A BUSINESSPERSON and A LAWYER
	JOHN OGDEN A BUSINESSPERSON and A LAWYER John Ogden is a highly skilled attorney specializing in Commercial and Corporate Law. He also has extensive business experience, having led several key business functions for mid-size companies. > LAW OVERVIEW - After serving as staff attorney for a Fortune 500 engineering, manufacturing and construction company where his primary duties were drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial agreements, John was appointed General Counsel of Werner & Pfleiderer Corporation. During his 20 year tenure the company, which was originally family owned, then became part of a large German conglomerate, ultimately became Coperion Corporation, through merger with two other engineering, manufacturing and construction companies. The controlling interest of Coperion was held by a UK-based private equity company. John was appointed General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of the new entity. He was also a member of a key group of managers with an equity interest in the world-wide Coperion group. > LEGAL EXPERTISE - While he continued his focus on drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial agreements (which he ultimately trained and supervised others to perform) and handled the legal ramifications of the various transfers of ownership, his additional responsibilities included all legal matters faced by the company including employment and labor law, environmental, intellectual property, mergers & acquisitions (domestic and international), real estate etc. He was also responsible for all litigation which he managed through others or, in an approach which is somewhat unusual for in-house counsel, by trying cases, including an appeal, himself. Whenever possible he resolved such matters through Alternative Dispute Resolution practices, primarily using various forms of mediation. > CLIENT SERVICE EXPERTISE - During his tenure John became a recognized expert in efficiently delivering legal services to the corporate client. For example, although legal costs were already below industry averages, he reduced them an additional 60% over a three year period. Many of the techniques and methods he developed to accomplish the foregoing were explained in publications by or about John, and he was the recipient of many awards for his accomplishments. BUSINESS – John credits the operational business responsibilities (see also OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE) with providing some of the tools and insight to make him the practical business lawyer who was able to continuously improve efficiency and achieve cost savings while successfully, and proactively addressing all legal issues. John also had line responsibility for business functions: Procurement: Accounted for approximately 45% of Costs of Goods Sold. John directed on-going cost reductions (in an MRP II & ISO 9001 environment) with metrics to target and measure key elements of the supply chain. Import/Export: Critical components were sourced overseas. On-going process improvements to increase pace and reliability while controlling costs were implemented under John’s authority. Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs (HSE): He accomplished his mandate of increasing proactivity without sacrificing productivity. He and the new manager he appointed reached out to all levels of the company. HSE compliance became the responsibility of all employees and part of performance reviews. Facilities Engineering: Offices, laboratories, computer centers, manufacturing and assembly operations as well as warehouses were opened, closed and moved. All such activity was accomplished on time and within budget. Previous: As purchasing agent for a large utility John was accountable for many complex transactions. At another utility he was contract manager responsible (either directly or through subordinate professionals) for all high value contracts CROSS -FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES: John served on the company’s Management Committee during its 15+ year duration and as such shared in responsibility for the overall success of the company. He also spent more than one year as the project leader for company-wide post merger integration. OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITES - John has served in many leadership roles, including president (New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association – also Officer and Director of its international parent organization), in professional associations. He has been intensively involved with strategic planning and responsible for implementing key finance and operations elements of the resulting plans. Additionally, he spearheaded initiatives with lasting impact on several organizations. He is a very active speaker on legal and management topics. His current activities include serving on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Sate Bar Foundation (having previously served two terms as Secretary) as well as the Board of Directors (2005 Secretary) of a San Diego-based nonprofit which advances literacy in underserved communities. In addition to the foregoing governing bodies, John is on the Advisory Boards of for-profit legal services enterprises in New York City and Arizona. EDUCATION - John holds degrees from Villanova University and Fordham Law School. Additional education includes the Program of Instruction for Lawyers at Harvard Law School, studying under Getting to Yes author, Professor Roger Fisher, and the Duke University Executive Program for Corporate Counsel.				>   Selected State & National Awards

© 2005 John H. Ogden Professional Corporation, All Rights Reserved