Shenia Kirkland Madden

Experience

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  Elite Enterprise Legal Consulting, LLC

  Founder & General Counsel

  Dec 2023 - Present

  Elite Enterprise Legal Consulting offers fractional legal services to businesses seeking strategic legal counsel to support exponential business growth and avoid costly. This includes (among other things): (a) expert commercial counsel to handle complex transactions; (b) strategic legal counsel on product development; (c) savvy legal counsel navigating legal and compliance hurdles; and (c) experienced legal operations implementation to streamline the contract cycle and reduce costs through innovative solutions (e.g., AI and offshore resourcing). While EELC specializes in the technology space, EELC attorneys have also worked in-house with Fortune 100 companies such as The Coca-Cola Company and Sony Mobile.

  • Spearheaded overhaul of HR operations to reward client satisfaction, maximize employee engagement, mitigate legal risk, and facilitate data based decision making for law firm client.
  • Directed operational excellence implementation to streamline legal review and time to revenue for litigation law firm.
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  Vonage Business Inc.

  VP- Commercial Legal Affairs (General Counsel)

  Nov 2014 - Dec 2023

  Vonage is a global SaaS (and CPaas) company making communications more flexible, intelligent, and personal to help enterprises across the world stay ahead. Vonage has coalesced in unified communications, contact centers, AI and communications APIs all under one roof. The Vonage mission is to create the world’s most flexible cloud communications platform.

  • Spearheaded creation of legal, compliance and contractual framework for revolutionary global network API platform enabling developers & enterprises to program intelligent communications functions into their products, applications and workflows
  • Redefined and re-engineered legal services by introducing self-help tools, contract playbooks, legal reference guides and AI technology to streamline review times by 455% within 18 months.
  • Appointed Chair for Russia / Ukraine Task Force and spearheaded implementation of compliance processes to ensure compliance with US, EU, UK sanctions regimes.
  • Drove innovative and cost-effective solutions to support exponential business growth (e.g., offshore resources for certain roles/tasks, AI tools, contract playbooks, etc.)
  • Led a team of 30+ legal professionals providing comprehensive legal support for G&A and revenue operations.
  • Crafted the legal, compliance and contractual architecture for artificial intelligence products and services following acquisition of AI company.
  • Honored to win the prestigious "Women in Technology - Legal" Award (2022), particularly in light of the hundreds of remarkable technology lawyers being considered for the award.
  • Worked closely with CEO & CFO on critical trade compliance implementation, as Chair of the Trade Compliance Team

• Coleman Kirkland Law Group

  Founder & Managing Counsel

  May 2012 - Sep 2014

  Coleman Kirkland Law Group was a boutique law firm with marketing law and commercial law expertise that provided expert legal counsel (Counsel Ad Interim) for a number of Fortune 100 Companies.

  • Expertly negotiated and managed global commercial software agreements, enhancing legal compliance.
  • Fostered strong client relationships by delivering tailored legal solutions, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.

• Kirkland Enterprises LLC

  General Counsel & Chief Operations Officer

  Jan 2006 - Sep 2009

  Law firm specializing in corporate law, including but not limited to, real estate, asset distribution, governance and commercial transactions.

  • Advised executive leadership on legal aspects of business operations, contributing to informed and strategic decision-making.
  • Directed and led implementation for effective risk mitigation strategies, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
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  Assurant Solutions

  Senior Counsel

  May 2001 - Oct 2005

  Assurant is a leading global provider of comprehensive risk management solutions for the auto, lifestyle, and housing protection sectors. We help businesses manage the risks of property damage, liability, and financial loss, theft, and natural disasters. Assurant designs financial services such as insurance, protection products, and support services that help businesses provide premium customer experiences and inspire deeper customer loyalty. Assurant teams combine digital intelligence and expert human insight to deliver the support and protection people need to take full advantage of the connected world.

  • Led commercial transactions for procurement and revenue operations in various company sectors
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  Troutman Pepper (f/k/a Troutman Sanders)

  Associate

  Sep 1999 - May 2001

  Troutman guides clients from startups to multinationals in their most critical legal and business matters. Troutman attorneys and other professionals provide comprehensive and practical advice that advances our clients’ business objectives, anticipates hurdles, and positions each client to succeed in rapidly evolving markets and regulatory environments. Troutman has deep, unique experience in the industry sectors that power the national and global economy in the years ahead, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity. Troutman's service offerings span transactional, regulatory, and litigation practices, covering everything from advertising to zoning.

  • Valued member of the law firm's Corporate Law Team, with extensive expertise advising on consumer protection matters, as well as providing comprehensive legal advice for Fortune 100 companies in healthcare, telecommunications and e-commerce industries.
  • Offered strategic legal advice & support for multi-billion-dollar deal, including the issuance of municipal bonds for expansion of the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and one of the (then) largest telecommunications mergers in U.S. history