WILLIAM S. PAPAZIAN J.D., CCEP
President, Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel

William S. Papazian, President William S. Papazian is the Managing Member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1986. Mr. Papazian has significant experience in corporate, commercial and transactional law, finance, Indian law, entertainment and gaming law and regulation. As an investigator and consultant, he utilizes this expertise to plan and oversee complex multidisciplinary investigations both nationally and internationally. Mr. Papazian has expertise in all aspects of corporate compliance, gaming regulatory compliance and in conducting domestic and international investigative due diligence.

Mr. Papazian is also the managing member of Papazian and Mead, PLC (www.papazianmead.com), a legal practice dedicated to serving a small and selective client base and providing highly personalized and focused representation on complex business, commercial, finance, transactional and regulatory matters. Additionally, Mr. Papazian has served as founding Chairman of the Snoqualmie Gaming Commission (www.snocasino.com) in Snoqualmie, WA since September 2006. Mr. Papazian also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Ballet Arizona (www.balletaz.org), the premier professional ballet company in Arizona and as Chairman of its Corporate Advisory Council. Additionally, Mr. Papazian is a member of the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix (www.bgcmp.org), an organization dedicated to inspire and enable youth in our community, especially those faced with difficult and challenging circumstances, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Before founding Lightstone Solutions, Mr. Papazian spent 10 years working in the gaming industry, during which time he sought, evaluated and represented gaming companies with respect to new business opportunities; managed financing of new projects, including relationships with investment bankers, negotiating terms of financing and preparing offering documents; managed in-house and outside legal and regulatory affairs, including licensing, transactional work, employment law, construction, leasing, public filings, litigation, regulatory compliance and lobbying.

Mr. Papazian has also handled a variety of matters relating to corporate securities and transactional practice including, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, initial public offerings, private placements, general securities practice, gaming regulatory work, intellectual property, computer and technology law and entertainment law, as an attorney with a New Jersey-based law firm, a New York-based law firm and a major New York City hospital.

Admissions to Practice Law

Mr. Papazian is admitted to practice law before the State Bars of Arizona, California, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Licensure

Mr. Papazian holds a Principal Private Investigation Agency license issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

At various times in his career, Mr. Papazian has been backgrounded and approved as a corporate officer, board director and/or primary management official by these regulatory agencies:

Education

Mr. Papazian received his Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (Sacramento, CA) in 1986. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from New York University (New York City, NY) in 1983 where he participated in the Philosophy Honors Program.

Professional Affiliations

Mr. Papazian is an active member of several professional organizations, including:

  • American Bar Association
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • Arizona Bar Association
  • California Bar Association
  • New Jersey Bar Association
  • New York Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Community Involvement

Mr. Papazian is a past member of the Finance Committee of Ballet Arizona, the premier professional ballet company in Arizona, and a past Director of the Council of Disability Advocates.

Awards

Mr. Papazian is a 2009 recipient of the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

Special Certifications

Mr. Papazian holds a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP) issued by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (www.CorporateCompliance.org) and a Certified Gaming Commissioner issued by the National Indian Gaming Association (www.IndianGaming.org).