Abi Sills

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ABI SILLS

With 25 years of experience in the technology sector, I provide collaborative, service-oriented legal support and strategic expertise. During my career, I have led, managed, mentored and supported many in legal and business teams, provided expert contract support for a variety of complex business models and partnered with human resources to address their needs. I have been a key team member in a number of large mergers & acquisitions and financing transactions, led compliance and ethics initiatives, headed up investigations, primed corporate governance requirements and developed policies and procedures to support successful business growth. Known for my practical and innovative advice, I am a valued business partner and strong leader for my team. Areas of experience: Corporate Governance – Corporate Secretary for audit committee liaising directly with chair and committee members, experience supporting board-related requirements, liaising directly with board members. Mergers & Acquisitions – significant experience with over 15 M&A and related transactions, key team member in company IPO and then “take private”, led various corporate reorganizations, lead for corporate divestiture, key team member for financing rounds. Public Company Reporting – legal team prime for public company reporting requirement, liaising with stakeholders, counsel and external support as required. Contracts Management – prime for negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts and template development for a wide and complex variety of commercial contracting requirements (sales, procurement, real estate, product-related, etc.), built contracts team function for Mitel “from the ground up”. Compliance - compliance officer dealing with ‘whistleblower’ and compliance concerns, including investigations and training. Employment law - corporate prime for employment law matters – global. Policy & Procedure - developed various policies such corporate governance policies, contract management policy, authorization level policy, export controls, contracts management, general legal policies. Management –responsibility for 15 direct reports (including counsel), led several strategic initiatives to support reorganization and cultural changes arising from M&A transactions or changes in business landscape. Litigation - management and attendance at various mediations, management of files through litigation process (from claim to trial), prime for settlement discussions. External Counsel - work with outside counsel as required to support business requirements and legal function.