Maria T. Makowiecki

Experience

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  American Greetings

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2004

  Counsel, General Commercial
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  Parker Hannifin Corporation

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2018

  ★ Returned, once again, from expat assignment but continued to serve as Assistant General Counsel for the Asia-Pacific Region, with added responsibility for the Instrumentation Group, with combined annual revenues of $2.8B. Managed specialty areas including real estate, commercial, compliance, EH&S, and M&A matters, devising business and legal strategies to mitigate risks, ensure compliance, provide appropriate levels of governance, and drive the achievement of regional and global business priorities. ★ »» Shaped global acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures—and associated legal integrations—with highly complex transactions ranging in value from $50M to $.5B.»» Collaborated in the development of a global legal budget, managing a highly complex process to standardize practices, ensure the efficient delivery of legal services, and take a proactive cost management stance.»» Directed legal matters in the Environmental Health and Safety practice area, providing legal strategies concerning environmental remediation, litigation, insurance recovery, SOX reporting, and real estate.»» Maintained leadership of APAC region based on sound business relationships—team felt very comfortable under my leadership—continuing to steer work involving compliance, M&As, dispute resolution, labor and employment, and more.»» Continued to deepen expertise in compliance matters, including antitrust, anti-bribery, third-party risk management, Board matters, SEC reporting, governance, internal investigations and assessments, policy development, and training. Show less ★ Charged with establishing the Asia-Pacific Legal Department in Hong Kong, engaging in a 3-year expat assignment to build a strong and sustainable operation, develop a high-performance team, and align processes and systems with Corporate HQ. Oversaw all APAC legal matters with a focus on M&A, commercial, corporate, employment, tax, antitrust, and anti-bribery laws. Served as Lead Counsel for regionwide mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and related legal integrations. ★ »» ‘Stood up’ the region’s legal office, defining first-time policies and procedures, establishing the operating budget, and recruiting and developing a two-person legal team to support $1.8B in regional business.»» Conducted regionwide legal risk assessments, developed and implemented country-specific risk mitigation plans, and directed establishment of a strong compliance program meeting APAC and Corporate HQ needs.»» Directed corporate governance and entity management matters, building an in-country infrastructure enabling a decision framework promoting accountability, transparency, fairness, and responsibility.»» Identified the compliance needs of the APAC region—educated HQ executives on opportunities to align with enterprise practices yet meet the highly unique needs of the region—leveraging cultural competence to build compliance program. Show less ★ Returned to the US and served as Lead Counsel for all Latin America legal matters for the Fluid Connectors and Instrumentation Groups, working across oil and gas, life sciences, automotive, and power generation industries. Managed responses to enterprise-wide environmental and real estate matters, including real estate transactions, environmental remediation, and related disputes. Leveraged M&A expertise as Lead Counsel for all acquisitions and divestitures in the United States. ★»» Developed compliance programs and built high-impact training on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act, facilitating orientation for colleagues in the US, Europe, and Latin America.»» Managed distribution-related legal concerns involving negotiation and resolved disputes concerning global distributor and sales agent agreements, competitive intelligence, and ecommerce matters. Show less ★ Directed commercial matters, litigation management, governance, and M&As for the EMEA region as an expat in London at the European HQ. Served as one of only two onsite counsel, gaining broad-based experience in structuring and negotiating diverse agreements, resolving supplier and customer disputes, and responding to all commercial and employment matters. ★ »» Appointed as Lead Counsel for various multinational transactions involving extensive due diligence and planning, structuring, drafting, and negotiating asset and stock acquisitions and divestitures. Show less

  • Assistant General Counsel, Corporate HQ

    Jan 2015 - Jan 2018

  • Assistant General Counsel, Asia-Pacific HQ

    Jan 2012 - Jan 2015

  • Senior Counsel, Corporate HQ

    Jan 2007 - Jan 2012

  • Counsel, European HQ

    Jan 2004 - Dec 2006

  • Counsel, Corporate HQ

    Jan 2004 - Jan 2004
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  Optimas Solutions

  Jan 2018 - Jan 2019

  Associate General Counsel

  ★ Accelerated and prioritized achievement of strategic enterprise initiatives, collaborating with executive and cross-functional business leaders to vet potential ventures, shape commercial negotiations, and uphold compliance and corporate governance. Mentored junior counsel and support staff, deepening knowledge through 1:1 coaching and targeted practice area training. ★ »» Provided legal and regulatory oversight on a global stage, engaging in diverse practice areas, including acquisitions and divestitures, labor and employment, real estate, environmental, and litigation management.»» Assessed and mitigated risks through analysis and investigations, owning trade compliance, managing legal compliance through public disclosures, and elevating brand equity with industry and trade stakeholders. Show less

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  Ulta Beauty

  Jan 2019 - now

  Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, & Asst. Secretary

  ★ Provide trusted business and legal counsel to key stakeholders, providing timely, strategic, innovation-focused, and cost-effective leadership to catalyze the achievement of enterprise goals and objectives. Serve as second-in-command, handling the most complex transactions and matters, including strategic partnerships, international expansion, and innovative ventures. ★ »» Direct all M&A due diligence and related transactions, shape venture capital investments, and structure strategic alliances such as the Ulta/Target partnership. Launched a digital-focused investment unit—Prisma Ventures—to modernize the CX and drive technology-enabled products and services.»» Developed the Corporate Venturing approach in collaboration with corporate strategy team. Oversaw IP matters including filing for the first granted patent in company history, strengthening innovation posture.»» Monitor Securities compliance—including proxy and other SEC filings— participate in Board of Directors meetings, manage recordkeeping, and support corporate governance matters and the company’s corporate structure, domestically and internationally.»» Lead all commercial, data privacy and security, supply chain, marketing, and ecommerce initiatives, overseeing complex commercial transactions in critical areas of the business, and addressing commercial disputes and litigation, product liability claims and recalls, and insurance claims.»» Structured a robust compliance program and enterprise risk management platform, providing strategic counsel to the CCO to mitigate internal and external risks, execute internal investigations, and review company policies and procedures.»» Ensure regulatory compliance and perform product claims reviews, validating compliance with FDA requirements in the beauty and medical areas and confirming product claims within the vegan and conscious beauty platform. Show less