Linda Menzel

I was recruited to provide legal and operational leadership in growing branding and licensing as the company’s business model was transitioning from print to digital and company wanted to bolster revenue from licensing and re-establish its iconic brand. This entailed building a high performing team, and then overseeing all legal affairs worldwide for three main licensing categories - consumer products, gaming and land based entertainment. Included is negotiating and structuring a wide range of business transactions, enforcing contracts, managing licensee relationships, and mediating conflicts. I collaborate closely with marketing and design in ensuring compliance and protecting the brand with licensees that include e-commerce and physical retail stores. Additionally, I support global business development, manage outside counsel for licensing and trademarks, agreement recordals, customs and anti-counterfeiting, and supervise rights and permissions for IP assets. *Performance milestones include driving a dramatic increase in licensing deals and revenue, growing licensing business in new geographies and market segments, increasing information access and accuracy, reducing reliance on and cost of outside counsel, strengthening IP compliance, building branding partnerships, and authoring agreements with global industry agents.

I was recruited to this designer, distributor and supplier of apparel and other consumer products by my prior CEO as a key member of the leadership team to prepare the Ed Hardy brand for sale and to strengthen the company’s legal and administrative capabilities, while providing day-to-day oversight of business and legal affairs. I identified and analyzed legal issues, negotiated and drafted key documents, made recommendations, assured compliance and advised leadership on wide range of legal matters. I managed leases and drafted and enforced policies and procedures for 42 owned and operated retail stores, while co-managing international retail store and product licensees, and overseeing compliance and content for our e-commerce. Additionally, I approved all product designs and marketing/advertising materials, trained and supervised internal legal department, chose and managed outside counsel and legal budget. Finally, I handled all corporate governance and compliance, and supported the board, while assisting with business development for generating brand recognition and revenue. *Performance milestones included leading without outside counsel all legal aspects of the sale of the Ed Hardy brand to a public company at a high multiple, overhauling HR for a 1,000 person organization, ensuring compliance and updating handbooks, policies and procedures, lowering insurance costs, strengthening ecommerce, achieving OSHA compliance, re-negotiating leases, and avoiding employee grievances and government infractions related to layoffs.

Based on my expertise in litigation, corporate transactions, and public company securities I was recruited to this $100M publicly-traded manufacturer, designer and supplier of branded and private label denim products to assist with going public, as well as to lead all ongoing legal activities. As an integral member and advisor to senior leadership, I provided insight on legal matters and responded to legal challenges as necessary. This included handling company IP and managing litigation with outside counsel. Additionally, I managed legal department budget, handled all corporate governance and compliance, and supported the board, while managing all securities law and other public matters, including SEC filings and compliance. Finally, I oversaw real estate leases. * Performance milestones included leading a reverse triangular merger of privately-held company into public company, managing the wind-down of a manufacturing facility in Mexico when manufacturing shifted to Asia, ensuring compliance with labor rules and regulations, negotiating revenue-generating private label agreements with major retailers including Target and JCPenney, slashing storage costs, reducing outside counsel costs, and launching a master feeder structure hedge fund.

I was brought in to this 800-attorney full service firm in 1998 as a litigator and was transferred in 2000 to the corporate services group, providing transactional and general corporate legal advice to privately- and publicly-held clients. Initially I supported complex commercial litigation matters, and subsequently assisted with complex, multi-million-dollar legal transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, equity transactions, recapitalizations, reorganizations and divestitures of business entities and divisions of all sizes. I advised businesses on formation, governance and compliance matters, prepared securities law filings and provided legal counsel on securities law compliance matters and the requirements of the newly-passed Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. I also attended client board meetings as acting assistant secretary, while serving on the firm’s SOX advisory and recruiting committees. *Performance milestones included playing integral in role in Philip Morris Companies Inc.’s agreement to merge our client Miller Brewing Company into South African Breweries to form the world's second-largest brewer, serving as key member of team that led sale of client Don Massey Group, the largest group of Cadillac dealerships to Sonic Automotive, participating in client Briggs & Stratton Corp.’s stock purchase of the consumer product division of Generac Portable Products, Inc., and preparing a brief resulting in summary dismissal of client component parts manufacturer in gold mine commercial litigation case.

Assisted with all aspects of commercial litigation matters, including researching and drafting motions and briefs, deposition preparation, document review and production, client interviews and assisting at hearings and trials.

Top 10%, Cum Laude