RICHARD L. MAHFOUZ, Partner

Richard Mahfouz has over 30 years of financial and legal management experience in various industries, as well as running his own CPA and financial consulting firm.  He has served as Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel in the financial services, health care, manufacturing, telecommunications and services industries, in both public and private companies.  Mr. Mahfouz received his JD from New York Law School and his MBA from Pace University.  He is admitted to the Bar of the State of New York and is a licensed CPA in the State of New York.

Currently Mr. Mahfouz functions as the part-time General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for a California based Telecommunications Company.  The company has three primary businesses; a “facilities based reseller” (switch operations) of telecommunication services, an on-line retailer of prepaid calling cards, and an international VoIP data network.  He has been instrumental in implementing the switch operations and is now leading the implementation of a build out of the domestic digital network, as well as overseeing the international build out.  Under his guidance, the company has grown from $2 million in revenue in 2000 to $37 million in 2004 and should reach $45 in 2005.

In July 2005, Mr. Mahfouz, serving as part-time General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer, organized the sale of an on-line lead generation company in the education field to a major interactive company.

From 1990 through 2002, Mr. Mahfouz led the financial consulting area of Mahfouz & Sollazzo, LLP.  During that time, he served as part-time General Counsel and CFO for various companies in the financial services, health care, manufacturing and services industries. He was involved with companies planning IPO’s, seeking venture financing and procuring bank financing.

Prior to Mahfouz & Sollazzo, LLP, Mr. Mahfouz spent over ten years in the financial services industry where he was General Counsel and CFO of an Article XII Investment Company and a New York Stock Exchange broker-dealer. His prior experience was as an audit senior with Arthur Young & Company.

MICHAEL L. CLERKIN, Partner

Michael focuses his practice on trademark, copyright, unfair competition, trade secret matters, as well as on licensing agreements, including patent, software and Internet-related agreements, litigation and entertainment law. In addition, Michael has extensive experience in all aspects of general business and non-profit law.

Prior to joining Clerkin & Sinclair, Michael was counsel for the University of Delaware and General Counsel for UD Technology Corporation, a support entity of the University of Delaware, where he oversaw all intellectual property matters, including protection, licensing, and litigation. Michael also worked closely with start-up companies from the formation to funding stages.

Prior to the University of Delaware and UD Technology Corporation, Michael was also an associate in the Chicago law firm of Weaver and Amin where he focused on trademark and copyright protection and intellectual property litigation.

Education:
The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, 1999, LLM, Information Technology Law
Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, WI, 1998, J.D.
Marquette University, 1995, B.A.

Bar Admission:
Wisconsin, 1998
US District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1998
US District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1999

PETER B. SINCLAIR, Partner

Peter focuses his practice on business related matters, including effecting business formations and dissolutions, reviewing corporate document and contracts, and advising on all other types of business transaction. In addition, Peter has extensive experience in all aspects of non-profit law.

Prior to joining Clerkin & Sinclair, Peter was In-House Counsel for the Nobel Limited Company, a telecommunications company where he was responsible for managing Legal Department activities and staff. At Nobel he coordinated legal actions globally. Serving as the company’s conduit for all legal tasks and questions, Peter drafted and reviewed contracts and other legal documents, and was responsible for researching regulatory issues and implementing company policies. Peter directed the company’s international expansion, coordinating with multiple attorneys and law firms worldwide. When the need arose, he also filed lawsuits and conducted negotiations on behalf of the company.

Education:
University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, MI, 2003
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 2000

Bar Admission:
California, 2003

RICHARD L. MAHFOUZ II, Partner

RICHARD L. MAHFOUZ II was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Providence College, where he was a manager on the men’s basketball team. While attending the University of San Diego School of Law, Richard participated in the McLennon Honors Moot Court Competition.

Richard is currently the managing partner of Clerkin & Sinclair’s subrogation and collection business. Prior to joining Clerkin & Sinclair, Richard worked at an insurance defense firm handling construction defect, mold, automobile, and personal injury cases.  Richard has extensive litigation experience throughout all California counties.

In his spare time, Richard enjoys sports, reading, and living in San Diego with his wife Sonia and their dog Brooklyn.

Education:
University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, CA 2006, J.D.
Providence College, Rhode Island, 2001.

Bar Admission:
California 2006
US District Court Southern District of California 2006
US District Court Central District of California 2009  

CHRISTOPHER H. CONTI, Associate

Christopher currently assists the firm’s litigation practice, primarily focusing in subrogation and collections, as well as various telecommunications matters.

As a law clerk for Wilson Elser’s San Diego branch, Christopher gained experience in insurance defense, contract law, malpractice, and business torts. Prior to that, Christopher served as an in-house clerk for Liberty Mutual, where he handled numerous litigation and insurance matters including insurance defense, subrogation, workers compensation, and personal injury.

Christopher received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law, and graduated in the top 25% of his class. Before attending the University of San Diego, he was an international sales associate for a New York based medical device company, where he traveled extensively and held sales meetings in Italy, France, Germany, South Africa, Turkey, and Puerto Rico.

Education:
University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, CA 2010, J.D.
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 2004, B.A.

Bar Admission:
California 2011