M James Faison

Entrepreneur, attorney, and advisor focused on helping emerging companies, startups and VC funds thrive. I work with unicorn startups, publicly traded companies and everything in between. I am excited about leveraging my experience to help your business thrive.

Florida

The Florida Bar

ID Number: 0075882

Since 2010

Maryland

Supreme Court of Maryland

ID Number: 2108260007

Since 2021

New York

New York State Office of Court Administration

Since 2011

Managing Partner

Faison Law Group

2021 - Current

External General Counsel

Blacktag Inc.

2020 - 2021

• C-suite for venture backed media technology company. • Manage intellectual property portfolio, including filing trademark and copyright applications. • Negotiate and draft technology agreements, including licensing, terms of service, platform, data privacy, vendor, professional service and alliance agreements. • Create equity incentive plans, including option, grant and stock appreciation rights award agreements. • Manage human resources, including drafting employee handbook, including time off, harassment, and benefit policies, as well as employment, non-compete and NDA agreements.

Vice President of Business Development

Partnership for a Healthier America

2019 - 2020

• Member of the senior leadership team for PHA, a childhood obesity non-profit founded by First Lady Michelle Obama, who serves as the honorary chairperson. • Drafted and advised on all legal agreements and tax related issues, including partnerships, lease, licensing and third-party vendor agreements. • Managed outside legal counsel. • Led a cross-functional team of 8 staff members from marketing, communications and partnerships.

Milton's Local

President

2012 - 2018

• Founder and President of Milton’s Local, a consumer-packaged goods start-up that provided transparently sourced and environmentally friendly meat and value-added meat products. • Grew company by securing distribution in leading retailers such as Food Lion, Wegmans, MOM’s Organic Markets and Earthfare. • Responsible for all legal agreements, including vendor, supply chain, distribution, partnership, manufacturing, loan, venture capital, independent contractor, employment, lease, and NDAs. • Negotiate and draft both debt and equity financing agreements, including term sheets, convertible notes, revolving loans, and inventory loan agreements. • Managed all regulatory and policy issues, including those concerning the USDA.

External Legal Counsel

Boxed.com

2015 - 2016

• External legal counsel to e-commerce wholesaler Boxed.com, a publicly traded CPG company. • Drafted corporate and technology documents including technology licensing, outsourcing, supplier, manufacturing, independent contractor, sponsorship, NDA, operational platform and marketing agreements.

Associate

White & Case LLP

2009 - 2012

• Represented a South American export bank in connection with restructuring over $1 billion in loans provided for the purchase of 216 Embraer aircraft by a legacy U.S. airline • Represented North American lenders in connection with a US$300 million financing of a hydro-electric dam in Latin American. • Represented an airline operating lessor in the sale of over US$200 million of aircraft assets to an international airline company with financing from the Ex-Im Bank. • Represented the joint lead arrangers in a US$300 million secured credit facility involving a European lender, North American and European commodities brokers, and a Brazilian soybean exporter. • Represented private equity fund in the formation and capitalization of bankruptcy remote vehicles to purchase and develop mining assets in multiple cross border transactions, including drafting stock purchase agreements, operating agreements and participation agreements.

University of Virginia School of Law

J.D.

Harvard University

B.A.

State Bar of New York

Member

2011 - Current