ELA

Eric L Anderson

10626 Holman Avenue #3A • Los Angeles, California 90024
805-699-5733 • ela@ericleeanderson.com

Executive Summary

Attorney and business executive with 10+ years experience collaborating with, influencing and leading diverse teams in solving complex sourcing, financial and organizational challenges. Led expansion of industrial and consumer products company to sales growth of 75% and gross profit growth of 135%. Brings a deep understanding of both the business and legal side of issues.  Particularly adept at communicating and explaining complex legal and business topics to stakeholders.

Experience

The Law Office of Eric L Anderson                                                                                                   Santa Monica, CA
Principal Attorney                                                                                                                                      2006-Present

Solo practice specializing in providing legal guidance and business consulting services to small businesses in the Los Angeles area.

United States Pumice Company                                                                                                           Chatsworth, CA
President & General Counsel                                                                                                            2006 – April 2016

Responsible for overall management of a 70-year-old consumer and industrial products company with average sales of $6-7 million annually across a portfolio of brands. Pumie® brand cleaning products are sold in Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other major retailers, and in the industrial market domestically and internationally.

Legal

·  Managed outside counsel with an eye towards cutting costs. Handled issues in-house whenever feasible, and did preliminary work on matters that had to go to outside counsel to limit billable hours.

·  Created and managed relationships with international suppliers and customers in China, the UK, France, Japan, and other Western European and Asian partners. Assured that agreements and trade requirements complied with international laws and regulations.

·  Monitored and ensured compliance with federal and state mining laws, including MSHA and SMARA, to ensure the smooth continued operation of the Mono County pumice mine.

·  Identified and researched a competitor’s patent claims. In conjunction with outside counsel, prepared an opinion on the validity of those claims. This opinion allowed the business to confidently use certain marketing language we were reticent to use previously, maximizing our competitive advantage over our primary competitor.

·  Successfully appealed audit determination with the Board of Equalization, saving the company thousands of dollars every year going forward.

·  Settled an Equal Access to Justice Act claim for payment of legal fees incurred in a mineral patent case, resulting in recovery of significant fees.

·  Negotiate, draft, and execute agreements and contracts with domestic and international suppliers and customers; renegotiated contract with primary supplier for cost savings of 18%.

·  Defended against litigation brought against the company and initiated litigation when necessary to defend the companies intellectual property or other rights.

·  Ensure that all corporate formalities are followed and counsel officers, directors, and appropriate employees on how to observe formalities to minimize risk.

·  Analyze and apply laws regarding importing, exporting, and product labeling, including NAFTA, FDA, tariff and foreign law.

Management & Leadership

·  Planned and executed successful market entry into the international market, including Western Europe and Japan, resulting in topline revenue growth of 10%.

·  In anticipation of pending depletion of pumice mine, oversaw a team that developed a man-made replacement for natural pumice that now accounts for nearly 100% of sales; identified and contracted with overseas manufacturers to produce product.

·  Led cross-functional team to drive sales and gross profit growth of 75% and 135% respectively between 2009 and 2014 by acquiring major retailers and growing penetration within key accounts

·  Renegotiated shipping terms with Walmart, moving from freight prepaid to freight collect, resulting in 20% higher profit margins.

·  Successfully launched a new consumer cleaning product, Flexi-Scour®, which continues to see increasing sales in major retailers such as Orchard Supply, Ace Hardware, and True Value Hardware.

·  Anticipate and manage risk; evaluate and procure proper insurance coverage; obtain lines of credit to ensure cash flow; foresee and plan for regulatory and compliance issues.

·  Manage human resource functions for a 25-person company, including hiring and termination.

Hoover Law Firm                                                                                                                                    Lakewood, CO
Associate                                                                                                                                                      2005 – 2006

The Hoover Law firm is a small litigation firm specializing in personal injury. Managing attorney is adamant that each case be prepared as if it was going to trial, and the firm has an impressive trial record.

·  Managed all aspects of the client relationship, from initial consultation and intake to resolution, demonstrating my communication and project management skills; counseled clients on the merits of their cases.

·  Wrote and responded to motions; researched legal matters; interviewed lay and expert witnesses and prepared them for trial; negotiated settlements in alignment with client needs; conducted depositions.

·  Spearheaded adoption and integration of client, case and document software package, resulting in more efficient and accurate case management; coordinated management of web site and television advertising.

i-Legal, Inc.                                                                                                                                            Broomfield, CO
Trial Facilitator                                                                                                                                            2004 – 2005

i-Legal was an early player in the legal tech space in Colorado. With proprietary software for converting paper files to electronic files and indexing the information, i-Legal provides invaluable tools to tech savvy litigators. i-Legal then brings that technology to the courtroom and assists attorneys in presenting evidence to the jury.

·  Attended dozens of trials in state and federal court, training and assisting attorneys with i-Legal’s multimedia trial support products, enabling attorneys to organize and search case records and quickly and efficiently present evidence to the jury.

·  Represented i-Legal at various Colorado, Denver and Boulder bar association functions to strengthen i-Legal’s ties to the legal community and expand our client base.

·  Developed and implemented marketing plans for i-Legal’s services, leading to increased use of our services by existing clients and acquisition of new clients.

Education

University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder
Juris Doctor, May 2004

     Activities:

     ·  Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy, Development Editor

     ·  Colorado Bar Association, Statutory Revisions Committee of the Trusts and Estates Division

     ·  Research Assistant for Professor Amy Schmitz in the area of enforceability of alternative dispute resolution awards.

University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Boulder
Bachelor of Science, News-Editorial, August 1998
Emphasis: Film Studies

     Activities:

     ·  Intern at the Boulder Daily Camera, the daily newspaper of Boulder, Colorado

Bar Admissions

·  The State Bar of California – 2010

·  Colorado Supreme Court – 2004

Affiliations and Volunteer Work

·  International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) Young Executive Society

·  Association of Corporate Counsel

·  California Construction and Industrial Minerals Association

·  Mediator for the Boulder Community Mediation service.

·  Pro Bono Committee for the Association of Corporate Counsel