Forty years’ experience as a commercial litigator in both state and federal court as well as international and domestic arbitrations. For past 25 plus years have specialized in international disputes. Experience as a transactional lawyer in drafting complex cross-border agreements. Practice has included a broad range of industries and subject matters, including:

International cross-border disputes involving more than 20 countries including antitrust, technology and competition issues, investment disputes, distribution disputes, enforcement of international arbitration awards and foreign money judgments, and jurisdiction and venue disputes.

Contract disputes including formation, misrepresentation and fraud in the inducement.

Trade secrets and disputes over ownership rights to proprietary information and intellectual property.

Employment including discrimination and wages.

Employment including discrimination and wages.

Class actions including defense and prosecution of consumer, wage and hour, and securities.

Professional errors and omissions including lawyer and accountants.

Products liability.

Trademark and copyright infringement.

Shareholder disputes and divorces of businesses.

Aviation experience, nonlegal experience as a member of governing body for the Los Angeles World Airports. Was involved with overseeing all aspects of the operations of LAX and Van Nuys (general aviation) airports including approximately $15 billion of modernization projects, airport police, budget, and public private partnerships.

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.  Panel Arbitrator with American Arbitration Association and has arbitrated many cases.  Has spoken all over the world on international arbitration.

Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the California Lawyers Association (2020- 2023); Founder and Vice President of California Arbitration, Inc. (2022- .)  Co-Chair of California International Arbitration Week (2022, 2023 and 2024); currently organizing the 2025 California International Arbitration Week.  Co-Chair of many international arbitration conferences since 2007.

Past Chair of the International Law Section of The State Bar of California and of the Los Angeles County Bar Association; Member of the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association Litigation Section; Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar; Chair of the Los Angeles Advisory Board of Global Chamber; Chair of the International Trade Committee of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association; Past Chair of International Litigation and Arbitration Specialist Group of Consulegis; Elected Member of the Consulegis Advisor Board.

Appointed by three different Mayors of the City of Los Angeles as a City Commissioner and approved each time by the Los Angeles City Council.  Currently, President of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission is required by law to administer City and state laws relating to campaign financing, governmental ethics, lobbying, and contracts.  Previously served on the Board of Airport Commissioners for the Los Angeles World Airports. The seven-member Board is the governing body for the airports.  LAX is currently the sixth busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States. Previously served as the Chairperson of the City of Los Angeles Rent Adjustment Commission, which is responsible for adopting policies, rules and regulations pertaining to the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance and is the Appeals Board for the City of Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department.  Served as a City Commissioner since 2003.  Commissioner, Los Angeles Municipal Election Reform Commission.

Selected for inclusion in the practice of international law by Super Lawyers® (a division of Thompson Reuters) (2015-) and is rated “AV® Preeminent™” by Martindale-Hubbell.

Regularly makes presentations on many different international issues, including recent programs on international arbitration and international litigation strategies, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and international arbitration awards, the Convention on the International Sale of Goods, structuring international transactions, avoiding cultural mishaps, family law across borders, and trade secret disputes, and international trade legal considerations.

Publications

 Executive Editor of the 560-page handbook International Intellectual Property Law Basics

• Associate Editor of the handbook International Corporate Structures
• “Go Global,” the cover featured article on international arbitration (Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine April 2013)
• “Emerging Topics in ADR: (Daily Journal September 2023)
• “Obtaining Strategic Injunctions Against Infringers Of U.S. Patents”
• Chapter “Licensing and Regulation of Insurance Adjusters” in the Matthew Bender treatise, California Insurance Law
• “Cross-Border Litigation Issues To Consider When Structuring International Transactions,” (Financier Worldwide, December 2014).

J.D., University of California, Davis, 1982
– Member of Law Review and Moot Court Board
B.A., Claremont McKenna College, 1979