Qualifications Summary
Skilled businessman, accountant and attorney with extensive experience
in diverse areas of the law, including bankruptcy, corporations,
estate planning, limited partnerships, limited liability companies,
mergers and acquisitions, oil and gas, securities, tax, transportation
and real estate. Essentially, a life-time planning and preserving
estates; primarily through complex tax and state law planning
strategies, but also through experience with debtor/creditor
relationships and bankruptcy.
Litigation experience primarily in federal court: bankruptcy and
securities. Excellent writing and communication skills acquired
through hard work since I have very little natural writing skill.
Key Accomplishments
In 2011 had a "Forrest Gump Moment" and decided (with substantial
input from my family) to move back to my home state of Wyoming after
more than 25 years away, occupying our family's residence in Story
(near Sheridan) which we had inherited after the death of my parents.
Took over an existing tax and estate planning practice in Sheridan and
began changing the primary focus of that practice to the
implementation of family business generational transition strategies.
Attended several seminars in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and re-tooled the
practice to provide an effective platform for the implementation of
this focus, including a professional assistance network with
individuals and firms throughout the U.S. with an emphasis in this
type of estate planning.
Acquired in 2004 and grew through acquisitions and systemically a
transportation company with local, interstate and international
operations. This required a complete retooling of management, staff
and operations and the creation of a cultural environment devoted to
service. The company had $3.2M in gross revenues in 2003 which topped
at $11.6M in 2009. This was a complex business from the stand point of
governmental regulation and required not only skill in corporate
management and development, but also intense and prolonged interaction
with governmental agencies, including the DOD, DOT and GSA. Sold and
liquidated this business in early 2012.
Assisted in developing and managing from 1989 until 2000 a publicly
and then privately-held software company which grew from a start up in
1986 to over $50M in sales by 1999, two years after our sale of the
entity but while still working for the new owners. Acquired
opportunities for the business, including products and management in a
private equity capacity, which primarily involved tax structuring
under IRC 368 and related Code provisions. Oversaw legal, finance and
public report functions and assisted HR with a staff of approximately
120 people. Worked with diverse cultural and ethnic groups (Chinese,
Indians, Texans and Brits) and consumed in excess of $3M in accounting
and legal services over an 11 year period which now allows me to
effectively evaluate professional services from several stand points
not normally found within the legal community.
Drafted registration statements and assisted in bringing effective
approximately 15 initial public offerings and 10 secondary offerings
from 1983 through 2000, drafted offering memorandums for approximately
40 private placements and managed approximately ten
mergers/acquisitions. Represented numerous public companies in their
Exchange Act filings, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, 13D and Forms 3
and 4 and in developing their Exchange Act compliance procedures.
Worked in a municipal bond department for two years drafting
memorandum and providing for closings at the state, municipal and
special improvement district level. Extensive tax and state issue
research function. Assisted in developing a schematic for funding and
implementing privately-held "security facilities," writing the
definitive constitutional law memorandum on the subject, which was
rejected by my firm and, subsequently, accepted by Gary Hart's firm,
which made a fortune through the financing of privately-held prisons
on the back of my efforts.
Managed approximately 1,000 Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases as a Panel
Trustee for the District of Colorado from 1988 through 1990. Prepared
and filed as debtor's counsel approximately ten Chapter 11 proceedings
and too many Chapter 7 proceedings to even count or remember.
Litigated on behalf of debtor several "exceptions" claims and other
matters and won all of them – resulting in my obtaining a large
Arizona banking organization as a client approximately two months
before it folded in 1990.
Represented clients before the Securities and Exchange Commission on
informal and formal investigations. Secured no action conclusions in
most instances and represented three U.S. District Court cases to
satisfactory results. Worked as second chair with Leonard Davis
(Chicago 7 fame) in representing Joe "the Pig" Pignatiello, winning a
directed verdict in a widely publicized criminal securities case.
Worked in the estate planning section of a large multi-national law
firm for two years representing the interests of three large, old east
coast families. This rotation was done under the auspices of one of
the most highly respect estate planning attorneys in the business at
the time. Continued to hone these skills over the past 30 years
through the experience listed above. Experience and Education.
CEO and Owner – Sunset Moving & Storage - Fort Lauderdale, FL: 2004 to
2011 • Partner and In-House Counsel – Coral Companies - Denver, CO,
and San Jose, CA: 1989 to 2000 • Associate –Ballard, Spahr, Andrews &
Ingersoll – Denver, CO: 1983 to 1989 • JD – University of Colorado –
Boulder, CO (1983); Moot Court Competition; Top 15% Class Rank • Staff
Tax Accountant – Coopers & Lybrand - Denver, CO: 1980 • CPA – Wyoming
- Passed examination on first sitting: 1979; Beta Alpha Psi Honor
Society
Bachelor of Science, Accounting (Honors) – University of Wyoming –
Laramie, WY: 1979 Publications The Colorado Lawyer (1985): Securities
Act Section 4(1)(1/2): Judicial Exemption as Applied to the
Closely-held Business; University of Colorado Law Review: The
Convertible, Participating Mortgage: Federal Income Tax Considerations
with Professor Norton L. Steuben
