http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/gcc_articlearchive.php General Counsel Consulting News In Brief Section en-us © 2007 General Counsel Consulting. All rights reserved. admin@gcconsulting.com(General Counsel Consulting) admin@gcconsulting.com Tuesday, 11 December 2007 07:38:07 EDT News In Brief http://www.gcconsulting.com/rssfeed/gccrssfeednewsinbrief.xml 60 http://www.gcconsulting.com/images/logo.gif http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/gcc_articlearchive.php Leading provider of prepaid MasterCard® cards Springbok Services Inc. has hired Brad Fauss as its new senior vice president and general counsel. Fauss, with over 13 years of electronic transaction processing experience, has served as senior vice president of legal, risk, and compliance for TSYS Prepaid Inc. as well as a division general counsel for Global Payments Inc. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to join such a dynamic organization," said Fauss, "which is both an industry leader and one of the fastest-growing providers in the industry." Fauss received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and his B.S. in finance from Florida State University. Of Fauss, CEO and co-founder of Springbok Services Taylor Ohlsen said, "[He] is a well-respected thought leader in the prepaid industry, and we're very excited to have him on board." http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120225 gcc70 Tuesday, 11 December 2007 07:38:07 EDT The New York State Housing Finance Agency, the State of New York Mortgage Agency, and their affiliated agencies hired Joy Willig as their new general counsel. Prior to serving these companies, Willig served as general counsel at L&M Equity Participants Ltd. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120223 gcc69 Tuesday, 04 December 2007 07:38:07 EDT Paladyne Systems, an alternative investment software provider, hired Steve Vogel as chief financial officer and general counsel. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Vogel has worked for startup to mid-sized companies in both software and hi-tech. He founded consulting firm Sanguinity and has served as both chief financial officer and general counsel at Chordiant Software, Tessera, iLogistix, and Microbank Software. Of Vogel, Sameer Shalaby, chief executive of Paladyne, said, "Steve's industry expertise and leadership make him an invaluable and welcome addition to Paladyne's executive team at this important time in the company's life cycle." http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120221 gcc68 Tuesday, 27 November 2007 07:38:07 EDT Healthcare-product manufacturing company The Cooper Companies Inc. hired Daniel G. McBride as its new vice president and general counsel. McBride, who joined the company in 2005 as its senior counsel, became vice president and senior counsel of The Cooper Companies and vice president and general counsel of CooperVision Inc. in 2006. Previously, McBride worked as an attorney at Latham & Watkins, LLP. He holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.S. in Finance from Santa Clara University. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120220 gcc67 Tuesday, 20 November 2007 07:38:07 EDT Chemistry-free printing company Presstek Inc. hired James R. Van Horn as its new vice president and general counsel. Van Horn, who received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University and has served as vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Sun-Times Media Group Inc., brings more than 16 years of general counsel experience to Presstek. All legal matters, including advising the executive team, will fall to Van Horn. Jeff Jacobson, the printing company's CEO and president, is confident that Van Horn will be an asset to Presstek and "expect[s] him to be an invaluable member of the team." http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120218 gcc66 Tuesday, 06 November 2007 07:38:07 EDT On October 15, Blockbuster Inc. named Eric H. Peterson as its new executive vice president, secretary, and general counsel. Peterson, who formerly served as TXU Corporation's executive vice president and general counsel and DTE Energy's general counsel, graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor's degree and a law degree. According to Blockbuster Chairman and CEO Jim Keyes, "Eric is an accomplished and skilled legal professional with an extensive background in highly competitive, fast-moving industries. In addition to his considerable legal expertise, he is a seasoned business executive who will contribute significantly to our efforts to transform Blockbuster into the most convenient source for media entertainment." http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120216 gcc65 Tuesday, 30 October 2007 07:38:07 EDT Allstate Corp. has hired lawyer Michele Coleman Mayes as its new general counsel and senior vice president. Mayes, who will replace Michael McCabe, said she took the job because Allstate is a "bigger company" with a "bigger challenge." She also strongly agrees with Allstate's chief executive officer, Tom Wilson, and his mission to improve Allstate's "customer focus" and to "[build] a leadership team that is willing to take risks while being held accountable for its decisions." Currently, Mayes works for Pitney Bowes as its senior vice president and general counsel. Starting November 5, Mayes' duties at Allstate will include overseeing the company's legal and public policy activities. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120214 gcc64 Tuesday, 23 October 2007 07:38:07 EDT Landquest, a residential development firm specializing in the acquisition, permitting, and construction of communities on the East Coast, has announced the appointment of Steven Vining to the post of general counsel. In his new position, Vining will manage transaction-related issues, including land acquisition, zoning, and permitting matters. Vining formerly practiced at his own law firm in Cary, NC, for 10 years. He served as an outside attorney for Landquest prior to joining the firm and has also served as a partner with Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava and MacCuish, LLP, in Los Angeles. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120207 gcc63 Tuesday, 11 September 2007 07:38:07 EDT Hawker Beechcraft has appointed Gail Lehman as its new vice president and general counsel in Wichita. Formerly, Lehman served as vice president of and general counsel for Covalence Specialty Materials Corp., based in New Jersey. She has also worked as assistant general counsel for Honeywell International in Morristown, NJ. Lehman handles litigation cases for a local firm, Martin Pringle, as well. She will be responsible for all legal activities and issues at Hawker Beechcraft. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120205 gcc62 Tuesday, 04 September 2007 07:38:07 EDT Bell Microproducts, Inc. has announced the appointment of Andrew Hughes as the company's new general counsel and secretary. Hughes will assume global responsibility for all of Bell's legal matters. He will mainly oversee general corporate legal activities, contracts, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and securities. He will also serve as legal advisor to Bell Microproducts' senior management and board of directors. With more than 15 years of legal experience, he has served in various positions at several well-known legal organizations. Bell Microproducts is a global, value-added distributor of a variety of high-tech products, services, and solutions including storage systems, software, and other professional services. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120201 gcc61 Tuesday, 07 August 2007 07:38:07 EDT Orbitz Worldwide has announced the appointment of Jim Shaughnessy to the post of senior vice president and general counsel. Shaughnessy will oversee legal and regulatory issues for the company. He has had more than 25 years' experience as a strategic legal executive, managing legal affairs for leading technology companies PeopleSoft, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo Group Ltd., and Compaq. Shaughnessy will report to Steven Barnhart, CEO and president of Orbitz. Orbitz Worldwide is a global leader in online travel. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120199 gcc60 Tuesday, 31 July 2007 07:38:07 EDT Toll Brothers has named Mark K. Kessler as senior vice president, general counsel, and chief compliance officer of the company. Kessler has been a partner with Wolf Block law firm for the past 22 years. He is well-known in the legal community because of his expertise in securities counseling, acquisitions, mergers, and finance-related matters. Kessler will succeed Don Liu as general counsel. Liu will move to Xerox Corporation as their general counsel. Toll Brothers, Inc., is a leader in building luxury homes. The company is a Fortune 500 company and operates across 22 states. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120195 gcc59 Tuesday, 17 July 2007 07:38:07 EDT DirectBuy has named Joe Yast as its new vice president and general counsel. Yast will handle all contract matters, manage all litigation matters, and assist with general legal advice to various departments of the company. He will work with the executive management group on issues affecting the company and its operations. Yast, who has 30 years of legal experience, started his own business litigation practice in 1992. DirectBuy is a leading home design showroom center catering directly to homeowners and carrying products ranging from kitchen and bath cabinets to appliances to carpet and flooring. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120194 gcc58 Tuesday, 10 July 2007 07:38:07 EDT Leading legal publications, New England In-House and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly have honored Peggy Shukur with the In-House Leaders of the Law award. Shukur, the Lionbridge Technologies, Inc., vice president, general counsel, and secretary, was selected by an independent panel of in-house lawyers. Recognized as possessing "utmost integrity" and "an uncanny ability to inspire and lead," Shukur was also acknowledged for her business and legal skills and her contribution to the community and profession. Since joining Lionbridge in 2000, Shukur has managed the company's legal affairs across the globe. Shukur, who is part of the Corporate Leadership Team, was involved in navigating Lionbridge through its 2005 acquisition of Bowne Global Solutions. Presented for the first time, the award recognizes the outstanding professional achievements and contributions of a select group of in-house counsel. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120192 gcc57 Tuesday, 03 July 2007 07:38:07 EDT Pizza chain Papa Murphy's International has named Victoria Blackwell as its new general counsel. Blackwell, who has worked as a corporate attorney since 2000, was instrumental in the company's expansion into British Columbia. With five stores already operational in the province, Papa Murphy's plans to add 11 more by the end of the year. Blackwell is also responsible for overseeing legal matters and franchisee agreements for the company, which has more than 400 franchisees across the U.S. Before joining the pizza chain, Blackwell worked for KinderCare Learning Centers, where she was associate counsel of real estate. At KinderCare, Blackwell was involved in negotiating and closing real estate transactions. The pioneer of the take-and-bake concept, Papa Murphy's has more than 880 stores in 32 states. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120191 gcc56 Tuesday, 26 June 2007 07:38:07 EDT Former general counsel for Monster Worldwide, Inc., Myron Olesnyckyj will no longer practice before the SEC. His suspension is part of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's settlement of civil fraud charges against him pertaining to a stock-options backdating case. Olesnyckyj, however, has neither admitted to nor denied the charges. On February 15, he pled guilty to charges that he had backdated stock-option grant dates in a federal court. Olesnyckyj misled auditors by concealing company expenses in financial disclosures. Due to be sentenced on August 25, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. However, since he has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a case against Monster founder Andrew McKelvey, his sentence is likely to be lighter. McKelvey chose to leave the company rather than be questioned by company attorneys investigating stock-option misappropriations. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120190 gcc55 Tuesday, 19 June 2007 07:38:07 EDT Fortune 500 energy company Linn Energy, LLC, has named Charlene A. Ripley as its senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary. The oil and gas attorney, who comes from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, has nine years of experience as general counsel as well as 19 years of experience in the energy field. According to Michael C. Linn, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the company, Ripley's knowledge relating to corporate governance and regulatory matters will help the company with its property acquisitions across the county. The NASDAQ lists Linn Energy as an independent oil and gas company concentrating on the development and acquisition of long-lived properties. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120188 gcc54 Tuesday, 12 June 2007 07:38:07 EDT International defense and technology company Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced the appointment of Philip A. Marquez as vice president, assistant general counsel, and sector counsel. Marquez, who has been associated with the company since 1988, will now be in charge of all legal matters relating to the company's space technology sector. He will report to W. Burks Terry, the company's corporate vice president and general counsel. Marquez joined Northrop Grumman as senior staff counsel in its B-2 division and has moved into positions of increasing importance; he most recently advised the company on its unmanned and high-altitude, long-endurance systems operations. A $30 billion company, Northrop Grumman has 122,000 employees serving government and commercial customers across the globe. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120186 gcc53 Tuesday, 05 June 2007 07:38:07 EDT The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., has announced that Andrea Newborn will be its new vice president and general counsel. Newborn, who formerly served as the company's vice president and associate general counsel, will now report directly to Mary Berner, President and CEO. Newborn most recently provided counsel to the company's businesses QSP, Books Are Fun, and Taste of Home Entertaining. Since joining RDA in 1991, she has advised many of the company's U.S.-based managers and departments and has led a number of significant worldwide projects. An international publisher and direct marketer of books, magazines, music collections and videos, The Reader's Digest Association maintains a presence in more than 70 countries. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120184 gcc52 Tuesday, 29 May 2007 07:38:07 EDT Al Salam Bank's general counsel, Mohammed Paracha, has been included in "The Lawyer's Hot 100 List for 2007," a list of the top 100 international lawyers leading in their respective fields. Before joining the bank in 2006, Paracha was a partner at law firm Norton Rose and contributed significantly to the field of Islamic finance. Formed in January 2006, the bank is one of the leading financial institutions in Bahrain and works according to Islamic principles under the regulatory requirements for Islamic banks laid down by the Central Bank of Bahrain. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120182 gcc51 Tuesday, 22 May 2007 07:38:07 EDT Kerry B. Long has been named Chief Counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration. A partner at Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP, Long has more than 20 years of experience in the airline industry. He has also worked in Fulbright's transportation practice group, which deals with a range of federal regulatory agencies that have jurisdiction over transportation facilities. Established in 1919, Fulbright & Jaworski has 1,000 attorneys working from 16 locations across the globe. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120180 gcc50 Tuesday, 15 May 2007 07:38:07 EDT In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Viacom International, Inc., said that it had lowered the salary of its general counsel. Michael D. Fricklas will now be paid $1 million annually instead of $1.5 million; however, the company has raised his target cash bonus from $1.51 million to $1.55 million. Viacom has removed $250,000 in deferred compensation from Fricklas' salary. It will also provide the general counsel with $2.5 million in restricted stock units on March 15. Additionally, he will be eligible for annual equity-compensation grants worth approximately $3 million. Fricklas has been serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for Viacom since January 1, 2006. Viacom is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120178 gcc49 Tuesday, 08 May 2007 07:38:07 EDT Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc., has appointed Jamon A. Jarvis General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to joining Nature's Sunshine, Jarvis served as General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for InterNetwork, Inc., a communications-software company in San Francisco, CA. He has more than a decade's experience, having clerked for a U.S. Federal District Court Judge, worked as a solo practitioner, and served as an in-house attorney for private and public corporations. Nature's Sunshine Products is one of the global leaders in the manufacture and marketing of encapsulated herbs and vitamins. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120176 gcc48 Tuesday, 01 May 2007 07:38:07 EDT A leading provider of business process outsourcing and optimization (BPO) services for outsourced customer interactions, StarTek, Inc., has appointed Michael Clayton as its new general counsel. Clayton, who comes from Intrado, Inc., will oversee the company's corporate governance and legal services matters. He has 30 years of experience working for public and private companies. Before joining Intrado, Clayton was Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Alliente, Inc., a BPO company. StarTek, which is based in Denver, CO, has 19 office facilities across North America. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120174 gcc47 Tuesday, 24 Apr 2007 07:38:07 EDT Hewlett-Packard has appointed Michael J. Holston to serve as its executive vice president and general counsel. Formerly a partner at Philadelphia law firm Morgan Lewis, Holston has worked extensively with Hewlett-Packard as external counsel for more than 10 years. He also served as a prosecutor in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In his new capacity as General Counsel of Hewlett-Packard, Holston will be responsible for legal affairs, compliance, ethics, privacy issues, and government affairs. In addition, he previously handled key legal issues related to Hewlett-Packard's pretexting scandal, which resulted in the resignation of Chairman Patricia Dunn. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120171 gcc46 Tuesday, 17 Apr 2007 07:38:07 EDT Sandra Leung has joined Bristol-Myers Squibb Company as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. She will manage the company's legal department and also act as the primary legal advisor to its board of directors. Leung will report to Chief Executive Officer James Cornelius while continuing to serve as an executive committee and management council member. Leung has handled various responsibilities for the company since she joined it in 1992 as a staff attorney in the litigation group, eventually rising to become its interim general counsel in 2006. Earlier, Leung was an Assistant District Attorney for the New York County District Attorney's Office. Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical company. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120168 gcc45 Tuesday, 10 Apr 2007 07:38:07 EDT The world's largest chain of home improvement stores, Home Depot, Inc., has revealed that its general counsel, Frank Fernandez, and its executive vice president of human resources, Dennis Donovan, have both resigned. The resignations follow close on the heels of the departure of chief executive Bob Nardelli in January. Although it has not disclosed any reasons for the recent developments, the firm has stated that each man will receive $2.96 million in cash. In addition, each will receive the full value of shares in the company that he accrued between 2001 and 2006. Meanwhile, Jim Snyder, Vice President of Litigation and Risk Management, will take charge as the interim head of the company's legal department. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120163 gcc44 Tuesday, 03 Apr 2007 07:38:07 EDT Patricia A. Elias has joined leading global supplier of enterprise application software SoftBrands, Inc., as general counsel. She will be handling the company's legal business matters and will report to Gregg A. Waldon, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SoftBrands. Prior to joining SoftBrands, Elias served as Associate General Counsel of Lawson Software, Inc. SoftBrands provides software solutions for businesses in the manufacturing and hospitality industries. It has nearly 900 employees serving about 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120162 gcc43 Tuesday, 27 Mar 2007 07:38:07 EDT New York Life Insurance Company has announced three promotions to top legal positions. Sara Badler, who oversees all legal issues pertaining to insurance products, regulatory exams, distribution, and mergers and acquisitions, has been named vice president and deputy general counsel. Dennis Gagnon, who will work on matters involving intellectual property, commercial law, commerce, and procurement, has been named vice president and associate general counsel. Robert Rosh is responsible for handling the distribution unit of the law department, as well as advising the agency department and NYLIFE Securities, Inc.; he will also serve as the company's vice president and associate general counsel. One of the world's leading insurance providers, New York Life has nearly $169 billion in consolidated assets. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120159 gcc42 Tuesday, 20 Mar 2007 07:38:07 EDT According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Merrill Lynch & Company has granted an $8.2-million stock incentive bonus to its executive vice president and general counsel, Rosemary T. Berkery. The grant of 85,573 restricted shares will trickle in in four equal installments, the first of which is slated to arrive on January 31, 2008. Berkery has been with Merrill Lynch since 1983, and prior to that, she was Senior Vice President and Director of U.S. Private Client (USPC) Marketing and Investments. A premier financial advisory company, Merrill Lynch provides its clients with wealth management, capital markets, and investment banking services. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120156 gcc41 Tuesday, 13 Mar 2007 07:38:07 EDT The U.S. inaugural edition of Legal 500, a law firm referral guide, includes national law firm Loeb & Loeb, LLP, on its list of "top-tier" mergers and acquisitions practices in the United States. Among other observations, the guide noted that in addition to having a strong media and entertainment practice, the law firm has an "impressive" mid-market transactional practice. Legal 500 has also praised some of the law firm's top lawyers, including Andrew Ross, David Schaefer, Harold Flegelman, and John Frankenheimer. The mergers and acquisitions list is included in volume 1 of the corporate and finance edition of Legal 500, U.S. 2007 Edition. Loeb & Loeb has 250 lawyers and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Nashville. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120153 gcc40 Tuesday, 06 Mar 2007 07:38:07 EDT Tax expert Kelly Alton will be the new Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Nationwide Exchange Services (NES). Alton, who has significant experience in corporate taxation, will provide tax guidance and legal counsel to the company. She joins NES from the Washington National Tax office of Deloitte Tax, LLP, where she was Senior Manager and worked on all aspects of like-kind exchanges. A leading qualified intermediary for 1031 tax-deferred exchanges, NES has conducted thousands of 1031-exchange transactions throughout the U.S. since 1990. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120150 gcc39 Tuesday, 27 Feb 2007 07:38:07 EDT Leading apparel marketer Hanesbrands, Inc., has announced that Joia M. Johnson will be the company's new Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. Johnson comes from RARE Hospitality International, Inc., an Atlanta-based restaurant franchise operator, where she served in a similar capacity. She brings with her more than 20 years of legal and business experience and has dealt with initiations of corporate law departments as well as real estate, construction, risk management, and human resources matters. An international name, Hanesbrands designs, manufactures, and sources innerwear, outerwear, and hosiery apparel and has about 50,000 employees working in 24 countries across the globe. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120148 gcc38 Tuesday, 20 Feb 2007 07:38:07 EDT Health Net, Inc., has announced the appointment of Linda Tiano as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. Tiano has significant experience with health plans as well as securities and corporate governance issues. Formerly, Tiano was Senior Vice President and General Counsel for WellChoice, Inc., and following the company's acquisition by WellPoint, Inc., in 2005, she was named Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for the East Region and National Accounts for WellPoint. Health Net's HMO, POS, insured PPO, and government-contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120145 gcc37 Tuesday, 13 Feb 2007 07:38:07 EDT The owner of China.com, CDC Corporation, has promoted Kim Liou, who will now serve as the company's general counsel. Reporting to Chief Executive Peter Yip, Liou will manage the worldwide legal team and oversee the legal policies of the company, as well as handle securities and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and intellectual property matters. Liou formerly worked as senior legal counsel for the company. CDC Corporation, which focuses on enterprise software, mobile applications, and online games, has 2,000 employees and serves 3,500 customers globally. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120142 gcc36 Tuesday, 06 Feb 2007 07:38:07 EDT Hospitality giant Marriott International, Inc., has announced the appointment of W. David Mann as Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Corporate, Transactions, Finance, and Governance. In his new role, Mann will work on corporate finance matters, mergers and acquisitions, and securities issues; he will also handle legal work for Marriott's corporate secretary's office. He will move from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, to the headquarters of Marriott International. A worldwide leader in providing luxury hotel accommodations and related lodging facilities, Marriott International was formed in 1993 when Marriott Corporation split into Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120139 gcc35 Tuesday, 30 Jan 2007 07:38:07 EDT A new legal organization, Technology General Counsel Roundtable, has been formed by general counsel working for Atlanta's major technology companies. Already comprised of more than 30 members and sponsored by law firm Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, the group will hold meetings featuring presentations on topics followed by moderated roundtable discussions. Topics will pertain to current case law and regulations impacting technology companies, as well as ways to enhance the performance of corporate legal departments. There will also be a forum in which senior in-house counsel from both technology and non-technology companies will have opportunities to share their experiences. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120136 gcc34 Tuesday, 23 Jan 2007 07:38:07 EDT Techbooks, Inc., has appointed Gearoid E. Moore as Assistant General Counsel. In his new position, Moore will report to Chief Financial Officer Bart Snell. With vast experience in the business and legal arenas, Moore will help the company further the progress it has begun to make following its recent acquisition of Whitmont Legal Technologies. Formerly, Moore was attached to Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR), PC, a law firm that specializes in corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property, among many other areas of law. Techbooks provides life-cycle content transformation solutions to major publishers, Fortune Global 500 companies, and clients in the legal field. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120133 gcc33 Tuesday, 16 Jan 2007 07:38:07 EDT Donald J. Rosenberg, Apple's new Senior Vice President and General Counsel, raked in the dough when he signed his contract. As part of his deal with Apple, the IBM veteran received 200,000 shares of restricted stock, which will be exercisable in four years, on December 1, 2010. The shares are worth more than $18.25 million. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120130 gcc32 Tuesday, 09 Jan 2007 07:38:07 EDT In an effort to restructure its international legal department, Kansas City Southern (KCS) has named William J. Wochner Interim General Counsel of the U.S. Legal Department. The company is in search of a candidate to take on the role permanently. Wochner will oversee the legal matters of the company and its U.S. subsidiaries, including corporate secretary functions, commercial contracts, and operating agreements. KCS is a transportation holding company providing railroad services throughout North and Central America. It owns and operates the Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR), the Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) railroad, and the Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC). http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120127 gcc31 Tuesday, 02 Jan 2007 07:38:07 EDT A survey conducted by LexisNexis Applied Discovery found that a meager 7% of corporate counsel gauge their companies as ready to take on the new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure regarding e-discovery. Under the new laws, electronically stored information will be placed on the same level as other discoverable evidence. The rules require early discussion of and agreement on the way electronic discovery will be addressed in each case. The survey reports that most companies are still in the process of preparing themselves for the new regulations. The survey was conducted at the 2006 Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting in San Diego. Applied Discovery surveyed 74 verified corporate counsel, asking them 14 questions designed to gauge the preparedness of their companies for the new laws. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120125 gcc30 Tuesday, 26 Dec 2006 07:38:07 EDT According to a survey conducted by legal consultant Altman Weil, salaries of general counsel in the United States increased by an average of 8% during 2006. The 2006 Altman Weil Law Department Compensation Benchmarking Survey, which was conducted in association with LexisNexis, states that the base salary of general counsel averages $280,000. It also reports that legal heads in the IT sector managing 25 or more attorneys received the highest levels of compensation among in-house lawyers across the nation. However, the bonuses awarded to general counsel were lower in 2006 than in the previous year. The average bonus for a general counsel was $132,000. Altman Weil surveyed about 6,255 legal counsel in 277 in-house departments. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120122 gcc29 Tuesday, 19 Dec 2006 07:38:07 EDT The University of California Board of Regents has appointed Charles F. Robinson as General Counsel of the Regents and Vice President for Legal Affairs, Office of the President. Replacing James E. Holst, who retired from the general counsel post in June, Robinson will assume his new responsibilities on January 1, 2007. As General Counsel of the Regents, he will lead a staff of 40 attorneys and 45 paralegal, administrative, and support employees at the organization's Oakland headquarters and another 17 attorneys at six university campuses with resident counsel. Prior to joining the University of California, Robinson served as Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for the California Independent System Operator Corporation, a wholesale electric transmission operator. Jeffrey Blair will continue serving as the acting general counsel until Robinson takes over. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120119 gcc28 Tuesday, 12 Dec 2006 07:38:07 EDT Atlanta-based Aaron Rents, Inc., has hired former Home Depot Corporate Counsel Elizabeth L. Gibbs to serve as Vice President and General Counsel. Gibbs has had vast experience in dealing with corporate and private practice issues. She has held several key legal positions in different organizations, including New York law firms and publicly held and private companies located in New York City and Atlanta. Aaron Rents, Inc., is a leader in providing sales and lease ownership, specialty retailing and rental of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics, and home appliances and accessories. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120113 gcc27 Tuesday, 05 Dec 2006 07:38:07 EDT Senior Vice President and General Counsel of IBM Donald J. Rosenberg has joined IT giant Apple Computer, Inc., as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. At Apple, Rosenberg will be responsible for handling all legal matters and government affairs activities. He has a broad range of experience involving litigation, securities, intellectual property, and antitrust matters. Previously, at IBM, Rosenberg held several key legal positions, including Senior Vice President and General Counsel of IBM Corporation, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Litigation, and Counsel to the IBM Mainframe Division. His work with securities, intellectual property, and competition issues has involved extensive interaction with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, and the European Economic Commission. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120112 gcc26 Tuesday, 28 Nov 2006 07:38:07 EDT The University of Virginia School of Law recently held a panel discussion on the general counsel career path. Entitled "Life on the Other Side: Career as a General Counsel," the program was conducted by Professor Earl Dudley, and panelists included UVA alumni Byron Marchant, Sharon Owlett, Tom Sidman, and Jeffrey Ferguson, as of whom work as general counsels. The panel commented on the role of the general counsel as a responsible ethics officer and explained that an aspiring general counsel must possess experience and knowledge in a number of areas before taking the corporate plunge. A number of students hoping to explore opportunities outside law firms attended the meeting. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120109 gcc25 Tuesday, 21 Nov 2006 07:38:07 EDT John W. Huey has been appointed Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Terra Industries, Inc., and will now handle all of the company's legal operations. Huey will serve as the company's leading legal and compliance officer, and he will oversee both national and international legal matters. Huey comes from Kansas City-based Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy, PC, where he served as Of Counsel. For a major portion of his career, Huey served Butler Manufacturing Company in Kansas City, where he rose to the position of Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. Terra Industries is a major producer and marketer of nitrogen fertilizers, crop protection products, and seeds. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120102 gcc24 Tuesday, 14 Nov 2006 07:38:07 EDT General counsels and in-house attorneys across the country will now have access to improved technology serving the dual purpose of improving efficiency and reducing company costs. With CaseCentral's latest corporate editions of two of its software solutions, corporations will be in better positions to control the spiraling costs of litigation, regulatory, and compliance initiatives. The tools are designed to efficiently manage large volumes of shareholder and product liability class action suits, Sarbanes-Oxley related litigation, and government regulatory investigations. CaseCentral, an on-demand discovery lifecycle management platform, offers customized solutions for corporate legal departments and provides functionality, support services, and pricing options for managing complex discoveries within corporate environments. The new IT tools are backed by CaseCentral's responsive, litigation-savvy strategic consulting, process, and support services, and they will empower corporations to support repeatable business processes for litigation and regulatory response while reducing risk and business disruption, boosting productivity, and controlling costs. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120105 gcc23 Tuesday, 07 Nov 2006 07:38:07 EDT U.S. Airways' board of directors has promoted Associate General Counsel and Managing Director, Legal, Michael J. Minerva to the position of Vice President, Legal. Minerva has 12 years of experience in the aviation industry. He will focus on legal aspects of the airline's labor, compliance, and litigation transactions, as well as other related matters. Prior to joining the airline, Minerva was a solo legal practitioner. Scott Kirby has also been promoted within the company; he has assumed office as President. Formerly, he served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. As President, Kirby will retain his present duties, which include pricing, scheduling and planning, marketing, forming alliances, overseeing distribution, managing reservations, and implementing information technologies; he will also take on new tasks, including airport customer service, finance management, and labor relations. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120098 gcc22 Tuesday, 31 Oct 2006 07:38:07 EDT Ann Baskins, General Counsel for Hewlett-Packard, has resigned after being drawn into an investigation on boardroom leaks to the media. Baskins is the fourth employee of the company who has been called in on the probe. Patricia Dunn, the company chairwoman, and two employees had earlier resigned following the start of the investigations. Baskins joined Hewlett-Packard after graduating from law school 24 years ago and served as General Counsel from 2000 until her resignation. The move is slated to empower Mark Hurd, Chief Executive Officer for Hewlett-Packard, who said the resignations were in the best interests of the company. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120094 gcc21 Tuesday, 24 Oct 2006 07:38:07 EDT Bank of America appointed Gregory Baer Deputy General Counsel for its bank regulatory and public policy legal group in Charlotte, NC. Prior to his appointment, Baer advised domestic and foreign financial institutions as a partner in Wilmer Hale's Washington, DC, office. Baer is entrusted with the responsibilities of handling Bank of America's regulatory and legislative matters and will report to Timothy Mayopoulos, General Counsel. Bank of America has recently been involved in numerous internal strife and legal settlements. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120092 gcc20 Tuesday, 17 Oct 2006 07:38:07 EDT PricewaterhouseCoopers appointed Javier H. Rubinstein Global General Counsel. Formerly, Rubinstein served as a partner in Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. A renowned expert in the field of international commercial, investment, and sports-related arbitration, Rubinstein has represented private and public clients from North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia in complex disputes. He possesses high-profile international experience and expertise in arbitration and litigation. Rubinstein's comprehensive understanding of the world's legal systems has helped him in representing accounting firms in litigation and arbitration matters throughout the world. With more than 130,000 people in 148 countries across the globe, PricewaterhouseCoopers provides industry-focused assurance, tax, and advisory services to its clients and their stakeholders. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120090 gcc19 Tuesday, 10 Oct 2006 07:38:07 EDT One of the leading online job search providers, Monster Worldwide, Inc., has suspended Myron Olesnyckyj, its Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. The move is a result of the ongoing government investigation into stock options backdating. Monster is among over 80 companies that have come under probe by federal authorities. The backdating practice has seen the issuance of stock options with retroactive effects; companies have been taking advantage of dips in share prices when granting stock options, a practice which has boosted payouts. The practice is considered illegal if not disclosed to shareholders or unaccounted for. While Olesnyckyj is apparently suspended until the final results of the probe are out, Monster may have to revise its financial statements for past years to include the stock option charges. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120087 gcc18 Tuesday, 03 Oct 2006 07:38:07 EDT The nation's largest labor union representing working actors, the Los Angeles-based Screen Actors Guild (SAG), promoted entertainment labor attorney Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to General Counsel. Crabtree-Ireland will lead the guild's affairs and strategy section; he also will be in charge of its legal, governance, and affirmative action/diversity departments. He joined the guild's legal team in 2000 and was subsequently promoted to Assistant General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel. As head of the legal department, Crabtree-Ireland will be required to maintain an up-to-date understanding of technology and how it affects the guild's television and film contracts. SAG currently represents approximately 120,000 working actors in various media groups, including film, television, commercials, and music videos. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120085 gcc17 Tuesday, 25 Sep 2006 07:38:07 EDT John T. Rigsbee has been named General Counsel for Entelos, Inc. Working on the company's corporate matters, including intellectual property, licensing, and technology issues, Rigsbee brings with him a rich twelve years of experience in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Prior to his appointment to General Counsel, he was Corporate Counsel at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, where he focused on research and development issues, licensing and acquisitions, and medical and clinical matters. A life sciences company, Entelos specializes in providing predictive models to validate new drugs and introduces novel ways to discover and develop medicines. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120083 gcc16 Tuesday, 18 Sep 2006 07:38:07 EDT Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corporation has given promotions to Steven C. Babb and Malcolm S. Swift. In his new role, Babb will be responsible for legal advice relating to labor and employment law matters, whereas Swift will serve as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for M&A, where he will be responsible for legal advice relating to mergers, acquisitions, divestment, and antitrust. Babb joined Northrop Grumman as Senior Staff Counsel in the labor and employment division and was promoted to Corporate Director and Senior Corporate Counsel with responsibility for delivery of all legal advice relating to labor and employment matters throughout the company. Swift joined the company as Senior Staff Counsel in the aircraft division, now a part of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. He was most recently responsible for handling all mergers, acquisitions, and antitrust legal services to the corporation. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120081 gcc15 Tuesday, 12 Sep 2006 07:38:07 EDT Reynolds American, Inc., has hired the services of E. Julia "Judy" Lambeth as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Lambeth will simultaneously oversee legal matters in Reynolds Tobacco Co., a Reynolds American subsidiary. With 15 years of experience and specialization in the areas of environmental, safety and health regulatory, and litigation, she succeeds Charles A. Blixt, who had served the company for 21 years. Most recently, Lambeth was Corporate Secretary and Deputy General Counsel of corporate services at ConocoPhillips. Reynolds American, Inc., is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the second-largest U.S. tobacco company, and manufactures approximately one of every three cigarettes sold in the country. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120079 gcc14 Tuesday, 05 Sep 2006 07:38:07 EDT Janet Dhillon has been appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel of US Airways Group, Inc., replacing Jim Walsh, who is retiring. Managing all legal matters of the airline, Dhillon will also retain her post as the compliance officer. Having joined the group in August 2004, she was appointed Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in January 2005 before taking charge as the top lawyer in the company. A Tempe, AZ-based company, US Airways manages about 3,800 flights a day, serving people from the United States, Canada, Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120074 gcc13 Tuesday, 29 Aug 2006 07:38:07 EDT In a rare move, two major companies have promoted their General Counsels to Chief Executives. Jeff Kindler has been named Chief Executive of Pfizer, while Paul Goldean has been named Interim Chief Executive at Scottish Re. Having joined Pfizer in 2002, Kindler has overseen the company's affairs in legal, corporate, compliance, and public policy matters. Goldean has been appointed Chief Executive after serving the Bermuda-based Scottish Re for more than four years. Pfizer is an internationally known pharmaceutical company, with 106,000 employees and revenue of $51.3 billion annually. Engaged in reinsurance of life insurance, annuities and annuity products, Scottish Re was formed in 1998 and has emerged as one of the leading life re-insurers in the U.S. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120060 gcc12 Tuesday, 22 Aug 2006 07:38:07 EDT Associated Press has named Srinandan Kasi as Vice President and General Counsel. Kasi has been working with the Associated Press since 2004, prior to which he was at Dewey Ballantine, LLP. He has also served as General Counsel, Head of Strategic Planning, for a technology company and worked as a scientist for IBM. He specializes in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. Established in 1846, Associated Press is a not-for-profit cooperative with 3,700 employees and more than 240 bureaus worldwide. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120061 gcc11 Tuesday, 15 Aug 2006 07:38:07 EDT Eminent intellectual property and media lawyer Kurt Wimmer has been appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel to Gannett Co., Inc. Previously, Wimmer was a partner at Covington & Burling and served as a journalist. His fusion of journalism and law has led him to this prestigious position at Gannett. Wimmer's strengths lie in four areas: media law, communications law, administrative law, and the First Amendment. Gannett is a leading information- and news-gathering service in the U.S. and is well known for its newspaper, USA Today. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120062 gcc10 Tuesday, 08 Aug 2006 07:38:07 EDT Former Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP, partner Roy Wuchitech has been named Deputy General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Defense. Wuchitech will be responsible for managing a legal team working on environmental law, as well as the department's installation issues. Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, where he worked for 16 years, Wuchitech served under President George H.W. Bush as Acting General Counsel of the Air Force. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120063 gcc9 Tuesday, 01 Aug 2006 07:38:07 EDT Terry Miller has been named General Counsel of The London 2012 Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games. Reporting to Chief Executive Paul Deighton, Miller will be responsible for protection of the LOCOG brand and the intellectual property rights associated with the brand. Her department will also work on preparing contracts in support of the various agreements for the venue, suppliers, commercial partners, contractors, etc. She has joined the Committee from her position as International General Counsel of Goldman Sachs for Europe and Asia. Established in October 2005, LOCOG will manage the planning and development of the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120064 gcc8 Tuesday, 25 Jul 2006 07:38:07 EDT Nissan North America, Inc., has named Scott E. Becker as Vice President and General Counsel. Succeeding Joy Murakami Crose, Becker will be in charge of the company's legal operations across the U.S. He comes from Sears Holdings Corp. and Sears, Roebuck and Co., where he was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for its retail, services, and real estate operations. Before joining Sears, Becker served at numerous law firms in Chicago and has significant experience in litigation. A subsidiary of Tokyo-based Nissan Motor Co., Nissan North America has manufacturing facilities in North America, where it rolls out vehicles such as the Xterra SUV, Altima Sedan, and Frontier Pickup. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120065 gcc7 Tuesday, 18 Jul 2006 07:38:07 EDT Frank R. Jimenez of Florida has been nominated by President Bush as General Counsel of the Department of the Navy. At present, Jimenez is Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Defense. He has also served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120066 gcc6 Tuesday, 11 Jul 2006 07:38:07 EDT Carol Ann Petren has been appointed General Counsel and Executive Vice President at CIGNA. Succeeding Judith E. Soltz, Petren will be reporting to CEO H. Edward Hanway. She has served as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at MCI, Inc., where she managed federal, state, and international regulatory matters; employment law; and other legal department operations. CIGNA provides employers with benefits programs in the field of healthcare and insurance. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120067 gcc5 Tuesday, 04 Jul 2006 07:38:07 EDT Barry Simon, General Counsel of Northwest Airlines Corp., will retire June 30 for health reasons. Simon joined the company in October 2004 and has 30 years' experience in the airlines industry. Specializing in bankruptcy, he has been instrumental in bankruptcy filings at Continental and Eastern Airlines and was at Northwest when it filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2005. The world's fifth-largest airline, Northwest Airlines operates in 900 cities in 160 countries across the world. With 1,200 daily departures, it has hubs in Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo, and Amsterdam. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120068 gcc4 Tuesday, 27 Jun 2006 07:38:07 EDT Andrew Vollmer has been appointed as Deputy General Counsel for The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and will assist in managing the Commission's 100-lawyer-strong in-house team. Prior to joining the organization, Vollmer was vice-chair of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr, LLP's securities group in Washington, DC. He specializes in securities matters and has experience representing clients subject to enforcement investigations by the SEC. With several notable cases to his credit, Vollmer succeeds Meyer Eisenberg, who retired from the Commission in January. http://www.gcconsulting.com/articles/index.php?id=120069 gcc3 Tuesday, 20 Jun 2006 07:38:07 EDT Robert Osborne has been named group vice president and general counsel of General Motors (NYSE: GM), effective September 1. In addition to becoming a member of the Automotive Strategy Board, Osborne will succeed Tom Gottschalk, who will continue as executive vice president of law and public policy. Since 2002, Osborne has been working with law firm Jenner & Block as senior partner, specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and securities transactions. Having represented General Motors on high-profile strategic transactions for more than 20 years, Osborne has both expertise and knowledge of the company. As the world's largest automaker, General Motors has 75 years of sales experience and 327,000 employees working in locations all over the globe. http://www.gcconsulting.com/rticles/index.php?id=120070 gcc2 Tuesday, 15 Jun 2006 07:38:07 EDT Catherine Fox has been named General Counsel by renowned satellite operator SES Global. This post has been filled after a 10-month search. Fox brings 20 years of experience from telecommunications giant Alcatel. Having vast experience in the telecommunications and satellite industry globally, Catherine has significant knowledge of European and international laws. SES Global is listed on the Luxembourg and Paris stock exchanges and has revenues of ?1.15B. It is part-owned by GE Capital, which has a 20% stake in the company. http://www.gcconsulting.com/rticles/index.php?id=120071 gcc1 Tuesday, 06 Jun 2006 07:38:07 EDT