Tim Purpura, Esq.

Developed a team that compiled a .504 winning percentage from 2005 through August 2007, won the 2005 National League Championship and appeared in the 2005 World Series for the first time in franchise and Texas history. Negotiated all free agent and arbitration-eligible contracts, including a team-record setting $100 million free agent contract. Actively directed the efforts of the Player Development, Scouting and International Scouting and Development Departments. Served as the primary media contact for the franchise, which included appearances in international, national and local sports mediums during the championship season, playoffs and World Series.

Assisted in the development of major league teams that made playoff appearances in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2004. Assisted the General Manager with contract negotiation and administration, adherence to the MLB Basic Agreement, the Major League Rules, the Major League Agreement and the Professional Baseball Agreement. Administered all player transactions, including trades, waivers, options, outright, etc.  Over an 11-year period negotiated over 250 Major League Uniform Player contracts.

Developed a minor league and scouting system which was honored with the Organization of the Year Award in 2001 by Baseball Weekly, Baseball America, Sportsticker and Topps. During the period of 1998-2004, the system won 13 minor league championships and produced major league players such as Jose Altuve, Hunter Pence, Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman, Brad Lidge, Johan Santana, Freddy Garcia, and Bobby Abreu. Developed the “Astros Way” Player Development and Life Skills Program. Configured minor league teams, administered the daily assignments of players, and administered the on-field and off-field player behavioral policies, as well as the Astros Alcohol and Drug Policy.

Negotiation of leases of property in the Dominican Republic at a governmental sugar cane factory, and in Venezuela at the Venoco Oil Company. Negotiated the construction of a $2,000,000 academy in Venezuela to house the baseball operations and living arrangements at a state-of-the art training facility for Venezuelan players.

Spent extensive time in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Columbia and Nicaragua scouting players, field staff and administrators to facilitate the acquisition of players for the Houston Astros.

As a member of the Baseball Operations staff, we assisted in developing an organization with the fourth highest winning percentage in all Major League Baseball during the 13-year period from 1994-2006. Worked in collaboration with the Scouting Department to identify, scout and select the top talent in North and South America. Assisted in the ground-breaking exploration of Venezuela as a talent market.

Served as the primary contact with Major League Baseball in the areas of baseball operations, Player Development Contract (PDC) negotiations, team and stadium security, and umpire development. Also led the MiLB executive management team in the areas of accounting, legal, marketing, promotion, umpire development, baseball operations. Led a project team that converted the company’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan to a Defined Contribution plan which resulted in a savings of $300,000 over prior costs.

Served as a member of the team that negotiated a five-year collective bargaining agreement in November 2011 with the AMLU (Association of Minor League Umpires) in record time (six days) avoiding a lockout or strike, as had occurred in the previous labor negotiation.

Designed, drafted and implemented, with the input of the AMLU, the first Alcohol and Drug Policy for Minor League Umpires. Served as administrator of the Program upon its’ implementation. Served as a member of the committee that determined Umpire discipline in accordance with the Policy.

Played an instrumental role in the development of The Umpire School, a program of Minor League Baseball, which is focused on the education and development of amateur and professional baseball umpires in collaboration with the staff of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC). Directed the PBUC team in the areas of staffing, budgets, Florida Department of Education Licensing application and required hearings, leading to successful licensing. Also led the efforts for licensing, marketing, and promotion of the school which debuted in 2012 in Vero Beach, FL.

Led the efforts of the Marketing and Licensing program in setting records for performance for three consecutive seasons.

Served as the chief executive and judicial officer of an eight team, professional baseball league, located in the Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas region of the US. Duties include serving as resource for the League members in the areas of franchise locations, sales and operations. Responsible for developing complex league, team and umpire schedules. Handles adjudication of player and field staff infractions and ejections. Also responsible for budget development and management, including coordinating closing monthly accounts and reconciliation with accounting staff.

Tasked with building out a first legal s department at a technology-based ultra-luxury travel consortium. Upon joining Virtuoso, the task has been to gradually shift the legal spend from outside counsel firms to an internal ecosystem, as well as develop a proprietary legal tracking and storage system. Brought an emphasis on “staff service” to support the legal needs of staff throughout the role, but with emphasis on Australia, New Zealand, Canada, EMEA, East Asia, Saudi Arabia, among others.