Noel Elfant

www.linkedin.com/in/nelfant 

A results-driven general counsel executive with a passion for helping businesses achieve strategic results.  A trusted business partner who engages all levels of management across functions and geographies in support of business goals and organizational transformations.  A versatile producer who enhances operations, mitigates risk, and reduces cost in critical areas, including legal services, governance, IP, and HR for continued improvement and to meet short- and long-term business objectives.

·        Commercial Contracts

·        International

·        Corporate Law

·        Mergers and Acquisitions

·        Governance and Compliance

·        Regulatory

·        Manufacturing and Operations

·        Distribution and Marketing

·        Securities and Financing

·        Intellectual Property

·        Employment and Labor

·        Litigation Management

Experience

DELAVAL INC., Bannockburn, IL

Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, 2010-2019

CLO for North American operations of Swedish-owned manufacturer of dairy farm-production equipment, consumables and animal health products, and cleaning chemicals for food-processing industry, part of the multi-billion Tetra Laval Group                                                                                                                               

Provided daily counsel to worldwide and North American senior management and operating personnel as a member of the management team.  Retained and led outside counsel, directed and settled material litigation, reviewed and advised on employment and labor matters, developed and protected intellectual property, drafted and negotiated commercial and real estate contracts, advised on international issues (including good-governance and compliance matters), provided training, and maintained corporate books and records.

Honored as “Top Service Department” in 2011 for DeLaval worldwide.

ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Lincolnshire, IL (NASDAQ: ZBRA)

Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer, 2003-2009

CLO for publicly traded, worldwide manufacturer and marketer of bar-code and label printers and related consumables.

Built and oversaw highly effective cross-functional team (including legal, engineering, customs, and HR).  Developed and monitored progress against long- and short-term strategic plans and financial objectives, as well as business priorities, as member of senior executive team.  Served as corporate secretary, advising board on fiduciary responsibilities and governance issues, as well as review and filing of corporation’s securities disclosures.  Created compliance program, formalizing code of conduct and implementing whistleblower hot line, as well as institutionalizing worldwide targeted training in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act and federal sentencing guidelines.  Provided daily counsel to board of directors, senior management, and operating division personnel.  Retained and managed domestic and international outside counsel on broad range of matters.  Understood operating issues attendant to business and industries in which company contributed.   Established high-performing legal department, overseeing worldwide legal compliance, intellectual property, international trade, and records management functions with $7 million budget, five lawyers, three legal professionals, and three assistants.  Served as acting head of human resources while restructuring department and leading search for permanent HR executive. 

Legal Department rated high-performing in all measured categories in 2009 worldwide employee survey.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

PHILIP SERVICES CORPORATION, Rosemont, IL, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, 2002-2003.  Associate General Counsel, 2001-2002.  Oversaw delivery of legal services to all operations and assisted in budgeting and management of department.  Worked closely with principal clients, including presidents of three operating divisions (metals, engineering, and waste).  Negotiated relief from loan covenant restrictions and redeeming shareholder rights plan (poison pill).  Advised board of directors on proposed plans to divest significant portions of business.  Streamlined various legal functions and developed protocol for hiring and budgeting of outside counsel.

 FORTUNE BRANDS, INC., Lincolnshire, IL, Assistant General Counsel, 2000-2001.  Senior Counsel, 1997-1999.  Counsel, 1991-1996.  Serviced Illinois-based entities, including Jim Beam Brands Co., MasterBrand Industries, Inc. (including Master Lock Company, Moen Incorporated, Aristokraft, Inc., and Waterloo Industries, Inc.), and ACCO World Corporation (including Day-Timers, Inc., ACCO Brands, Inc., Wilson Jones Company, and Swingline).  Developed and implemented formal corporate compliance program.  Concentrated on Internet-related issues (including formation and sale of Day-Timer Digital, Inc., on-line calendar).  Oversaw complex commercial contracts, bankruptcy matters, M&A, customs, NAFTA and maquiladora issues, compliance, sales, marketing and distribution issues, and standardization of intellectual property contracts.

 MCDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY, Chicago, IL, Associate, 1985-1990.  Worked in corporate, securities, and real estate departments.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; EDUCATION

 Kellogg Management Institute, Evanston, IL, Executive Program

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL, J.D.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, CA, B.A., Political Science

 AFFILIATIONS

 North Shore Compliance Officers Roundtable

North Shore General Counsel Association

Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals

CEO Roundtable

Private Directors Association

Association for Corporate Growth