Last week, I had the pleasure of attending our law firm’s 6th Annual Environmental & Energy Issues Summit in Newport, Rhode Island.  Robinson+Cole’s Environmental and Energy Issues Summit brings industry leaders together to discuss topics and regulatory updates relevant to environmental and energy professionals.  This year’s program included subjects such as “Plant Closures, Temporary Employees, Employment and OSHA,” “Environmental Considerations in Purchase & Sale Agreement for Businesses & Real Estate,” “Retail Energy Markets,” and “EHS Management Systems.”  The Summit is an excellent opportunity for our clients and friends to “benchmark” and discuss common issues.  If you would be interested in attending a future Summit, please let us know.

I had the pleasure of providing a presentation regarding contractual provisions that are often overlooked in contracts for goods and services.  Typically, these provisions are at the end of the contract and are inserted by a party’s legal counsel.  These provisions include anti-assignment clauses (i.e., the contract cannot be assigned without written consent), indemnification clauses, non-competition clauses, and forum selection clauses (i.e., where a company can be sued).  I also discussed something called the “battle of the forms” wherein a buyer and seller have competing terms and conditions.  I am happy to share my powerpoint or provide a quick presentation for company personnel if that would be helpful.  You can reach me at jwhite@rc.com.

 

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Photo of Jeffrey White Jeffrey White

I am a partner at Robinson+Cole who handles corporate compliance and litigation matters for both domestic and international manufacturers and distributors that make and ship products around the world. My clients have ranged from publicly traded Fortune 500 companies to privately held and/or…

I am a partner at Robinson+Cole who handles corporate compliance and litigation matters for both domestic and international manufacturers and distributors that make and ship products around the world. My clients have ranged from publicly traded Fortune 500 companies to privately held and/or family owned manufacturers. For those looking for my detailed law firm bio, click here.

I am often asked why I have focused a large part of my law practice on counseling manufacturers and distributors. As with most things in life, the answer to that question is tied back to experiences I had well before I became a lawyer. My grandfather spent over 30 years working at a steel mill (Detroit Steel Company), including several years in its maintenance department. One of my grandfather’s prime job duties was to make sure that the equipment being used was safe. In his later years, he would apply those lessons learned in every project we did together as he passed on to me his great respect and pride for the manufacturing industry.

Because of these experiences, I not only feel comfortable advising executives in a boardroom, but also can easily transition to the factory floor. My experience has involved a range of industries, including aerospace and defense, chemicals, energy, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, nutritional and dietary supplements, and retail and consumer products. While I have extensive experience in litigation (including product liability and class actions), I am extremely proactive about trying to keep my clients out of the courtroom if at all possible. Specifically, I have counseled manufacturers and distributors on issues such as product labeling and warranties, product recalls, workplace safety/OSHA, anti-trust, and vendor relations, among other things. I always look for the business-friendly solution to a problem that may face a manufacturer or distributor and I hope this blog will help advance those efforts.