EXPERIENCE

GRAHAM LAW FIRM
February 2006 – Present

Counseling large and small businesses and individuals who manufacture, sell or distribute branded products or services, including:
* IT and software licensing
* registration of trademarks and copyrights
* licensing of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets
* advertising review/FTC compliance
* negotiation and drafting product supply, sales, broker and sales representative contracts
* trademark and trade dress infringement
* creditors’ rights and bankruptcy

Principal outside counsel and advisor to large consumer package goods manufacturer and distributor

Principal US counsel for multinational developer and distributor of web-based talent acquisition and HR management software and servicesIP counsel to national check and document archiving and management service

Drafts and negotiates tech agreements for multinational bank and brokerage firm

Certified Mediator for NC courts
AAA commercial panel member

SNYDER’S-LANCE, INC.
Deputy General Counsel – with significant delegated authority
August 2009 – September 2015

Lead the Charlotte-based legal functions of $1.8B company handling the following functions:
Compliance
Administers the Company’s Insider Trading policy, reviewing and approving requested trades
SEC reporting/lOK, lOQ, 8K, proxy statement
Acrylamide testing
FDA/FTC advertising and package review Employment practices/EEOC
OSHA investigation response
Policies and Procedures
Litigation
Manages claims related to product liability, employment practices, breach of contract, false advertising,
trademark/copyright infringement, third party discovery requests
Contracting
Reviews and approves all contracts in the following business units: supply chain, finance/administration (IT, financial consulting, etc.), manufacturing, distribution/transportation, advertising/sweepstakes, employment, sales, marketing
Intellectual Property
Manages the company’s extensive intellectual property portfolio consisting of over 400 trademark registrations worldwide
Advises innovation and marketing teams in connection with the development, branding and packaging of all snack food products, and the associated marketing and promotional campaigns, including the screening and protection of intellectual property
Handles the following matters: trademark clearance, trademark application/registration/monitoring, patent applications/ docketing, copyright, licensing, product package and advertising review
M & A
Played a key role in at least 10 major transactions, including acquisitions, mergers and divestures, along with a number of debt and credit facility transactions
Counseling
Strategic partner with sales, marketing, manufacturing, human resources and supply chain business segments
Key adviser to Human Resources/Employment practices

MOORE & VAN ALLEN, PLLC
Member – June 2001 – February 2006
Head of Information Technology Group – provided and coordinated firm’s technology and intellectual property practice, including licensing, general corporate representation, negotiation and drafting of contracts and licenses

KILPATRICK STOCKTON
Partner 1992-2001
Associate 1987–1992

Member of the intellectual property and antitrust litigation group
Represented large multinational companies, including Sara Lee Corp. in trademark litigation and IP counseling
Represented national manufacturer in dealer termination litigation
Represented local Pepsi bottler in antitrust litigation
Represented Microsoft, Inc. in enforcement efforts, including counterfeiting injunctive actions
Represented direct response marketers in IP and advertising issues
Negotiated and reviewed software licensing, development and maintenance agreements

Hunton & Williams LLP
June 1984 – July 1987
Represented utilities in the rate-making process, including electric utilities with nuclear plants.
Staff accountant Arthur Andersen
June 1980 – August 1981

EDUCATION
B.S.B.A., Ohio State University, 1980, summa cum laude

J.D., George Washington University, 1984, with honors
Licensed in North Carolina, 1984

Admitted to 4th Circuit and U.S. District Courts in North Carolina

North Carolina Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Copyright Society of USA