Francisco Vasquez
Saint Simons Island,GA
Summary
Entrepreneurial and diligent General Counsel and senior executive with over 20 years of experience leading legal, compliance, and enterprise risk management functions for private equity-backed, multi-site manufacturing and consumer businesses. Recognized as a trusted executive advisor and hands-on leader in M&A, restructuring, negotiations, and operational transformation. Expertise in architecting robust legal infrastructures, optimizing resources, and driving value creation within dynamic, growth-focused environments. Demonstrated excellence in team leadership and financial oversight while actively engaging in substantive legal work.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Nortek, Inc. (Madison Industries Portfolio)
01.2021 - Current
- Lead all legal, compliance, and enterprise risk management functions for $2B multi-business portfolio, reporting to CFO and General Counsel of Madison Industries.
- Key legal advisor during PE ownership transition and post-acquisition transformation, including strategic-level engagement and value creation initiatives.
- Directed company-wide 80/20 restructuring, segmenting businesses, eliminating dilutive processes, and optimizing people resources.
- Supported sale of Nortek residential HVAC business to Rheem (Oct 2024), overseeing pre-transaction restructuring, due diligence, and SPA schedules.
- Negotiated Master Purchase Agreements with hyperscale technology clients and co-locator customers for rapidly growing data center cooling business.
- Managed litigation portfolio, including Superfund sites, mass tort claims, and legacy M&A liabilities.
- Developed and implemented policy frameworks, compliance programs, and governance infrastructure for global operations.
- Restructured legal department, optimizing internal/external resource allocation and reducing outside counsel spend by 33%.
- Led labor and employment law matters, including collective bargaining, policy development, and multi-state compliance.
- Oversaw intellectual property portfolio (300+ patents, 200+ trademarks) and global regulatory compliance.
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Nortek Air Management (Melrose Industries Portfolio)
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Managed lean legal team supporting $1B global HVAC manufacturer; direct counsel to CEO and British ownership group.
- Led legal support for sale and integration of Nortek business to Madison Industries, including due diligence and post-close activities.
- Partnered on business restructuring initiatives, resulting in 82.8% increase in operating income and 9.3% increase in return on sales.
- Supported launch of new data center cooling product line ($400M organic growth), including contract negotiation with Meta and international entity formation.
- Built comprehensive compliance training programs and coordinated global corporate secretarial activities.
- Advised Senior Leadership Team through compliance and labor & employment challenges through pandemic-era operations.
Senior Group Counsel, Building Efficiency Division
Johnson Controls, Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2017
- Highlights: Led commercial litigation team, served as Legal Business Partner for Energy Solutions & Federal Businesses, and managed M&A divestiture transactions (>$20M).
- Reduced litigation matters by 10% and outside counsel spend by 9.6% year-over-year.
Assistant General Counsel
Michels Corporation
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Provided commercial legal support, managed union grievance hearings, and developed corporate records retention policy.
Partner (2006–2008); Associate (2002–2005)
Hurtado, S.C.
01.2002 - 01.2008
- Maintained construction law practice, represented clients in litigation, and drafted briefs to Wisconsin Supreme Court resulting in changes to Economic Loss Doctrine.
Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Appeals Unit
Wisconsin Department of Justice
01.2001 - 01.2002
Judicial Clerk for Hon. Neal Nettesheim
Wisconsin Court of Appeals
01.1999 - 01.2001
Education
Juris Doctor -
University of Wisconsin Law School
Madison, WI01.1999
B.S. - Journalism
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL01.1995
Skills
- PE portfolio company experience
- Strategic partner to CEO and business leadership
- M&A, divestiture, and strategic transaction leadership
- Legal infrastructure and policy framework development
- Team development, coaching, and resource optimization
- Multi-site, multi-jurisdictional operations
- Supply chain, manufacturing, and consumer business expertise
- HR/employment law and multi-state compliance
- Commercial operations and contract negotiation and management
- Willing to relocate to Denver, CO
- Strategic leadership
- Policies and procedures
- Operational excellence
- KPI tracking
- Process improvements
- Customer support
- Budget preparation
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Troubleshooting and problem resolution
- Documentation and reporting
- Resource allocation
- Influencing and negotiating
- Executive leadership
- People and culture
- Analytical and critical thinker
- Policy development
- Management team leadership
- Process improvement
Certification
- Licensed - State Bar of Wisconsin
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Limited Working
Timeline
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Nortek, Inc. (Madison Industries Portfolio)
01.2021 - Current
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Nortek Air Management (Melrose Industries Portfolio)
01.2017 - 01.2021
Senior Group Counsel, Building Efficiency Division
Johnson Controls, Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2017
Assistant General Counsel
Michels Corporation
01.2008 - 01.2011
Partner (2006–2008); Associate (2002–2005)
Hurtado, S.C.
01.2002 - 01.2008
Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Appeals Unit
Wisconsin Department of Justice
01.2001 - 01.2002
Judicial Clerk for Hon. Neal Nettesheim
Wisconsin Court of Appeals
01.1999 - 01.2001
B.S. - Journalism
University of Florida
Juris Doctor -
University of Wisconsin Law School
Awards
Wisconsin Leaders In The Law Honoree - 2007 (Wisconsin Law Journal)