Sales Real Estate

WILLIAM R. SHERMAN, ESQ.

<<**** Sky Mountain Circle, Reno>, <NV> <89523>>

775-***-**** ************@*****.***

VP - General Counsel / Associate Counsel

Corporate and Commercial Law / Litigation Management / Board Relations /

Negotiations / Contracts Finance / Licensing / HR / IP / International /

M&A / JVs / Securities Law / Corporate Governance

Successfully resolved complex business and legal challenges in public and

corporate environments. Represented Del Monte, L.A. Gear, Mitchell

International and Harrah's, as well as other corporations in energy,

consumer goods, food/beverage, hi-tech, hospitality, entertainment and

insurance arenas. Directed in-house/outside counsel in litigation,

corporate transactions, regulatory compliance and specialty legal matters.

Can contribute by:

< Keeping current with legal environment and regulatory requirements

< Structuring and negotiating contracts, licenses and transactions

< Communicating effectively at board, executive and staff levels

< Gaining cooperation and consensus among all stakeholders

Earned a JD from the University of California Hastings College of the Law

and a BA in Political Science/Business from Parsons College. Admitted to

practice law in the Nevada and California State and Federal Bars.

Selected Accomplishments

Formalized legal support, facilitating asset portfolio expansion. Ormat

efforts to obtain land for geothermal development were sporadic and

disorganized. Created new department hired staff familiar with title

searches. Worked with company geologists to review potential sites. Closed

on 760,000 acres of leases/options.

Simplified L.A. Gear license agreement, stimulating 10% sales increase. 50-

page license agreement used with distributors was overly complicated and

discouraged potential licensees from entering into agreements. Developed

more easily understood and 75% shorter agreement which still protected

interests of company.

Ensured $350M DoE-backed construction loan closing. U.S. Department of

Energy (DoE) required resolution of real estate issues before guaranteeing

loan for construction of Ormat geothermal plants. Determined problem areas

and ensured all were handled in timely manner. Closed seven days prior to

expiration of the guarantee program.

Standardized Del Monte franchise agreements, enabling 25% sales increase.

After acquisition of Canada Dry, determined global franchise agreements

were difficult to manage due to variance between markets. Developed and

implemented universal agreement. Sales force leveraged easily negotiable

basic agreement into more sales.

Mitigated potential litigation by L.A. Gear former employees. Due to

declining sales, reduction in force plan was necessary to limit exposure to

employee litigation. Developed equitable plan based on employee

position/years of service and provided outplacement. Successfully reduced

work force 90% without litigation.

Developed business continuity plan. Mitchell International lacked business

recovery plan. Formed and managed cross-departmental task force to review

all business records. Created business recovery plan which was approved by

executive management. Plan was successfully implemented when a wildfire

affected company buildings.

Career History

Land Department Manager/Business Development/Counsel, Ormat Technologies,

Inc., 2007-2012. Managed

compliance, contracts, negotiations and acquisition activities for $450M

provider of alternative/renewable energy technology. Ensured timely lease

payments. Provided other necessary legal advice and counsel.

Chief Deputy City Attorney, City of Reno, 2004-2006. Directed all legal

matters and litigation for civil division. Managed staff of ten attorneys,

four support staff and a paralegal within $3M budget.

Partner, Tiras & Burau, 2003-2004. Negotiated technology, software

licensing and consulting agreements. Drafted and closed real estate

transactions. Litigated on behalf of clients. Advised on regulatory and

estate issues.

VP, General Counsel & Secretary, Mitchell International, Inc., 2001-2002.

Chief legal responsibility for $400M provider of insurance claims

technology solutions. Managed outside counsel and complex litigation

matters.

VP & General Counsel, DataDirect Networks, Inc., 2000-2001. Counseled on

IP, HR and corporate compliance issues for $200M global hardware and

software company specializing in storage area networks.

VP, General Counsel & Secretary, L.A. Gear, Inc., 1996-2000. Chief legal

responsibility for $300M global consumer goods company. Successfully took

company through Chapter 11 reorganization.

Earlier: Held VP, General Counsel and/or Assistant Secretary positions for

Jackpot Enterprises, Inc.; Summit Casinos International, Inc.; Associates

for Competitiveness; Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.; Del Monte Corporation.

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