I retired in April of 2021 after spending 17 years as GeneralCounsel for Brenntag North America. (Brenntag is the world's largest chemicaldistributor). As General Counsel for Brenntag North America,  I wasresponsible for overseeing the conduct of all litigation in involving theCompany in Canada and the U.S.. Prior to joining Brenntag in 2004, I spent 11years with a franchisor in Canada and the U.S., both as a lawyer and abusiness executive. After graduating from York University in 1980 with anLLB/MBA, I  began my legal career in Toronto as a corporate associatewith Fasken & Calvin following, which I spent 4 years in the  legaldepartment of American Express in Markham, Ontario.. I have practiced law inthe United States since 1996 and  recently relocated back to Niagara-on-the-Laketo retire. I am admitted to practice law in Ontario, New York and Pennsylvaniaand am fluent in English, French and German. I have participated in numerousmediations over the course of my legal career and have recently completed allof the requirements for the Q-Arb designation through the ADR Institute ofCanada.