Chris Howard Email & Phone Number

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl, Us

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Jacksonville, Florida Area

• Establish and supervise Legal and Compliance Department for sister company of world’s largest cigar company, Swisher International; recruit and manage team of compliance professionals. • Develop strategy for completing Premarket Tobacco Product Applications for e-vapor products, including Leap Vapor System and Leap Go disposable e-cigarette; identify and retain experts in chemistry, toxicology, behavioral science and numerous other disciplines to achieve objectives set forth in plan; accountable for multi-million dollar compliance budget.• Proactively lead business in establishing guidelines for compliance with laws, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Final Deeming Rule, with goal of positioning company as leader in industry and steward of best practices.• Represent company and trade association before members of Congress and U.S. regulatory agencies on multiple issues facing e-vapor industry such as harm reduction, reducing youth access, compliance with laws and regulatory processes. • Serve as Company Secretary for Board of Directors with responsibility for arranging Board meetings, maintaining Board books and records, and advising Board members of significant legal and regulatory events impacting the Company.• Counsel Marketing team on initiatives to support launch of e-vapor products.• Ensure facilities responsible for final manufacturing of e-vapor products employ best practices and Current Good Manufacturing Practices set forth in 21 CFR § 111.• Develop and deliver presentations to educate e-vapor industry regarding various issues, including development of marketing standards, reducing youth access, and interpretation of laws.• Implement company policy for influencing legislative initiatives impacting e-vapor industry.• Educate company Board of Directors regarding legal and regulatory issues facing e-vapor industry and business.• Actively participated on Board of Directors of Vapor Technology Association.

Amsterdam Area, Netherlands And Charlotte, North Carolina Area

• Lead legal function for global business with responsibility for establishing legal and compliance strategy in U.S. and Europe. • Establish and manage Global Legal and Compliance Department consisting of six attorneys, support staff and multi-million dollar legal budget.• Provide tactical and strategic legal support to CEO, COO and other executives on wide range of business and compliance issues in highly regulated environment.• Advise on strategic implications of European Tobacco Products Directive and Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended by Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Controls Act, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recently finalized decision to deem e-vapor products subject to regulation as tobacco products.• Negotiate multi-million dollar international transactions and brand licensing arrangements related to sale and distribution of e-vapor products.• Provide legal and business guidance to Marketing Team on international brand promotions and marketing initiatives, online and direct advertising programs and customer loyalty programs; provide counsel regarding all corporate communications.• Manage all major company litigation cases; select and manage relationships with external counsel and develop cost-saving billing arrangements. • Manage comprehensive U.S. and international intellectual property portfolios of patents and trademarks, including directing outside counsel on preparing and prosecuting patent applications and policing infringement.• Partner with External Affairs Team and management to influence and ensure compliance with state laws and regulations impacting use, marketing and sale of e-vapor products.• Counsel senior management regarding human resource matters including EEOC claims, employment contracts, workplace policies and employment law compliance.

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina Area

• Principle commercial and transactional legal counsel for traditional cigarette and e-cigarette business, responsible for providing comprehensive guidance related to all legal matters, including commercial issues, regulatory compliance, sales and marketing, intellectual property, brand integrity, external affairs, human resources, manufacturing and research and development.• Actively participate in significant acquisitions, including acquisition of Lorillard, Inc. by Reynolds American Inc. for $27.4 billion and purchase of assets and operations of British-based e-cigarette business for $48.6 million.• Oversee negotiation and drafting of nearly all contracts for businesses including service, consulting, distribution, supply, purchase, licensing and confidentiality agreements.• Author and execute first company-wide guidelines for blu businesses related to packaging, advertising and external communications with focus on incorporating voluntary policies, Federal Trade Commission guidance and proposed regulations by U.S. Food and Drug Administration.• Lead institution and defense of sophisticated commercial, employment, 1st Amendment and intellectual property litigation.• Provide oversight of global intellectual property portfolio; develop, implement and monitor intellectual property strategy for protection and leveraging of IP assets.• Develop company policies for blu business regarding marketing, external communications, web site content and social media.• Accountable for multiple Legal Department budgets totaling approximately $3 million and team including paralegals and executive assistant.• Support Corporate Secretary with drafting and submission of required SEC filings, including Form 10-K reports, Form 10-Q reports, proxy statements and other regulatory documents.• Counsel Human Resources Department and senior management on labor and employment matters.• Develop and provide training programs to employees on numerous laws and regulations.

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina Area

• Provide direction and legal advice to Lawn & Garden Business regarding commercial issues, including managing relationships with channel partners and competitors.• Participate on Lawn & Garden Leadership Team responsible for developing and driving strategy for Lawn & Garden Business, including the Turf and Landscape and Flowers Professional Business Units.• Oversee complex acquisitions and divestments, including acquisition of insecticide business from DuPont Professional Products for $125 million and sales of Syngenta Horticulture Services distribution business to Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc. and Conrad Fafard, Inc. peat business to Sun Gro Horticulture Ltd.• Draft and negotiate contracts, including product supply and distribution, licensing and marketing agreements.• Develop and implement strategic agenda for Legal, Intellectual Property and Licensing Team for Lawn & Garden Business.• Direct intellectual property attorneys and licensing managers to capitalize on opportunities for strategic portfolio development and protect current intellectual property assets. • Supervise team of professionals including attorneys, paralegals and intellectual property specialists.• Hire and collaborate with outside counsel to defend lawsuits against Syngenta.• Counsel Human Resources Department and senior management on employment matters relating to Lawn & Garden Business. • Manage regulatory issues regarding chemicals distributed in turf and landscape market directly with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. • Prepare and deliver client training program to employees on topics including antitrust laws, workplace harassment, intellectual property, confidentiality and external communications.• Actively participate on Law Committee for Responsible Industry for Sound Environment, a trade association of manufacturers, formulators and distributors involved with specialty pesticide and fertilizer products.

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina Area

• Handle multiple global and regional legal transactions for Crop Protection Business with concentration on supply and purchase of agricultural chemicals, regulation of pesticides pursuant to Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, marketing, data compensation, credit, research, testing and litigation.• Strategize frequently with management to develop and implement business plans and tactics.• Defend lawsuits against Syngenta including multimillion dollar product liability and property damage matters.• Counsel Business Development Function related to potential acquisitions of third party companies.• Manage regulatory issues related to chemicals with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.• Supervise legal assistants on significant client projects.• Conduct client training on topics including Syngenta Code of Conduct, antitrust laws, drafting agreements, regulatory compliance and litigation.• Draft wide variety of unique agreements, programs, correspondence and other legal documents.• Manage multiple teams of attorneys and consultants to recover over $100 million from third parties in compensation for their use of Syngenta studies in registering products. • Mentor and develop lawyers and legal assistants.• Lead team of attorneys examining methods to increase Global Crop Protection Legal and Intellectual Property Team’s engagement and partnership with the business.• Actively participate on Law Committee for Crop Life America, a trade association of agricultural chemical manufacturers.

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina Area

• Associate in Product Liability Group with focus on mass tort litigation.• Draft motions and memoranda of law regarding various discovery and evidentiary-related issues. • Assist with mass tort litigation trial preparation and expert witness development.• Research complex legal issues.• Draft pleadings, discovery requests and responses.• Prepare presentations given to co-counsel and clients regarding themes for use at trial.• Handle all aspects of several workers’ compensation cases.

Charleston, West Virginia Area

• Lead counsel on numerous Magistrate Court cases and a Circuit Court jury trial. • Litigate over 60 cases in diverse areas including personal injury, property damage, wrongful death, product liability, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, negligent supervision, and various federal causes of action. • Draft and argue several dispositive motions.• Lead multiple mediations and settlement negotiations.• Take and defend depositions of lay witnesses and experts, prepare witnesses for deposition and trial testimony and develop litigation strategy for cases under my supervision.• Serve on Firm Recruiting Committee responsible for interviewing and hiring new associates.

J.D., Law

Activities and Societies: University of Richmond Law Review

B.B.A., Management And Marketing

Activities and Societies: Dean's List, President's List, Hall Director, Resident Advisor, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Student Government.