Bill Fullmer Email & Phone Number

Greater Cleveland, Ohio Area

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Chief legal officer and member of the management team for a global manufacturer and marketer of engineered electrical and fastening products with operations in over 30 countries
• Led worldwide legal, risk management, compliance and corporate governance activities. Implemented active preventive law programs to avoid compliance issues and litigation, and to drive down worldwide legal costs
• Provided strategic legal and business advice to the holding company board of directors with private equity representation. Served as a director of the parent operating company
• Negotiated senior credit facilities and subordinated debt financings totaling $2.5 billion
• Successfully managed equity private placements, management leveraged buy-out (LBO) from private equity, and securities compliance related to publicly held debt, all as part of a long term ownership transition
• Initiated and led enterprise risk management activities and led regulatory compliance activities with direct reporting responsibility for Environmental, Health & Safety

Greater Detroit Area

• Chief legal officer and member of the leadership team for a $1 billion industrial manufacturer of transportation accessories, fastening systems, packaging and industrial specialty products with 4,750 employees at 80.
• Guided this private equity owned company toward its initial public offering (IPO)
• Established public company corporate governance and legal and ethical compliance programs.
• Reduced number of product liability and other lawsuits by over 30%
• Managed an annual legal spend of approximately $10 million and established processes and practices to track and reduce legal costs, and improve the quality and effectiveness of legal services

Greater Detroit Area And Greater Cleveland Area

• Group general counsel and member of the management team for TRW’s Automotive Electronics and Fasteners businesses, with 40 facilities in 15 countries, TRW's Seat Belt, Linkage & Suspension and Commercial Steering.
• Managed the worldwide legal affairs for the businesses, overseeing the work of an 8 person law department and the specialty legal services provided by 6 additional lawyers
• Provided legal support on acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, technology development, licensing, sales, labor and litigation
• Provided day-to-day legal advice and supervised the preparation and review of all agreements material to the businesses
• Led risk assessment related to a $7 billion acquisition
• Managed product recall investigations, recall filings and related customer issues

Orange County, California Area And Cleveland, Ohio Area

• Principal legal counsel and member of the management teams for a leading US consumer credit information business and other businesses
• Negotiated all agreements material to the businesses, including data licenses, software licenses and large-scale computer system development agreements
• Served as lead contact with federal and state regulators for a highly regulated, privacy sensitive, business
• Drafted legislation and coordinated federal and state lobbying activities

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Supported the TRW finance and treasury functions, investor relations team, investment management company, nonprofit foundation, internal audit and government relations departments
• Responsible for securities registrations and filings, including annual/quarterly reports, proxy statements, debt registration statements, equity and benefit plan offerings, and stock exchange filings
• Advised Company officers and directors on shareholder and director meetings, relationships with institutional investors, shareholder activists and outside auditors
• Formed in-house venture capital incubator to develop and exploit technologies in markets outside of TRW’s traditional strategic markets

Columbus, Ohio Area

Engaged in a general business practice with a concentration in securities law. Negotiated and documented public offerings and private placements, prepared ‘33 Act, ‘34 Act and blue sky filings and formed/registered broker-dealers and investment advisors.

Bachelor’S Degree, Political Science And Government

Juris Doctor (J.D.), Law

Activities and Societies: Law Review

Political Science And Government