Partner, LaBarge Weinstein Professional Corporation
A Business Law Firm
March 2010
I have been corporate counsel to Bradford Bachinski Limited since 2001, and have worked closely with John-Peter Bradford during that time. For example, I acted for MetroPhotonics in their $50mm brokered private placement when John-Peter was Chair and CEO, and then continued on as their corporate attorney and attended all board meetings. From its outset, John-Peter insisted on running the company as if it were public. He recruited a majority of well-respected, technically knowledgeable independent board members, managed the recruitment of a proven staff of nearly 100, building a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art optoelectronic R&D/manufacturing facility in Ottawa, opening and staffing an office in Santa Rosa, California, development of the company’s first working prototype, and putting in place strategic partner and customer relationships. He relinquished his role as CEO in 2002, but remained an active member of the board and its
Audit Committee.
By 2004, the market for the company’s original products had collapsed. The board asked John-Peter to return as Executive Chair to try to rescue the company. From a dead start in October 2004, under his leadership the company restructured; it developed new products for an emerging market; it closed a financing to keep the company alive, and; it successfully lobbied to reverse a significant tax liability. In the end, however, for a variety of reasons the board decided on an orderly wind down of the company. John-Peter managed this effort, dealing with and paying creditors, handling staff concerns and phasing lay-offs, selling assets and minimizing shareholder loss.
I have represented Bradford Bachinski Limited on a number of other corporate matters over the years, and look forward to a continuing relationship.