with major Japanese competitor resulting in multi-million dollar catalyst license.