Mr. Schneider has experience as an engineer, Air Force officer, military Judge Advocate, in-house corporate counsel, and currently as a Partner with management responsibility at this large international law firm. He leads the firm’s Technology, Entrepreneurial & Commercial Practice Client Service Group, which includes the firm’s Commercial Practice Rapid Response Team he created and led before promotion to his current position.
The Technology, Entrepreneurial & Commercial Practice Client Service Group includes over 150 lawyers in numerous domestic and international offices. It offers a broad base of business-focused legal services including business formation, strategic alliances, supply chain management, technology development and transfer, insourcing and outsourcing of services, sale and purchase of products and materials, and other business transactions. The Group has experience and expertise in biological, chemical, construction, environmental, enzyme, plant, life science, health and medical device, pharmaceutical, hardware, software, web based and other technologies. It is known for formation of enduring win-win partnerships that have and will continue to survive the full range of business and economic scenarios.
The more than 50 lawyers on the Commercial Practice Rapid Response Team serve clients of all sizes in drafting, negotiating and administering hundreds of domestic and international commercial transactions a year. They include terms and conditions for purchase and sale (ranging from developing standard forms to complex billion dollar long term transactions); sales representative, distributorship, franchise and dealer relationships and networks (from inception through termination); lease, service and license agreements; employment and non-competition agreements; and the myriad of other transactions that drive business.
Mr. Schneider’s leadership of first the Team, and now the entire Group, logically evolved from previous experience as a design engineer, then as a procurement lawyer, and later as corporate counsel at Monsanto and Novus International (a major methionine manufacturer and supplier, operating in 60 countries). He served as lead corporate counsel for Monsanto’s engineering and construction subsidiaries, engaged in global development, design, sale and licensing of sulfuric acid and other chemical plants, environmental products and technology – including large plant turnkey projects. He was also global lead counsel for Monsanto’s information systems and technology operations. Mr. Schneider was Novus’ counsel in negotiation and administration of a billion dollar twenty year supply and operating arrangement, involving purchase of hydrogen cyanide from a neighboring supplier plant for use in the Novus methionine production facility. In addition, in a novel role for a lawyer, he was the Novus business team leader for a $500 million commercial and residential real estate development project.