Michael Layton Email & Phone Number

Washington, United States

Expand sales and product lines in the wood products and renewable markets. Negotiate partnership and vendor agreements. Lead strategic planning on acquisitions and expansion of products. Manage operations of several product lines.

Greater Seattle Area

Independent Consultant. Seattle, WA January 2014 – Present • Working with companies in the retail, manufacturing and renewable energy sectors. • Currently with the team to increase sales and streamline/increase production of upcycled wood product (Tacoma Firelogs). • Responsible for sales of Tacoma Firelogs into Costco and 30% increase in sales. Negotiated equipment purchases and assisted in design of new production facility. • Set up operations, marketing program sales for DC area mobile storage company Spacemaker. • Strategic Consulting, including business strategy and development, sales strategy development and implementation and operational process and improvement. • Development and implementation of SaaS based field management and CRM systems. • Project manager in developing sales and marketing plans and processes including ecommerce strategy. • Contract review, drafting and negotiation • Work with company to refine and optimize processes including inventory control. • Lead development and implementation of CRM and resource management systems, increasing revenue by 25% and lowering costs by 20%.

Bellevue, Wa

• Provide general counsel and business advice to various business clients on stock and asset purchase agreements, employment matters, risk mitigation, business strategies, and operating agreements.• Participated in due diligence on business transactions. • Draft various contracts including, licensing agreements, Software and SAAS agreements, reseller agreements, service contracts, statements of work, employee policies and procedures, employee termination procedures and other legal and business documents. • Negotiate various business transactions and contracts on behalf of clients.• Deliver strategic counseling to clients on strategies to grow business to meet business objectives and avoid costly disputes and litigation.• Advise and oversee IP strategies for several general counsel clients. • Collaborate with client staff on company management and other business decisions.• Lead monthly general counsel meetings with corporate clients and provide business and legal advice on proposed transactions, securing their IP and other assets and day to day issues.

Greater Seattle Area

• Directed Hydrovolts’ operations, product development, marketing, and sales programs in the emerging renewable energy sector. Hydrovolts is a start-up that manufactures small turbines that generate energy from flowing water, allowing localized energy generation. • Provided leadership to marketing and sales teams on mining of market data and development and implementation of sales processes, distribution plan, and go to market strategy.• Project manager of installation of data collection system and operational process improvements. • Project manager for install and demonstration of canal turbine product. • Implemented lean principles across organization. • Oversight of all legal matters and contract negotiation in addition to day-to-day operations. • Responsible for all financial oversight, budget control, projections, and modeling. • Sales person and project manager of first waste water unit sales and installations.• Managed regulatory issues and compliance.

*Research and develop new market segments and sales channels for CCI group of companies to fully utilize their manufacturing capabilities and increase margins and efficiencies in surfacing, fixtures and casework.• Managed sales staff of 12 people and developed sales and business model which grew surfacing sales revenue to 6 million dollars in 2 years.• Developed customer retention programs. • Responsible for final resolution of all customer issues. • Worked with operations to implement lean manufacturing concepts. • Closed and oversaw completion of several 1 million dollar projects including high end condominiums and hotels. • Managed vendor relations to reduce material cost and increase margin.• Corporate Counsel.

• Business and real estate practice with expertise in consulting business owners, real estate, commercial transactions and litigation. • Advise business clients with regard to insurance issues, risk management, shareholder disputes, and company valuation.• Continuing legal education instructor “Valuation of Closely Held Businesses” • Authored leading case on fair value of assets in mergers and acquisitions; Matthew G. Norton Co., v Smyth, 112 Wn. App 865, 51 P.3d 159(2002).

• Founding member of Hydrolinq Energy Corporation, a renewable energy company combining hydro turbine technology with existing utility processes to produce electricity. • Legal advisor on federal and state regulatory issues.• Managed all aspects of business including, marketing, sales and product placement.

• Provided counsel to company developing biometrics.• Advised company on security compliance, investor relations, contract negotiations, and employment, intellectual property, trade secret and confidentiality issues. • Worked with managers in product development, marketing, and sales.

• Business and real estate practice encompassing the areas of business, operation, valuation and dissolution, real estate transactions, land use and litigation.• Acting In house counsel overseeing outside counsel in state and class action litigation across the U.S.• Negotiated and drafted JV agreements, contracts and Letters of Interest.• Assisted and advised businesses with marketing, licensing, employment and stockholder agreements, securities compliance, and financing issues.• Represented stockholders and corporations, in shareholder disputes and asset valuation.

Juris Doctor, Law

Bachelor Of Arts, Business Administration/Finance

Activities and Societies: President - Theta Chi Fraternity