a Boutique Law Firm Providing Outside General Counsel Services
About
SKAFTE GLOBAL LAW, P.A.
Skafte Global Law is a boutique law firm providing outside general counsel services. The firm caters primarily to companies with a global network who require the legal services of a general counsel as well as an executive management presence on an as-needed basis. This provides an innovative client service that is a cost effective alternative for an organization that may not require a full time in-house general counsel. Some services include legal consulting, the establishment and development of an inaugural legal department, supplementing or overseeing existing in-house legal personnel, relieving volume overflow and retention for specific projects.
Meet Our Staff
We are a network of diverse professionals strategically located to meet your needs. Please contact us for further details regarding our network.
Principal:
MARIE-LOUISE SKAFTE
Founder – Law Firm | Board Member | General Counsel | Chief Operating Officer | Chief Human Resources Officer | Chief Corporate Compliance Officer | Commercial pilot – HA-420 jet Captain
Marie-Louise is licensed to practise law in the State of Florida (USA), the Province of Ontario (Canada) as well as England and Wales.
Prior to forming Skafte Global Law, P.A., she obtained extensive international experience working as a General Counsel and other C-suite roles for organizations of various sizes.
While Marie-Louise has worked in a variety of different industries, her 25 years legal career has been largely focused in the areas of general transportation, marine container leasing, air express, freight forwarding, logistics and professional services. She is a practical, business and service minded lawyer who is adept at identifying key issues and working within budget constraints to find desirable solutions that align with the strategic goals of her clients.
She has been a speaker, moderator and host at various events and conferences, including conducting workshops, fireside chats and round tables, and contributed to authorship of published works, program curricula creation and podcasts.
Marie-Louise is the recipient of numerous legal and non legal awards. She has been featured by K&L Gates and CCWC as the Global General Counsel of the Year and featured in Lawyer Monthly as a Women in Law award winner in category of Transportation and Logistics, Lawyer of the Year. In 2021, Marie-Louise was honored with being inducted as an official member of Lawyers of Distinction, and recognized as a Top Rated Lawyer in Florida in 2022 and 2023. In June 2022, Marie-Louise was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees for Suffolk University.
In addition, Marie-Louise has held various board and committee positions both for profit and nonprofit organizations. A few of her current positions include being a member of the Board of Directors of One Love Foundation, a member of the Board for Corporate Counsel Women of Color, and a Dean’s Cabinet Member at Suffolk University Law School.
Marie-Louise is an active member of multiple bar organizations. She is also a champion of youth pursuing further education and mentors young people in a variety of countries.
When Marie-Louise is not on the ground, she can be found in the skies. She is proud to be a member of the general aviation community as a multi-engine rated commercial pilot and is currently type-rated on the HA-420 jet as Captain.
NOTABLE MATTERS
- Acted as company General Counsel and Global Head of Human Resources for the sale of a majority private equity owned container leasing company headquartered in Bermuda with operations in 18 countries to a competitor publicly traded in China on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange – deal valued at just under $1 billion
- Acted as company General Counsel for a Canadian company valued at $2.2 billion for the sale of an air express domestic business line to a competitor publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
- Success in the establishment and maintenance of an inaugural legal department in Canada for an international company headquartered in Germany and operating in 220 countries
- Represent and advise a non-fiction international speaker and author
- Advisory work for a U.S. based consulting firm restructuring and expanding operations globally
U.S. Attorney:
SHIVAUGHN FOWLER
U.S. Executive Assistant / Law Clerk / Billing Coordinator:
JAIME GRUBER
Other Staff:
Please contact us for staff located in other jurisdictions.
Testimonial
“Marie-Louise applies high levels of creativity, determination, discipline and integrity to everything she does in her professional life and is a pleasure to work with.”
Doug Turner, President, Obsidian Consulting Inc.
Practice Areas & Consulting Services
Included But Not Limited To:
- The establishment and development of an inaugural legal department or the assistance to augment an existing legal department
- The retention of de facto general counsel on an interim or part time basis
- Overseeing or supplementing existing in house counsel personnel
- The retention of outside counsel for specialized matters and the ability to act as a liaison between company personnel and existing outside law firm counsel
- The development of an understanding of the client’s business and strategic objectives
- The establishment of beneficial relationships with company executives
- The provision of volume overflow relief
- Day to day legal support in an efficient and cost effective manner
- Assistance with specific projects
- Contracts (sales, marketing, procurement, distribution, professional services, etc.)
- Policy drafting and training
- Corporate formation and governance (including attending board meetings and drafting board minutes)
- Corporate compliance review
- Real estate and leasing (real estate and equipment) agreements from both landlord and tenant perspectives
- Risk management policies and procedures and claims review
- Employment and immigration matters
- Mergers and acquisitions (such as transaction, due diligence and deal support)
- Intellectual property portfolio management
- Pre-litigation dispute resolution and management
Contact
SKAFTE GLOBAL LAW, P.A.
4737 North Ocean Drive
# 217
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
USA 33308
General Inquiries:
Booking Requests:
