JAMES P. PRENETTA, JR.
Dorchester,MA
Summary
Accomplished General Counsel with a distinguished career in providing expert legal guidance and leadership to fast-paced growth companies. Proven record of successfully managing complex business transactions, mergers and acquisitions and capital raising initiatives. Skilled in contract negotiation, litigation strategy and management, regulatory compliance (SEC, FCC), and in building high-performance legal teams from scratch, fostering a culture of collaboration, and driving initiatives to optimize legal operations. Adept at partnering with investors, boards of directors and C-suite executives to develop and execute strategic business plans that achieve key objectives. Seeking a challenging C-level role where legal acumen, business insight, and a results-oriented approach can contribute to the overall success and growth of the organization.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Fusion Connect, Inc.
Atlanta, GA
05.2014 - Current
- Managed law firms delivering annual legal services worth $2.0 million dollars
- Successfully negotiated settlement with a non-performing vendor that allowed the company to terminate the contract, avoid the payment of $500,000 of billed fees, and avoid the payment of $3.0 million in future expenses
- Led bankruptcy restructuring that reduced the Company's outstanding debt by $350 million of company debt and purserved a substantial customer base
- Led financing activities that resulted in the infusion of over $1.0 billion in capital used to fund expansion activities
- Achieved a 40% reduction in litigation costs through proactive risk management strategies and effective negotiation tactics
- Negotiated strategic contracts and developed comprehensive compensation plans
- Managed litigation processes and implemented document retention practices, ensuring global regulation adherence
- Propelled key strategic mergers and acquisitions initiatives, significantly expanding market presence and diverse product offerings to boost overall competitiveness
- Orchestrated legal and regulatory functions, ensuring SEC and FCC compliance through meticulous oversight of report submissions and filings
- Directed capital raising activities, bolstering the company's organic growth strategies and acquisition plans.
- Improved profitability by accurately maintaining P&L to meet prime fiscal responsibility.
- Provided organizational leadership and collaborated with executive partners to establish long-term goals, strategies and company policies.
- Created annual budgets based on expected revenue projections and expenses.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, suppliers, customers and partners.
- Established key performance indicators to measure success of projects or initiatives.
- Ensured compliance with all relevant government regulations and policies.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams for successful execution of projects or initiatives.
- Managed financial resources in order to achieve optimal budget performance.
- Provided guidance on strategic decisions to ensure objectives are met.
General Counsel
Hibernia Atlantic Columbia Ventures New Jersey
Dublin
01.2003 - 02.2017
- Oversaw law firms providing around $1M in crucial legal services yearly
- Innovated comprehensive compensation plans in line with industry standards and company goals, attracting top talent while maintaining legal integrity
- Pioneered innovative document retention practices and policies, further developing relevant compliance procedures to fortify business operations
- Led negotiations for major vendor contracts, contributing to the company's financial success through diligent compliance enforcement
- Directed strategic legal guidance for all business units, ensuring full compliance
- Acquired necessary licenses to support ambitious business expansion initiatives
- Fostered a legal work environment through expert guidance on employment issues.
EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
One Communications
Burlington, MA
01.2003 - 08.2009
- Spearheaded mergers and acquisitions initiatives that culminated in a competitive service provider generating 700 million dollars in revenue
- Assembled and led a 26-member team of lawyers, paralegals, and regulatory experts
- Orchestrated successful capital raising activities in private markets to bolster the company's organic growth and strategic acquisition strategies
- Negotiated contracts with customers and vendors, aligning with business goals and mitigating risks
- Navigated firm through legal hurdles by aligning strategies with business objectives
- Cultivated collaboration and enforced high-performance standards across the team.
SVP, General Counsel and Secretary
Viatel, Inc.
New York, New York , NY
Partner
Kelley Drye & Warren
New York, NY
Education
Doctorate -
Columbus School of Law, Catholic University
Washington, D.C,Bachelors - Political Science
University of Connecticut
Bar Admissions
New York; ConnecticutSkills
Legal Expertise
o Complex Business Transactions
o Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
o Corporate Finance (public and private)
o Corporate Governance
o Commercial Contracts
o Litigation Management
o Regulatory Compliance
Team Leadership; Team Player
Communication and Negotiation
Ethical Judgment
Collaboration
Business Acumen
Change Management
Crises Management
Additional Information
- DOJ Security Clearance; Subsidiary Board Member
Timeline
EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Fusion Connect, Inc.
05.2014 - Current
General Counsel
Hibernia Atlantic Columbia Ventures New Jersey
01.2003 - 02.2017
EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
One Communications
01.2003 - 08.2009
SVP, General Counsel and Secretary
Viatel, Inc.
Partner
Kelley Drye & Warren
Doctorate -
Columbus School of Law, Catholic University
Bachelors - Political Science
University of Connecticut
Bar Admissions
Technologies
* Microsoft Word, * PowerPoint, * Various document management systems, Adobe Acrobat, DocuSign, Workday, Practical Law, SharePoint, Luminance, Diligent, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point, Microsoft Teams, Passageways OnBoard, Westlaw, LexisNexis
Technologies
* Microsoft Word, * PowerPoint, * Various document management systems, Adobe Acrobat, DocuSign, Workday, Practical Law, SharePoint, Luminance, Diligent, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point, Microsoft Teams, Passageways OnBoard, Westlaw, LexisNexis