General Counsel & Director of Business Development – December 1999 to present – Handle all legal related matters for the fine art online portal, including e-commerce issues, strategic acquisitions, private placements, drafting and negotiating contracts, and employment issues. Also, oversee and manage all major business development efforts including identifying and initiating sponsor, affiliate, and other strategic relationships designed to generate traffic, brand recognition and revenue.

Attorney - October 1990 to present - Assist domestic, multinational, and foreign corporations with a range of legal issues involving Internet law, transactions, contracts, marketing, regulatory matters and litigation.

Internet Law - Represent companies from numerous industries on a variety of issues concerning Internet law and electronic commerce including: domain name disputes and registration procedures, content control, copyright and trademark, tax, on-line contracts, misappropriation, regulatory and legislative developments, privacy and personal data use and corporate policy on Internet and email use. Draft and negotiate a range of on-line related contracts, such as web site hosting, terms of use, co-branding, portal anchor tenent and exclusive auction site agreements. Assist companies with their online business development and relationship building efforts, including identifying potential business partners, initiating contact, presenting the business proposal and negotiating the agreement. Serve as vice-chair to the ABA’s Internet Industry Committee and editor of its biannual report. Authored a monthly column for Internet Week analyzing legal issues of concern to Internet service providers. Currently contribute Internet/e-commerce articles to several other publications, including National Law Journal, Metropolitan Corporate Counsel and Corporate Counsel Magazine. Regularly give CLE presentations to corporate counsel addressing legal issues associated with the Internet/e-commerce. Provide commentary and insight for news organizations and publications, including interviews for Wall Street Journal Radio.

Transactions/Contracts – Represent buyers, sellers, lenders and underwriters in numerous mergers and acquisitions. Experience includes due diligence efforts, identifying and counseling on potential liabilities, negotiating the allocation of these liabilities, and drafting agreements and provisions thereon. Draft certificates of incorporation, by-laws, stock purchase agreements, investor rights agreements and private placement memorandum in connection with corporate formation, issuing stock and raising capital. Also, negotiate, draft and provide advice on numerous agreements for companies including: software development and maintenance agreements, computer system outsourcing agreements, employment contracts, distribution, confidentiality and settlement agreements.

Compliance/Litigation - Interpretation and advice on a wide range of compliance matters, including FTC, CPSC, EPA, OSHA, FDA, and DOT issues. Provide representation before all branches of the U.S. government. Responsibilities include investigation, defense formulation, settlement negotiations and resolution, and preparation and filing of pleadings. Some of the issues include: (i) pending criminal claims; (ii) confidential business information claims; (iii) product recall investigation and (iv) marketing and labeling claims pursuant to an FTC investigation.

Education

National Law Center, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., J.D., May 1990

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, B.A. Economics, May 1985

Professional Activities

Membership: Northern Virginia Technology Council, Association for Interactive Media,
U.S.-British Business Council, American Bar Association.

Publications

"FTC Finalizes Online Privacy Rules for Children," Corporate Counsel Magazine, December 1999

"The Case for an Employee E-Mail/Internet Use Policy," Corporate Counsel Magazine, June 1999

"For Your Eyes Only: Internet Privacy Issues for U.S. Companies Collecting Data in the EU," Corporate Counsel Magazine, April 1999

"FTC Protects Privacy of Web-Site Visitors," National Law Journal Internet Newsletter,
March 1999

"EU’s Privacy Policies Will Likely Impact U.S. Interests," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, February 1999

"SEC Issues Guidelines for Internet Offerings," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, August 1998

"ISPs Should File Opinions on Domain Names," Internet Week, July 21, 1998

"Internet Sites That Attorneys Should Visit," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, July 1998

"Courts Back ISP Immunity Against Defamation," Internet Week, May 5, 1998

"U.S. Electronic Contracts Code Nearly Written," Internet Week, November 17, 1997

"Universal Service Fund Up for Revision," Internet Week, October 20, 1997

"Debate Renewed on ISP Defamation Liability," Internet Week, September 15, 1997

"Favorable House Bills Would Help Insulate ISPs," Internet Week, August 18, 1997

"Corporate Counsel’s Guide to FOIA," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, July 1997

"ISPs Gain Legal Ammunition Against Spamming," Internet Week, July 1997

"Online Taxation Issues Forego Federal Scrutiny," The National Law Journal, May 5, 1997

Superfund and Clean Air Act chapters for Environmental Criminal Liability, Bureau of National Affairs, January 1996

Reports

Recent Internet Presentations

Chaired "Hot Topics in Internet Law" presentation at ABA annual convention, featuring AT&T, Metromedia, PSINet and Usinternetworking, August 9,1999, Atlanta

Co-presenter with Acting General Counsel for AOL at Corporate Counsel Institute,
March 19, 1999, Georgetown Law School, Washington D.C.

WSP&R’s existing and prospective clients, February 25, 1999, New York office (video available)

Manufacturers Alliance Law Counsel II, October 22, 1998, Philadelphia