I am a member of Hertz Schram’s corporate practice group, which focuses on mergers and acquisitions of businesses, as well as private securities offerings and capital-raising activities.  Much of my practice involves negotiating and litigating contracts, which allows me to advise business clients practically and to advocate for them effectively.  I draft and review a wide array of business contracts and address business-related legal issues for construction, insurance agencies, entertainment, software and IT, cannabis, petroleum, and other industries, providing compliance and risk management advice as outside general counsel.  I have experience with business sales, acquisitions, and franchising in retail, manufacturing, and health care.  I have litigated 15 jury trials involving breach of contract, insurance E&O, unfair competition, and personal injury claims.

Assisting clients with business deals is a matter of coordinating the various considerations involved into a comprehensive result.  Key issues are to be addressed by drafting deal terms that are clear, concise, and not redundant.  Addressing risk involves assessing what is truly important to making the deal work.  Employing these practices best ensures your deal succeeds.

I enjoy devising game plans for litigation cases by evaluating the pros and cons of each side of the case.  A winning argument is achieved by presenting a narrative that helps a judge or jury make sense of the legal claims and relevant facts.  Identifying discovery objectives to secure key facts is an important part of the process.  I do my own research and drafting of documents when preparing a client’s case.

Representative Matters

• Recently organized an investment LLC for acquisition of income rights to music royalties by preparing company governance documents and disclosures for investors.
• Represented a shareholder of a medical practice network and successfully negotiated payment of outstanding distributions and a plan among the shareholders to sell the business.
• Successfully represented a steel processing business in preventing a former plant manager from taking and using company trade secrets to open a competing business.
• Serve as outside general counsel for USA Insulation franchises in Michigan. An engagement that started with drafting a single collection letter has grown into me providing a variety of day-to-day legal needs for the business, from drafting and negotiating a wide range of contracts to advising on specific legal issues across the business.  I also manage dispute resolution matters regarding vendors and customers.
• Won a $58M verdict by convincing the jury that the defendant general contractor had control over the worksite area where the accident in question occurred.  This was accomplished by using the project manager’s description of the work to show defendant’s proximity to the accident on the project map that the jury was able to see for themselves.

Professional and Community Leadership

• Shrine Dad’s Club
• Habitat for Humanity New Orleans