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ERIC D. HARRIS, ESQ. (551) 655-7907 (C) * [email protected] IN-HOUSE CORPORATE AND LITIGATION ATTORNEY Multinational Fortune 500 / Information Technology / Manufacturing Companies EXECUTIVE SUMMARY * Savvy Attorney experienced in advising Chief Executives, Senior Officers and c orporate managers, interacting with Boards of Directors, and training Attorneys and Paralegals. * Versatile Counselor skilled in Telecommunications, Domestic and International Data Privacy, Compliance and Ethics, Technology Licensing, Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Disputes, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Intellectual Property. * Accomplished negotiator with superior ability in complex commercial disputes, Federal and State regulatory investigations, as well as partnership, technology licensing, and s trategic relationship agreements. ACCOMPLISHMENT HIGHLIGHTS Leadership * Led committee of Executive Officers charged with investigating and resolving world's largest credit card data breach. * Led post-acquisition integration of three corporate legal departments. * Reduced departmental overhead costs by more than 50% while improving service quality and broadening service offerings. * Introduced comprehensive process to improve organizational contract development, management, and administration processes. Legal Acumen * Negotiated Multi-Million Dollar hardware/software license, tele communications, international outsourcing, and strategic partnership agreements. * Negotiated corporate tax agreement resulting in $40 Million Dollar savings. * Defended Million Dollar Federal employment litigation resulting in dismissal of the case on the merits. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. September 2008-present Assistant General Counsel * Train, mentor and supervise Junior Attorney and Paralegal. * Advise Information Technology, Privacy and Security, and Corporate Compliance departments on information security and data privacy issues including federal and state investigations, compliance audits, and litigation. * Develop strategy to effectively resolve intellectual property infringement, c ommercial and employment disputes through negotiation. * Counsel Executive Leaders and department managers on commercial agreements including: * telecommunications agreements * software/hardware license agreements
* commercial real estate transactions * international outsourcing agreements * sales and vendor agreements * technology consulting agreements * Partner with corporate stakeholders to create written information security an d record retention policies. * Advise Human Resources Department on domestic and international employment matters. Fiserv EFT March 2007-July 2008 Vice President Legal & Compliance (Senior Counsel) * Supervised legal department, trained paralegals and sales managers on contract law, negotiations and attorney-client privilege. * Partnered with Senior Business Leaders to develop, implement and communicate corporate data protection and incident management policies. ERIC D. HARRIS, ESQ. (page 2) * Defended the company in a worldwide data security incident resulting in dismis sal of inquiry. * Directed major cross-functional initiatives creating contract templates and c orresponding operational policies in support of $30 Million Dollar new business lines. * Developed strategy for business unit litigation and representation of the cor poration in federal regulatory compliance audits. American Express Company 2005-2007 Senior Manager, Global Commercial Card Division, Contracts & Compliance Group * Directed contract managers on contract law issues arising in purchasing, e-com merce, telecommunications agreements. * Collaborated with regional business partners in Spain and Latin America to dev elop and to negotiate international employment services accord. * Structured and negotiated $25 Million Dollar international technology services agreement. * Drafted sales and purchasing, non-disclosure, and software/data licensing agre ements. * Evaluated, revised and negotiated third party vendor agreements to ensure lega l and regulatory compliance as well as conformity to American Express business pract ices. Feldman Weinstein & Smith LLP 2003-2004 Commercial Litigation Associate * Structured and drafted transactional agreements on behalf of private equity cl ient. * Drafted winning appellate brief that served as foundation for Appellate Court resolution of Sixth Amendment right to counsel in commercial dispute. * Negotiated resolution commercial paper litigation resulting in 70% reduction i n legal costs. * Served as second chair counsel in partnership dispute concerning distribution of assets. Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas 2002-2003 Law Clerk, Senior Judge Richard W. Webb * Researched and prepared Judicial Opinions, of which 93% were affirmed by Appel late
Court. * Authored all memoranda regarding civil and criminal motions and petitions, and wrote civil and criminal Jury Trial Instructions. EDUCATION Albany Law School of Union University, Albany, NY Doctor of Jurisprudence 1999 * Moot Court Experience: Senior Prize Trial Advocacy Competition, Fall 1998; Int ernational Law National Appellate Advocacy Team Member, 1998-1999; Client Counseling Competition Semifinalist, Fall 1997; Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Competition , Fall 1997 * Albany Law School Tuition Scholarship, 1996-1999 Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Minor-Political Science * Departmental Honors in Spanish, 1994 * Muhlenberg Goodwill Prize (for community service), 1994 * Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1993 1994
BAR ADMISSION: Admitted to practice in all New York State and all United States Federal Courts. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Association of Corporate Counsel-Dallas-Fort Worth Ch apter Board of Directors, American Bar Association, and Texas General Counsel Fo rum Member. LANGUAGES: English (native language), Spanish (fluent) and Japanese (conversatio nal).
* commercial real estate transactions * international outsourcing agreements * sales and vendor agreements * technology consulting agreements * Partner with corporate stakeholders to create written information security an d record retention policies. * Advise Human Resources Department on domestic and international employment matters. Fiserv EFT March 2007-July 2008 Vice President Legal & Compliance (Senior Counsel) * Supervised legal department, trained paralegals and sales managers on contract law, negotiations and attorney-client privilege. * Partnered with Senior Business Leaders to develop, implement and communicate corporate data protection and incident management policies. ERIC D. HARRIS, ESQ. (page 2) * Defended the company in a worldwide data security incident resulting in dismis sal of inquiry. * Directed major cross-functional initiatives creating contract templates and c orresponding operational policies in support of $30 Million Dollar new business lines. * Developed strategy for business unit litigation and representation of the cor poration in federal regulatory compliance audits. American Express Company 2005-2007 Senior Manager, Global Commercial Card Division, Contracts & Compliance Group * Directed contract managers on contract law issues arising in purchasing, e-com merce, telecommunications agreements. * Collaborated with regional business partners in Spain and Latin America to dev elop and to negotiate international employment services accord. * Structured and negotiated $25 Million Dollar international technology services agreement. * Drafted sales and purchasing, non-disclosure, and software/data licensing agre ements. * Evaluated, revised and negotiated third party vendor agreements to ensure lega l and regulatory compliance as well as conformity to American Express business pract ices. Feldman Weinstein & Smith LLP 2003-2004 Commercial Litigation Associate * Structured and drafted transactional agreements on behalf of private equity cl ient. * Drafted winning appellate brief that served as foundation for Appellate Court resolution of Sixth Amendment right to counsel in commercial dispute. * Negotiated resolution commercial paper litigation resulting in 70% reduction i n legal costs. * Served as second chair counsel in partnership dispute concerning distribution of assets. Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas 2002-2003 Law Clerk, Senior Judge Richard W. Webb * Researched and prepared Judicial Opinions, of which 93% were affirmed by Appel late
Court. * Authored all memoranda regarding civil and criminal motions and petitions, and wrote civil and criminal Jury Trial Instructions. EDUCATION Albany Law School of Union University, Albany, NY Doctor of Jurisprudence 1999 * Moot Court Experience: Senior Prize Trial Advocacy Competition, Fall 1998; Int ernational Law National Appellate Advocacy Team Member, 1998-1999; Client Counseling Competition Semifinalist, Fall 1997; Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Competition , Fall 1997 * Albany Law School Tuition Scholarship, 1996-1999 Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Minor-Political Science * Departmental Honors in Spanish, 1994 * Muhlenberg Goodwill Prize (for community service), 1994 * Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1993 1994
BAR ADMISSION: Admitted to practice in all New York State and all United States Federal Courts. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Association of Corporate Counsel-Dallas-Fort Worth Ch apter Board of Directors, American Bar Association, and Texas General Counsel Fo rum Member. LANGUAGES: English (native language), Spanish (fluent) and Japanese (conversatio nal).
