Bringing legal services in-house streamlines processes, reduces overall corporate expenditure: CLO
Neptune Wellness Solutions has expanded its in-house legal capabilities with two key leadership appointments in an effort to limit the need for external counsel.
Christopher J.C. Waldon has joined the Laval, Quebec-based health and wellness company as deputy general counsel – litigation. Waldon joins Neptune from Venable LLP in San Francisco. He previously represented Neptune on its litigation matters as external counsel.
In addition, Christopher Piazza has been promoted to deputy general counsel – corporate. Piazza holds significant experience in securities and exchange commission filings and regulations, corporate transactional matters and advising boards of directors. He has served as Neptune's associate general counsel since 2019, advising the Company on critical legal matters during a period of significant growth, strategic change, and corporate development. In his new role, Piazza will be responsible for overseeing all of Neptune's corporate and transactional matters, including the review and optimization of Neptune's contracting process.
These appointments are the result of the company's commitment to decrease the need for third-party legal counsel and reduce overall corporate spend, in line with its recent strategic review. Bringing additional legal services in-house is also expected to further enhance Neptune's ability to protect its assets and strategically engage with third parties.
"By expanding our internal legal capabilities, we continue to execute on the cost reduction and streamlining measures outlined in our strategic review,” says John Wirt, Neptune’s chief legal officer. “A significant portion of Neptune's corporate expenditures have come from legal expenses, largely as a result of our reliance on outside legal counsel. We anticipate that these appointments will streamline our legal processes, enhance our strategic advantage, improve efficiency and deliver significant cost savings to Neptune for years to come."
Neptune is a health and wellness company focused on plant-based, sustainable, and purpose-driven lifestyle brands.
