Works at the intersection of law, policy and public affairs, handling messaging and outreach to policy-makers.
Advises in high-stakes litigation and investigations.

Francine provides policy and public affairs guidance to clients facing high-stakes litigation or negotiations. She assists with messaging and third-party outreach and input, including traditional media and op-eds on social media. Francine is particularly adept at distilling complex issues down to high-impact talking points. She also conducts policy-maker outreach and the development of litigation strategy.

Francine has also worked on numerous congressional investigations, internal investigations and commercial disputes. She has developed a keen understanding of the concerns of in-house lawyers, the intricacies of privilege issues and what impacts the bottom line. Francine has a demonstrated ability to find policy, media and other creative solutions to support her clients’ litigation, regulatory or business goals.

Representative Work

For a leading multinational technology company, managed numerous facets of multiple patent infringement litigation matters. Managed strategies related to media engagement, International Trade Commission (ITC) issues and policy-maker and other stakeholder outreach.
Helped write and pass the GO Zone Act, which resulted in $1 billion in additional Housing Tax Credits after Hurricane Katrina. Currently advises The Partnership for Job Creation, a group of stakeholders seeking to make permanent the New Markets Tax Credit Program.
Has worked with a multinational bioagriculture company for nearly a decade as a strategic advisor on many issues facing the company, including antitrust, merger, trade, data security policy and United States Agency for International Development interactions.
Assisted a medical technology company in seeking an ITC exclusion order of infringing competing products. Developed and successfully executed a public interest comment strategy. Armed with arguments regarding the importance of innovation and intellectual property, the client won in early phases at the ITC and reached a settlement that it considered highly favorable.
Served as part of a team that helped pass the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement (FTA) and has worked as an advisor to multiple embassies on their FTA’s with the U.S.

Represented a global media manufacturing company in a patent infringement case before the ITC. Sought an exclusion order against a competitor with broad policy-maker reach by calling to public and regulatory attention a directly competing position taken a few years earlier by a strong supporter of the infringing party. Obtained the exclusion order in a ruling that is currently under appeal.
In a case involving billions of dollars in patent royalties, advise an electronics manufacturer in global litigation and contract disputes with the world market leader. Manage multiple consulting and media firms to maintain consistent messaging and employing creative strategies in litigation against a global behemoth.

Education
J.D., College of William and Mary School of Law, 1999
B.A., Georgetown University, 1995

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia

Speeches and Publications

Panelist, "Housing Not Handcuffs: Hope for Change at the Federal Level,” National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP), Webinar, July 15, 2020.
Panelist, “Cybersecurity Policy Implications,” The Cybersecurity Pandemic New York.