LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Counsel, Zent Law Group, PC – 2006 - Present
- Draft and negotiate commercial and licensing transactions of various types.
- Represent the firm’s major corporate client base.
- Develop policies, best practices and forms for corporate law departments.
Vice President, Corporate Counsel– Actineon, Inc. 2001-2006
- Founder (with former Philips Senior VP), Board Secretary, second generation data communication module manufacturer
- Successfully raised two rounds of seed capital in US and UK.
- Prepared and presented strategic Business Plan to venture capitalists to raise $10 million.
- Prepared project plans to initiate strategic partnerships with telecommunications service providers and key customers.
General Counsel – Philips Semiconductors, Inc. 1990-2001
- Manage corporate law department of Philips Semiconductors total annual sales $2.0 billion. Emphasis on providing legal support for the worldwide marketing of hardware and software; intellectual property protection and antitrust law; employment law.
- Draft complex technology licenses and joint development agreements; negotiate and draft strategic alliances and advise management on acquisitions and divestitures.
- Successfully conclude environmental insurance claims.
- Manage litigation; monitor and evaluate cost-effectiveness of outside counsel in environmental, product liability and wrongful termination cases.
- Manage legal aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions; real estate financing.
- Left Philips to found Actineon with an ex Philips Senior Vice President
Senior Counsel – Intel Corporation 1987-1990
- Provided general counsel to microcontroller, memory component, and PC peripheral design and manufacturing operations.
- Drafted all licensing, strategic alliance and joint venture agreements for assigned client divisions.
- Negotiated and drafted PC systems and PC peripherals manufacturing joint venture agreement in China.
- Negotiated and drafted several strategic alliance agreements in Germany for the design and manufacture of ASIC devices for automotive applications.
Senior Counsel – Bank of America 1985-1987
- Advised BankAmerica Systems Engineering management regarding specialized computer hardware acquisition and disposal; software development and licensing agreements, telecommunications issues and alternative dispute resolution.
- Provided general legal advice to data processing service bureau operations, sale of business units, strategic planning, creation of standard forms and agreements, dispute resolution.
- Prepared and presented preventive law training programs.
Corporate Counsel-International – ComputerLand Corp. 1982-1985
- Established international legal department, managed attorneys, paralegals and clerical staff.
- Advised senior management regarding international banking transactions, commercial leases, foreign construction projects and corporate reorganizations.
- Drafted and negotiated international computer hardware and software agreements.
- Managed worldwide trademark protection program.
Attorney – Blum, Kay and Merkle 1981-1982
- Advised foreign corporations regarding business operations in California.
- Negotiated sales of small business assets.
Legal Counsel – DuPont Canada, Inc. 1977-1979
- Drafted and negotiated commercial agreements and joint ventures.
- Supervised litigation and directed outside counsel.
Associate Counsel – Canadian General Electric 1975-1977
- Drafted and negotiated multi-million dollar international joint venture agreements.
- Acted as corporate secretary to several subsidiaries, prepared minutes and other legal documentation.
EDUCATION
- J.D. (1981) University of San Francisco
- LL.M., (Corporate and Commercial Law, 1980) Université de Montréal
- B.C.L., (1974) McGill University, Montréal
- B.A., (1975) Bishop’s University, Lennoxville, Québec
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- State Bar of California, 1982
- Barreau du Québec (Bar of the Province of Québec), 1975
- American Arbitration Association, U.S. and Intellectual Property Panel (1985-Present)
- Silicon Valley Law Foundation (Board Member, (2000-2002)
- Santa Clara County Bar Association (Member - Board of Trustees, (2001-2002)
- Silicon Valley Association of General Counsel (Chairman, 1998-2000)
PERSONAL
- Citizenships: United States, Canada, Slovakia (Authorized to work in USA, Canada, EU)
- Languages: French – Fluent (Can conduct business negotiations in French) Hungarian – Conversational
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