He received a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, in 1985 from Villanova University.

He began his legal career at the law firm of Duane Morris LLP, from 1988 to 1997.

He served as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Cephalon, Inc., from 2008 to 2012.

[5] On July 24, 2014 a hearing before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary was held on his nomination.

[7] On December 1, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on his nomination.