David Harshman couldn’t shed his industrial-engineer self, even after he got into law.
He has melded his skills as an engineer with his knowledge of the law for more than 30 years, spending the past 20 years at Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. in Irvine.
“What drew me to Toshiba was that I was very interested in being part of a company that was at the cutting edge of technology and development,” Harshman told the Business Journal. “I thought I could make a good contribution to Toshiba because of my knowledge in the technology industry.”
Toshiba America Information Systems is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corp. The company does design and engineering for consumer electronics, including laptop computers and televisions.
GC Award
Harshman received the General Counsel Award in the Private Company category at the Business Journal’s third annual awards event held on Sept. 19 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.
Integrating Toshiba’s television unit with other Irvine operations in 2010 was one of the biggest tasks Harshman had to quarterback. The TV business had been part of Toshiba America Consumer Products LLC in Wayne, N.J.
It was a time of “readjusting, a revising of [Toshiba’s] strategy,” said Harshman, who just prior to the integration was promoted to vice president and general counsel of the company from assistant general counsel.
Integration
“The integration of our TV business with the laptop-and-tablet business was a big endeavor,” Harshman said. “It kind of makes sense, because now you have smart TVs, where you can get on the Internet directly through TV. All the streams seem to be coming together—TV, laptops and other devices.”
Work for the legal department tends to mount up in such a companywide move, he added.
“We had to absorb a huge network of dealers and retailers of televisions,” Harshman said. “We managed the contracts and service capabilities. We had to make sure we integrate all of the necessary compliance aspects, including warranty and service and advertising. We review all the advertisements and make sure all the requirements are met. We also need to take over all their pending litigations.”
Toshiba America Information Systems has roughly 800 employees overall. Its legal department runs on six lawyers and a paralegal, with help from other firms and expatriates from Tokyo.
It wasn’t long ago when the legal team was struggling with a lot on its plate after key individuals died unexpectedly, Harshman said.
“It was a tough time here for a while,” he said. “A couple of lawyers passed away suddenly. It was difficult for the business side, the legal side and, of course, the emotional aspect of everything. All I can say is everybody here at TAIS and also other outside counsel were very supportive.”
Harshman also has assisted Toshiba America Information Systems in its 2009 acquisition of Fujitsu Ltd.’s hard disk drive business.
Tech Marketplace
He described today’s technology marketplace as quite a contrast from “the old days,” when intellectual-property cases were few and patent lawyers spent much time in the office writing applications.
“There are a lot of intellectual-property litigations these days,” he said. “That’s a reflection of the times and the appreciation for the technology aspects. I’m also a registered patent attorney. Before, we would sit in the back rooms and write patent applications. Now we’re in courtrooms. These are interesting times.”
Interest in patent law was “a logical extension” of previous studies for Harshman, who has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and worked as an engineer through law school at University of San Diego. His legal career started at Fleit & Jacobson, an intellectual property firm in Washington, D.C.
Teaching Job
Harshman launched his own practice a couple of years later in Carlsbad, then joined San Diego-based Gascard Inc. as vice president and general counsel.
He spent another three years as a partner at Nydegger & Harshman in San Diego before coming to Orange County in 1990 to work at Irvine-based Gradco Systems Inc. as corporate counsel.
Harshman is a part-time professor at California State University, Fullerton.
“I like teaching,” Harshman said. “I appreciate the opportunity to do that. I teach one night a week, currently teaching employment law. I had taught entertainment law and Internet law before.”
He also is a musician who has played for 10 years with a band at Red Hill Lutheran Church in Tustin.
“I play electric bass and guitar,” Harshman said. “Having played in bands in my younger days, I volunteer at church. Sometimes I’ll be saying that I feel restless. That means I haven’t picked up my guitar in a while.”
He’s involved in the Special Olympics as a volunteer and is a member at the Arc, an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities.
