I was born in southern California in 1960 and my family moved to Illinois when I was still very young. I grew up there with my younger brother and older sister attending Libertyville public schools. Then, I spent three years in the USMC where I traveled as far away as Africa and the Indian Ocean during the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1980. My military service was followed by the college years, when I met Christen and later, graduated from U of I Champaign in 1986. Christen and I were married that year, right before three years of law school at DePaul University in Chicago. Now, over twenty years later, we've got a great little family with two talented kids and a very sleepy pug.

My legal practice has evolved through the years and I've managed to maintain my principal goal; self-employment. Lately, my professional time is divided between court in the morning and my business/entertainment practice in the afternoon. I travel monthly on short business trips primarily to sunny LA - very fun. I am humbled to be trusted by and work closely with some of the most talented and inspirational people anyone could ever imagine. Giving leadership through both good and bad times to creative hard-working people has been the most rewarding aspect of being an attorney.

In addition to my legal practice and with the leadership and generosity of the musical group TOOL, I have had the opportunity and good fortune to become the co-owner and Managing Partner of Slant Business Management in Burbank California. It’s a small boutique-style management firm that was developed from the ground up over the last few years of working for Tool to professionally and intimately handle the business and financial affairs for successful entertainers.

Philosophically, I work hard to be positive and creative everyday and I try to share that with everyone I come in contact with personally and professionally.