Karnik Doukmetzian, General Counsel
karnikd@gc.adventist.org
T: (301) 680-6323
C: (301) 529-5131
F: (301) 680-6329

Practice areas: General corporate matters, commercial transactions, general nonprofit law and intellectual property.  Areas of emphasis include Presidential, Secretariat, Divisions, ADRA, GC institutions, OGC management, legal reviews, contracts, litigation management, and OGC communications.

Mr. Doukmetzian received his B.A. (Hons) in Strategic Studies from York University in 1979 and his LL.B. from the University of Windsor, in 1982.  He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and the State of Tennessee bar, the American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Tennessee Bar Association.  He was appointed General Counsel in 2009.

Before joining the Office of General Counsel, Mr. Doukmetzian worked for Adventist Risk Management for 12 years, most recently as Vice President with responsibilities for underwriting, risk placement claims, and legal services.  Before joining ARM, he was general counsel and a departmental director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada.

O. Richard Caldwell, Associate General Counsel
caldwellr@gc.adventist.org
T: (301) 680-6331
F: (301) 680-6329

Practice areas: Trusts and estates and general nonprofit taxation.  Areas of emphasis include auditing, estate planning, income, gift and estate taxes, nonprofit taxation, unrelated business income, and donor-advised funds and endowments.

Mr. Caldwell received his B.S. (accounting) from Southern Adventist University in 1969, his M.B.A. from California State University (Fullerton) in 1977, his J.D. from Washington College of Law (American University) in 1985, and his L.L.M. (taxation) from New York University in 1986.  He is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars and the American Bar Association.  He was appointed Associate General Counsel in 1993.

Before joining the Office of General Counsel, Mr. Caldwell was Associate Director for Trust Auditing of the General Conference Auditing Service.  He also is a Certified Public Accountant in Tennessee, California, and Maryland and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Caldwell is author of “Developing Ethical Standards in Charitable Fundraising” in Trusts & Estates magazine (February 1994) and “Beware: The Tax Man Cometh” in J.D. (2000).

Todd R. McFarland, Associate General Counsel
mcfarlandt@gc.adventist.org
T: (301) 680-6322
F: (301) 680-6329

Practice areas: Church-state relations (first amendment), religious discrimination (employment, zoning, land use and other religious rights issues).  Areas of emphasis include religious liberty, parliamentary procedure, litigation, and departmental activities.

Mr. McFarland received his B.A. (history) from Southern Adventist University in 1997 and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2000.  He is a member of the Illinois, Missouri and Maryland bars, the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA), and National Employment Lawyers Association.  He was appointed Associate General Counsel in 2006.

Before joining the Office of General Counsel, Mr. McFarland practiced with a civil litigation firm in the St. Louis, Missouri, area for more than five years.

Dionne A. Parker, Associate General Counsel
parkerd@gc.adventist.org
T: (301) 680-6319
F: (301) 680-6329

Practice areas: Human resources, intellectual property, and employee benefits.  Areas of emphasis include employment, employee benefits, copyrights and trademarks, and departmental activities.

Ms. Parker received her B.A. (English) from Columbia Union College in 1994 and her J.D. from George Washington University in 2002.  She is a member of the bars of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the Supreme Court of the United States, the American Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA).  She was appointed Associate General Counsel in 2006. She is also a barrister in the Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court.

Before joining the Office of General Counsel, Ms. Parker practiced in a labor and employment law firm.

Ms. Parker is author of “The U.S. Supreme Court Should Reconsider Moorman” in State Tax Notes (August 7, 2000) and “The Keys to Managing Workplace Diversity – An Overview” in Utility Contractor magazine (June 2005).

Thomas E. Wetmore, Associate General Counsel
wetmoret@gc.adventist.org
T: (301) 680-6325
F: (301) 680-6329

Practice areas:  Pension, tax, corporate matters and general nonprofit law.  Areas of emphasis include Treasury, pensions, taxes, employee benefits, litigation management, GC institutions and departmental activities.