Michelle has over 20 years of experience in intellectual property (IP) which sets the foundation of THE FRANCIS COMPANY, a business and legal strategy advisory firm specializing in IP. Having worked with 40 plus companies in both the US and abroad, Michelle has an essential, but often overlooked perspective on business strategy and the important role IP can play in achieving business objectives and revenue goals that set a company apart from its competition. She is also an expert at the structure and restructure of the internal operations of domestic and global in-house IP operations and best practices for use of outside counsel. The Francis Company's clients include SoulCycle, LLC, Reckitt Benckiser, Inc. (North America), and The Pokemon Company International, Inc. Prior to founding THE FRANCIS COMPANY in 2009, Michelle worked for the News Corporation companies for 12 years. Most recently she served as Senior VP and Deputy General Counsel to News Corp, the Fortune 100 company and global multi-media leader. She headed up the IP practice at News Corp in New York for over seven years, charged with global business strategy, management and protection of the IP and Internet assets of News Corp and many of its operating and joint venture companies (HarperCollins, New York Post, News America Marketing, various satellite platforms, such as Sky in Italy and Tata Sky in India). She also advised on certain IP matters for STAR TV in Asia, myspace.com and DirecTV. Prior to this role, Michelle handled worldwide film and TV IP enforcement matters in Los Angeles at the Fox Entertainment Group for all of News Corp's Fox businesses (Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Fox Broadcasting Company, the Fox Cable Channels and Fox Sports).Michelle started her career as a litigator in private practice in Los Angeles, focusing on general litigation and entertainment and IP law at Knapp Petersen and Clarke, and subsequently, at Kulik Gottesman and Mouton.