About

Of Counsel, May 2011 - May 2013, Budsberg Law Group, Olympia, WA, a three attorney bankruptcy firm with a Chapter 11 and Trustee practice. Of Counsel, July 2005- November 2009, Cushman Law Offices, Olympia, Washington, a six attorney firm providing legal services in the following practice areas: commercial transactions, construction, timber, real estate, land use, administrative law, technology licensing, commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation. Associate General Counsel and Vice President, June 1999- April 2005, J.C. Penney Corporation, Plano, Texas, a retailer of apparel and soft goods in the United States and Brazil ($18 billion revenues, $12 billion assets), served by a forty-five attorney department.  Responsible to General Counsel for legal advice on non-merchandise transactions, regulatory compliance, public liability and Brazilian operations and for assisting Managing Attorney with assigned administrative matters.  Transactions work included real estate leases, energy supply, telecommunications, marketing, e-commerce, insurance, logistics and construction services contracts, as well as pharmacy contracts (prior to the sale of Eckerd in 2004).  Regulatory work included health, safety, environmental and disabilities compliance.  Provided the legal support for outsourcing the Company’s credit card business in 1999, discontinuing its Middle Eastern operations in 2002, and sale of its Mexican stores in 2003.  Led the team that updated the Company’s record retention program in response to the Sarbanes Oxley Act, and the teams that established the department’s list of primary counsel, its document management system and its matter and time tracking system. General Counsel and Secretary, 1989 – May 1999, Star Enterprise, Houston, Texas, a petroleum refining and marketing partnership between affiliates of Texaco and Saudi Aramco operating independently in 26 Eastern and Gulf Coast states ($8 billion revenues, $4 billion assets), served by a fifteen attorney law department.  Responsible to executive management for all matters of legal concern to the company, including general partnership matters; outside financing arrangements; oil spill response; intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trade names, and trademarks); litigation and proposed legislation.  Implemented computer systems supporting delivery of legal services, including litigation management, litigation risk analysis, outside counsel utilization, and in-house counsel time reporting. Corporate Counsel, 1979-1988, Arabian American Oil Company, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, a multinational oil production company with service affiliates in Texas and the Netherlands, served by a thirty attorney law department.  Advised clients on design and construction projects, contracting, purchasing, foreign boycotts, licensing of technology, arbitration and litigation, crude oil sales and transportation, Saudi import regulations, oil pollution control, and corporate affairs such as shareholder and Board of Directors meetings, delegations of authority and record keeping. Associate, 1974-1978, Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro, San Francisco, California, a full service law firm.  Practiced general corporate law in the international group, giving advice on contracts, government regulations (environment, transportation, antitrust), corporate tax (corporate reorganizations and partnerships), and foreign joint ventures.  Advised clients on compliance programs for US anti-boycott laws and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Practices Areas

Real Estate

Language

English

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