Emerson Harry Rhodes

For over 25 years I served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary to Linde Engineering North America, a subsidiary of Linde AG based in Munich.  Legal experience is summarized as follows:

Legal guidance and support for various corporate departments, including human relations, sales, procurement, etc., and conducting employee training as required. • General corporate secretary services including the drafting of corporate minutes and resolutions, attending board meetings, monitor compliance with applicable state and federal law, including the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act, prepare documents associated with mergers, acquisitions, dissolutions, change of name, registrations, and preparation of corporate by-laws • Preparation of standard templates and negotiation / review of proposals, sales and purchase contracts for the sale and / or purchase of goods and services, business acquisitions, confidentiality and intellectual property license / transfer agreements, cooperation agreements, releases and indemnities, and project closure / settlement agreements, employment / sales representative agreements, software licensing, and other business agreements with emphasis on providing an acceptable allocation of business risk and to comply with internal corporate guidelines and applicable law. . • Legal representation in arbitration / litigation proceedings where appropriate. • Handled the negotiation and closing of major U.S. and international contracts for process plant engineering, fabrication and site construction associated with the oil and gas industry, including the major oil companies, specialty gas producers, chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, and the U.S. government. • Negotiated and settled various business disputes and government investigations and, when necessary, served as lead counsel in litigation in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and Texas and arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, which resulted in favorable outcomes.