Experience

Neighborhood Defender Service

• United States
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Assistant Supervising Attorney

  • Sep 2019 - Present



University of Michigan-Dearborn

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lecturer, Corporate Social Responsibility

  • Jan 2015 - Present

  I teach BA 400, Corporate Social Responsibility, a course designed to give Seniors insight into Corporate Social Responsibility, training them to distinguish between authentic CSR efforts and public relations. They learn about topics such as corporate governance, business ethics, and sustainability. Further, I counsel and mentor my students as many of them seek their first jobs post-graduation. I teach BA 400, Corporate Social Responsibility, a course designed to give Seniors insight into Corporate Social Responsibility, training them to distinguish between authentic CSR efforts and public relations. They learn about topics such as corporate governance, business ethics, and sustainability. Further, I counsel and mentor my students as many of them seek their first jobs post-graduation.



Metropolitan Justice Center of Southeast Michigan

• Detroit, Michigan

• Deputy Public Defender

  • Sep 2018 - Sep 2019

  Criminal defense for the indigent Criminal defense for the indigent



Law Offices of William Noakes

• Detroit

• Managing Partner

  • Jul 2017 - Sep 2018



Noakes & Associates

• Detroit, Michigan

• CEO and Principal

  • Feb 2015 - Jul 2017

  Experienced attorney counseling and consulting with corporate clients on ethics and compliance, corporate governance, and matters of Corporate Social Responsibility Experienced attorney counseling and consulting with corporate clients on ethics and compliance, corporate governance, and matters of Corporate Social Responsibility



Severstal NA

• United States
• Mining
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Director, Government Relations and Communications

  • Dec 2013 - Dec 2014

  Interacted with Federal, State, and local governmental officials and community groups; worked with media to secure accurate media portrayal of the company -- a Russian-owned steel company that contributed some $4 billion to the North American economy * Working collaboratively with Federal, State and local officials, as well as, community groups, secured an air emissions permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, without which the company would have had to shut down its main steel production line at its Dearborn facility Show less



Halo-Elite Consulting

• Executive Advisor

  • Oct 2012 - Dec 2013



Southern Methodist University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Professor, Leadership and Culture

  • Jan 2011 - Dec 2013



Ockleshaw, Noakes & Stares

• Dallas, TX

• Partner

  • Jun 2010 - Oct 2012

  Advised small-to-mid-sized retail and retail-related businesses on corporate governance and compliance Advised small-to-mid-sized retail and retail-related businesses on corporate governance and compliance



Noakes Group

• Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

• Managing Partner

  • Jun 2008 - Jun 2010

  Having overseen Meijer's Information Technology department, I advised corporate CIO's on how to be more effective in leading, budgeting and speaking "business" rather than "IT" speak Having overseen Meijer's Information Technology department, I advised corporate CIO's on how to be more effective in leading, budgeting and speaking "business" rather than "IT" speak



Grand Valley State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Professor, Business Ethics and Leadership

  • Jun 2008 - Dec 2009

  My responsibilities included teaching an MBA course on Leadership and Organizational Behavior, as well as, an undergraduate course in the origin and evolution of Business Ethics, using works of literature. My responsibilities included teaching an MBA course on Leadership and Organizational Behavior, as well as, an undergraduate course in the origin and evolution of Business Ethics, using works of literature.



University of Chicago Law School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Lecturer, Professional Responsibility

  • Jan 2009 - Jun 2009



Meijer

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Executive Vice President and General Counsel

  • Aug 1999 - May 2008

  Initially, General Counsel and Secretary of a 30+ person department * Led the effort that overturned an adverse verdict of $12 million against the company * As General Counsel, reduced the company's litigation risk and consequently, its legal costs by 20 % * In 2000, tasked by the President to overhaul the 700+ person IT department which led to it being one of the most effective in the retail industry over the next 5 years * In 2003, Co-head of Transformation Team that reduced company's S,G & A by 4% in 3 years * In 2006, promoted to Executive Vice President and given oversight of the Construction, Real Estate, and Procurement departments -- leading some 600+ personnel and managing nearly $1 billion budget. Show less



Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C. (now Taft Law)

• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Shareholder

  • Dec 1998 - Aug 1999

  Represented clients such as Smith & Wesson (Wayne County v. Smith & Wesson, Sturm Ruger, and others) in litigation and conducted internal investigations * Investigation cleared Washington, D.C. company’s CEO of wrongdoing, clearing the way for the company's $500 million acquisition Represented clients such as Smith & Wesson (Wayne County v. Smith & Wesson, Sturm Ruger, and others) in litigation and conducted internal investigations * Investigation cleared Washington, D.C. company’s CEO of wrongdoing, clearing the way for the company's $500 million acquisition



Office of Independent Counsel Smaltz

• Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Senior Associate Independent Counsel

  • Jul 1998 - Dec 1998

  In this case, United States v. Michael Espy (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture), took to trial the former Secretary of Agriculture for illegally accepting gratuities. Although acquitted, the case sent the message that corruption at the highest levels of government would not be tolerated. As press spokesperson to Independent Counsel Smaltz, worked to secure accurate press portrayal of his office and the cases being brought In this case, United States v. Michael Espy (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture), took to trial the former Secretary of Agriculture for illegally accepting gratuities. Although acquitted, the case sent the message that corruption at the highest levels of government would not be tolerated. As press spokesperson to Independent Counsel Smaltz, worked to secure accurate press portrayal of his office and the cases being brought



Wesley International

• Bloomfield Hills, MI

• General Counsel

  • Jun 1997 - Jul 1998

  General Counsel of a minority-owned manufacturing company that supplied the Big Three Automotive companies General Counsel of a minority-owned manufacturing company that supplied the Big Three Automotive companies



Court TV

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 100 - 200 Employee

• TV Legal Commentator

  • Jan 1998 - Apr 1998

  Provided legal analysis of the State of Michigan v. Budzyn and Nevers Provided legal analysis of the State of Michigan v. Budzyn and Nevers



Wayne County Michigan

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Corporation Counsel

  • May 1995 - Jun 1997

  Led day-to-day operations of department of 40+ legal professionals; advised all elected County officials on legal matters; represented the County in litigation in state and Federal courts Led day-to-day operations of department of 40+ legal professionals; advised all elected County officials on legal matters; represented the County in litigation in state and Federal courts



Kemp, Klein, Umphrey and Endelmann, P.C.

• Troy, MI

• Shareholder

  • May 1992 - May 1995

  Represented clients such as General Motors Corporation, Wal-Mart, and Citizens Insurance in Federal and State courts * In 1994 alone, successfully tried to verdict 5 of 6 cases Represented clients such as General Motors Corporation, Wal-Mart, and Citizens Insurance in Federal and State courts * In 1994 alone, successfully tried to verdict 5 of 6 cases



General Motors

• United States
• Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Attorney

  • Jul 1988 - May 1992

  Litigated and supervised litigation for General Motors Corporation in Federal and State courts in Texas, Michigan, Florida, New Jersey and Mississippi * Working with outside counsel, successfully represented GM in litigation involving 27 State Attorneys General in multiple jurisdictions where nearly $500 million was at risk – resolved all cases for a total of about $15 million * Oversaw GM Legal Staff’s Minority Attorney Outreach Program, significantly increasing the number of minority attorneys representing GM Show less



U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

• United States
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Attorney

  • Dec 1987 - Jul 1988

  Investigated insider trading and stock manipulation allegations Investigated insider trading and stock manipulation allegations



United States Air Force

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Captain and Judge Advocate

  • Oct 1982 - Dec 1987

  Performed duties ranging from courts-martial to advising the commander of a cruise missile base in Korea, Belgium and at the Pentagon * As a Judge Advocate with a top secret clearance, worked with the Department of Justice to defend a case involving crash of the then-secret F-117 Stealth fighter jet Performed duties ranging from courts-martial to advising the commander of a cruise missile base in Korea, Belgium and at the Pentagon * As a Judge Advocate with a top secret clearance, worked with the Department of Justice to defend a case involving crash of the then-secret F-117 Stealth fighter jet