Profile

Attorney Profile

I am a member of the State Bar of California. My former memberships include the Washington State Bar, the Federated States of Micronesia Bar, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Bar. My university degrees include:

  • J.D. Boston College Law School
  • M.A. University of California (UCSB)
  • B.A. University of California (UCLA)

From 1985-1987 I served as State Attorney General for Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia (formerly part of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands).

Past and Present Board Service

  • Albany Education Foundation (California)
  • East Bay Business Alliance (California)
  • The Ed. Fund (California)
  • Economic Development Authority (Micronesia)
  • Foreign Investment Board (Micronesia)
  • Continental Place Condominiums (Washington)
  • Center for Law-Related Education (California)
  • Children’s Museum of Hartford (Connecticut)

Groups and Associations

  • Wealth Counsel (a national association of estate planning attorneys)
  • Berkeley Albany Bar Association
  • State Bar of California
  • East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers (EBTEL)
  • Albany Rotary Club
  • Albany Chamber of Commerce

Prior Experiences

Attorney General, Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia

  • Drafted contracts, agreements, easements, RFPs, leases, and other legal documents
  • Testified before state and national legislative committees regarding pending legislation
  • Prepared Executive Orders and other communications for Governor to sign
  • Court appearances
  • Managed outside counsel
  • Served on numerous task forces and provided counsel
  • Responsible for all legal assistance provided to executive branch of Pohnpei State government as well as to five municipal and five regional governments
  • Issue Legal opinions:
    • Sales tax, import tax, and other tax questions
    • Annual executive branch budget matters
    • Personnel matters
    • Land title issues
    • Foreign Investment Board issues
    • Constitutional issues
  • Draft and review legislative bills and regulations:
    • Privatization, personnel matters, etc.
  • $496 million bond issue:
    • Negotiated terms and advised Governor and other executive branch officials
  • Power Plant:
    • Negotiated and drafted contract for construction of multi-million dollar Alcoa power plant
    • Monitored project progress
  • International airport terminal:
    • Prepared RFP
    • Negotiated and drafted contract for construction of multi-million dollar international airport terminal
    • Reviewed performance bond and payment bond
  • Sale of rock-crushing plant:
    • Negotiated and drafted sales and escrow agreements
    • Analyzed complex tax issues
  • Sale of cold storage and ice-making plant:
    • Prepared RFP for multi-million dollar project
  • Litigation:
    • Civil trial relating to the arrest and seizure of a Japanese fishing vessel and 32 crewmembers
    • Negotiated settlement of multi-million dollar estate case

Business Endeavors

Innovation Station

  • Marketing and business consulting

Privacy Board

  • Developed PRIVACYboard.com Web site providing privacy law news and services to businesses, consumers, and the media
  • Created strategic alliances with privacy law experts

Merit College Savings Credit Card

  • Developed a rebate-earning credit card that helps families save for a college education
  • Created a strategic alliance with First USA
  • Created a strategic alliances with state-operated college savings programs (Section 529 Plans)
  • Created strategic alliances with retailers

Epicenter Services

  • Created and marketed EQ Box, an outdoor container delivered to consumers’ homes with all the earthquake supplies recommended by the California Office of Emergency Services (OES)
  • Developed EPICENTERservices.com Web site providing earthquake and disaster news service

Grand Times Magazine and Grandtimes.com

  • Published Grand Times Magazine (Northern California print edition) and GRANDtimes.com (National edition available at http://www.grandtimes.com )
  • Negotiated $400,000 sponsorship with Paine Webber
  • Developed strategic alliances with 23 medical centers
  • Developed strategic alliance with McKesson Drug Company/Valu-Rite; agreement provided access to more than 5,500 pharmacies nationwide
  • Developed strategic alliance with Independent Broadcasters Network (125+ radio stations nationwide)
  • Managed corporate participation in numerous senior expos, senior olympics, and senior fairs
  • Recruited and managed salespeople
  • Created a network of advertising brokers
  • Created InfoMed Card (medical emergency identification card)
  • Created Senior Service Provider Program (accreditation program for businesses serving older adults)
  • Published a senior housing directory
  • Increased print edition circulation by 450% in 3 years
  • Increased Internet edition circulation to the point where now GRANDtimes.com was the number one Internet senior magazine according to search engines such as Google, Ask Jeeves and Yahoo (more traffic than AARP’s Internet senior magazine)
  • Prepared a business plan for HealthMedia of America to launch The Nature of Health, a magazine to be published for PayLess Drug Stores; bimonthly circulation of 1,000,000 copies distributed in 578 stores

Adventure Unlimited, Inc.

  • International artifacts retailer and adventure travel broker; extensive travel throughout China, India, Philippines, and other Asian countries