John L. West

Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson, P.S., Seattle, USA

I joined HCMP in March 2000 after 30 years of practice in Seattle, concentrating on corporate and business law. I have participated as a board-level advisor to public and private corporations since the early 1970s. I draw on my years of business and legal experience in advising my current clients, from start-ups to public companies.

Professional Highlights:

Founder, general counsel, and former secretary and director, Returns Online, Inc., a venture-funded private company formed to provide returned merchandise management services, 1999-present. I organized the corporation, negotiated and documented venture financing, and prepared contracts including stock options, employment, confidential and consulting agreements.

General counsel and assistant secretary, Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange listed (CGC) natural gas local distribution company serving 91 communities in Washington and Oregon, 1988-present. I attend and participate in all Board of Directors and selected committee meetings. I review SEC filings and offerings, common stock, preferred stock and debt. I have responsibility for regulatory matters and contracts including gas purchase, gas sales, and stock options.

General counsel, Giant Campus, Inc. formerly Cybercamps, Inc., a private company teaching computer skills to the youth market via land-based computer camps and Internet-based courseware, 1999-present. I organized the corporation; negotiated and documented private financing; and prepared contracts, including stock options, employment, and confidentiality agreements.

General counsel and assistant secretary, Geosafe Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of Battelle Memorial Institute and two-time Washington Fast 50 company engaged in hazardous materials remediation, 1988-2000. I attended and participated in all Board of Directors meetings. I organized the corporation and prepared contracts, including those for hazardous waste remediation services, stock options, and technology licenses.

Corporate counsel and assistant secretary, Ackerley Communications, Inc., the predecessor to the Ackerley Group, a public company (NYSE:AK)in the outdoor advertising, broadcast, and professional sports businesses, 1975-1986. I organized the corporation, documented venture equity financing and a SEC-registered offering of debt securities, bank and institutional loans, and acquistions of advertising media assets, broadcast properties, and a professional sports franchise. The Ackerley Group merged with Clear Channel Communications in 2002.

Bar Admissions
Washington, 1969
U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 1969

Education
Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1969 J.D.

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1966 B.A.

Published Works

• "To Hire & Keep a Good Management Team I Have to Do What?, High Tech Advisor, May/June, 1999
• "Contracts 101-What You Didn''t Learn in Business School", High Tech Advisor, January/February, 1999