JILL L. VARVARES

Law clerk

• Chief Legal Officer
• Vice President of Compliance
• Risk Officer
• Litigation & Due Diligence
• IP Protection
• Highly motivated and experienced attorney with a proven track record able to work flexibly across multiple areas to devise and execute strategy for legal, compliance and risk functions.

• General counsel and senior advisor to management related to all legal and strategic matters
• Advised senior management on matters including M&A, IP protection, marketing, strategy, strategic partnerships, contracting and collaboration agreements, HR, compliance, risk, procedures, and more
• Conducted internal investigations
• Developed policies and procedures for IP protection, and ensuring general oversight and accountability
• Developed in-house methods to provide legal assistance to the company to mitigate risk
• Negotiated and drafted transactional documents for the company including sales, purchasing, distribution and licensing agreements
• Led strategy for new partnership agreements
• Led compliance and ethics program consistent with banking regulatory/ethical requirements applicable to a large number of our clients
• Provided leadership expertise in organizational development, long range strategic planning, operational management, and corporate governance
• Negotiated legal documents and contracts and performed competitive analysis
• Counseled management on intellectual property protections, liability, commercial and operational matters, including litigation and risk management, insurance, contracts, and more
• Collaborated with management on all matters with legal implications and management of the corporation while ensuring compliance
• Partnered with COO, and CFO in making decisions-with respect to assets, banking agreements, financial planning, insurance, liability, and employee relations
• Planned and executed strategy for new technology to maximize productivity and efficiency
• Spearheaded due diligence that resulted in DC office closure and member terminations
• Advised management on pending acquisition to maximize value and ensure a successful acquisition
• Supervised outside counsel in an IP suit against a Fortune 500 company that was successfully resolved in firm’s favor.

• Advised management on liability, commercial and operational matters, including litigation and risk management, insurance, contracts, indemnity, customer relations, and others
• Drafted corporate contracts for sales and purchasing in North America, risk assessment, implementing compliance programs, and managing litigation and liability-related issues
• Prosecuted and defended, with outside counsel, lawsuits involving contract, commercial, indemnity, insurance coverage, product liability, premises liability and transportation disputes
• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated confidentiality, research, and non-compete agreements
• Negotiated employee contracts, stock option plans, severance agreements, and other employee benefit/shareholder agreements; led trademark licensing for ICL North American companies
• Evaluated complex client contracts and instruments, including joint venture agreements, promissory notes, subordinated loan agreements, and lease agreements
• Developed a contracts database to expedite legal review, assisting in tracking for commercial and finance review, and to ensure that approval processes are adhered to pursuant to policies and banking laws and regulations
• Authored a global code of ethics and other legal policies to ensure compliance
• Implemented a global compliance training program for employee training electronically
• Drafted and implemented a global records retention policy for North American companies
• Executed due diligence and Asset Purchase Agreements for several acquisitions/mergers
• Supervised review and production of documents, witness preparation, and review of legal memoranda and pleadings in defense of several lawsuits alleging breach of agreements
• Obtained favorable outcomes with management’s approval and support
• Oversaw multiple trademark and patent infringement matters and resolved successfully
• Negotiated with the EPA regarding environmental cleanup of hazardous waste
• Drafted responses/pleadings for several EPA complaints, investigations, citations, and appeals
• State of Missouri, Gale, P.C.