2010 - 2011

Team Lead,
British Petroleum E&P, Houston, TX

Directed contracting team’s work to ensure swift response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Negotiated and executed contracts with Oil Spill Response Organizations and other companies supporting BP’s Pollution Prevention, Clean-Up, and Decontamination projects following the Deepwater Horizon Incident. Directed team of Lawyers, Contract Specialists and Procurement Specialists. Addressed and resolved claims/disputes with major suppliers/vendors.

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Personally negotiated $800 million in contracts, representing record number of contracts executed on this project.
• Negotiated suppliers rate reductions of up to 35% and negotiated direct contracts with vendors’ subcontractors resulting in additional savings in excess of 10%e.
• Received Deepwater Horizon One Gulf Response Awards from the Rear Admiral U.S. Coast Guard and the BP Unified Area Commander for outstanding services.

2009 - 2010

Partner,
United Chase Group, LLC – Houston, TX

United Chase Group is a consulting firm offering a wide array of services distributed between 3 different practices: B2B services designed to reduce expenses, recover costs and obtain tax credits/refund, consulting services in bidding on RFPs, negotiating contracts and managing projects and contracts, and executive search services.

Managed the firm’s operations and finances. Responsible for developing and concluding strategic partnerships with various subject matter expert firms providing core service to its clientele. As a result, after one year, the firm offered 14 new programs and launched 3 more in the following 4 months.

2006 - 2009

Chief Administrative Officer / Senior Vice President Legal, Contracts & Administration Paradigm Geophysical – Emerson – Houston, TX

Paradigm is a $500 million provider of enterprise software solutions and consulting services to the global oil/natural gas exploration and production industry.

Served as the leader for the Administration, Legal and Contracts functional areas of the Strategic Consulting Business Unit. Directed all aspects of the Business Acquisition Process organization, establishing all policies, procedures, and business processes. Assisted Business Unit’s worldwide operations in developing and conducting business with customers, partners, and suppliers, negotiating and closing contracts, guiding compliance, advising on contracting matter to meet business goals while ensuring Corporate guidelines are complied with

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Developed compliance policies and procedures allowing screening and identification of “red flag contractors” and when required, termination of the business relationship.
• Created and implemented Pre-Bid Review Committee to evaluate major bidding opportunities risks.
• Developed, implemented, and oversaw the tender process, interacting with operations, business development, finance, project management, and technical across 8 regions worldwide.
• Improved staff capabilities significantly through training across multiple areas, including risk identification and mitigation, new processes and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
• Facilitated gross margin increase on projects from -5% to 30% and win rate increase from 10% to 35% by the end of 2008; received a Letter of Recommendation from the CEO for overall performance.

2001 - 2006

Vice President – Contracts & Procurement
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) – San Diego, Ca

SAIC was the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. With annual revenues of $7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, had more than 42,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. In 2013 SAIC was split into SAIC and Leidos.

Directed team of 15 contract, subcontract, and procurement professionals in negotiating and managing a $1 billion I.T. engineering project portfolio. Provided top-level direction and support for the business unit, procurement, business development, project management, pricing, taxation, and risk management involving projects and strategies for commercial and government clients. Ensured the business unit’s compliance with ITAR, EAR, and FCPA as well as internal policies and procedures. Conducted business opportunity and in-progress project reviews.

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Negotiated and managed complex contracts of up to $300 million each, involving turnkey projects, I.T. outsourcing, I.T. engineering, T&M, FFP, CPFF, FPP/LOE, IDIQ, and others, responding to all RFPs.
• Improved Contract Managers’ personal value by implementing cross-training and de-compartmentalization in several areas, leading to commendations from Business Development Managers for Contract Managers’ contributions.
• Overhauled legacy proposal and bid / no-bid review processes resulting in a shorter bid approval cycle and a higher win rate.

2000 - 2001

Senior Director – International Contracts
Telcordia Technologies (then SAIC subsidiary) – Pretoria, South Africa / Morristown, NJ

Telcordia Technologies, Inc. (formerly known as Bellcore), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAIC is one of the world’s largest providers of operations support systems, networks software and consulting and engineering services to the telecommunications industry.

Relocated to South Africa to resolve multiple disputes around a $250 million contract between Telcordia and South Africa’s national telecommunication company (Telkom S.A.) for the modernization of South Africa’s telecommunications system - the company’s largest contract. Subsequently returned to the U.S. to create the contracts segment of the new Outsourcing division. In charge of negotiating large, complex I.T. outsourcing contracts, teaming agreements, subcontracts, and license agreements.

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Work in South Africa resulted in an $80 million arbitral award in favor of Telcordia, representing the largest in the history of South Africa.
• Earned promotion within 1 year of employment with Telcordia to its parent company (SAIC) based on performance and results.

1998 - 2000

Vice President of International Business
Physician’s Choice of Arizona – Scottsdale, AZ

Physician's Choice of Arizona (“PCA”) was established in 1990 and develops, produces and sells skin care products in over 50 countries through healthcare professionals, Spas and salons and international distributors.

Established the company’s entire international operations and infrastructure through developing partnerships with tier-1 and tier-2 distributors. Negotiated agreements, assembled and trained a global team, and coordinated all international marketing activities.

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Exceeded international sales goals by 10% in year 1 and 20% in year 2 through development and implementation of business plan. Received letter of recommendation from the CEO.
• Appointed independent distributors to specific territories.

1994 - 1998

Associate General Counsel
IMS Health – Brussels, Belgium (a former subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet)

IMS is a Fortune 500 company and the world leader in market research, business analysis, forecasting and sales management services to/for the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. IMS was a subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet until November 1996 and is now publicly traded as IMS Health. IMS recently merged with Quintiles.

Responsible for the company’s legal affairs in EMEA and Latin America. Provided legal advice. Managed outside legal counsels. Drafted legal opinions on various matters including antitrust, data privacy, marketing. Negotiated businesses acquisitions, joint-ventures, outsourcing agreements, cooperation agreement, client and supplier contracts. Interfaced with regulatory authorities.

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Played key role in expanding global sales from $800 million to $1 billion within a 2-year period through negotiations of companies acquisitions, joint-ventures, outsourcing contracts and client contracts.
• Lobbied the European Commission to shape the redaction of the Data Protection Directive.
  

1987 - 1994

Senior Legal Counsel, EMEA
Data General Europe – Paris, France

Data General Europe was the European Headquarters of Data General Corporation, a Fortune 500 company designing, manufacturing and distributing worldwide, general-purpose computers, communications and storage systems, and developing and licensing software programs. Data General merged with EMC which eventually merged with Dell..

Responsible for the company’s legal affairs in Europe Middle East & Africa. Negotiated multiple contracts including distributorship in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Iran and a joint venture in the then Soviet Union with Russian and Austrian partners. Provided legal advice on various legal issues. From 1991 to 1994, lobbied with the European Commission as a member of the American Electronics Association’s Trade Policy Committee in Brussels.

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Recognized as a key catalyst in the growth of international sales for Data General, including contracts with international end-users, VARs, and distributors in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• Negotiated multimillion-dollar contracts for Data General that included the Algerian Military and Customs ($80 million), Hungarian and Kuwaiti National Police, SHAPE (NATO) in Belgium, National Water Company in Morocco, and other Government owned companies in various countries.

1984 - 1987

Corporate Lawyer
Mobil Oil Francaise - Paris, France

Mobil Oil Française, a subsidiary of Mobil Oil Corporation (the distribution division of Mobil) refines and distributes oil and gas in France and manages the refineries and oil and gas distribution subsidiaries in Africa. Mobil has now merged with Exxon to form ExxonMobil.

Counselled Mobil’s subsidiaries in France and Africa on various matters including the acquisition of a network of gas stations in Africa. After one year, was promoted to reorganize and manage the guarantees and collections division. Handled various legal matters for Corporate Headquarters in New York (antitrust, anti-boycott, international litigations, international contracts, etc.). Managed a group of paralegals.

Key Contributions & Achievements:

• Reduced receivables by over 33% in 6 months, 50% in 1 year, and 70% the following year. Promoted as manager of Contractual Guarantees and Collections division.

1980 - 1984

Attorney
Cabinet Jeantet & Associés – Paris, France

Cabinet Jeantet was the largest law firm in France.

Counselled U.S. corporate clients such as Mars, CBS, Goodyear, Hewlett-Packard, John Deere on their international business transactions within the European Union and between the U.S.A. and Europe. Specialized in international trade and customs. Assisted clients in developing business ventures in new geographic markets.

Education & Credentials

LLM – (Comparative Law) Degree

University of Miami School of Law – Coral Gables, FL

Licence en Droit Degree – Juris Doctor Equivalent

University of Paris 2 Sorbonne – Paris, France

Licence d’Anglais Degree

University of Paris 8 Vincennes – Paris, France

Professional Training

SAIC: Project Management I, II and III, Contract Negotiations, Federal Government Contracting Training; AMERICAN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION: Mergers & Acquisitions, Communication & Leadership, Negotiating Skills; INSEAD: Financial Management; PETROEDGE DUBAI: Interpreting and Managing Charter Party Supply Vessels; VARIOUS LEGALTOPICS: Computer Law, Competition Law, European Competition Law, etc.