My Story

As business owners, you and I know there are two sides to running a business: a healthy dose of risk taking and a grounded planner. My guess is both are present in your business as well.  

Their presence has led you to the success you’ve achieved. 

They have also contributed to my story.  The risk taker side of me has looked for the next level of discomfort or trajectory or stretching beyond my comfort zone for most of my life. 

This has led me to live a life that growing up I never thought possible: not only changed countries but also changed continents, not only mastered the English language but also studied law in it, not only work for companies but also to start my own, and more recently to embrace not just any other sport, but an extreme one.   

What can I say? The risk-taker side of me keeps me always on the move. It has helped me grow exponentially. My guess is, you’ve got a bit of a risk-taker side as well and it’s why you’re here today.

On the other hand, the planner side of me is the side that slows me down. It says one, two, three, four need to take place before you can take the next steps. This side of me has taught me about patience, has taught me to listen and listen actively, has taught me to step back and look at the big picture, but also at the details. 

It has felt at times like a paralyzing effect. Slowing down in a world that moves too fast often feels counterproductive, especially when as business owners we want to move fast because we have so much on our plate and planning puts the brakes on many aspects. 

Yet, it is this part of us, the planner side in many of us, that has helped us avoid many headaches, admittedly many mistakes. 

This is the side of running a business that helps us take a proactive approach as opposed to a reactive approach (aka, too late)!

The planner side and the risk-taker side of me collide in my world. I am a business owner and I am an attorney. 

The business owner is the risk-taker, the attorney is the planner. The two sides make for a good team. 

They help me relate to my clients. 

I can see when they don’t plan according to my lawyer hat.

I get when they’re too busy to get important things done. 

Just like you, I have been there, I have procrastinated, I say I am often my worst employee (the risk taker) and have a terrible boss (the attorney planner). Sound familiar?

When I began the business, the risk-taker side of me was in charge, but the risk-taker side of me wanted to start a business to help the world of small business owners like me to be planners, to be proactive. 

My experience, both in-house and in private practice, has taught me that in my world of practice - export controls and government contracts - there is great value for a business in planning, in proactively addressing legal and compliance issues. 

After graduating from law school, I discovered the world of public and private procurement and continued my international trade interests while working for the Detroit Business Center of the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, a center within the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. 

From there I worked in-house with a closely held multinational company where I handled the gamut of issues an in-house counsel is called to solve. My work experience also involves working on sensitive investigations concerning the Office of Inspector General for the State of Michigan, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and Department of Homeland Security. 

In addition, I have advised clients on issues related to government, commercial, and international contracts, international trade, compliance with export controls and Federal Acquisition Regulations. Last, I have handled complex domestic and international disputes. 

Since starting my business I have spoken on Foreing Corrupt Practices Act and its intersection with PART 130 of ITAR, (PTAC, Macomb, Michigan, 2019), Export Compliance (PTAC, Macomb, Michigan, 2021), Key Regulatory Developments in International Trade (ICPA, 2021), and Doing Business with the Federal Government, (Global Connect online event, 2022). 

Professionally, I serve as Rule of Law, Vice Chair with ABA’s International Trade Steering Committee, and Secretary for the International Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. 

From my experience I know that small businesses can benefit greatly from this proactive approach because it pays great dividends: it means the difference between keeping the doors open or closing them for good. It means using law to create a competitive advantage for a business. 

So, I’ve made it my mission to build a small business to help other small businesses to tackle known and unknown legal and compliance issues so they can keep their doors open.   

I know how it feels when the risk-takers in us talk to planners like me. No one likes brakes on the paddle of progress. Yet, those moments when we take a step back to slow down and see where the gaps are so we can close them are the moments that create the competitive advantage we all want as business owners. 

We want to have a business that not only will be sustainable for everyone in it but also a business that is a reliable source other businesses can continuously trust because we got our ducks in a row and are not constantly distracted by putting out fires. 

This is why I’m in business: To help youclose the gaps so as a small business owner you can be competitive, profitable, and protected. 

With my support, you can identify and comply with the U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations, U.S. Export Controls Regulations (EAR/ITAR), U.S. anti-bribery/ anti-corruption laws, conduct supply chain due diligence, handle investigations, and more.

By working together, you can take a proactive approach on legal and compliance matters to avoid business disruptions, penalties, and fines. 

More importantly, to keep the business you built, in business. 

 Call to discover how we can work together