Robert Ellis
Corporate Counsel
Washington
WA, NY, CA
"Key to the success of our business, he played the role of legal advisor & entrepreneur. "
About
General company legal advice, including litigation and transnational work (admiralty, project finance, real estate, renewable energy, HR, construction, power sales), management, project management, ship's captain (master 1600 ton upon oceans.)
clients
upcounsel
experience
Practice Areas
Client Reviews
"Very fast response and high quality work. Highly recommended"
"It was great working with Robert, he jumped on a call with my client's attorney to take care of all pending issues so we can get the contract signed and resolved that day."
"He was quick and responsive and did a great job of managing expectations. Executed the job in a timely manner and was very good at addressing concerns."
"Quick response and good advice."
"Great understanding of what I was looking for and very reasonably priced. Will use again moving forwards"
"Positive results and quick turn around time"
Work History
Ridgeline Energy LLC
General Counsel and Vice-President
Jan 2003 - May 2013
As general counsel, helped negotiate project and company purchase and sale, and joint venture, agreements, 350 MWs of wind energy project financings, reviewed and approved all company legal agreements, and selected and managed outside counsel. He originated the sale of Ridgeline to Veolia, S.A., a large French multinational corporation, and helped negotiate and close that sale. He was responsible for the company's risk management and HR functions, the company's business and corporate record keeping, and IT, and built and managed a legal department of seven people. He advised the CEO and president in determining business strategy, fundraising, company organizational structure, and leadership matters.
At one point he oversaw many aspects of project development, from budgeting, critical issues analysis, environmental study, GIS,, engineering design, permitting, and construction. Supervised a legal department of 7 professionals responsible for siting, environmental, permitting, real estate, HR, and regulatory work.
Coastal Transportation Inc.
Mate
Jan 1998 - Jan 2002
Sailed as mate for Coastal Transportation on freight vessels operating in the North Pacific / Bering Sea.
Western Pioneer
Captain and Chief Mate
Jan 1994 - Jan 2002
Sailed as master and chief mate for Delta Western / Western Pioneer on tugs and freight vessels operating in the North Pacific / Bering Sea and upon Alaskan rivers.
Icicle Seafoods
Mate
Jan 1996 - Jan 1998
Sailed as chief mate of M/V Coastal Star, a 5000 ton seafood freighter and processor operating in the North Pacific.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Special Agent
Jan 1992 - Jan 1993
Investigation of suspected federal criminal law violations, entailing research, interviewing suspects and witnesses, development and operation of confidential informants, and surveillance activities.
Hancock, Rothert & Bunshoft
Attorney
Jan 1988 - Jan 1991
Attorney for San Francisco, CA law firm (followed partner to open office of Rice, Fowler, Kingsmill, Vance, Flint & Booth in San Francisco in 1990). Skilled in motion and discovery practice, legal research, drafting pleadings and producing report and opinion letters to clients; practice includes successful summary judgment motions in marine insurance excess liability and personal injury cases, trial preparation, arbitration, taking and defending depositions, document discovery, conducting investigations and supervision of support staff. Experienced in marine insurance issues (hull, P & I and excess), insurance fraud, marine pollution, marine regulation, and collision; projects include extensive report to London excess insurers arising out of the grounding of T/V Exxon Valdez.
Holman, Fenwick and Willan
Law Clerk
Jan 1987 - Jan 1987
Worked at London, England law firm on salvage, cargo subrogation matters arising out of the Iran/ Iraq tanker war, charter party disputes, as well as marine finance transactions, and participated in Lloyd’s, London salvage arbitration; helped instruct and provided litigation support to barristers at civil proceedings in London.
United States Navy
Lieutenant
Jan 1979 - Jan 1985
Sailed in deck, weapons, operations and navigation officer billets on U.S. Navy warships in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans and supervised over seventy crew members; administered ship repair contracts exceeding seventeen million dollars while supervising and coordinating over two hundred Navy and civilian personnel.