Darryl Vhugen, J.D.
Rural Development Institute
1411 Fourth Avenue Suite 910
Seattle, Washington USA 98101
(206) 528-5880 / Fax (206) 528-5881
darrylv@rdiland.org

KEY QUALIFICATIONS
Prior to joining RDI in 2008, Darryl Vhugen spent 25 years in private practice as an international and domestic business lawyer and litigator. He advised foreign and domestic clients in a broad range of business matters involving the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia the Philippines and several other countries in Southeast Asia. In 2007 Darryl became a senior consultant to RDI on land tenure security issues, working in the field in India in March and May 2007.

EDUCATION

J.D. with honors, University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA (1982). Order of the Coif (top 10% of class). Articles Editor, Washington Law Review.

B.A. (summa cum laude) in economics, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR (1977). Overseas study in Portugal. Researched and wrote paper analyzing the impact on Portugal of arrival of more 1 million people from Angola and Mozambique (former colonies) in mid-1970s.

State Director, Rural Development Institute, Seattle, WA (2008 to present). Responsible for overall success of RDI’s programs in Andhra Pradesh, India, including day-to-day oversight of all operations, field work and liaison activities with state and local government officials, non-governmental organizations and others.

Attorney, Law Office of Darryl S. Vhugen, Seattle, WA (1999-2008). Commercial and corporate lawyer, primarily representing clients in international and domestic transactional and other business matters.

• Senior consultant on land tenure security issues to Rural Development Institute from March 1, 2007 through June 15, 2007. Field experience in India in March and May 2007.

• Conducted 8-day field study in Andhra Pradesh in March 2007 on the extent of land leasing by women (mostly members of Self Help Groups) and others in rural areas. Co-author, "Seeking Security and Reducing Risk: Land Leasing by Women in Andhra Pradesh" (unpublished paper on file at RDI).

• Conducted field work in Andhra Pradesh in May 2007 to study current status of a rural area land-related Legal Assistance Project.

• Co-author, "Learning from Old and New Approaches to Land Reform in India" prepared by RDI for the World Bank Institute and the Southern African Community Capacity Development Program.

• Co-authored case study of Legal Assistance Program for Land in Andhra Pradesh, India entitled "Ensuring Secure Land Rights for the Poor in Andhra Pradesh: A Case Study" to be published by UNFAO in 2008 as part of study of good practices and lessons from experiences supporting the legal empowerment of the rural poor in selected countries.

• Advised Seattle-based healthcare NGO on compliance with U.S. sanctions imposed on Sudan.

• Retained as consultant by Council for Administrative Reform, Office of the Council of Ministers, Royal Government of Cambodia.

• Prepared lengthy Project Implementation Manual for revised capacity building project financed by World Bank.

• Advised on effect of new procurement and financial management requirements and on terms and necessary revisions of underlying development credit agreement.

General Counsel, Pan Pacific Seafoods, Inc., Cuore Co., Ltd, (Osaka) (1996-98). General counsel to Seattle-based seafood processing company and affiliated companies in Japan, the U.S. and the Philippines. Negotiated and drafted all company contracts. Responsible for all corporate maintenance. Managed all claims and, where necessary, supervised outside counsel.

Legal Consultant, DFDL/Mekong Law Group, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (1995-96). Legal consultant for firm in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Advised clients and drafted agreements on land, investment, commercial, labor and contract laws and joint ventures. Trained and managed Cambodian professional and administrative staff.

Attorney and partner, Bennett & Bigelow, P.S., Seattle, WA (1985-96). As trial attorney, handled cases involving officer, director and shareholder liability, contracts, fisheries, consumer protection, the environment, employment, health care and product liability.

Attorney, Roberts & Shefelman, Seattle, WA (1982-85). Conducted discovery, did legal research, wrote memoranda and briefs, and argued motions in court in connection with various civil litigation matters.

• Co-founder, director, officer and legal counsel, Friendly Planet, Inc., a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting cross-cultural education in the U.S. and to supporting organizations seeking to improve education in developing countries. (See www.friendlyplanet.org).

• Since 1995 served as officer (including two terms as president) and director of Seattle-Sihanoukville (Cambodia) Sister City Association. (See www.seasih.org.)

• Chairperson of World Peace Through Law Section of Washington State Bar Association.

• Appointed by Mayor of Seattle to two terms on Sister Cities Council (2000-2004).

• Co-organized and led Washington State Trade Mission to Viet Nam and Cambodia led by members of Seattle City Council and King County Council.

• Represented Cambodian government at 2000 conference on "Creating Digital Dividends."

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