Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Bar Admissions
Key Accomplishments And Capabilities
Timeline
Generic

Theresa MacKinnon

Newport,Rhode Island

Summary

Dynamic legal executive specializing in complex contract negotiations and global compliance program development. Proven ability to implement process improvements and foster strong stakeholder relationships that drive business growth. Successfully established comprehensive regulatory compliance frameworks addressing export/import controls, data privacy, FCPA, and OFAC requirements. Aiming to leverage extensive experience within an innovative legal environment.

Overview

33
33
years of professional experience

Work History

Consultant / Advisor

Self-Employed
05.2020 - Current
  • Advised emerging businesses on legal frameworks necessary for successful establishment and growth
  • Advised businesses through entity selection, compliance requirements, employment options, country/region registrations and risk management strategies attendant to a global business model
  • Advised subscription-based business on development initiatives, market position, content strategies and pricing models supporting subscriber/business growth
  • Advised on licensing agreements and patent applications for innovative athletic training technologies
  • Assisted athletic technology innovator on navigating intellectual property laws to protect their inventions and ensure compliance with regulatory standards
  • Advised on effective dispute resolution methods and litigation strategies
  • Developed tailored approaches to conflict management, risk assessment, and negotiation tactics to achieve favorable outcomes in conflicts/legal disputes
  • Interpreted laws and regulations in non-complex terminology to educate individuals.
  • Conducted in-depth research in order to write effective proposals, agreements, and contracts.
  • Interpreted statutes, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses.
  • Handled labor and employment law issues, advising on compliance, dispute resolution, and representing clients in related litigation.
  • Provided legal advice, opinions and solutions regarding issues and risks on various transactional and regulatory matters.
  • Conducted regular reviews of existing contracts to identify areas for improvement or renegotiation.
  • Reviewed proposed contracts against established policies, guidelines and legal requirements to identify critical issues.

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel

United Technologies Corporation
Farmington, USA
06.2017 - 05.2020
  • Company Overview: Farmington, CT
  • Led global Otis legal transformation efforts, including organizational risk analysis and design, with direct reporting and briefing responsibility to the General Counsel and Executive Committee.
  • Led design and development of global contract process and migration of resources to offshore global service center
  • Directed Legal Committee tasked with developing, drafting, and approving Global Legal Department policies and procedures.
  • Responsibility included working with responsible stakeholders to develop policies and procedures, as well as implementation plans, including communication strategies and performance measurement.
  • Led assessment, acquisition and implementation efforts for various technology solutions related to legal and compliance needs
  • Held oversight responsibility for the legal review of Otis Global Major Projects, including contract review and approvals, and overseeing the management of product issues related to projects involving a threshold minimum of $25 million.
  • Held direct oversight responsibility for the entire Global Legal department budget, managed reporting to the General Counsel and CFO on budget status, and worked with stakeholders to design mitigation options to address potential deviations from the planned budget.
  • Designed and deployed the Global Otis International Trade Compliance ('ITC') program, providing advice, counsel, management, and proposed solutions to all global business operations on programmatic issues, long-term initiatives, and geopolitical developments impacting near-term compliance and operations, including sanctions, embargoes, imports, exports, customs, technology access and transfer, transactional compliance, emerging technologies, and sourcing.
  • Responsibilities also included designing and managing global ITC infrastructure and personnel, as well as managing and resolving all global internal ITC investigations (i.e., fact gathering, legal analysis, close outs/resolutions, corrective action development, and disclosures).
  • Farmington, CT

Vice President, Legal Affairs - ITC & Contracts

Building & Industrial Systems/Climate Controls & Security
09.2013 - 06.2017
  • Designed, deployed, maintained, and led the Global Building & Industrial Systems International Trade Compliance ('ITC') program, providing advice, counsel, management, and proposed solutions to all global business operations on programmatic issues, long-term initiatives, and geopolitical developments impacting near-term compliance/operations, including sanctions, embargoes, imports, exports, customs, technology access/transfer, transactional compliance, emerging technologies, and sourcing.
  • Responsibilities also included designing and managing global ITC infrastructure and personnel, as well as managing and resolving all global internal ITC investigations (i.e., fact gathering, legal analysis, closeouts, resolutions, corrective action development, and disclosures).
  • Developed and implemented compliance programs related to government contracts, ethics and compliance, privacy programs, and trade compliance; developed training materials, conducted training, and established a library of training materials.
  • Developed a framework for internal corporate and legal approvals.
  • Ensured compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to operations activities.
  • Negotiated contracts with vendors for services, products and supplies.
  • Strategized and implemented plans to transform and revitalize operations, capitalizing on emerging industry trends.
  • Created effective communication strategies between management team members and employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Leveraged trends in customer industries and marketplaces to shape solutions and approaches.
  • Managed financial operations, overseeing budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis activities.

Carrier Corporation
10.2010 - 09.2013
  • Managed a team of lawyers and contracts professionals responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial, governmental, and procurement agreements.
  • Advised key stakeholders on all legal aspects of procurement, government, and commercial contracts, providing strategic insights, resolving complex business and legal issues, and delivering high-performance cost, service, and quality outcomes.
  • Identified and managed commercial, contractual, operational, financial, reputational, and ethical risks in an effort to minimize negative impacts on organizational objectives while encouraging opportunity and innovation.

Vice President and General Counsel

NORESCO, LLC
Westborough, USA
02.2008 - 01.2010
  • Company Overview: Westborough, MA
  • Manage the legal/contracts and safety department staff of nine, including six attorneys, for a $500M+ energy services and sustainable solutions company.
  • Responsibilities include drafting, negotiating, and advising on government and commercial construction contracts (prime and material subcontracts, including significant equipment supply and renewable energy products and systems) related to the implementation of energy conservation projects and the construction of smaller-scale power plants (including negotiation of power purchase agreements).
  • Advise on all matters relating to the administration and performance of government and commercial contracts, including competitive sourcing issues, terminations, claims, and risk management strategies.
  • Manage project financing activities, including the sale of Renewable Energy Credits.
  • Advise on all matters relating to environmental, employment, and intellectual property laws; manage all dispute resolution proceedings and compliance matters (including FOCI, FCPA, and Sarbanes-Oxley for the business unit), and investigate business practice violations.
  • Handle all matters of corporate governance, and provide general business/legal advice to senior management on all legal matters affecting the company.
  • Westborough, MA
  • Oversaw human resources functions such as recruitment, employee relations, training and benefits administration.
  • Collaborated with executive team members on major decisions regarding company-wide initiatives.
  • Fostered collaboration and development of new practices by business leaders.
  • Managed financial operations, overseeing budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis activities.
  • Advised senior executives on approaches for resolving complex issues impacting operations.
  • Ensured compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to operations activities.
  • Optimized supply chain to reduce materials costs and improve distribution.
  • Oversaw corrective action plans to remedy structural, organizational and departmental issues.
  • Negotiated contracts with suppliers to reduce costs while maintaining quality standards.
  • Created effective communication strategies between management team members and employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Implemented process improvement procedures that resulted in cost savings across the board.
  • Worked with SEC to file amendments and achieve compliance targets.

Associate

FOLEY HOAG, LLP
Boston, USA
09.2000 - 04.2002
  • Company Overview: Boston, MA
  • Advised public and private company clients on general corporate law matters and transactions
  • Advised and represented public and private company clients in mergers and acquisitions transactions, corporate governance, federal and state securities laws compliance and filings, antitrust matters and licensing
  • Advised and represented corporate clients in finance transactions, including private debt financing and venture capital financing
  • Researched and advised corporate clients in energy regulatory and energy related matters
  • Boston, MA

Judicial Intern

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT, DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
Boston, USA
06.1998 - 09.1998
  • Researched and analyzed legal issues, drafted memoranda of decision and procedural orders
  • Reviewed Chapter 13 Confirmation Orders and all Chapter 13 motions for adherence to Federal Bankruptcy Code and Rules
  • Prepared case briefs and summaries

Revenue Specialist

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE
Albany, USA
01.1992 - 08.1998
  • Company Overview: Albany, NY
  • Assisted in the design, development and implementation efforts for the privatization of NYS personal income tax returns processing
  • Drafted contract documents and conducted on-site contract compliance audits
  • Developed and reviewed field audit strategies for identifying non-compliance with NYS Tax Code
  • Conducted on-site field audits, documented and presented audit findings
  • Represented NYS Tax Department in dispute resolution proceedings against taxpayers
  • Albany, NY

Education

Juris Doctor -

Suffolk University Law School
Boston, MA
05.2000

Masters of Business Administration -

College of St. Rose
Albany, NY
12.1996

Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting Major

Siena College
Loudonville, NY
05.1987

Skills

  • Risk Assessment
  • Budget Forecasting Expertise
  • Relationship Management Expertise
  • Knowledge of Intellectual Property Rights
  • Conducting Legal Research
  • Business Transaction Expertise
  • Client Support and Guidance
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Contract Negotiation Expertise
  • Contract Analysis
  • Contract Drafting
  • Legal Research

Bar Admissions

  • MASSACHUSETTS, 2000
  • NEW YORK, 2001
  • CONNECTICUT, 2013

Key Accomplishments And Capabilities

  • Ability to anticipate risk, adapt to new situations quickly, excellent oral and written communication skills, highly organized and detail-oriented team player with ability to handle a wide range of responsibilities, managing conflicting priorities to meet deadlines.
  • Extensive experience managing legal department operations for combined global divisions of a publicly traded Fortune 50 company and private $500M+ energy services company, including assessment, acquisition and implementation efforts for various technology solutions related to legal and compliance needs, which included communicating and coordinating with global stakeholders.
  • Extensive experience advising on and managing all types of commercial agreements, employment matters, corporate governance, real estate matters, outside counsel, and risk management.
  • Extensive experience developing and managing legal department operating budgets, legal forms libraries, policies and procedures, and authorization protocols.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and manage global trade compliance programs, including related employment/immigration, data protection and privacy requirements and internal ethics code of conduct policies.
  • Led global Otis legal transformation in connection with spin-off from UTC, working with McKinsey & Company analyzing organizational data, developing strategies and tactical plans to reduce legal operations costs by $11M.

Timeline

Consultant / Advisor

Self-Employed
05.2020 - Current

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel

United Technologies Corporation
06.2017 - 05.2020

Vice President, Legal Affairs - ITC & Contracts

Building & Industrial Systems/Climate Controls & Security
09.2013 - 06.2017

Carrier Corporation
10.2010 - 09.2013

Vice President and General Counsel

NORESCO, LLC
02.2008 - 01.2010

Associate

FOLEY HOAG, LLP
09.2000 - 04.2002

Judicial Intern

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT, DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
06.1998 - 09.1998

Revenue Specialist

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE
01.1992 - 08.1998

Juris Doctor -

Suffolk University Law School

Masters of Business Administration -

College of St. Rose

Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting Major

Siena College

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Theresa MacKinnon