David Jaffe Email & Phone Number

1240 Dorchester Road, Birmingham, Mi 48009

Jaffe Counsel brings strategic strength and depth to business leaders facing urgent opportunities, challenges and transformations. There are no legal issues here, just business issues with legal characteristics. I’m a businessperson-lawyer who can cope in a real world of imperfect and incomplete information. If you need a yes-man, you’re in the wrong place. I bring sound judgment, the courage to act on that judgment, and the discipline not to rush that judgment.I know the perspectives and needs of owners, CEOs, CFOs, and general counsel, and have strong comparative advantages in:● International Business, including joint ventures;● Expanding Overseas.● Joint Ventures.● Corporate Governance, Succession and Transition.● Effective and Business-Focused Compliance and Ethics.● Building Strategic and Profit-Focused Legal Functions.● Critical Disputes.Effective counsel requires not only strategic thinking, but also strategic action. When action is called for, I can assess the situation, make decisions and get things done.https://jaffecounsel.com

I served as a member of the Board at Bet booth, a start-up that has developed a unique sports gambling kiosk and new state-of-the-art software. The kiosk enables bettors to withdraw cash on demand, rather than wait for a bank transfer. An accompanying web application lets participants place bets on line -- and withdraw winnings at any Bet Booth kiosk. The user interface is simple and intuitve so that casual bettors can use it easily.Bet Booth provides the kiosk and software. Established sports books handle the wagering and take the risk on bets. The company is currently beta testing in limited locations and is currently in the regulatory process to open locations in initial jurisdictions.

Waterford, Michigan

I helped design Total Door’s “Think Tank” advisory group. This group advises the CEO on finance, people, risk, and strategy, and offers both challenge and support from a business point of view. I also serves on the boards of Total Door and its parent company. https://www.totaldoor.com

Waterford, Michigan, United States

I am a director of this Michigan holding company and its manufacturing subsidiary, Total Door Systems. As a director, I am particularly focused on succession and transition planning, governance, and strategy.

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Detroiters First was a social enterprise focused on bringing small manufacturing opportunities back to Detroit. I worked to develop an industrial facility to offer affordable, secure and practical workspaces to small manufacturers and contractors, including secure parking for contractors’ vehicles and trailers. Businesses owned by long-time residents of Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck were my priority. Detroiters First tried to enable clothing makers, furniture designers, metal fabricators, plastics makers, construction contractors, and more to take the next step for their business, and to participate in the revitalization of Detroit.Manufacturing has historically played a powerful role in driving Detroit’s growth. Today, small manufacturers and contractors face an acute shortage of affordable and secure long-term space. And Detroit’s economic revitalization needs development that gives priority to its long-term residents. Small manufacturers and contractors provide good blue collar jobs, training and a path towards revitalizing the community. We worked to provide the opportunity for these small businesses to thrive.Detroiters First planned deliver training, business development and mentoring to its members, working closely with experienced and skilled organizations, and within our neighborhood. Our goal is to give long-term tenants the chance to obtain equity in the project so they can build capital, grow, and to buy the building, we hope in 6 to 8 years.Detroiters First began as a public benefit limited liability company. Its investors were willing accept a capped return to make it possible to achieve its social and community goals. We found investors, but operating costs were too high for this model. I tried again as a non-profit, but at the end of the day, funders were not supportive.Detroiters First's website remains up for the time being, although the nonprofit has closed its doors. Here is the link: https://www.detroitersfirst.org

Pune, Maharashtra, India

I served as a member of the Board of Directors of this manufacturing joint venture between Stoneridge Inc. and Minda Corporation. I led Stoneridge's successful sale of its interest to its joint venture partner, which closed at the end of 2021.

Novi, Michigan

Stoneridge (NYSE:SRI) is an $800 million multinational with manufacturing in nine countries. The company had never had an in-house lawyer or compliance professional, and turned to me to assess its legal needs and compliance risks, and to design and build a legal function and a compliance and ethics program. I did this while serving as Chief Counsel (general counsel) for 11 months.I built a compliance and ethics program that focuses on the strong culture that management wants and needs for the business to manage and mitigate compliance risk. I’m proudest of helping a great management team build a strong culture, improving business decision making in a number of key areas, and building a full compliance and ethics program. I designed the Chief Legal Officer position and helped lead the search for a permanent CLO.

Auburn Hills, Michigan

Joined Guardian in 1990 as Assistant GC. Also General Counsel of NASDAQ traded affiliate. Moved to Luxembourg in 1996 as General Counsel for Europe and Middle East. Returned to U.S. in 2000 to become Associate GC, leading corporate and international matters. Named General Counsel and Secretary in 2007, and Vice President in 2011. Served as environmental officer and head of crisis communications and shareholder relations in addition to my legal roles. Led a 23 member legal team spread over four continents.Key legal and business role in Guardian’s global expansion from five countries to 27, and from $800 million in revenue to $5 billion. Developed compliance and ethics program. Led crisis communications and shareholder relations; key roles in international tax planning and government affairs.Projects included:• Joint venture formation and exits in the U.S. and 10 countries on five continents• Acquisitions and dispositions in the U.S. and 13 countries on 4 continents, including both friendly and hostile public company deals • Built Guardian's first compliance and ethics program• Greenfield projects in the U.S. and on 5 continents• Financing transactions in the U.S. and 3 continents• Executive compensation plans• Recapitalizations & reorganizations • Government investigations and internal investigations in the U.S., and on 5 continents• Major disputes and litigation, including international arbitration, antitrust, and IPIn the ownership, governance and management transition following the death of Guardian’s longtime owner and CEO, I educated a new Board of Directors on governance and fiduciary duties. With our CFO, I created the structure for a strategic transaction, a recapitalization with a substantial minority investment, which was completed in 2012. After helping to lead a second transition, I left in 2014 to start Jaffe Counsel.Selected in 2013 by The Legal 500 for the “Corporate Counsel 100” list of top in-house lawyers.

Associate, then partner at this Detroit law firm. Started in litigation, led two trials; switched to corporate in 1986.

Law Clerk to (then) Associate Justice William H. Rehnquist

Law Clerk to Chief Judge James R. Browning

J.D. With Honors, Law

Activities and Societies: Order of the Coif, The University of Chicago Law ReviewResearch Assistant to Professor Edward H. Levi (Attorney.

B.A. With Honors And Honors In Economics, Economics

Education record

Education record