GRANT H. GIBSON, ESQ. – J.D. & M.B.A. – FINANCE, M.M.P.
E. ****@*****************.*** / M. 864-***-****
http://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-gibson-esq 677016130
ATTORNEY, FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL, CORPORATE SECRETARY, CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER, BOARD MEMBER & EDUCATOR
(Active Member – Florida, South Carolina and Hawai’i Bars- Resident of N.E. Florida)
OVERVIEW
Highly experienced, strategic attorney, executive, and educator, with unique assets; experience in both publicly traded and private companies (Michelin), with Wall Street law-firm (Shearman & Sterling) training, as well as diverse upper-education teaching experience. My legal experience is highlighted by my finance and business acumen and an overriding focus on timeliness, cost savings, risk assessment and reduction. Manufacturing, distribution, and retail experience with larger companies and more recently as “Outside” General Counsel to smaller companies, results in a highly unique range of practical and strategic skills. Multiple roles “in-house,” and as an educator reflect my varied strengths.
OBJECTIVE
In the wake of my recent admission to the Florida Bar, I plan to return to practicing law “in-house” or for a Governmental Entity, and would also hope to secure a University adjunct faculty position.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Commercial / Corporate Transactions
Contract Structuring/Negotiation/Drafting
Compliance – State, Local & Federal
Drafting, Negotiation & Execution
Particularly in Employment,
Compensation, Distribution, Licensing,
Non-Disclosure, Acquisitions & Sales.
Public Company Compliance and
Reporting
Corporate Finance – Debt, Equity, M&A
Derivatives, M &A, and Banking.
Litigation – IP/HR/Commercial
Supervisory Responsibility
Strategic Risk Analysis & Control
Active Management Outside Counsel
Corporate Governance - SOX
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As GC, Established Compliance Safeguards for Publicly-Traded Company – SEC filings.
Human Resources – Dotted line to GC- EEOC/ERISA/DOL/ADA/Mediation.
Personally, managed successful defense against federal government allegations – including, Labor and Customs.
Personally, structured, negotiated, closed, and documented over $2BB in financing, debt, & equity - including off-balance sheet, significantly below market rates.
Reduced legal costs over 30 %, $100,000+
Successful defense of $100mm+ class action.
Instrumental in acquisition of majority interest in, and turnaround of, strategically important affiliate.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
G. GIBSON & ASSOCIATES, LLC 2004 to Present
Primary focus - serving as Outside General Counsel to Companies lacking, or needing to augment, in-house legal staff. Sample Client Industries & Projects: Medical Device – worldwide distribution (import, contracts, litigation); Manufacturing and distribution - Health industry equipment; Franchise start-up; Leisure industry – regulatory, contract, and mediation, acquisition of half interest in medium-sized company. Extensive commercial contract work.
ONE PRICE CLOTHING STORES, INC. 1995 - June 2004
Publicly-Traded, historically fast-growing, national 600+ store chain/4,500 employees. Company filed for protection in liquidating Chapter 11, February 2004.
Appointed President February 2004
Overall responsibility, post-bankruptcy, together with financial advisory group, for management of Company and Subsidiaries. Direct responsibility for Administration, Legal, Human Resources, Risk Management, and External and Internal Communications while reporting to the Board of Directors.
Promoted to Chief Compliance/Governance Officer 1997-2005
Responsible for all Governmental affairs and regulatory matters, including Sarbanes-Oxley & SEC Compliance, CUSTOMS, DOL, CPSC, and FTC.
Promoted to Corporate Secretary 1996-2005
Assumed responsibility for Corporate Governance, Board & Committee Matters, Shareholder & Exchange Relations (Nasdaq), Stock Option Design & Admin, Annual Meetings, and Press communications. Served as advisor to Board of Directors, Chairman and Board Committee members on pending legislation potentially impacting the business, on compliance procedures, and governance.
Promoted to Vice-President 1996-2004
Member of the Strategic Planning Committee, a group responsible for strategic planning.
Appointed General Counsel 1995-2005
Responsible for all legal affairs, management of outside counsel and in-house staff, multi-state litigation, internal investigations and compliance. Extensive commercial transaction work - lead Counsel in structuring and negotiating numerous document-intensive transactions; served as point on milestone equity investment by Sun Capital; aggressive management of outside counsel, development of in-house expertise, alternative fee arrangements and technology; established contract administration policies & procedures & compliance programs; enhancement of IP assets – creation, development and protection, including Trademarks.; active multi-state litigation management, including: (i) complex commercial litigation, (ii) governmental investigation; (iii) variety of employment and labor law matters (DOL EEOC/ FMLA/ ADA/ADEA/NLRB/WARN Act); and (iv) class-action litigation.
ENTREPRENEUR 1994-1995
President-Motlow Creek Equestrian Farms – Highly successful Equestrian Farm Development
in Landrum South Carolina (sold to current owner in 2009).
MICHELIN GROUP, NORTH AMERICA 1978-1994
Sixteen years of increasing legal/financial responsibility with the Michelin Group N.A., combining legal and financial arenas. At the time, Michelin N.A. had sales of approximately $5 Billion Sales and 30,000 employees in North America (public information.)
President, Michelin Finance Corporation & Special Counsel Michelin Corp. 1990-1994
$100 MM Financing thru special purpose, asset-backed, Moody’s rated – structured with Lehman Brothers. Member of Board of Directors.
Financial Director, Michelin North America 1990-1994
Overall responsibility for M&A, finance, capital markets, banking, treasury and joint ventures. Managed 8, working closely with the then Head of Manufacturing in Greenville, and Chairman, in NYC, where I was located; working strategically with Executive Management on corporate opportunities, and risk management.
Treasurer and Director Of Finance – Michelin Tire Corporation 1985-1994
Working on financings limited to the United States. Served as point on bank negotiations, and financial transactions serving in addition as corporate counsel.
Associate General Counsel 1978-1994
Patent law, Trademark, Contracts, including all Commercial Transactions, financing, employment law. Responsible for HR issues, working without out-side counsel, ERISA, and dealer transactions.
Board Member – Thru much of this period, I also served as a Member of the Board of Directors, along with representatives from W.R. Grace & Company, Cooper Tire and Dunlop Tire, and on the Executive Committee, of American Synthetic Rubber Corporation ($150 Million -Sales- Michelin affiliate -specialized synthetic rubber manufacturer and supplier to the auto industry).
TRUBIN SILLCOCKS – NYC-Associate – Corporate – SEC & Corporate 1976 -1977
Attorney - Left Shearman & Sterling to care for ailing Mother in Seattle. 1975 -1976
SHEARMAN & STERLING – Wall Street- Summer Associate & Associate 1973-1975 International & Corporate Teams - SEC work for Public Companies (NCR), and REIT workouts for Citibank Group. Worked in Paris Office and briefly in Algeria on Gas Pipeline dispute.
EDUCATION
Class of ’16 Jacksonville University Master’s in Public Policy, GPA 3.9 - President’s Award
Class of ’87: New York University, Stern School of Business Exec. MBA “With Distinction” GPA 3.87
Received the Steuben Award for Academic Excellence
Class of ’74: Fordham University School of Law – J.D., Comments Editor-Law Review-Published
Class of ’69: New York University - Bachelor of Arts – Pre-Law
MEMBERSHIPS
Active Member in Good Standing – Florida, South Carolina and Hawai’i Bars
REFERENCES
Professional
Rick Mullaney, Esq. – Director, Public Policy Institute, Jacksonville University - Contact: 904-***-****
Elizabeth (“Betty”) Temple, Esq. – Chair, Womble, Carlyle, et. al. - 864-***-****
John Ellsworth, Esq. – Former - V.P., G.C. & Corporate Secretary – Scan Source - 864-***-****
Academic
Dr. Rodi Borg-Former Department Chair, Economics, Professor – Jacksonville University- 904-***-****