Experience and Skills
Joan Keston, Managing Principal of Keston & Associates, is a business woman and attorney with 25 years of experience in domestic and foreign markets. She has worked with public and private corporations, from large enterprises to start-ups, as well as non profit companies and NGOs. Joan Keston has a diverse background that provides a bridge across different business and legal cultures. Her experience and skills, highlighted below, are essential for the leadership of this work.
- Legal
Attorney, J.D. and LL.M. (Masters in Law) in International Law; 25 years experience in corporate, international and contract law, mergers and acquisitions, project financings; in-house and law firm experience. - Business
Entrepreneurial and business development work both domestically and internationally; represented companies in global business; structured and negotiated project financings; lived and worked in Brazil for 10 years as part owner of Brazilian trade company with responsibility for company growth strategies, business development, management and operations. - International
Lived and worked in Brazil and Europe; global projects dealing with Africa, Eastern Europe, Mid-East, Asia, Central America; experience and interpersonal skills in understanding and building multi-cultural business and strategic relationships; able to advise on international legal and business issues. - Negotiations / Communications
Written and verbal communications skills for complex topics and issues; formulated business proposals, plans, reports and procedures; negotiations in complex transactions; public speaking; coaching; advocacy; networking; multi-lingual. - Project Management
Managed acquisition portfolio of many complex transactions among multiple parties valued in excess of $350 million; global corporate restructuring and establishment of corporate governance for international company in 25 countries. - Liaison
Coordinated and facilitated projects among many parties; worked with all levels of management and boards, strategic partners, government representatives, bankers, investment bankers, suppliers, manufacturers, attorneys, accountants, universities. - Developing Country Expertise
Lived and worked in Brazil for 10 years during times of extreme inflation and political instability as part of Brazilian company (not as expat of trans-national), thus gaining a deep understanding of developing countries' needs and issues, legal and business environments, stages of growth.