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.
Negotiated sale/royalty agreement, enabling development of geothermal
project. Owen-Sherman client sought land essential to develop project.
Negotiated lease for over a year. When property owner wanted to terminate
negotiations, proposed purchase of land coupled with royalty agreement and
closed transaction.
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.
Updated employee benefit package, reducing cost 15%. Jackpot Enterprises
employee benefits had not been reviewed or changed in several years.
Engaged consulting firm to help review existing plan. Made revisions,
Provided new benefits at no additional cost and reduced overall benefit
plan cost.
Keyed successful L.A. Gear business change and Chapter 11 exit. Company was
in financial trouble, had been de-listed from NYSE and was unable to meet
upcoming bond payments. With outside counsel, initiated and filed Chapter
11. Company emerged from bankruptcy as private licensing company with
reduced staff and debt.
Vice President & General Counsel, Summit Casinos, Jackpot Enterprises,
DatDirect Networks, 1993, 2000. Accepted positions at three companies that
required the establishment on an in-house legal function Created structure,
reporting relationships and scope or responsibilities for an in-house legal
department and developed necessary corporate governance policies.
Successfully created in-house legal departments
Sourced and secured plantation in Philippines for Del Monte. Company needed
to locate and purchase land in Asia for growing and sale of bananas. Found
plantation and Philippine national to participate as joint venture partner.
Negotiated purchase. Completed acquisition through newly established
Philippine corporation.
WILLIAM R. SHERMAN, ESQ.
Page 2
Implemented online contract and expense tracking system. Mitchell
International had only one administrator with knowledge of existing
contracts. It needed to be memorialized. Searched and negotiated excellent
price for web-based matter management system. Created database of all
existing contracts and record of corporate secretarial function with
ability to track expenses.
Career History
Managing Director, Owen-Sherman Enterprises, Ltd., 2012-Present. Providing
legal consulting to international renewable/geothermal/biomass energy
clients, including: negotiating leases, contracts, royalty agreements and
corporate governance documents; drafting/reviewing business
proposals/agreements; providing expert testimony.
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 necessary legal advice and counsel. Managed $7M budget.
Managed acquisition of 400,000+ acres of land leases and optioned 260,000+
acres for future geothermal energy development as well as land purchases.
Participated in corporate financing ranging from $90M to $350M.
Chief Deputy City Attorney, City of Reno, 2004-2006. Directed all legal
matters and litigation for civil division. Provided legal advice to City
Council, City Manager and all departments within City. 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 business of software and
eBusiness solution for the insurance and collision repair industries.
Managed outside counsel and complex litigation matters, including
successful defense of class action litigation. Negotiated and closed
technology, licensing and vendor agreements. Developed new stock
option/appreciation plans.
VP & General Counsel, DataDirect Networks, Inc., 2000-2001. Advised on IP,
HR and corporate compliance for $200M global hardware/software company
specializing in storage area networks. Established in-house legal function.
Managed outside counsel. Negotiated technology, software licensing and OEM
agreements. Developed patent portfolio process and maintenance. Counseled
on IP, HR and corporate compliance issues.
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. Responsible for licensing,
corporate secretarial function, Board of Director and annual Shareholder
meetings. Participated in negotiating and closing $50M line of credit.
Drafted and filed all SEC documents.
VP, General Counsel and VP of Human Resources, Jackpot Enterprises, Inc.,
1993-1996. Chief legal responsibility for all business units of gaming
company. Served as chief HR executive Managed outside counsel. Responsible
for $4M budget. Represented company before regulatory agencies.
Participated in all SEC filings, Board of Director and Annual Meetings.
Instrumental in real estate, corporate development and $90M financing
VP & General Counsel, Summit Casinos International, Inc., 1993. Chief legal
responsibility for gaming/hotel company. Participated in drafting,
negotiating and filing of IPO. Represented company before regulatory
agencies. Managed corporate development activities and staff
General Counsel, Associates for Competitiveness, 1992-1993. Chief legal
responsibility for consulting services to business in international
competition. Assisted in formation of virtual strategic alliances between
companies.
Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary, Harrah's Entertainment,
Inc., 1987-1991. Responsible for all legal aspects of corporate
development, real estate development, compliance, finance, employee
relations departments. Managed outside counsel. Participated in sale of
Holiday Inns for $2.25B and other corporate assets. Developed problem
gaming policies for guests and employees.
VP, Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary, Del Monte Corporation,
1977-1987. Chief legal responsibility for worldwide business unit of $3B
food/beverage subsidiary of RJR Nabisco. Managed $2M budget. Negotiated
franchise agreements for Canada Dry and Sunkist brands. Prepared,
negotiated and closed acquisitions and mergers from $1M to $675M.
Participated in corporate secretarial function and SEC filings.
Earlier: Assistant City Attorney, City of Reno; Program Attorney, National
Judicial College; Management Trainee/Cost Accountant, Del Monte
Corporation.
Personal Interests: Hiking, jogging, tennis, reading, cooking and dog
lover.