Profile
Successful business advisor concentrating in international strategic and tactical risk and compliance management, international law, and security and intelligence with over 30 years hands-on experience. Management background includes C-Level and Board positions; civic commissions/boards and religious advisory boards. Clients include small and mid-sized firms, individual investors and financial analysts and national trade associations.
Corporate& International Law Government Relations Governance & Compliance
Transportation Law Risk Management Transactional Dispute Resolution
Environmental Law International Trade Developmental Economics
Professional
Chief Executive Officer / Founder, W. J. Downey & Associates (1990 – Present)
Independent advisor to senior management, counsel in a diverse set of industries including energy, logistics, retail, wholesale, technology and consumer product lines.
- Advisor and implementation facilitator on risk, compliance and operational systems such as Know Your Customer (KYC), Export Compliance Management (EAR) and International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Warehouse, Transportation, Supply Chain Management Systems
- Operational advisor and auditor in integrating compliance management protocols with international logistics (EAR, ITAR, FCPA, AMLA)
- Legal consultant on a range of federal regulatory issues involving FERC, FRA, FMCSA, TSA and EPA BIS, DOD.
Vice President Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Heritage Distribution – International Traders (1987 – 1990)
Privately owned enrgy, technology and consumer products trading operations firm in emerging and developing markets.
Director of Logistics, Worcester Quality Foods, Inc., (1986 - 1987)
- Implemented aggressive budget controls based on Activity Based Costing reducing operating costs $1.00/mile for in a 1.5 million mile private fleet.
- Planned the replacement of a legacy transportation management system (TMS) with an integrated warehouse management system (SCM).
Assistant Director of Logistics, Worcester Quality Foods, Inc. (1985 - 1986)
- Instrumental in capturing savings of $170,000 in personnel and equipment costs by re-designing loading and warehouse shuttle operations.
- Coordinated backhaul, inbound rail, high priority outbound and inbound shipments.
Manager of Compliance and Special Projects, Worcester Quality Foods, Inc. (1984 – 1985)
- Improved safety culture obtaining senior management support resulting in implementing safety committees for warehousing, transportation and office sectors, reduced fleet accidents from 250 to 75 in year 1 and injury lost days 100 to 5 in year 1.
- Started materials handling equipment licensing course and a driver training program.
- Management team member in the in-house development of an automated order processing/inventory control program, fleet routing and fuel tax reporting systems.
Military
United States Air Force Reserve (1974 – 2009)
Education
MS, Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College, Washington, DC
LLM, United States Air Force JAG School, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL
Juris Doctor, Saint George’s School of Law, San Francisco, CA (Cum Laude)
Bachelor of Arts; Political Science & Economics, Worcester State College, Worcester, MA
Certifications
Certificate in Export Management Compliance
Certificate, Compliance Management
Certificate in Workplace Disputes
Certificate, Mediation Practice (36 hour), International Association of Professional Negotiators, Worcester, MA
Certificate in Industrial Relations
Memberships
International Business Lawyers Association
Mineral Law Foundation
Regulatory Compliance Exchange
American Bar Association
- Administrative Law & Regulatory Compliance Section
- Environment, Energy & Resources Section
- Public Utility, Communication and Transportation Law Section