Mark Antonvich

About Mark Antonvich

As a seasoned Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, I have extensive experience advising CEOs, other executives and Boards of international privately owned and public companies. I am known as being a business-oriented, bottom-line driven leader and hands-on problem solver, with expertise in a wide range of areas including strategic planning and implementation, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and legal and compliance matters. I have deep business knowledge in the petrochemical, oil and gas, energy (including renewable fuels), mining, manufacturing, plastic and specialty chemicals distribution industries, including working with private equity and venture capital portfolio companies. Alongside top leadership, I have developed and implemented business growth and risk management strategies that led to the successful evolution and monetization of multiple businesses. This included engaging in multi-billion dollar M&A transactions, as well as smaller bolt-on acquisitions, along with spearheading the integration of acquired assets and the sale of non-core businesses. I also possess extensive corporate governance experience, having managed Corporate Secretary functions for several companies on a global basis. I have served as an independent director of a publicly traded mining company and currently serve as a Board member of two Vinmar subsidiaries. Utilizing my Washington experience, I have created and lead compliance functions globally for more than 20 years, advising Boards and management teams on antibribery, anti-money laundering, economic sanctions, export and import licensing, banking and currency restrictions and a wide array of other issues. I successfully resolved legacy FCPA, OFAC and anti-boycott investigations with no charges filed. I have created $100+ million of value by favorably resolving disputes, both as a plaintiff and as a defendant, in the United States, Canada, England, Singapore, Hong Kong and other jurisdictions. In addition to providing wise counsel and trusted judgment to senior management and boards of directors, I have built strong cross functional teams of legal, corporate secretary and compliance professionals. I have a long-standing track record of saving costs and efficiently managing both large and small legal and compliance functions.

Experience

1. Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

   Vinmar International

   Aug 2007 — Present · Houston, TX, US

   6 billion privately owned Fortune 500 international plastics, chemicals and fuels group of companies, consisting primarily of separately managed Vinmar, which has over 45 sales and distribution offices worldwide, and Lion Copolymer, which operates three chemical plants (two unionized) in Texas and Louisiana. The group also includes Goradia Capital and the Goradia Family Office businesses, which are active in private equity and alternative investments, including venture capital. • Key advisor to the CEOs and management teams of Vinmar and Lion Copolymers on wide range of matters and strategic initiatives for over 15 years. • Built and manages highly efficient and low fixed cost legal, corporate secretary and compliance functions, which now are comprised of a team of over 10 professionals, located in Houston, Texas and Mumbai, India. • Created and oversees a global legal compliance program and Code of Conduct, with a focus on antitrust, antiboycott, FCPA, and export controls, including third-party compliance screening and a robust anti-money laundering prevention program. • Engaged in over 50 M&A transactions. Led due diligence review processes, including environment, health & safety issues. • Leads and manages over $1 billion of pending litigation cases. Conducted several internal investigations, including detecting and criminally prosecuting a former employee for a multi-million dollar embezzlement. • Reversed over 30 years of legal precedent in a landmark case in Singapore in 2018, with the highest court of appeal recognizing the sanctity of contracts in connection with exclusive jurisdiction clauses. • Developed and utilizes a global network of outside legal support professionals and implemented innovative cost-management techniques and fee arrangements for litigation and transactional activities, saving millions of dollars each year.

Education

• Southern Connecticut State University

  BA, Politcal Science

• Georgetown Law

  Juris Doctor, Law

  1988