Michael Hance

Chief Legal Officer @Forward Air Corporation

Greeneville, TN, US

Spearheaded the development and implementation of a robust legal, regulatory compliance, and risk management framework, significantly mitigating litigation and compliance risks, thus safeguarding and enhancing the company’s market reputation.• Strategically directed legal operations for high-stakes and high-profile litigation, including multi-million dollar liability claims, contractual disputes, and class actions, ensuring favorable outcomes.• Led legal strategies in response to activist shareholder engagements, facilitating constructive negotiations and achieving resolutions that boosted shareholder value and strengthened corporate reputation.• Managed the company\'s legal response to a cyber (ransomware) attack, effectively coordinating with law enforcement and regulatory bodies to navigate the crisis and protect the company\'s interests.• Collaborated with internal information security teams and external counsel to establish comprehensive incident response protocols and enhanced cybersecurity policies, significantly reducing future cyber risk.• Led the corporate development team in executing a strategic roll-up acquisition plan in the intermodal/drayage sector, resulting in multiple accretive acquisitions and long-term value creation.• Directed corporate development and legal teams in executing a transformative multi-billion dollar acquisition, strategically expanding the addressable market and service offerings.

Carson-Newman University

B.A., Political Science & Religion

Emory University, School of Theology

M.Div.

Emory University School of Law

J.D., Law