# David Fauvre

**Operating Partner | Industrials, Critical Minerals & DOE/Government-Backed Growth Platforms** — New York City, NY, United States

> Operating executive who scaled a critical-minerals recycling platform from startup through construction to eight-figure revenue, raising $135M+ in capital and winning a $55M DOE grant, with 18+ years of business law and litigation experience at a top firm.

Career Archetype: **Junction Navigator** (HE-DG) — One of the first Junction Navigators on Saywise

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/fauvre

## Experience

### Chief Strategy Officer, BW Energy & Innovation (2023-04 – present)
Greenfield, Indiana, United States

### Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Virant Diagnostics LLC (2020-01 – 2021-12)
Remote · Founded and built a full-service CLIA-certified COVID-19 diagnostics laboratory from inception, scaling to over $20M in revenue within the first year before a successful exit. Demonstrated ability to execute rapid build-to-scale outcomes in capital-intensive, regulated industries.

### Co-Founder, Chief Strategy Officer & Chief Legal Officer, Blue Whale Materials LLC (2018-04 – present)
New York City Metropolitan Area · Founded and scaled a lithium-ion battery materials recycler using a proprietary Blacksand™ hydrometallurgical process to recover high-purity critical minerals from manufacturing scrap and spent batteries. Raised $135M+ in capital across senior debt and preferred equity, built commercial operations including OEM offtake agreements with Tesla and major international partners, and won and defended a $55M DOE MESC grant through a full federal policy review. Managed government affairs relationships with DOE, the White House, Commerce, and Congress while serving as Chief Legal Officer overseeing board governance, securities, M&A, litigation, compliance, and employment matters.

### Loaned Associate, Legal Aid Society (2006-08 – 2007-03)
Represented clients in DC Superior Court and before the DC Housing Authority, regularly conducted evidentiary hearings, argued motions, negotiated settlements, and conducted administrative trials and appeals. Obtained six-figure settlement for client in wrongful eviction matter.

### Counsel (2014–2022) / Associate (2003–2014), Arnold & Porter LLP (2003-09 – 2022-12)
Washington, DC · Served as litigation and regulatory counsel at a 700+ attorney firm, handling commercial litigation, government enforcement defense, and internal investigations across healthcare, financial services, national security, and government contracts. Elected to the firm's Management Committee (2008–2010), served as outside general counsel to a hospitality company, and drafted executive orders and presidential memoranda as counsel to the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Energy and Environment Policy Working Group.

### Delegate Selection, Bill Bradley for President (1998-01 – 2000-01)

## Education

### JD, Georgetown University Law Center (2000-09 – 2003-06)
Dean's List (2000–2002), Dean's Certificate (2003)

### BA in Political Science; Engineering, Brown University (1994-09 – 1998-06)

### Polytechnic School (1990-01 – 1994-01)

## Skills

Legal Research, Litigation, Legal Writing, Appeals, Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Capital formation, Debt structuring, Preferred equity, Investor relations, Lender relations, Commercial strategy, OEM relationships, Feedstock sourcing, Contract negotiation, DOE relations, White House relations, Congressional relations, Federal grant capture, Federal grant defense, Board governance, Fiduciary matters, Securities offerings, Transaction structuring, M&A diligence, Compliance, Risk management, Internal investigations, Government enforcement defense, Employment law, Organizational leadership, Plant operations, HR management, CLIA compliance, Hydrometallurgical processes, Critical minerals, Lithium-ion battery recycling

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Source: https://saywise.com/member3419 (last modified 2026-10-05T17:56:21.075Z)