Experience
Representative Work
Telecommunications & Commercial Lending
- Lead the transition services agreement work stream on $2 billion M&A acquisition of wireless assets.
- Served as lead and local outside counsel — and subsequently in-house counsel — on multiple large international participation loan transactions, including senior credit facility issuances and refinancings of $425 million, $250 million, $230 million, and $70 million for a major Alaska telecommunications company, with as many as 17 participating lenders.
- Conducted extensive commercial loan and special credits work for Wells Fargo, Key Bank, and Northrim Bank (and previously for National Bank of Alaska) across multiple transactions.
- Conducted extensive secured and unsecured creditor bankruptcy and reorganization work for private entities including Travelers, Wells Fargo, Key Bank, and Northrim Bank (and previously for National Bank of Alaska).
Alaska Native Corporation Governance & ANCSA Compliance
- Drafted annual proxy packages for Alaska Native Corporation clients, including shareholder approval of ANCSA settlement trusts, Descendant enrollment, and Elder stock issuances.
- Created election rules and director candidate application packages in compliance with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) for ANC clients.
- Served as Inspector of Elections and Parliamentarian for ANC shareholder meetings.
- Deployed enterprise risk management surveys across all entities within a multi-subsidiary ANC family and co-created a 'traffic light' corporate goals and metrics matrix for boards of directors.
- Investigated and resolved Code of Conduct complaints and breaches of confidentiality for an ANC client, achieving unanimous Board approval of results.
- Conducted substantial benchmarking of best practices and legal research on ANCSA matters, resulting in new forms, practices, and procedures for ANC clients.
- Facilitated information development and gathering sessions for the Donlin Gold Project; obtained dozens of project support letters from directors, employees, and third parties for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Impact Statement; and co-authored 'duty to consult' letters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Created and presented Code of Conduct, officer and director fiduciary duties, corporate veil preservation, Robert's Rules of Order, harassment and discrimination prevention, and social media training to corporate boards and officers, including Alaska Native Corporation boards.
- Issued guidance memoranda on proxy rule compliance, independent contractor versus employee characterization risk, lobbying compliance, attorney-client privilege in the in-house context, creation of minutes in compliance with Robert's Rules and the Alaska Supreme Court Pederson v. ASRC decision.
Legislative Advocacy & Corporate Law Reform
- Initiated the Alaska Model Entities Transaction Act, subsequently enacted into Alaska Statutes.
- Co-initiated, drafted, testified for, and lobbied to unanimous passage of SB 24 — the virtual and hybrid meeting provisions now enacted into Alaska Statutes for for-profit, nonprofit, and Alaska Native Corporations.
- Obtained an emergency court order suspending the requirement that Alaska corporations hold in-person annual shareholder meetings at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, preserving shareholder governance continuity for ANCs and other Alaska corporations.
Municipal Law
- Served as City Attorney for multiple Alaska municipalities, advising on open meetings requirements, ethics and conflicts of interest, governance roles and responsibilities of public officials, and municipal law developments.
In-House Counsel & Enterprise Management
- As General Counsel for Calista Corporation — an Alaska Native Corporation representing over 24,000 shareholders and parent to dozens of subsidiaries across government contracting, construction, real estate, telecommunications, environmental and natural resource development, and oil field services — led strategic business and legal initiatives, managed internal and external counsel, and saved over $700,000 in annual outside counsel fees through dispute resolution and cost management, and nearly $600,000 in annual insurance premiums.*
- Drafted, benchmarked, and implemented corporate policies, procedures, and programs covering a wide range of legal matters for a large multi-subsidiary ANC enterprise.*
- Oversaw closure and liquidation of unprofitable subsidiaries within a large ANC corporate family.*
- Co-created and co-presented SBA 8(a) regulation changes, government contracting, and Truth in Negotiations Act training for ANC personnel.*
- Collaborated with IT department on governance practices, policies, and DFAR compliance for a large ANC enterprise.*
* Experience occurred prior to joining Dorsey.

