Board of Advisors

Charles P. Adams Jr.

Adams and Reese LLP, Jackson, Mississippi

Charles "Chuck" Adams Jr. joined Adams and Reese in 1996 when he and nine other attorneys opened the firm’s Jackson office. He became the firm’s managing partner in 2001. Mr. Adams has practiced for more than 25 years in business and corporate law and commercial transactions and has spent more than 30 years representing creditors in bankruptcy. He is also a longtime member of the Commercial Disputes Panel of the American Arbitration Association.

Robert L. Adler

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Edison International

Robert Adler is executive vice president and general counsel for Edison International. Prior to joining Edison International, Adler was a co-managing partner of the Los Angeles law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where he practiced corporate and business law beginning in 1975.

Joseph R. Alberts

Senior Counsel Litigation
Dow AgroSciences LLC

Joseph R. Alberts is Litigation Counsel for Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. Alberts is responsible for global litigation involving toxic torts, product liability and commercial matters. Prior to joining Dow in 2000 and his firm practice, he also clerked for Judge Patrick D. Sullivan of the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Charla G. Aldous

Aldous Law Firm, Dallas, Texas

Charla Aldous, founder of Aldous Law Firm, is an active trial attorney representing plaintiffs. In addition to her extensive trial experience, she sits as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Board of Trial Advocates' Dallas Chapter and was its previous President. Ms. Aldous is also a member of the American Association for Justice and the Inner Circle of Advocates.

John P. Amershadian

Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo, New York

Mr. Amershadian, President of Hodgson Russ LLP, concentrates in transactional work, including bank and other financing and the purchase and sale of businesses. He has served as the lead attorney in multi-lender financings representing both borrowers and bank syndicates. He has represented developers in construction and permanent mortgage financings, including transactions that have generated various tax credits as part of a financing package. He has played a number of roles in various types of asset-backed securitizations.

John A. Barbour

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

John A. "Jack" Barbour is the chief executive officer and managing director of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and chairman of its board of directors. He has represented developers, lenders and equity participants in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions over the past several decades and has served as primary outside counsel to a large private equity company for more than 25 years. He has also served as outside counsel to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Daniel M. Rooney and Arthur J. Rooney II families. In 2011, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett appointed Mr. Barbour as chair of the Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation.

Andra Barmash Greene

Irell & Manella LLP, Newport Beach, California

Andra Barmash Greene is the Managing Partner of Irell & Manella's Newport Beach office and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Ms. Greene specializes in complex business litigation. Her extensive trial and appellate experience in state and federal courts has included cases involving class actions, professional negligence, wage and hour, employment, business torts, real estate, lender liability, executive compensation, environmental issues, securities litigation, insurance coverage, intellectual property, and white-collar criminal claims. Ms. Greene has substantial experience litigating cases under California's anti-SLAPP statute. She frequently represents other lawyers and major law firms when they need counsel.

Ralph Baxter

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, San Francisco, California

Ralph Baxter is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, a position he has held from 1990. Mr. Baxter is active in numerous civic leadership and public interest organizations. For example, Mr. Baxter serves on the state Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth in California.

Paul D. Bekman

Salsbury Clements Bekman Marder & Adkins, Baltimore, Maryland

Paul D. Bekman, a partner at Salsbury Clements Bekman Marder & Adkins, is entering his fourth decade as an active trial attorney in Maryland. Mr. Bekman is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and was President of the Maryland State Bar Association in 1997-1998, the only plaintiff attorney to hold the seat. He also served as Chair of the University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors.

Peter J. Beshar

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Marsh & McLennan Companies

Peter J. Beshar is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Marsh & McLennan Companies. Prior to joining Marsh & McLennan in 2004, he was a Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Before joinin Gibson, Dunn he served as an Assistant Attorney General in the New York Attorney General's office and as the Special Assistant to Cyrus Vance.

Michael Blair

Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP, New York City

Michael Blair is the firm’s Presiding Partner. Mr. Blair has served as lead counsel in a host of major M&A transactions, advised senior executives and boards of directors on governance matters and handled securities transactions for clients across a range of industries. 

Robert Bodian

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York

Mr. Bodian is the Managing Member of Mintz Levin. He also is head of the New York Litigation Section and a member of the firm's Policy Committee. He has extensive experience in the areas of employment and commercial disputes, private equity, financial services, insurance, securities, real estate, and banking. He provides counsel to a broad range of domestic and foreign clients, including several Fortune 500 companies, major insurance companies, leading investment banks, private equity firms, and capital management companies, as well as the executives of such companies.

Ralf Boer

Foley & Lardner, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ralf Boer has been chairman and CEO of the firm since 2002 and has been a member of the firm's Management Committee since 1992. In 1999, Mr. Boer was named Knight, First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland, awarded by the President of the Republic of Finland.

David Boies

Boies, Schiller & Flexner, Armonk, New York

When Mr. Boies, Chairman of Boies, Schiller and Flexner, received the Milton Gould Award in 1996, the citation read in part, "No lawyer in America has tried and argued on appeal as many landmark cases in as many different areas as Mr. Boies."

Robert E. Bostrom

Greenberg Traurig, LLP , New York

Robert E. Bostrom's legal career spans more than 30 years, where he has worked and advised at the highest levels of leadership in the banking sector, in private legal practice and inside a government sponsored enterprise (GSE).  Bob joined Greenberg Traurig from another major firm where he was Co-head of the Global Financial Institutions Practice and Dodd-Frank team.  In his role as principal legal counsel to Freddie Mac, Bob had oversight and management responsibility for all legal and regulatory strategies, services, resources and corporate governance matters. He has been recognized as one of the premier banking lawyers in the United States, specifically in the areas of risk management and compliance, regulatory affairs, litigation, and internal and government investigations.

Michael Bramnick

Executive Vice President, General Counsel
NRG Energy, Inc.

Michael Bramnick has been Executive Vice President & General Counsel since August 2010. Since December 2004, he has also served in a variety of roles including as Deputy General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer. He previously held in-house positions at Millennium Chemicals, Inc, Lucent Technologies and EnviroSource and spent six years in private practice at Pepper Hamilton, LLP.

Frank L. Branson

The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, Dallas, Texas

Frank Branson is a founder of Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, P.C. He centers his practice around Catastrophic injury cases and commercial torts. In addition to his active practice, Branson serves on the Executive Board of SMU Dedman School of Law and is a past President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Dallas Chapter.

William A. Brewer III

Bickel & Brewer, Dallas, Texas

William A. Brewer III is a partner at Bickel & Brewer, a complex commercial litigation firm. Mr. Brewer primarily focuses his practice on commercial litigation and dispute resolution. In addition to his practice, he spends considerable time working with various professional and philanthropic organizations including the Bickel & Brewer Future Leaders Program and currently serves as a member of the board of trustees of Albany Law School.

Brad D. Brian

Munger, Tolles & Olson, Los Angeles , California

Brad Brian specializes in complex civil and criminal litigation. Mr. Brian has been active in the leadership of the ABA Litigation Section since 1986, and served as the chair of the section in 2005-2006. In addition to his practice, he is current chairman of the RAND Civil Justice Institute and is a past president of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Foundation.

Louis J. Briskman

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
CBS Corporation, New York

Beginning in 1993, Mr. Briskman has served as General Counsel to several prominent public corporations. He has served as General Counsel to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, CBS, Aetna Inc. and more recently returned to CBS Corporation as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

William T. Burgess

Dickinson Wright, Detroit, Michigan

Mr. Burgess currently serves as Dickinson Wright's Chief Executive Officer where he oversees all aspects of the Firm's professional and business operations. For more than 20 years, served as counsel to secured lenders in all aspects of workouts, restructurings, loan modifications and enforcement of remedies.

William R. Caroselli

Caroselli, Beachler, McTiernan & Conboy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Attorney William Caroselli is a partner in the Pittsburgh law firm of Caroselli, Beachler, McTiernan & Conboy, LLC. He concentrates his practice on personal injury, toxic torts and complex litigation. Mr. Caroselli is a member and Past President of the Allegheny County Academy of Trial Lawyers, a member and past President of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and is also a member of the American Association for Justice, where he served on its Executive Committee.

James P. Carroll

Cadwalader, Charlotte, North Carolina

Jim Carroll is managing partner of Cadwalader's Charlotte office.  His practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate finance and securitization. Jim has extensive experience in real estate workouts, foreclosures and bankruptcies. In addition, Mr. Carroll has served as Chair of the Securitization Committee for the American Bar Association's Section of Real Property Probate & Trust Law.

William J. Casazza

Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Aetna

William J. Casazza is Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Law & Regulatory Affairs. Mr. Casazza joined Aetna's Law & Regulatory Affairs department in 1992. Previously, Mr. Casazza worked at Sullivan & Cromwell and was a Certified Public Accountant with Ernst & Young.

Evan R. Chesler

Cravath, Swaine & Moore, New York

Evan R. Chesler is Presiding Partner of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where he handles a wide variety of litigation in both trial and appellate courts. Mr. Chesler is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the President of the Dwight Opperman Institute of Judicial Administration and a trustee of the New York Public Library as well as Chairman of its Lawyers’ Committee. He is the author of numerous articles on legal topics as well as a chapter in the popular book, Inside the Minds of Leading Litigators (Aspatore Books, 2002).

Morgan Chu

Irell & Manella, Los Angeles, California

Co-Managing Partner of the firm from 1997 to 2003, Mr. Chu was named one of the "Top Ten Trial Lawyers" in the nation by the National Law Journal. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Public Counsel, the largest pro bono law office in the United States.

Michael V. Ciresi

Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Michael Ciresi is a named partner at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, one of the nation's premier trial firms. In addition to his active practice and firm leadership, Mr. Ciresi is active in numerous civil and professional associations including sitting on the Board of Directors of MinnCAN, Minnesota Early Learning Foundation and completed terms on the Boards of Equal Justice Works and Centre of Advanced Litigation at Nottingham Law School.

Matthew J. Clark

Arent Fox, Washington, D.C.

Matthew Fox is Managing Partner of Arent Fox and for the last five years Matt also served as head of the international trade group, and was co-chair of the regulatory department. His practice is focused on adversarial international trade proceedings, particularly anti-dumping and countervailing duty proceedings.

Robert A. Clifford

Clifford Law Offices, Chicago, Illinois

Robert A. Clifford founded a Chicago personal injury law firm in his name in 1984 and has since earned a national reputation in liability cases. Mr. Clifford stays active in the legal community: he is President of the Chicago Bar Association and Past President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He was also appointed a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Civility.

H. Rodgin Cohen

Sullivan & Cromwell, New York

H. Rodgin Cohen is Senior Chairman of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.  Prior to this, he had been the chairman of the firm since 2000. He is an eminent banking and M&A lawyer, about whom The Wall Street Journal recently wrote, "With virtually all of Wall Street as his client, [Cohen] has solidified his role as one of the most influential private-sector players in the financial crisis." Mr. Cohen currently serves on the task force supported by The Pew Financial Reform Project in issuing recommendations to Congress for broader financial reform.

Thomas A. Cole

Sidley Austin, Chicago, Illinois

Thomas Cole has served as Chair of the Sidley Austin's Executive Committee, the committee that exercises general authority over the affairs of the firm, since 1998. He became a partner of the firm in 1981, a member of the firm's Executive Committee in 1987 and a member of its Management Committee in 1988. Mr. Cole maintains a substantial practice in public company mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance, along with his firm management responsibilities.

C. Wade Cooper

Jackson Walker L.L.P., Austin, Texas

Wade Cooper is the firmwide Managing Partner of Jackson Walker. His duties are those of the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, and he chairs two of the major committees of the partnership: the Management Committee and the Compensation Committee. In his legal practice, Mr. Cooper has handled substantial commercial litigation, arbitration, and bankruptcy matters in Texas, and in federal and bankruptcy courts in a number of other states.

Daniel Cooperman

Bingham McCutchen, East Palo Alto, California

Formerly Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Apple and Oracle, respectively, Mr. Cooperman has returned to his former firm, Bingham McCutchen LLP.  He is a Fellow at the Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University and teaches a course entitled "The Role of the Modern General Counsel" at Stanford Law School and Stanford's Graduate School of Business.  Mr. Cooperman now serves on several corporate and non-profit boards.  He is a past president of the Association of General Counsel and has served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Software & Information Industry Association, the largest trade association in the software industry.

John W. Daniels, Jr.

Quarles & Brady, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

John Daniels has been the chairman of Quarles & Brady LLP since 2007. Mr. Daniels, formerly the national president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, has established an impressive career in the practice of real estate law, representing national, regional, local and governmental owners, and investors.

Stephen J. Dannhauser

Weil, Gotshal & Manges, New York

Mr. Dannhauser joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in 1975. He was named as the firm's Executive Partner in 1989, becoming Chairman in 2002. One of Mr. Dannhauser many recognitions was as a 2007 recipient of the New York State Bar Association's Root-Stimson Award for Community Service, an annual award honoring a single attorney who has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to serving the public.

Frank N. Darras

DarrasLaw, Ontario, California

Frank Darras is the founder of DarrasLaw. For over 25 years, Mr. Darras has specialized in representing policyholders in both small and large matters. Before founding DarrasLaw, he worked in the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and at Shernoff & Levine where he later became partner.

Edward B. Deutsch

McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, Morristown, New Jersey

Edward B. Deutsch is the managing partner of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP. A civil trial attorney, Mr. Deutsch has been a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 1992, a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and a fellow of the International Society of Barristers. Mr. Deutsch was selected by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to chair the Department of Banking and Insurance transition sub-committee and accepted the governor’s nomination to be one of two public members of the newly created Red Tape Commission chaired by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno.

Janet L. Dhillon

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
JC Penney

Janet L. Dhillon is executive vice president, general counsel and secretary for JC Penney. Janet joined JC Penney in 2009, and previously held the role of senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer for US Airways. Prior to joining US Airways, she spent 13 years at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Joseph C. Dilg

Vinson & Elkins, Houston, Texas

Joe currently serves as Managing Partner of Vinson & Elkins LLP. He personally serves as Chair of the Executive Committee of the National Business Committee for the Arts, Inc., as Director for the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Greater Houston Partnership.

Kenneth M. Doran

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Los Angeles, California

Kenneth M. Doran is the Managing Partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and serves as the Chairman of the Firm's Executive Committee.  Mr. Doran has extensive experience in a broad range of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, leveraged buy-outs and "going private" transactions, cross-border transactions, corporate reorganizations and other restructurings.  Mr. Doran regularly counsels clients regarding corporate governance issues, fiduciary duties and other compliance matters.

Patrick C. Dunican, Jr.

Gibbons, New York

Patrick Dunican is the Chairman and Managing Director of the firm and a member of the firm's Business & Commercial Litigation Department. Before joining the firm, Mr. Dunican clerked for the Honorable Clarkson S. Fisher in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Peter M. Dwoskin

Senior Vice President, Strategic Development & General Counsel
U.S.News and World Report

Peter M. Dwoskin is Senior Vice President, Strategic Development & General Counsel of U.S. News & World Report.  Prior to that and serving as counsel to a financial services company, Mr. Dwoskin was with the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, focusing on mergers & acquisitions, and served as law clerk to the Hon. George C. Pratt, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Kim F. Ebert

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, Indianapolis, Indiana

Mr. Ebert presently serves as the Managing Shareholder with overall responsibility for the direction and delivery of client services of Ogletree Deakins. A past member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Continuing Education of the Bar, Mr. Ebert is a frequent writer, speaker and seminar chair at regional and national conferences on labor and employment topics for attorneys and human resource professionals.

F. Samuel Eberts III

Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
Laboratory Corporation of America

Mr. Sam Eberts III is the Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary and Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings. Prior to joining LabCorp, Sam was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Stepan Company.

Martin Fantozzi

Goulston & Storrs, Boston Massachusetts

Martin Fantozzi, Co-Managing Director, brings to his practice over 20 years of experience.  Marty has extensive experience representing public and private REITs, investment firms, lenders, property management and brokerage firms, retailers and academic hospitals and universities in these matters.

Joseph M. Fazio

Miller, Canfield, Paddock, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Joe Fazio is the Principal and Chair of Miller, Canfield, Paddock's Managing Directors. Joe's specific areas of expertise include complex commercial real estate acquisitions and developments. Among his many activities, Mr. Fazio sits on the Board of Trustees for the Legacy Land Conservancy.

D. Cameron Findlay

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Medtronic, Inc.

D. Cameron Findlay is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Medtronic, Inc. Prior to joining Medtronic, he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Aon Corporation, in both George H.W. and George W. Bush's administrations, as a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Scalia, and for the D.C. Circuit for Judge Stephen Williams.

Steven E. Fineman

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, New York

Steven Fineman is Managing Partner of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein. In addition to his active litigation practice and management of the firm, he is the President of the Public Justice Foundation and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Civil Justice Foundation.

Avery S. Fischer

Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Ralph Lauren Corporation

Avery S. Fischer serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Ralph Lauren Corporation. Prior to joining Ralph Lauren Corporation in 2009, Mr. Fischer was a partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, a large international law firm, where he specialized in general corporate law, securities and mergers and acquisitions.

David Foltyn

Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP, Detroit, Michigan

David Foltyn, Chairman and CEO of Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn, counsels publicly- and privately-held business clients, boards of directors, venture captial and finanacial services firms in a variety of legal matters. Mr. Foltyn also speaks at industry group meetings and continuing legal educational conferences on a variety of business and finance topics, including securities law, mergers and acquisitions, start-up and emerging ventures, corporate and business law and corporate governance.

Austin T. Fragomen

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, New York

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy partner Austin T. Fragomen has served as staff counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on immigration, citizenship and international law and as an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law. He has testified before Congress on a range of immigration issues. Mr. Fragomen is also the founding co-author of a series of immigration handbooks that provide information on the best practices and latest developments in the field of business immigration.

Thomas R. Frantz

Williams Mullen, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Thomas R. Frantz is chief executive officer of Williams Mullen. He represents multinational corporations in mergers and acquisitions and a variety of other legal matters. Mr. Frantz has spoken about tax and corporate law at the Tax Conferences of the College of William & Mary, Old Dominion University and the University of Virginia and to a number of regional and national professional groups. Before joining the firm, Mr. Frantz was an original principal with Clark & Stant, which merged with Williams Mullen in 1999, and established Clark & Stant’s Health Care Practice Group. 

Michael D. Fricklas

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Viacom

Michael Fricklas is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Viacom. He has provided counsel to Viacom since 1993. Prior to that and being counsel to a large mining industry company, Mr. Fricklas focused his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and technology law.

Eric J. Friedman

Skadden, Arps, New York

Eric J. Friedman assumed the role of Executive Partner at Skadden, Arps, in April 2009. An internationally recognized corporate attorney, he concentrates in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and general corporate law. He has been involved in a number of significant transactions in the financial services industry including matters for Citigroup Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, and Centennial Communications Corporation.

Anthony H. Gair

Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Mackauf, Bloom & Rubinowitz, New York

Anthony H. Gair is a partner at Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf, which was founded by his father, Harry A. Gair in 1919. Mr. Gair has taught at the Fordham University School of Law in the Continuing Legal Education program. He is a lifetime member of Scribes-American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects and a member of the Roscoe Pound Foundation.

James H. Gallegos

Vice President and General Counsel
Alliant Energy

James H. Gallegos is Vice President and General Counsel of Alliant Energy. Prior to joining Alliant Energy, Mr. Gallegos was Vice President and Corporate General Counsel of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Corporation. He also held a counsel position with Qwest Communications, was a trial attorney with the Civil Rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and a Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard M. Bilby, U.S. Federal District Court, District of Arizona.

Gregory Gallopoulos

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
General Dynamics

Gregory Gallopoulos is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of General Dynamics. Mr. Gallopoulos served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of General Dynamics Corp. from August 2008 to January 1, 2010. Prior his work at General Dynamics, Mr. Gallopoulos spent many years at Jenner & Block LLP where he served as its Managing Partner since January 2005.

Marialuisa Gallozzi

Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, D.C.

Marialuisa ("ML") Gallozzi is a partner at Covington & Burling.  She has 25 years of experience in providing settlement and strategic advice on insurance coverage issues and is one of the leads for Covington’s Strategic Risk and Crisis Management initiative.  Ms. Gallozzi has represented and advised companies in recalls involving foods, drugs and medical devices, and assists companies in planning for crisis events and in crisis communications.  Ms. Gallozzi has lectured extensively on insurance in CLE programs and at many law schools.

Elisa D. Garcia C.

Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Office Depot

Elisa D. Garcia C. was named Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary in July 2007. Prior to joining Office Depot, she served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary for Domino's Pizza, Inc. She has also served as Latin American Regional Counsel for Philip Morris International and Corporate Counsel for GAF Corporation.

Steven J. Gartner

Willkie Farr & Gallagher, New York

Steven J. Gartner is Co-Chairman of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York. He is also Co-Chair of the firm's Corporate and Financial Services Department and a member of the Executive Committee. He specializes in private equity, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance matters.

Herbert E. Gerson

Ford & Harrison, Memphis, Tennessee

Mr. Gerson is Co-Managing Partner of Ford & Harrison. His practice focuses on traditional labor and employment issues and he has co-chaired the Labor and Employment Committee of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association. He is a member of the Labor and Employment Subcommittees of the American, Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations.

Russell M. Gertmenian

Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP, Columbus, Ohio

Mr. Gertmenian is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and serves as the firm’s Managing Partner. Mr. Gertmenian engages in the practice of general corporate and contract law, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and initial public offerings (IPO).  He acts as general counsel to a variety of public and private corporations.

John R. Gibson

Chairman of the Board, Director
American Pacific Corporation

John R. Gibson has served as the non-executive Chairman of the Board of the Company since January 1, 2010. In July 1997, Mr. Gibson became Chief Executive Officer and President of the company. In March 1998, he was appointed Chairman of the Board.

Françoise Gilbert

IT Law Group, Palo Alto, California

Françoise Gilbert is Managing Director of IT Law Group. Françoise focuses her practice on data privacy and security issues, Internet, eBusiness, and information technology law. She serves on the Board of Directors of the International Technology Law Association. She is a member of the Editorial Board of The Practical Lawyer (ALI-ABA), and she serves on the Technology Board of Advisors of the ALI ABA.

Robert Giles

Perkins Coie, Seattle, Washington

Bob Giles is managing partner of Perkins Coie LLP. He chairs the Management Committee, serves on the Executive Committee, and is involved with numerous other committees within the firm. Bob began at Perkins Coie in 1974.

Thomas V. Girardi

Girardi Keese, Los Angeles

Thomas V. Girardi has represented victims in wrongful death, commercial litigation, products liability, bad faith insurance and toxic torts cases for nearly 50 years. Mr. Girardi was inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame by the California State Bar in 2003. He is also a former president of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and is the first trial lawyer to be appointed to the California Judicial Council.

Andrew I. Glincher

Nixon Peabody, Boston, Massachusetts

Andrew I. Glincher is a real estate and business attorney representing special servicers, asset managers, lenders, owners, and developers. As Managing Partner he leads 700 attorneys serving clients in the U.S., Asia and Europe. Mr. Glincher served on the faculty of the Boston College Carroll School of Management for 23 years (1988-2011). He is immediate past chairman of the board at Hebrew SeniorLife and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Michael S. Goldberg

Baker Botts, Houston, Texas

Michael S. Goldberg is chair of the international dispute resolution section at Baker Botts. His experience extends to a broad array of international matters involving clients, adversaries, and/or issues in Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Jamie Gorelick

WilmerHale, Washington, D.C.

Jamie Gorelick was one of the longest serving Deputy Attorneys General of the United States, the second highest position in the Department of Justice. She was also a member of the bipartisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the "9/11 Commission").

Matthew B. Gorson

Greenberg Traurig, Miami, Florida

Greenberg Traurig president Matthew B. Gorson joined the firm in 1973 as its 14th lawyer, becoming one of south Florida’s most prolific and in-demand real estate attorneys. During the 1990s, Mr. Gorson’s work changed the face of the southern portion of Miami Beach and set the stage for the area's revitalization. For 15 years, he served as chair of Greenberg Traurig's national real estate practice and was instrumental in developing the firm's reputation as a real estate powerhouse.

John Beau Grenier

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Birmingham, Alabama

Beau Grenier is the Chairman of the Board of Bradley Arant. Beau joined the firm in 1983. In addition to his active corporate, securities, and mergers and acquisitions practice, Mr. Grenier serves as a member of the board for Alabama Symphony Orchestra as well as the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Noah J. Hanft

General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Franchise Integrity Officer
MasterCard

Noah J. Hanft is General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Franchise Integrity Officer of MasterCard Incorporated and MasterCard International. Mr. Hanft has served in various increasingly senior positions at the Company since 1984, except for 1990 to 1993, when he was Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at AT&T Universal Card Services Corp.

Richard R. Hays

Alston & Bird, Atlanta and New York

Richard Hays is the managing partner of Alston & Bird LLP. He previously served as financial partner on the firm’s management committee and chaired the Litigation & Trial Practice Group. Mr. Hays received his A.B. from Harvard University in 1982, his M.Sc. in law from Edinburgh University in 1984 as a Rotary Scholar and his J.D. in 1986 from Vanderbilt School of Law, where he was an editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review.

Robert D. Hays

King & Spalding, Atlanta, Georgia

Robert Hays serves as Chairman of King & Spalding.  In this role, he oversees the strategic growth and direction of the firm and focuses on building strong relationships with the firm’s clients. Mr. Hays has amassed extensive experience as lead trial counsel in high exposure product liability and other mass tort litigation, with over 20 years of courtroom experience as lead trial counsel in state and federal courts.

Andrew D. Hendry

Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Colgate-Palmolive

Andrew Hendry is Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Colgate-Palmolive. Mr. Hendry joined Colgate in 1991 from Unisys, where he was Vice President and General Counsel. He was previously with Reynolds Metals Company (now part of Alcoa, Inc.) and prior to moving in-house was a corporate lawyer with a New York firm.

Carrie J. Hightman

Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
NiSource Inc.

Carrie J. Hightman is executive vice president and chief legal officer for NiSource Inc. Prior to joining NiSource, Hightman served as President of AT&T Illinois (formerly SBC). She is Vice Chair of the Telecommunications Committee of the Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law Section of the American Bar Association and past Chair of the Public Utility Law Section of the Chicago Bar Association.

Alan Hoffman

Blank Rome, LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mr. Hoffman serves as co-chairman and managing partner of Blank Rome LLP. In this capacity he oversees the Firm’s day-to-day operations, implements the Firm’s growth strategy for its expanding national and international platform, and manages the overall leadership, direction, profitability and culture of the Firm. His practice consists of handling complex corporate and criminal litigation and he has extensive trial and appellate experience in both the federal and state courts.

James R. Hubbard

Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer Fifth Third Bank

James R. Hubbard is Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Bancorp since February 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Hubbard was the Senior Vice President and Director of Legal Services since June 2001.

Shirley Mount Hufstedler

Morrison & Foerster, Los Angeles, California

Shirley Mount Hufstedler has had a distinguished career at the highest levels of legal and public service. A senior of counsel lawyer at Morrison & Foerster in Los Angeles, Mrs. Hufstedler served as Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for eleven years before President Jimmy Carter appointed her U.S. Secretary of Education.

Andrew G. Humphrey

Faegre Baker Daniels, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Andrew G. Humphrey is managing partner of Faegre Baker Daniels. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of general corporate counseling, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing and securities regulation.

John M. Husband

Holland & Hart, Denver, Colorado

Mr. Husband currently serves as the Chair of the Management Committee. He has also served as the Chair of the firm's Labor Practice Group and was a member of the Management Committee. Mr. Husband was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

J. Christopher Jensen

Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, New York

Christopher Jensen is the Chairman of Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman and a senior member of the firm's litigation group. Mr. Jenson's practice centers around resolution of commercial and intellectual property disputes. Mr. Jenson is also active in his legal community. He has taught as an Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law and served on the Arbitration Panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Bob Jewell

Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas

Bob Jewell is the Managing Partner of the firm, Chair of the Executive Committee, a member of the Policy Committee and co-chair of the Women's Initiative Team. Mr. Jewell’s principal areas of practice are mergers and acquisitions (both domestic and foreign), corporate governance and capital markets transactions. In over 30 years of practice, Mr. Jewell has particular experience relating to the energy services industry, the refining industry, master limited partnerships, real estate investment trusts, the forest products industry and representing special committees of boards of directors.

Frank R. Jimenez

General Counsel, Secretary and Managing Director, Government AffairsBunge Limited

Frank R. Jimenez is General Counsel, Secretary and Managing Director, Government Affairs for Bunge Limited. Previously Jimenez served as Vice President and General Counsel for Xylem Inc. and ITT Corporation. Jimenez previously served under Presidents Bush and Obama as the General Counsel of the Navy. Prior to this, he served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and led Secretary Mel Martinez's senior management team.

Richard Johns

Senior VP and General Counsel
LaVie

Richard Johns is Senior Vice President and General Counsel of LaVie Healthcare. Mr. Johns joined LaVie in May 2010 and in his role, leads the company on the management of all legal matters, and he brings to his position an impressive healthcare law background. Prior to joining LaVie, Johns was in private practice with Foley & Lardner.

Patrick T. Jones

Cooley Manion Jones, Boston, Massachusetts

Patrick T. Jones is a Founding and Managing Parter of Cooley Manion Jones LLP. Mr. Jones focuses his practice on medical malpractice, product liability, construction site, eminent domain, and general liability tort. He currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and was its President in 2005-2006.

Gregory B. Jordan

Reed Smith, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Gregory B. Jordan is the Global Managing Partner at Reed Smith, and Chairman of the Senior Management Team and Executive Committee. During his twelve-year tenure as Managing Partner, Reed Smith has completed a series of combinations in Europe, California, New York, Chicago, the Middle East, and Asia, to become one of the largest firms in the world, with more than 1700 lawyers in 23 offices around the globe. 

Adam P. Kahn

Foley & Hoag, Boston, Massachusetts

Mr. Kahn serves as Co-Managing Partner of Foley Hoag and a lead member of the firm's Energy Technology & Renewables practice group. He is the immediate past coordinator of Foley Hoag's environmental practice group and chair of the firm's Administrative Law Department.

Peter J. Kalis

K&L Gates, New York

Mr. Kalis is Chairman and Global Managing Partner of K&L Gates. After law school, Mr. Kalis served as law clerk to the late J. Skelly Wright, Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and for the late Associate Justice Byron R. White of the US Supreme Court.

Brad S. Karp

Paul, Weiss, New York

Chair of Paul, Weiss, Mr. Karp has extensive experience handling and trying a broad range of matters, with particular emphasis defending financial institutions and corporations in "bet the company" litigations and regulatory matters. Currently, Mr. Karp is lead counsel for Citigroup in numerous matters.

John W. Keker

Keker & Van Nest, San Francisco, California

John Keker, co-founder of Keker & Van Nest, has four decades of trial experience. He largely centers his practice around White Collar Criminal Defense and Intellectual Property Litigation. Mr. Keker is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Peter M. Kellett

Dykema Gossett PLLC, Detroit, Michigan

Peter M. Kellett is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dykema. He previously served as Director of the Litigation Department, and prior to that, served as one of the Firm’s practice group leaders. Before joining Dykema, he was a founding partner of the Feeney Kellett Wienner & Bush firm. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a Sustaining Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and a life member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Janet Langford Kelly

Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
ConocoPhillips

Janet Langford Kelly is senior vice president, legal, general counsel and corporate secretary for ConocoPhillips. Kelly began her career as a law clerk for the Honorable James Hunter III of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Once a partner at Sidley & Austin, Ms. Kelly has also spent time as counsel at Sara Lee, Kellogg Company, and KMart Corporation.

R. Steven Kestner

BakerHostetler, Cleveland, Ohio

R. Steven Kestner has served as national Executive Partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP since 2004. In his role as Executive Partner, Mr. Kestner serves as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer and chairs all meetings of the Policy Committee, which is the governing body of the firm. Since joining BakerHostetler in 1979, he has served in several management positions, including Policy Committee Member and Chair of the firm’s National Business Practice Group, while developing an active legal practice focusing primarily on transactions, financings and securities law.

Linda A. Klein

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, Atlanta, Georgia

Linda Klein is managing shareholder in the Baker, Donelson's Georgia offices and a member of its Board of Directors. While Ms. Klein focuses her practice on business dispute resolution, she is also very active as a legal community leader. In June 1997, Ms. Klein became the first woman to serve as President of the State Bar of Georgia. For the 2010 – 2012 term, she is Chair of the ABA House of Delegates.

Alan M. Klinger

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, New York

Alan M. Klinger is Stroock’s Co-Managing Partner, serves on the firm’s Operating Executive Committee and chairs its Legal Personnel Committee. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil litigation and has a proven track record of achieving successful results, whether through negotiation or litigation. Mr. Klinger is integrally involved in the firm’s representation of public employee unions, funds, and health care facilities. He also functions in the Government Relations group, concentrating on administrative proceedings and land use matters.

Robert I. Komitor

Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, New York

Robert I. Komitor is a partner at Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP and lead trial lawyer for the firm. In addition to specializing in products liability, negligence, and personal injury law, he is active in the legal community. He has co-chaired the New York State Bar Association's Civil Litigation Committee on Environmental Law and is a former member of the Products Liability Committee of the New York City Bar.

Jeff S. Korek

Gersowitz Libo & Korek, New York

Jeff S. Korek has been a partner at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. since 1992 and is a leading litigator on medical malpractice and construction accident cases for the firm. Mr. Korek is a Past President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and a current Board Member for the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

Herbert W. Krueger

Mayer Brown, Chicago, Illinois

Bert Krueger is immediate past Chairman of the Management Committee. He has served on Mayer Brown's Management Committee since 1989. He concentrates his practice on private equity funds, ERISA fiduciary matters, and executive compensation.

Debra E. Kuper

Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
AGCO

Debra Kuper was appointed Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in May 2008. She joined AGCO from Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria, Illinois, where she served as Senior Corporate Counsel. She oversaw Caterpillar's corporate governance, securities, tax and regulatory compliance group. Prior to joining Caterpillar, she served as Associate General Counsel of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Thomas P. Lambert

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Los Angeles, California

Thomas Lambert has been Managing Partner of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp since 2002. He is also Co-Chair of the Complex Litigation Practice Group for the firm. There, he has lead several high profile matters, on both state and federal matters. He represents both plantiffs and defendants.

W. Mark Lanier

The Lanier Law Firm, Houston, Texas

W. Mark Lanier is the founder of The Lanier Law Firm, where he also serves as lead litigation counsel. Mr. Lanier is certified as a personal injury trial specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and practices nationwide. In addition to his active practice, Mr. Lanier serves on the Board of Trustees of the Committee for Economic Development and the Board of Directors for the National Center for State Courts.

Marc Lawrence-Apfelbaum

Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Time Warner Cable

Marc Lawrence-Apfelbaum is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Time Warner Cable. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Media Law Resource Center, a non-profit organization which monitors developments and promotes First Amendment rights in the libel, privacy and related legal fields. Previously, he served as SVP, GC and Secretary of Time Warner Cable division of TWE from 1996.

Joseph M. Leccese

Proskauer Rose, New York

Joseph M. Leccese is chairman of Proskauer Rose and co-head of the firm’s Sports Law Group. His experience includes matters for the NBA, NHL, Major League Soccer, PAC-12 Conference, ATP Tour and WTA Tour, as well as individual sports teams, owners and sports-related entities. Mr. Leccese has been the lead negotiator in multiple stadium and arena deals and has represented lenders in connection with a number of facilities-related financings. He has also advised clients on national and international television contracts; Internet, new media and technology rights; and matters relating to the exploitation of arenas, including naming rights, seat licenses and related arrangements.

James K. Lehman

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Columbia, South Carolina

James K. Lehman is the managing partner of the Firm and a member of the Executive Committee. He practices in the areas of corporate and securities litigation, white collar investigations, professional liability, and environmental litigation.

Mark LeHocky

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Ross Stores, Inc.

Mr. LeHocky has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since February 2009. Previously, Mr. LeHocky was Vice President and General Counsel for Dreyer's Ice Cream, Inc. He is a former member of the executive council of the antitrust and unfair competition section of the State Bar of California and of the Board of Directors for the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law Alumni Association.

Don Lents

Bryan Cave LLP, St. Louis, Missouri

Don Lents serves as Chair of the Firm. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities law and general corporate matters with particular emphasis upon multinational and domestic mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, anti-takeover planning, responsibilities of boards of directors and related matters. Mr. Lents has served for a number of years as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and previously served as head of the firm’s Transactions Practice and chair of the Corporate Department.

Andrew J. Levander

Dechert, New York

Andrew J. Levander, Chairman of Dechert LLP, is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Unit who is consistently recognized for excellence in the practice of law. Mr. Levander represents parties in securities fraud and commercial litigation and criminal and government investigations and has tried more than 40 cases.

Robert F. Lewis

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, Los Angeles, California

Robert F. Lewis is a Founding Partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP. Mr. Lewis has more than forty years of experience in the insurance defense field with his practice focusing on complex civil litigation with emphasis in the area of directors and officers liability class action security cases as well as professional liability.  He has acted as both coverage and monitoring counsel in numerous class action lawsuits and security class action litigation.

Roberta D. Liebenberg

Fine, Kaplan and Black, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A partner at Fine, Kaplan and Black, Roberta Liebenberg is the Chair of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary. She is the former Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession and also served as its Special Advisor. She has received numerous awards for her efforts to combat bias in the justice system and for mentoring of female attorneys.

Stephen C. Mahon

Squire Sanders, Cincinnati, Ohio, and New York

Stephen C. Mahon is global managing partner of Squire Sanders. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and hedge fund investing and corporate financing activities. He also provides advice on matters such as corporate governance, securities law, strategic investments and joint ventures. Prior to becoming the firm’s managing partner, Mr. Mahon served as Squire Sanders’ global business practice leader, as a member of the firm’s management committee and as chair of the firm’s private equity practice group.

Kathleen M. Mahoney

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Nash Finch Company

Kathleen M. Mahoney is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Nash Finch Company. Before joining the Nash Finch Company, Ms. Mahoney was Managing Partner in the St. Paul Office of Larson King and had also been with Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly. Kathy also worked as Special Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.

Thomas Malone

Malone Law, Atlanta, Georgia

Tommy Malone is the founder of Malone Law. Mr. Malone focuses his practice on personal injury and wrongful death in Georgia. Tommy is the past President of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a member of the Diversity Law Institute and The Trial Law Institute.

Marc E. Manly

Executive Vice President, and Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Duke Energy

Marc Manly is the Executive Vice President, and the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Duke Energy. He has previously been Chief Legal Officer for Cinergy Corp. and general counsel at NewPower Holdings Inc. Prior to this, he worked in AT&T's legal department and was once a partner at Sidley & Austin.

Craig D. Martin

Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco, California

Craig Martin is a Managing Partner of Morrison & Foerster LPP, a practice representing clients in SEC enforcement and DOJ matters, corporate investigations, and private securities litigation.  In the last five years, Mr. Martin has conducted more than a dozen internal corporate investigations involving complex accounting and disclosure issues, whistleblower claims, and potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Thomas P. Mason

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

Thomas Mason has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Energy Transfer since June 2008. He has served as General Counsel and Secretary of Energy Transfer since February 2007. Prior to joining Energy Transfer, Mr. Mason was a partner in the Houston office of Vinson & Elkins.

Theodore V. H. Mayer

Hughes Hubbard & Reed, New York

Ted Mayer is Managing Partner of Hughes Hubbard & Reed. He is a member of the firm's Executive Committee and its Compensation Committee. He formerly chaired the firm's Litigation Department and his practice focuses on product liability and on complex litigation generally.

Timothy J. Mayopoulos

Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel
Fannie Mae

Timothy J. Mayopoulos is Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Fannie Mae. Prior to joining Fannie Mae in 2009, Mr. Mayopoulos was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Bank of America Corporation. Mr. Mayolpoulos has also held Counsel positions with Americas of Deutsche Bank, Americas of Credit Suisse First Boston, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Before moving to in house counsel positions, he was in practice at Davis Polk & Wardwell.

Daniel J. McMahon

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, Chicago, Illinois

Dan McMahon is chairman of Wilson Elser. Overseeing Wilson Elser’s Executive Committee and Operations Group, he is responsible for setting the firm’s strategic vision, establishing and enforcing policy, and ensuring operational efficiency and effectiveness. Dan has prosecuted or defended numerous lawsuits and arbitrations in a wide range of practice areas. He has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation involving breach of contract, tortious interference, trade secrets, insurance bad faith, fraud, ERISA, RICO and other business-related disputes.

James Fox Miller

Boies, Schiller & Flexner, Hollywood, Florida

James Fox Miller served as President of The Florida Bar from 1990-1991, one of the few Family Law specialists to ever hold the position; six years as a member of ABA House of Delegates; and three years on Florida's Judicial Council. He has published, taught, and lectured extensively throughout the United States.

Thomas Minogue

Thompson Coburn LLP, St. Louis, Missouri

Tom Minogue is the Chairman of Thompson Coburn. His legal practice is focused on corporate law and governance, mergers and acquisitions and finance. He has over 30 years of experience in board of director counseling, business acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, shareholder relations and redemptions, private placements, commercial finance, asset securitizations and other types of corporate work. Tom regularly represents both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses.

John T. Montgomery

Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts

John Montgomery is the Managing Partner of Ropes & Gray and a member of its management committee. John focuses on complex civil litigation with an emphasis on trials and appeals in high profile cases involving publicly sensitive issues. Prior to joining Ropes & Gray in 1982, John served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He also served as First Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Marko J. Mrkonich

Littler Mendelson, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Marko Mrkonich is President and Managing Director of Littler Mendelson. He began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Miles W. Lord, United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. In addition to his management duties and representation of employers in specific matters, Mr. Mrkonich has devoted extensive efforts to education.

Satoru Murase

Bingham McCutchen, New York

Satoru Murase practices corporate and international law at Bingham McCutchen LLP. His focus is on the representation of major Asian and Japanese corporations in their overseas operations, and major U.S. and European corporations operating in Asia. He actively advises global corporations regarding cross-border investments in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He is a Director of the Japan Society and a member of the Trilateral Commission.

Jiro Murase

Bingham McCutchen, New York

In 1989, the Emperor of Japan conferred upon Mr. Murase the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to increased understanding and friendship between the United States and Japan.

Gary P. Naftalis

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, New York

Gary Naftalis is the head of the Litigation Department and firmwide Co-Chair of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel. For over 30 years, Mr. Naftalis has represented individuals and corporations in all phases of complex litigation, including bet-the-company in regulatory, criminal and civil matters. He has also counseled numerous corporations through regulatory matters.

Bruce H. Nagel, Esq.

Nagel Rice, Roseland, New Jersey

Bruce H. Nagel is the founding partner of Nagel Rice, LLP and is one of New Jersey’s premier trial attorneys. He handles complex litigation, including class action, medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, estate litigation and business torts.  In the past 30 years his litigation boutique has nearly $1 billion in settlements and verdicts and he has tried over 100 jury trials in state and federal courts in the New York metropolitan area.

Steven Nataupsky

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, Irvine, California

Steven Nataupsky is the managing partner of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear. His practice involves all aspects of intellectual property protection and enforcement, including patent and trademark prosecution and litigation.  Mr. Nataupsky has worked extensively with clients in the mechanical, medical device and entertainment industries.

Daniel Neff

Wachtell,Lipton, Rosen & Katz, LLP, New York

Daniel A. Neff is the co-chairman of the Executive Committee and partner in the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, which he joined in 1977.  He is a corporate and securities lawyer, and has focused on mergers and acquisitions and advice to boards of directors and board committees.  During his more than 30 years of practice, Mr. Neff has been extensively involved in negotiated as well as hostile acquisitions, and has represented bidders and targets, public and private companies, private equity firms, leveraged acquirers and special committees of directors. 

Jonathan D. Niemeyer

Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Western & Southern Financial Group

Jonathan D. Niemeyer is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Western & Southern Financial Group. Prior to joining Western & Southern in 2001, he held positions with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP and Graydon, Head & Ritchey LLP where he concentrated on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and securities.

Jeff Norton

Linklaters, New York

Jeff Norton is the U.S. Co-Managing Partner and Co-Head of the U.S. banking practice at Linklaters LLP. He has over 20 years of experience representing lead arrangers, underwriters, and issuers in complex domestic and cross-border leveraged debt and high-yield transactions.

Terrence O'Donnell

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Textron

Terrence O'Donnell is executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Textron Inc. Previously, he was a partner and member of the executive committee at Williams & Connolly. From 1989 to 1992, he served as general counsel of the Department of Defense under Secretary Cheney. He previously served on the White House staff as deputy special assistant to President Nixon and as special assistant to President Ford.

Daniel O'Donnell

Dechert LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Daniel O'Donnell is Chief Executive Officer of Dechert and a member of the firm's Policy Committee. He is a nationally recognized advisor to private equity fund sponsors, corporations, and financial institutions as well as company managements, boards of directors, and special committees. He represents clients on public and private mergers and acquisitions — both domestically and internationally — as well as corporate restructurings and corporate governance matters.

Edward O'Keefe

General Counsel
Bank of America

Edward P. O'Keefe is general counsel of Bank of America, the company's chief legal officer and adviser. He is also a member of the company's executive management team. A community leader in youth activities, O'Keefe has transitioned from managing athletic teams to advocating on behalf of at-risk children. He serves on the board of directors of the Charlotte-based Council for Children's Rights.

Jack H. Olender, Esq.

Jack H. Olender & Associates, Washington, D.C.

Jack H. Olender founded Jack H. Olender & Associates, PC to focus on medical malpractice and personal injury victims. Mr. Olender is a current President of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and a past President of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia and the Trial Lawyers Association, D.C.

John F. Olson

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Washington, D.C.

A founding partner of the firm's Washington, D.C. office, Mr. Olson has been Chairman for the past five years of the ABA Business Law Section's Committee on Corporate Governance.

Brian Panish

Panish Shea & Boyle, Los Angeles, California

Brian Panish is a partner at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP. Mr. Panish focuses his practice on plaintiff's-side advocacy. In addition to his successful nationwide practice, he is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of California where he sits on the Board of Governors.

Emily A. Parker

Thompson & Knight LLP, Dallas, Texas

Thompson & Knight LLP managing partner Emily A. Parker represents taxpayers in IRS audits and appeals proceedings, state tax audits and hearings, and federal and state tax refund and deficiency litigation. She has also represented clients in a number of precedent-setting cases that decided important industry issues and developed previously unsettled issues of tax law. Prior to joining Thompson & Knight, Ms. Parker was acting chief counsel and deputy chief counsel for the IRS.

Paul S. Pearlman

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, New York

Paul Pearlman is Managing Partner of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel. Mr. Pearlman's practice focuses on private equity, leveraged buyouts, corporate restructuring, and bankruptcy law in addition to his responsibilities managing the firm.

Arnold E. Perl

Glankler Brown, Memphis, Tennessee

Arnold Perl brings over thirty years of experience practicing labor and employment law to Glankler Brown, PLLC. He focuses his practice on labor law and advocacy before the U.S. Courts of Appeals and also serves as a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator. He has a great depth of experience with the NLRB and was one of only 25 management labor attorneys appointed to serve on the NLRB Advisory Panel under then Chairman William Gould.

William J. Perlstein

WilmerHale, Washington, D.C.

William Perlstein is a co-managing partner of WilmerHale, as well as a partner in the firm's Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Practice Group. Among his many professional activities, Mr. Perlstein is a Fellow and Counsel to the American College of Bankruptcy.

Carter G. Phillips

Sidley Austin, Washington, D.C.

Carter Phillips is the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Before becoming Co-Chair, Mr. Phillips was Managing Partner of the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Since joining Sidley, Mr. Phillips has argued 67 cases in the Supreme Court. Previously, he served as a law clerk to Judge Robert Sprecher on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Chief Justice Warren E. Burger on the United States Supreme Court.

Regina M. Pisa

Goodwin Procter, Boston, Massachusetts

Regina Pisa is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Goodwin Procter LLP. Ms. Pisa's practice focuses on financial services with a concentration on mergers and acquisitions of banks and financial institutions. She is a member of The American Law Institute and Co-Chair of Law Firm Pro Bono Project Advisory Committee of the Pro Bono Institute in addition to several professional activities.

Elliott I. Portnoy

Dentons, Washington, D.C.

As Dentons' Global Chief Executive, Elliott Portnoy directs the firm’s global strategy and management. Elliott also serves as the Chairman of Denton US LLP. Under Elliott’s leadership, the firm is experiencing a period of exceptional growth, positioning it among the top tier of law firms worldwide.

Timothy A. Pratt

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary
Boston Scientific Corporation

Tim Pratt is Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary for Boston Scientific. Tim is a member of the Board of Directors for the Advanced Medical Technology Association, a Director on the Board for the New England Legal Foundation, a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the General Counsel Roundtable, and is also active in the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.

Blane R. Prescott

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Denver, Colorado

Mr. Prescott is the Chief Executive Officer of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. He has written more than 75 articles on law firm issues and has spoken extensively before law firms, industry trade groups, in-house legal departments and graduate school business programs.

Roger K. Quillen

Fisher & Phillips, Atlanta, Georgia

Roger Quillen is a partner in the Atlanta office and is the Managing Partner and Chairman of the firm's Management Committee. In addition to leading the firm, Mr. Quillen focuses his practice on management and employer side counsel and litigation, specializing in federal appellate litigation.

Karl A. Racine

Venable, Washington, D.C.

Karl Racine is managing partner at Venable and focuses his practice on corporate defense/white collar law and commercial litigation. Mr. Racine was formerly a staff attorney with the D.C. Public Defender Service as well as an associate White House counsel under President Clinton.

Deborah Z. Read

Thompson Hine LLP, Cleveland, OH

Deborah serves as Thompson Hine's firm-wide Managing Partner. In this capacity, she is also a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Previously, she served as the firm's Hiring Partner and the chair of the 65-lawyer Tax, Benefits and Planning Department. Deborah practices Tax law and Health Care law. She functions as outside general counsel to two large exempt organizations. She focuses her tax practice on tax and corporate planning for nonprofit organizations and foundations and health care organizations. 

Harry M. Reasoner

Vinson & Elkins, Houston, Texas

Mr. Reasoner is one of the leading trial lawyers in the country, former Chair of the ABA Section of Antitrust Law, and recipient of many awards for his civic and professional contributions, including the American Inns of Court Award for the Fifth Circuit.

Patrick M. Regan

Regan, Zambri & Long, Washington, D.C.

Patrick M. Regan is President and Senior Partner of Regan Zambri & Long. His practice aims at representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice, product liability and other serious personal injury and wrongful death claims. Mr. Regan has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and currently serves on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice.

Thomas J. Reid

Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York

Thomas Reid is the Managing Partner of Davis Polk. Mr. Reid first joined Davis Polk in 1995, leaving in 2000 to be managing director in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley and rejoined of Davis Polk in 2003. In addition to his management role at the firm, he focuses his practice on capital markets and mergers and acquisitions law.

James M. Rishwain, Jr.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Los Angeles, California

Mr. Rishwain is the Chair of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and has also served as leader or co-leader of the firm's global real estate practice. His practice has emphasis in real estate matters including acquisitions, development, finance and more.

Sandra H. Robinson, Esq.

Jack H. Olender & Associates, Washington, D.C.

Sandra H. Robinson is a senior trial attorney at the law firm of Jack H. Olender & Associates, PC. Ms. Robinson focuses her practice on representing plaintiffs in catastrophic medical malpractice and personal injury cases. She has served as president of the Civil Justice Foundation and was the first African-American president of the Public Justice Foundation. Ms. Robinson is also past president of the Women's Bar Association Foundation.

Mark D. Roellig

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
MassMutual Financial Group

Mark Roellig is Executive Vice President and General Counsel, MassMutual and executive sponsor of MassMutual's LGBTA Employee Resource Group. Prior to joining MassMutual in 2005, he served as general counsel and secretary to three public companies before their sale/merger: Fisher Scientific International Inc., Storage Technology Corporation, and U.S. WEST Inc.

Charles F. (Rick) Rule

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Charles F. (Rick) Rule, the head of the firm's Antitrust Group, the Managing Partner of the Washington office, and a member of the firm's Management Committee, focuses his practice on providing U.S. and international antitrust advice to major corporations in connection with "bet your company" matters, particularly high-profile mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. He also represents corporate clients in connection with civil and grand jury investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the European Commission and in private and governmental litigation both at the trial and appellate levels.

Thomas Russo

Executive Vice President, Legal, Compliance, Regulatory Affairs and Government Affairs and General Counsel
AIG

Thomas Russo is AIG Executive Vice President, Legal, Compliance, Regulatory Affairs and Government Affairs and General Counsel. Mr. Russo joins AIG from the New York office of Patton Boggs LLP, where he served as Senior Counsel. Prior to that, he was a Vice Chairman of Lehman Brothers Inc. and Chief Legal Officer of Lehman Brothers Holdings. Before joining Lehman in 1993, Mr. Russo was a Partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and a member of its Management Committee.

Peter John Sacripanti

McDermott Will & Emery, New York

Peter John Sacripanti is Co-Chair of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Chair of the Firm's Executive Committee. He is based in the Firm's New York office, where he concentrates his practice on complex business and environmental disputes. In 2001, Peter was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Ronald S. Safer

Schiff Hardin LLP, Chicago, Illinois

Mr. Safer is a Managing Partner at Schiff Hardin. He concentrates in white collar criminal defense and also participates in his firm's civil litigation practice. He has successfully represented Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized and smaller companies as well as individuals in federal criminal investigations. Mr. Safer serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago chapter of the Federal Bar Association Center as well as on the Executive Committee for the Center on Wrongful Convictions.

Gary Sasso

Carlton Fields, Tampa, Florida

Gary Sasso is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Carlton Fields.  He represents business clients in securities fraud and consumer fraud class actions and other complex litigation at the trial and appellate level, in the financial services industry, energy sector, products manufacturing industry, and services sector. Mr. Sasso has tried cases in the areas of securities fraud, business contracts, products liability, professional malpractice, employment discrimination and termination, eminent domain, bankruptcy, construction, administrative law, and land use in Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Donald C. Schiller

Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, Chicago, Illinois

Donald C. Schiller is Senior Partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck. Mr. Schiller centers his practice on family law matters, largely for leaders or their spouses from the business, professional, entertainment, and sports communities. Mr. Schiller has served as President of the Illinois State Bar Association and Chair of the ABA’s Family Law Section.

Bart Schwartz

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Assurant

Bart R. Schwartz is executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary at Assurant. He previously served as Chief Corporate Governance Officer and Secretary of The Bank of New York Company Mellon Corporation, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., General Counsel and Senior Vice President of The MONY Group Inc., and Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Willis Corroon Corporation.

Karen E. Shaff

Executive Vice President - General Counsel
Principal Financial Group

Karen Shaff is the executive vice president and general counsel for Principal Financial Group, Inc. Additionally, Shaff is Past President of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel, a member of the American, Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations, the Association of Corporate Counsel and a past member of the Iowa State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct and the Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors.

James L. Shea

Venable, Baltimore, Maryland

Mr. Shea is chair of Venable and also maintains an active practice, focusing on corporate litigation and related issues. A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he tries cases in both federal and state systems throughout the country.

Joseph C. Shenker

Sullivan & Cromwell, New York

Mr. Shenker became chairman of Sullivan & Cromwell on January 1, 2010 and continues his broad multidisciplinary practice. He is president of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, one of New York City's largest poverty aid organizations, a member of the Steering Committee of the board of visitors of Columbia Law School, and a member of the board of trustees of The Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Marianne D. Short

Dorsey & Whitney, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Marianne D. Short, Managing Partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, has more than 30 years of courtroom experience as a trial lawyer and an appellate judge. Marianne is a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Civil Trial Specialist.

Robert J. Siverd

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
General Cable

Mr. Robert Siverd has been Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of General Cable since July 1994. Prior to his joining General Cable in 1992, he joined The Penn Central Corporation, a multi-industry conglomerate as litigation counsel and was elected Vice President-Litigation in 1986.

Maura Abeln Smith

Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
PepsiCo

Maura Abeln Smith is executive vice president, Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PepsiCo. Prior to joining PepsiCo in 2011, Smith served as senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary and global government relations of International Paper. Smith also served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Owens Corning and the Plastics Division of General Electric.

Andrew M. Smulian

Akerman Senterfitt, Miami, Florida

Andrew Smulian serves as Chairman and CEO of Akerman Senterfitt. Andrew has been a long-time member of the firm's Board of Directors and since 2008 leads the strategic growth and management of the firm. He has counseled clients in connection with billions of dollars of complex real estate transactions.

William B. Solomon, Jr.

General Counsel
Ally Financial Inc.

William B. Solomon, Jr. joined GMAC/Ally in 1999 to serve as general counsel; he was named group vice president in 2004. He has extensive experience working in the legal offices of major companies, working at General Motors Corp., Vixen Motor Company, and Ford Motor Credit Company. He began his legal career with a two-year clerkship on the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Michael B. Solow

Kaye Scholer, Chicago and New York

Michael B. Solow is managing partner of Kaye Scholer and co-chair of the firm’s executive committee. For more than 25 years, he has represented creditors, trustees and governmental agencies and other parties in the bankruptcy and insolvency area. Mr. Solow is the author of “Lease Terminations and Mortgage Foreclosures as Fraudulent Conveyances” and co-author of “Buying Assets in Bankruptcy: A Guide to Purchasers and Considerations in Dealing with the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation in Chapter 11” and “Lender Liability and Equitable Subordination in the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Secured Transactions 2001.”

Steven Sonberg

Holland & Knight, Miami, Florida

Steven Sonberg is the managing partner of Holland & Knight. Prior to being elected managing partner, Mr. Sonberg chaired the firm's Business Law Section for five years and led the Corporate Practice Group in South Florida. He also served on the firm's Directors Committee for eight years. Mr. Sonberg has more than 30 years of experience practicing in the areas of securities law and mergers and acquisitions. He has represented domestic and international businesses in public and private offerings of debt and equity securities and in complex acquisitions, divestures and sales of business entities.

John Soroko

Duane Morris LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

John J. Soroko is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Duane Morris. In addition, Mr. Soroko practices in the area of litigation, with particular emphasis on general business, corporate and securities matters, including the defense of securities and other class actions. He also practices in the areas of professional liability for lawyers and real estate and probate litigation.

Mark Stewart

Ballard Spahr, LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mark S. Stewart is Chair of Ballard Spahr, LLP. Before assuming his full-time leadership position, Mr. Stewart successfully litigated complex commercial matters, including securities, antitrust, contract disputes, and product liability, on behalf of major pharmaceutical and other corporate clients. He also chaired the firm’s Higher Education Practice Group and represented university clients across the country in commercial disputes and other civil litigation.

Jeffrey E. Stone

McDermott Will & Emery, Chicago, Illinois

Jeffrey E. Stone is Co-Chair of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Chair of the Firm's Management Committee. Prior to joining McDermott, Jeffrey served in the United States Attorney's Office in Chicago for five years, most recently as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Receiving and Appellate Division.

Kenneth M. Suggs

Janet, Jenner & Suggs, Columbia, South Carolina

Kenneth M. Suggs is a named partner of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC. Over 30 years he has distinguished himself in medical malpractice, product liability and business litigation, and he heads the firm’s Business Litigation Division. Mr. Suggs is a past president of the American Association for Justice and recipient of the AAJ’s Harry Philo and President’s Awards for excellence in client advocacy. In 2012, he was named Best Lawyers ® Lawyer of the Year–Product Liability, Columbia, SC. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers

Kevin A. Sullivan

Winstead PC, Dallas, Texas

Chairman & CEO Kevin Sullivan is a member of the firm's Real Estate Finance Practice Group. He has extensive experience in all areas of real estate finance. His direct involvement in client relationships and management of multi-attorney teams for the benefit of clients ensures a responsive, quality product on a competitively priced basis. He serves on committees of various industry groups and is a frequent contributor by way of both articles and speeches to new industry issues.

Edward Patrick Swan, Jr.

Jones Day, San Diego, California

Pat Swan is a partner in the San Diego office of Jones Day. He is a past member of the Firm's Executive Committee, and past chair and vice chair of the Business / Complex Litigation Practice Group. He is the founder and Partner-in-Charge of the White Collar Criminal Defense Practice Group. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California from 1982-1990.

Keith A. Teel

Covington & Burling, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Teel is a member the Management and Executive Committees for Covington & Burling. In addition to his formidable litigation practice, Mr. Teel is Chair of Agenda Committee of American Tort Reform Association, a member of American Intellectual Property Law Association and the American Bar Association.

Paul W. Theiss

Mayer Brown, Chicago, Illinois

Paul Theiss is the current Chairman of Mayer Brown. Mr. Theiss practices corporate law focusing on a broad spectrum of mergers and acquisitions and capital markets work. He was formerly a firm practice leader of the Corporate & Securities group.

Larry D. Thompson

John A. Sibley Professor of Corporate and Business Law
University of Georgia School of Law

Larry Thompson is a John A. Sibley Professor of Corporate and Business Law at the University of Georgia School of Law. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary for PepsiCo. Mr. Thompson also served as a Senior Fellow with The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Mr. Thompson was once a partner in the Atlanta, Georgia firm of King & Spalding.

John C. Tishler

Waller Lansden, Nashville, Tennessee

John Tishler has served as Chair at Waller Lansden since 2007 and on its Board of Directors since 2004. His expertise is in corporate insolvency, creditor's rights, financial services law, and commercial litigation. In addition to his busy practice, he is Legal Counsel and on the board of directors for Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

Colleen Tracy

Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto, New York

Colleen Tracy currently serves as the Managing Partner of Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto and on the Diversity and Professional Development Committee for the firm. Ms. Tracy served as a student law clerk to the Honorable William G. Bassler of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Robert W. Trafford

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, Columbus, Ohio

Mr. Trafford serves as Managing Partner for Porter Wright Morris & Arthur. In addition to this service, he concentrates his practice in the area of complex business litigation, at both the trial and appellate levels. Additionally, he is a Fellow in the American College of Trial lawyers.

Michael Tyler

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Sanmina SCI

Michael Tyler is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Sanmina SCI. Previously, he was senior vice president, chief legal and administrative officer of Gateway, Inc., counsel at Northrop Grumman Corporation, an associate at Heller Ehrman, and a clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Patrick L. Vaccaro

Jackson Lewis, White Plains, New York

Patrick L. Vaccaro is the firm-wide Managing Partner of Jackson Lewis. Prior to assuming the Managing Partner role, he served as Vice Chair of the firm. Mr. Vaccaro has represented employers in virtually every conceivable type of labor and employment law matter. He also has the distinction of being selected as a judge for the inaugural Robert F. Wagner Memorial National Labor Law Competition.

Robert Van Brocklin

Stoel Rives, LLP, Portland, Oregon

Bob Van Brocklin is the Firm Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer. He oversees the implementation of the firm's strategic plan, and the management of its 11 offices, its seven practice groups, and all administrative functions. Prior to becoming Firm Managing Partner, Bob chaired Stoel Rives' Land Use, Environmental, Natural Resource, and Real Estate practice group firmwide and concentrated his practice in land use law, energy development, complex project siting, and federal, state and local legislative and administrative law and policy matters. 

Kenneth Van Winkle, Jr.

Lewis and Roca, Phoenix, Arizona

Mr. Van Winkle is Lewis and Roca's Managing Partner. He is a member of the firm's Real Estate Transactional Group and focuses his practice on real property acquisitions and dispositions; real estate equity and debt financing; and real estate leasing. Additionally, he is a Board Member and Trustee of the Arizona State University Foundation.

Keith Vaughan

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP, Winston-Salem, NC

Keith Vaughan has been Chairman of the firm since 2002. He previously served for 10 years as the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group Leader. Keith is Chair of the Managing Partner’s Committee of Lex Mundi and on the Board of Directors of that organization.Over the past 30 years, Keith has tried numerous jury and bench trials, handled various administrative proceedings and argued a wide range of matters in appellate courts. He has served as national coordinating counsel for a Fortune 500 company’s product liability litigation, and was class counsel in a series of class action lawsuits.

Hugh Verrier

White & Case, New York

Hugh Verrier is the Chairman of White & Case LLP and directs the Firm's operations and practices around the world. Mr. Verrier's practice has been focused on the development of natural resources globally. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Public Interest Law Institute's Pro Bono Advisory Council.

George H. Vincent

Dinsmore & Shohl, Cincinnati, Ohio

George Vincent is Managing Partner of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and Chairman of the firm's Board of Directors. George is also the Chair of the firm's Finance Committee. George's practice includes general business and corporate law with an emphasis on general corporate counseling, mergers and acquisitions, federal and state securities law, professional corporations, and antitrust.

Robert L. Waldman

Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland

Bob Waldman, Co-Managing Partner, also leads Venable's national representation of tax-exempt organizations. Mr. Waldman has represented nonprofit organizations for over 20 years (including general representation of numerous foundations, hospitals, educational institutions, trade associations and other charitable entities). Mr. Waldman also practices extensively in the areas of philanthropic and estate planning, employee benefits and taxation. Mr. Waldman is included in "Best Lawyers in America" in the fields of Employee Benefits Law, Non-Profit/Charities Law and Tax Law.

Mark D. Wasserman

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, Atlanta, Georgia

Mr. Wasserman is Managing Partner of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Prior to being elected Managing Partner in 2005, Mark served as co-chair of Sutherland's Corporate Transactional Team and was a member of the firm's Executive Committee.

Andre Weiss

Schulte Roth & Zabel, LLP, New York

André Weiss, a senior partner at Schulte Roth & Zabel, LLP in New York, represents hedge funds, private equity funds, banks and other financial institutions, and real estate and other businesses in connection with strategic and private equity acquisitions, with a sub-specialty in alternative asset management acquisitions. A leading attorney in the alternative asset management M&A sector for over 20 years, Mr. Weiss regularly participates in speaking engagements and article contribution.

Theodore V. Wells Jr.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, New York

Theodore V. Wells Jr. is co-chair of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison’s Litigation Department. He has extensive experience in white-collar criminal defense, complex civil and corporate litigation, SEC regulatory work, FCPA investigations, environmental matters and class action litigation. In addition to defending a number of political figures, Mr. Wells has represented corporate executives and corporations in jury trials, grand jury investigations and before the SEC. He also has extensive experience in representing major pharmaceutical companies in criminal and civil matters involving off-label marketing issues. Mr. Wells has represented major corporations in massive class action litigations, including Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Mitsubishi Corporation, Carnival Corporation and Philip Morris Corporation.

W. Russell Welsh

Polsinelli Shughart, Kansas City, Missouri

W. Russell Welsh has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Polsinelli Shughart since 1998. Mr. Welsh is formerly the Chairman of the firm's Litigation Department. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and he is a former Chairman of an American Bar Association Products Liability Committee. Mr. Welsh was a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, in Washington, D.C.

Keith C. Wetmore

Morrison & Foerster, New York

Keith Wetmore is the chair of Morrison & Foerster LLP. Before becoming chair, Mr. Wetmore led the firm's 50-lawyer Finance and Infrastructure practice, bringing to his engagements 20 years of experience in debt and lease finance, both domestic and international.

W. Christopher White

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, New York

W. Christopher White is chairman of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and co-chairman of the firm's Corporate Department. His practice is concentrated in commercial real estate, with an emphasis on debt and equity financing. He represents some of the largest U.S. and foreign institutional investors in real estate including investment banks, insurance companies, pension funds, commercial banks and opportunity funds. Mr. White has also represented private real estate investors in joint ventures with real estate companies to acquire or develop office buildings, hotels, casinos and shopping centers. He has extensive experience in the workout of troubled assets, including restructurings, foreclosures and bankruptcies.

Benjamin F. Wilson

Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., Washington, D.C.

Benjamin F. Wilson is the Managing Principal of Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.  His present litigation practice encompasses a wide range of activities in both state and federal courts, including commercial litigation matters, and environmental litigation matters. Mr. Wilson is highly sought after by his clients, due in large part to the remarkable success he has enjoyed in a wide range of environmental litigation and regulatory matters on behalf of a major retailer, oil companies and communications companies.

Gary M. Wingens

Lowenstein Sandler, New York

Gary Wingens is Chairman and CEO of Lowenstein Sandler and Chair of the firm's Board of Directors and Operating Committee. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey and the Council of Trustees of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (where he also serves as outside counsel).

Barton J. Winokur

Dechert, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Barton J. Winokur, who joined Dechert in 1965, has been a corporate partner since 1972. Beyond his practice, Barton is a member of Board of Trustees of Cornell University and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Scott Wulfe

Vinson & Elkins LLP, Houston, Texas

Mr. Wulfe currently serves as Managing Partner of Vinson & Elkins and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He maintains an active practice advising clients on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, private equity investments and contests for corporate control. He has also represented many public companies, including several Fortune 500 companies, with respect to corporate governance advice and equity and debt offerings. 

George E. Yund

Frost Brown Todd, Cincinnati, Ohio

George E. Yund is managing member of Frost Brown Todd. Mr. Yund represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including union negotiations and arbitrations. He has represented management in labor negotiations and in hundreds of labor arbitration cases; has handled class and collective action defense of discrimination, ERISA and wage/hour claims; and has defended government contractors targeted by the OFCCP for back pay awards. Mr. Yund also represents professional sports leagues and teams, having served as chief outside counsel to Minor League Baseball since 1988.

Mitchell Zuklie

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Menlo Park, California

Mitchell Zuklie serves as leader of Orrick’s global Corporate Business Unit, which includes its Corporate, Capital Markets, Compensation & Benefits, Emerging Companies, M&A and Private Equity and Tax groups.  He focuses his practice on the formation, financing and corporate counseling of technology businesses.  He has completed several hundred venture capital financings and numerous public offerings, mergers, acquisitions and technology licensing transactions.

Enrique Bruchou

Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi, Buenos Aires

Mr. Bruchou, founding partner of Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi, acted as the sole Argentine counsel to the Dealer Managers in the $88 billion Sovereign Debt Restructuring of the Republic of Argentina, the biggest financial restructuring in the history of the financial markets (2005). Since 2001, he has been the permanent advisor to the Argentine Bank Association.

Esteban Buljevich

Pastoriza Eviner Cangueiro Ruiz Buljevich, Buenos Aires

Dr. Esteban Buljevich, admitted to practice law in Buenos Aires and New York, is an international business lawyer with almost two decades of experience in the fields of Project and Corporate Finance, Transnational Business Transactions, and International Banking. He previously served as principal counsel in the Legal Department of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, for more than twelve years.

Roxana Kahale

Kahale Abogados, Buenos Aires

Roxana Kahale is the Founding Partner of Kahale Abogados, a law firm whose members have over 15 years of experience in Argentina counseling local and foreign clients. She practices in Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate, Energy, Entertainment, and Antitrust Law. She was selected Co-Chair of The Women Lawyers International Group of the IBA as of January 1, 2009. In 2007, Apertura Magazine voted her the best woman lawyer in Argentina.

Pablo G. Louge

Allende & Brea Abogados, Buenos Aires

Pablo Louge has been a partner of Allende & Brea Abogados since 1996 and is currently the managing partner. Along with his practice focus on commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, insurance and pension funds, he is a member of the International Bar Association and The Association Internationale de Droit des Assurances (A.I.D.A.).

Cristian J.P. Mitrani

Mitrani, Caballero, Ojam & Ruiz Moreno, Buenos Aires

Mr. Mitrani leads the General Corporate Practice for Mitrani, Caballero, Ojam & Ruiz Moreno. In addition to his corporate and M&A practice, Mr. Mitrani is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the London Court of International Arbitration, International Bar Association, the American Bar Association, to name a few.

Juan Javier Negri

Negri & Teijeiro Abogados, Buenos Aires

Mr. Negri is a partner of Negri & Teijeiro, a major Argentine law firm, where he practices in the areas of Domestic and International Banking, Financial Transactions, Privatization, and International Mergers and Acquisitions. He received the Argentine Legal Profession Award granted by the Argentine Press Association and the Argentine Federation of Bar Associations in 1990.

Santiago María J. A. Nicholson

Nicholson y Cano, Buenos Aires

Santiago María J. A. Nicholson is Senior Manager Partner of Nicholson y Cano. He focuses his practice on Corporate and Finance Law. Additionally, he is Advisor to the Chamber of Pension Funds Companies and to the National Association of Banks.

Alfredo M. O'Farrell

Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Alfredo M. O’Farrell is chairman of Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal, one of the largest and oldest law firms in Argentina. A partner with the firm since 1978, Mr. O’Farrell specializes in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations, shareholder disputes and antitrust issues.

Uriel Federico O'Farrell

Estudio O'Farrell, Buenos Aires

Mr. O'Farrell is the Senior Partner of Estudio O'Farrell, a major Argentine Firm with over 60 professionals. He specializes in the fields of Public Law and Corporate Law.

Alfredo Rovira

Brons & Salas, Buenos Aires

Dr. Alfredo Rovira is Partner at Brons & Salas Abogados. In addition to his Tax and Corporate practice, he is incredibly active in the international legal community. He is President of the Tax and Legal Affairs Committee of the United States Chamber of Commerce in the Argentine Republic (1988-present) and Member of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina (1992-present).

Guido Santiago Tawil

M. & M. Bomchil, Buenos Aires

Guido Santiago Tawil is a senior partner in the firm of M. & M. Bomchil a leading Argentine firm, where he heads the Administrative Law & Economic Regulation and Arbitration Departments. He has also served as Commissioner of Argentina's Securities & Exchange Commission and as Secretary of Argentina's Federal Supreme Court of Justice (a position equivalent to federal judge).

John Atkin

Chief Executive Officer
Trust Company Limited

Mr. John Atkin is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Trust Company Limited, a leading Australian financial services group with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Townsville as well as in Hong Kong and Singapore. Until 2008, Mr. Atkin served as Managing Partner of Blake Dawson, a leading Australian law firm. He is a member of the Business Council of Australia and is also internationally recognized for his work in Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets.

Gavin Bell

Freehills, Sydney

Gavin Bell is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Freehills, one of Australia’s leading firms with around 1,000 lawyers and offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Singapore and correspondent offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Jakarta. He is a member of the Australian Graduate School of Management Advisory Council and the Business Council of Australia.

David Bennett AC QC

5 Wentworth, Sydney

Dr. David Bennett was the Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the second law officer to the Attorney-General of that nation. He appears in the Commonwealth's interest in important legal proceedings, particularly in the High Court. He also served as President of the Australian Bar Association from 1995 to 1997.

Don Boyd

Norton Rose Fulbright Australia, Sydney

Don Boyd is the Group Deputy Chief Executive of Norton Rose Fulbright. Prior to becoming Global Deputy Chief Executive, Don was Chief Executive Partner of Deacons Australia from 2000 - 2009. Don was National Executive Chairman of Deacons from 1995 to 2000 and was Managing Partner of Deacons’ Brisbane office from 1991-1995. Between 1996 and 2000, he was also Chief Executive Officer of Deacons in Asia where he was responsible for devising the strategy, management and operations of Deacons’ Bangkok, Beijing, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei offices. Don has 40 years’ experience of legal practice. With a background in tax law, Don became an agribusiness specialist although the diversity of his practice later included such high profile projects as the Cape York Space Project.

John Carrington

Ashurst, Melbourne

John Carrington is Managing Partner of Ashurst, a leading law firm with offices across Australia, and international offices in Shanghai, Singapore, Port Moresby, and Jakarta. He is a member of the Business Council of Australia and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).

John W.H. Denton

Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Melbourne

John W.H. Denton is Partner & Chief Executive Officer of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, one of Australia's top ten law firms, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. He is rated as one of Australia's leading labor lawyers. He is also currently Chair of the Business Advisory Group for the Government of Australia and Prime Ministerial representative to the APEC Business Council and the author of many articles on trade.

David Fagan

Clayton Utz, Melbourne

David Fagan is a Partner with Clayton Utz, one of Australia's most successful law firms with over 1,900 people nationally, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, and Darwin, and with a leading practice in the Asia Pacific region. From May 2001 until June 2010, he was the Chief Executive Partner of the firm.  He is a Board member of the Clayton Utz Foundation and is also a member of the Business Council of Australia - Business Reform Task Force.

Mark Green

Minter Ellison, Melbourne

Mark Green is the Managing Partner of the Melbourne office of Minter Ellison, a major legal force in the Asia Pacific region with more than 2,200 people in 14 offices in 6 countries: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Shanghai, Auckland, Wellington, and London. He is one of Australia's leading advisers on Tax and related Corporate Structuring issues.

Tony Holland

DLA Piper Australia, Sydney

Mr. Holland is a distinguished lawyer with over 25 years finance and project finance experience. He is the Country Managing Partner for DLA Piper Australia. Prior to his appointment at DLA Piper Australia, Tony was the Regional Head of Finance for the Middle East and the Managing Partner of the Dubai office of DLA Piper.

Robert Milliner

Sydney

Robert Milliner was the Chief Executive Partner of Mallesons Stephen Jaques from 2004 to 2011. He is on the Board of the Business Council of Australia and Chairs the BCA's Business Reform Task Force.

Mary Padbury

Ashurst, Melbourne

Mary Padbury is Chairman of Ashurst Australia. She practises in Intellectual Property and is a WIPO Domain Name Panelist, is Past Chair of the Intellectual Property Committee of the Law Council of Australia, and a Member of Chief Executive Women.

Michael Rose

Allens Arthur Robinson, Sydney

Michael Rose is the Chief Executive Partner of Allens Arthur Robinson, a major firm with offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Phnom Penh, Port Moresby, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney. He is the Chairman of ChildFund Australia and a member of the Education, Skills and Innovation Task Force of the Business Council of Australia.

Dr. Albert Birkner, LL.M.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, Vienna

Albert Birkner is a partner of Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, a leading Austrian firm firm with offices in Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia. Albert heads Cerha's M&A Practise Group. He practises in the fields of mergers & acquisitions, capital markets and public takeovers. Albert is a member of the board of the following companies: Worthington Cylinders Austria, Österreichische Realitäten AG, Epsilon Privatstiftung

Bernt Elsner

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz, Vienna

Bernt Elsner is head of the Public Procurement Law, EU Competition Law and Public Law team at CMS Reich- Rohrwig Hainz, one of Austria's leading law firms.  He practices in the fields of Public Procurement Law, Cartel Law, State Aid, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, EU-Law, Environmental Law, Tax Law, and Arbitration.

Nariman Ramazanov

FINA, Baku

Mr. Ramazanov is Founder and Managing Partner of FINA LLP, a major Azerbaijan law firm which was founded in 2002 in Baku. He specializes in the fields of Foreign Trade Management, Taxation, Banking, Energy and Natural Resources, Commercial and Labor Law, Incorporation, and Real Estate.

Hatim Sharif Zu'bi

Hatim S. Zu'bi & Partners, Manama

Mr. Zu'bi is the founder and Senior Partner of the Hatim S. Zu'bi & Partners, which was first established in 1971 and which has been one of the leading firms in Bahrain and other GCC States in the fields of Corporate Law, Banking & Finance, Construction, Arbitration, and Litigation. Mr. Zu'bi was called to the English Bar by Lincoln's Inn, London in 1950 and has been licensed to practice as an Advocate in Jordan, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, and the Sultanate of Oman as well as in Bahrain.

Konstantin Mikhel

Vlasova Mikhel & Partners, Minsk

Mr. Mikhel is the Managing Partner of Vlasova Mikhel & Partners, the successor firm to the first private law practice in the Republic of Belarus. He is Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Belarusian Public Association of Commercial Lawyers and practices in the fields of Investment, Taxation, International Commercial Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Insolvency, Finance, and Commercial Litigation.

Jean-Pierre Blumberg

Linklaters, Antwerp

Mr. Blumberg is the Managing Partner for Europe of Linklaters, one of the world's preeminent firms with 30 offices in 23 countries. He specializes in Corporate Law, particularly Private and Public Mergers and Acquisitions, Take-Over Bids, Reorganizations, and Joint Ventures as well as Equity Offerings (IPOs and secondary transactions).

Peter Callens

Loyens & Loeff, Brussels

Peter Callens is a Partner at Loyens & Loeff Belgium, part of a global firm. He is a member of the Corporate Law and M&A practice group in Brussels. Peter is the chairman of the Belgian-Dutch Society (BENEV) and also a former co-chair of the International Sales committee of the International Bar Association

Sabine Chalmers

Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer
Anheuser-Busch InBev

Sabine Chalmers is Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer and Secretary to the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Prior to joining Anheuser-Busch InBev, Mrs. Chalmers was with Diageo plc and Lovells in London. Mrs. Chalmers is a member of the Board of Directors of Grupo Modelo and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Anne De Wolf

Institut des juristes d'entreprise, Brussels

Anne De Wolf is the General Manager of the Institut des juristes d'entreprise - the Institute for Company Lawyers. She is also a delegate to the International Company Lawyers Association. For nineteen years, she worked for BASF Belgium N.V., the Belgian subsidiary of the German world leader in the chemical sector, serving as its Secretary-General and Legal Affairs Manager.

Patrick Hofströssler

Eubelius, Brussels

Patrick Hofströssler is a Partner at Eubelius, a leading Belgian law firm with 90 lawyers and offices in Brussels, Kortrijk, and Antwerp. Mr. Hofströssler, who focuses his practice on Estate Law and Succession Planning, Procedural Law, Commercial Law, Property Law, and Administrative Procedural Law, frequently acts for the Belgian government.

Michael Schütte

Dr. Michael Schütte, Brussels and Saint Saphorin sur Morges, Switzerland

Dr. Michael Schütte has been practising mainly in the field of antitrust, competition and international trade. In early 1990, he became a partner in Bruckhaus Westrick Stegemann, which merged to become Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2000. The initial years until 1995 were marked by assisting the Treuhandanstalt, the German privatization agency, in a number of complex privatizations, all of which lead to State aid procedures before the European Commission. He managed the Brussels office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer until his retirement from that firm in September 2006. He joined Howrey LLP as a senior partner in October 2006 and resigned from that firm in April 2009.

Paulo Cezar Aragão

Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão, São Paulo

Mr. Aragão is a senior partner of Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão Advogados, one of the largest firms in Brazil with offices in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Brasilia. Mr. Aragão is a former General Counsel of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission and is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Arbitration Chamber of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA).

Ricardo Barretto Ferreira da Silva

Barretto Ferreira, Kujawski, Brancher Sociedade de Advogados, São Paulo

Mr. Barretto Ferreira da Silva is the founding, senior and managing partner of Barretto Ferreira, Kujawski, Brancher Sociedade de Advogados. Through his management of the firm and Information Technology and E-Commerce practice, he was Vice-Chair of the Inter-American Law Committee of the Comparative Law Division of the ABA (2001-2004), Chairman of the CLA South America Committee (2004-2005), and Chairman of the Information Technology Transaction Subcommittee of the Committee R (IBA) (2000/2002) among other activies.

Alexandre Bertoldi

Pinheiro Neto Advogados, São Paulo

Alexandre Bertoldi is the managing partner of Pinheiro Neto Advogados and a member of the firm's Steering Committee. With offices in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, Pinheiro Neto Advogados is one of the largest law firms in Latin America and one of the most well-established in Brazil. Mr. Bertoldi practices in the corporate area, with a focus on M&A and Banking & Finance, having worked in the past years on some of Brazil's largest deals.

Fernando Koury Lopes

Koury Lopes Advogados, São Paulo

Fernando Koury Lopes is a partner at Koury Lopes Advogados which he established in 2002. Known for his Corporate and M&A work, he is head of the department and led the team that counselled Thomson Reuters when it absorbed Revista dos Tribunais.

Antonio Corrêa Meyer

Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice Advoagados, São Paulo

Antonio Corrêa Meyer is a founding partner of Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice Advoagados. His practice on Corporate and Capital Markets Law. Meyer is President of the Center of Studies of the Law Firms - CESA, an Arbitrator of the Conciliation and Arbitration Chamber of Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and a member of the Market Arbitration Chamber (CAM), created for the São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa).

Roberto Quiroga Mosquera

Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados, São Paulo

Roberto Quiroga Mosquera is Managing partner at Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados. Focusing his practice on Tax law, Mr. Quiroga Mosquera is a Professor of Tax Law and the Third Sector Law of Getúlio Vargas Foundation and also a member of the IFA - International Fiscal Association and the IBA - International Bar Association.

Vladimir P. Penkov

Penkov, Markov & Partners, Sofia

Mr. Penkov is the Founder and Managing Partner of Penkov, Markov & Partners, a leading Bulgarian firm with offices in Sofia, Bourgas, Varna, Lovech, Pleven, Rousse, and Vratza. He is the former Chief Legal Counsel to the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Vice-President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and arbitrator at the Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Deborah M. Alexander

Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and Secretary
Scotiabank

Deborah joined Scotiabank in June 2002. Prior to this, she was a senior partner in the Business Law Department at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. She is active in the legal community, as a member of the Securities Advisory Committee to the Ontario Securities Commission, and in her local community as a member of the Queen's University Council.

Norman Bacal

Heenan Blaikie, Toronto

Norman Bacal is the Co-Managing Partner of Heenan Blaikie, a major Canadian firm with offices in Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver, Québec, Calgary, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, Thornhill, Trois-Rivières, Victoria, and representative offices in Singapore and Paris. Mr. Bacal focuses his practice on tax law and is considered a leading expert in taxation issues related to the Canadian and international entertainment industry.

Jean-Paul (J-P.) Bisnaire

Senior Executive Vice President, Business Development and General Counsel
Manulife Financial

Mr. Bisnaire began serving as General Counsel of Manulife Financial in 2004. He is also a member of the Company's Executive Committee and Management Committee. Before joining Manulife Financial, he was one of Canada's leading securities lawyers practicing in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.

Marc-André Blanchard

McCarthy Tétrault, Toronto

Marc-André Blanchard is the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of McCarthy Tétrault. Mr. Blanchard focuses his practice on civil and commercial litigation and has worked on matters involving shareholder disputes, contested mergers and acquisitions, class actions and boards of inquiry. Mr. Blanchard was president of the Québec Liberal Party from 2000 to 2008, an active member in cabinet campaigns of United Way since 2004, and a board member of the WoodGreen Foundation.

Michel A. Brunet

Dentons Canada LLP, Montréal

Michel A. Brunet is the Chair of Dentons Canada LLP.  He has recognized expertise in public offering, public financings of major infrastructure projects as well as in the sale and acquisition of business corporations, specifically in international and private transactions. In this context, Michel acted as counsel to many public, state-owned and private corporations in various areas, including institutional fund management, energy, manufacturing, commercial, financial services and brokerage, and to foreign companies with respect to their establishment or acquisition projects in Canada. A considerable portion of Michel's practice involves coordinating legal services for a number of the firm's major clients.

David N. Corbett

Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, Toronto

David N. Corbett is Managing Partner of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin. Mr. Corbett first joined the firm in 1979 and has been an active part of its growth since. He is a member of the Labour & Employment Group and his practice involves advising and representing employers.

Brian D. Fulton

Lawson Lundell, Vancouver

Brian Fulton is Managing Partner of Lawson Lundell LLP, a leading western Canadian business law firm . Mr. Fulton focuses his practice on mergers and aquisitions, both domestic and cross-border, divestitures and joint ventures.

Clay M. Horner

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, Toronto

Mr. Horner is Chair of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt. He has acted as counsel in the largest merger transaction ever involving a Canadian company and a significant number of other leading Canadian transactions. He also acted as lead counsel to the "Wise Persons' Committee" to recommend the best securities regulatory system for Canada.

Andrew J.F. Kent

McMillan, Toronto

Andrew Kent is Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Financial Services and Restructuring department at McMillan. In addition to his active Finance practice, he focuses on the legal community, serving as Chair of the Joint Task Force on Business Insolvency Law Reform of the Insolvency Institute of Canada and the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals from 2001 to 2005. He has been an Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto and is a Fellow of the Insolvency Institute of Canada (FIIC).

Hugh L. MacKinnon

Bennett Jones, Toronto

Hugh L. MacKinnon is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bennett Jones, a major Canadian firm with 360 lawyers and offices in Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, and Ottawa. He focuses his practice in the field of Corporate Law and is a member of the Senate of the Canadian International Council and Chairman of the Chesterton Institute based at Seton Hall, New Jersey.

Bernard F. Miller

McInnes Cooper, Moncton

Mr. Miller is the CEO and Managing Partner of McInnes Cooper, a firm with offices throughout Atlantic Canada, in Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, Moncton, St. John's, Saint John, and Summerside. He focuses his practice on Environmental Law, Energy and Natural Resources Law and Real Estate Law. He is a member of the Canadian Centre for Environmental Arbitration and Mediation and sits on the regional board of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Christopher Montague

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

Christopher Montague is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD). Prior to joining TD in 1998 as the company's Senior Vice President, Compliance, Chris was a Partner at the law firm McCarthy Tétrault.

Christopher E. Pinnington

Dentons LLP, Toronto

Chris Pinnington serves as the CEO is responsible for building on the firm’s vision and leading the implementation of Dentons' strategy in Canada. With overall responsibility for the management and growth of Dentons’ Canada Region, Chris plays a key leadership role not only in fostering Dentons' client relationships, but also in ensuring that Dentons continues to be a workplace of choice and a leader in the legal community with respect to diversity and inclusion, and its strong commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Dale R. Ponder

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, Toronto

Dale Ponder is Managing Partner and chief executive of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. She serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee and is a senior member of its Mergers and Acquisitions practice. In addition to her leadership role and busy cross-border M&A work, she has been a member of the Securities Advisory Committee to the Ontario Securities Commission and a special lecturer at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.

Norman M. Steinberg

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, OR, Montréal

Norman Steinberg is Global Co-Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright and Chairman of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada. He is also an ex officio member of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada’s management committee. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, privatization and corporate governance. Mr. Steinberg’s mergers and acquisitions experience includes multi-billion dollar transactions in the hospitality, oil and gas, telecommunications, paper and printing, rolling products and electronics sectors. He has acted in numerous privatization matters for governments and major Canadian and North American companies.

Pierre-André Themens

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, Montréal

Pierre-André Themens is a Managing Partner of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, an integrated firm of more than 240 lawyers with offices in Toronto, Montréal and New York. While his practice focuses on all aspects of complex real estate transactions, from development to financing to acquisitions/dispositions to securitization, in Canada and internationally, he has a strong corporate/commercial practice as well.

Guy Tremblay

Heenan Blaikie, Montréal

Guy Tremblay was co-managing partner and a member of the Heenan Blaikie Executive Committee and National Management Committee from 1997 to 2011. His practice focuses on Labour and Employment law. He had previously spent several years as legal counsel for the Montreal Construction Association, and worked at the directorate general of labour relations for the Government of Quebec.

Sean Weir

Borden Ladner Gervais, Toronto

Sean Weir is the National Managing Partner of Borden Ladner Gervais, one of the most respected Canadian firms, with more than 700 lawyers, intellectual property agents, and other professionals in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Waterloo Region, Ottawa, and Montreal. He is a Member of the legal committee of the Canadian Finance and Leasing Association.

Jaime Carey

Carey y Cía, Santiago

Jaime Carey is Managing Partner of Carey y Cía, the largest law firm in Chile. He was also Chair of the World Services Group 2004-2005. Mr. Carey practices in the areas of corporate law, leases and leasing, banks and banking, mergers and acquisitions, and taxation.

José María Eyzaguirre Garcia de la Huerta

Claro y Cía, Santiago

José María Eyzaguirre G. de la H. is the senior partner and the head of the litigation practice at Claro y Cía, one of the most respected law firms in Chile. He was Chairman of the commission which drafted the “Property Section” of the Chilean Constitution (1974-1977) and a member of the commissions which studied the amendment to the Chilean Civil Code on family law matters (1986-1989) and a Uniform Civil and Commercial Code (1996-1998).

Roberto Guerrero Valenzuela

Guerrero, Olivos, Novoa y Errázuriz, Santiago

Roberto Guerrero focuses his practice on general corporate law and its related areas. In addition to his practice, he is very active in legal education. He was Vice Dean of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile School of Law (2003- 2010), a Member of the Council for Transparency (2008-2010) and has been Dean of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile School of Law since 2011.

Rocky T. Lee

Asia-Pacific, New York

Rocky Lee is the Asia Managing Partner and Head of Greater China Corporate Practice of Cadwalader. With a broad practice in general corporate, commercial, finance, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, complex securitization, complex regulations, venture capital, securities, and antitrust law, Rocky is widely recognized as one of the top Asian legal advisors to founders, CEOs and boards of directors on business and legal issues. His broad client base includes Western, Chinese and multinational public companies, emerging growth companies, venture backed start-ups, investment banks, private equity and venture funds, and LPs and GPs.

Darío Cárdenas

Cardenas & Cardenas, Bogotá

Darío Cárdenas is a partner at Cardenas & Cardenas. In addition to his diverse practice which includes aviation, corporate law, and mining, oil, and gas law, he is a member of the Bar Association of Mining and Petroleum, the International Bar Association, and more. He was also Australia's Honorary Consul to Colombia for five years.

Juan Manuel Prieto

Colombian Ambassador in Italy

Juan Manuel Prieto is the Colombian Ambassador in Italy and the Colombian representative before FAO and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT). Prior to being Ambassador he was one of the founding and senior partners of the Colombian law firm PRIETOCARRIZOSA, with ample experience in mergers and acquisitions and lately, he has been recognized as one of the experts in international and domestic estate and tax planning for national and foreign clients. He is a lawyer admitted to practice in Colombia since 1974.

Poul Flemming Hansen

Plesner Svane Grønborg, Copenhagen

Poul Flemming Hansen, partner at Plesner Svane Grønborg, acts as legal consultant to many large Danish and international companies and is a member of the board of several Danish companies and foundations. Over the years, he has been secretary of one of Denmark's leading associations of artists, "Den Frie Udstilling" and has been one of the judges of the Labour Court appointed by the Danish Employers' Federation.

Christian Schow Madsen

Bruun & Hjejle, Copenhagen

Christian Schow Madsen serves as Managing Partner of Bruun & Hjejle. His practice focuses on Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate, and Capital Markets law. Additionally, Mr. Schow Madsen is Chairman of the board of Arvid Nilssons Fond.

Kåre Stolt

Accura, Hellerup

Kåre Stolt is Senior Partner at Accura. Mr. Stolt also heads the Mergers and Acquisitons team at the firm. Kåre was one of the founders of ACCURA in 1999. Previously, he was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and managing director of Tellabs Danmark A/S (formerly DSC Communications A/S).

Søren Hornbæk Svendsen

Horten Law Firm, Hellerup

Søren Hornbæk Svendsen is part of Horten Law Firm's management team. He specialises in energy law and in general commercial and contract law advice to companies both inside and outside the energy sector. Before his time at Horten, Svendsen was Head of Legal and Vice President at DONG Energy (2001-2005) and as corporate legal counsel at the Danish industrial conglomerate, FL Smidth (1996-2001).

Jüri Raidla

Raidla Lejins & Norcous Advokaadibüroo, Tallinn

Jüri Raidla is a Senior Partner of Raidla Lejins & Norcous, one of the largest full-service business law firms in the Baltics, with offices in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. He participated in the legislative drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and served as Chairman of the Expert Committee and as Minister of Justice of Estonia from 1990 to 1992.

Johan Aalto

Hannes Snellman, Helsinki

Mr. Aalto is a Senior Partner of Hannes Snellman, which was established in 1909 and is the largest law firm in Finland and the biggest Nordic law firm in Russia. He specializes in M&A, Corporate Finance, and Capital Markets with a special emphasis on public takeovers.

Rainer Hilli

Roschier, Helsinki

Rainer Hilli is the managing partner of Roschier and the Head of its Intellectual Property practice. Roschier is a leading law firm in the Nordics. The firm’s offices are located in Finland and Sweden. He has a wealth of experience in intellectual property transactions and intellectual property litigation including multi-jurisdictional patent litigation.

Louise Pentland

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
Nokia

Louise Pentland is executive vice president, Legal and Intellectual Property, and Chief Legal Officer. She is an active member of the legal community, giving time to the Association of General Counsels, Chief Legal Officer's Roundtable and Global Leaders in Law. Louise also serves as vice chair of the International Bar Association Corporate Counsel Forum.

Kimmo Rekola

Castrén & Snellman, Helsinki

Kimmo Rekola is Head of the IP & Technology Group and the Private Equity & Venture Capital Group at Castrén & Snellman, a leading Finnish law firm a leading Finnish law firm with offices in Helsinki, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. Before entering private practice, he served as Legal Counsel for Unisys and Legal Counsel and Vice President of Finnish Corporate Finance Ltd. (presently Nordea Finance Finland Ltd.).

Lennart Simonsen

Chief Executive Officer
CapMan

Lennart Simonsen is CEO of CapMan one of the leading private equity investors in the Nordic countries and Russia and manages funds with approximately €3.4 billion in total capital. Before joining CapMan in 2010, he was the Managing Partner of Roschier, a leading law firm in Northern Europe. There he specialized in the fields of M&A, Private Equity, and Restructuring & Insolvency.

Thierry Brocas

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei, Paris

Thierry Brocas is one of the founders of De Pardieu Brocas Maffei. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, stock options, LBOs, and acquisition finance and restructurings. He started his career at Gide Loyrette Nouel, first as an associate and from 1980 as a partner. He then joined Charles-Henri de Pardieu and Antoine Maffei in 1993 to develop the firm.

Louis-Bernard Buchman

Field Fisher Waterhouse, Paris

Louis-Bernard Buchman is a partner in the Paris office of Field Fisher Waterhouse, specializing in Intellectual Property Law as well as Arbitration and Litigation. Since 1995, he has served as a French Delegate to the CCBE (Council of Bars and Law Societies of the European Union).

Xavier de Kergommeaux

Gide Loyrette Nouel, Paris

Xavier de Kergommeaux is a Partner in the Banking and Finance Department of Gide Loyrette Nouel, a major international firm. He specializes in domestic and cross-border finance and securitizations. He has been a member of the firm's management committee from 2002 to 2009 and Managing Partner from 2004 to 2009.

Pascale Lagesse

Bredin Prat, Paris

Pascale Lagesse is a partner at Bredin Prat specializing in all aspects of employment law, including national, international and multi-jurisdictional issues. Ms. Lagesse is currently Chair of the International Bar Association's Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee. Prior to joining Bredin Prat, Ms. Lagesse served as head of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's French Employment, Pensions and Benefits practice.

Pierre-Sebastien Thill

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre, Neuilly-sur-Seine

Pierre-Sebastien Thill is Chairman of Supervisory Board of CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre. M. Thill was a Member of the Management Board from 2000-2004 and Chairman from 2004-2012. In addition to his firm duties, he is a Member of the Institute of Tax Lawyers (IACF), the French Association of Corporate Counsel Advice (CCA), the International Fiscal Association (IFA), and the International Bar Association (IBA).

Philippe Thomas

Dechert, Paris

Philippe Thomas focuses his practice on labor and employment matters. Prior to joining Dechert in 2011, Mr. Thomas spent fourteen years at Hogan Lovells and was heard of the Employment practice at the Paris location. He has extensive experience in transfer of personnel and other employment law aspects of national and international mergers and acquisitions.

Lasha Gogiberidze

BGI Advisory Services, Tbilisi

Lasha Gogiberidze is a founding partner of BGI Advisory Services Georgia and the director of BGI Legal. Earlier, he served as a director of corporate practice in Ernst & Young's Georgian office and was a leading attorney in the Georgian Consulting Group. Together with his colleagues at BGI, he has been involved in nearly every major transaction in Georgia over the past decade.

Tobias Bürgers

Noerr, Munich

Dr. Tobias Bürgers is co-Managing Partner of Noerr. He focuses his practice on Corporate, Capital Markets, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. In addition to his practice, Dr. Bürgers is an active author for legal matters co-authoring "Takeover Law in Germany."

Dr. Dieter Schenk

Noerr, Frankfurt am Main and Munich

Dr. Dieter Schenk is co-Managing Partner of Noerr. In addition to his active Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate, and Tax Law practice, he is a member of the supervisory boards at the following companies: Fresenius SE (deputy chairman), Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co KGaA (deputy chairman), Fresenius Medical Care Management AG (deputy chairman), Greiffenberger AG (deputy chairman), Gabor Shoes AG (chairman), and TOPTICA Photonics AG (chairman).

Dr. Jack Schiffer

Beiten Burkhardt, Munich

Dr. Jack Schiffer is a founding and equity partner of the international commercial law firm Beiten Burkhardt, with offices in Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Brussels, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kiev, Moscow, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, and Warsaw.

Dr. Mathias Schwarz

Schwarz Kelwing Wicke Westpfahl, Munich

Prof. Dr. Mathias Schwarz is one of the Senior Partners of Schwarz Kelwing Wicke Westpfahl, a major German firm with offices in Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Dusseldorf. From 1990 to 1994, he served as Chairman of the Entertainment and Intellectual Property Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Dr. Andreas Urban

Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, Berlin

Dr. Andreas Urban is Managing Partner of Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek. Admitted since 1983, Dr. Urban's expertise focuses on Corporate and Labor law. He is a member of the Work Group on Employment and Labor Law of the German Bar Association and Work Group for Corporate Counsel of the German Bar Association.

Christian von Hammerstein

Raue, Berlin

Christian von Hammerstein is Managing Partner of RAUE LLP. In addition to his busy Energy and Competition practice, Mr. von Hammerstein is a member of the Institute for Energy and Regulatory Law Berlin, German Institution of Arbitration German Lawyers Association, and Study Association Competition Law (Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V.).

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wegen, LL.M.

Gleiss Lutz, Stuttgart

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wegen is a senior lawyer with Gleiss Lutz, a leading German law firm with more than 200 lawyers and with offices in Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, Prague, and Warsaw. His practice focuses on Corporate Law, Corporate Finance, Private Equity, Financial Services, Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Securities, and related Public, Private, and International Arbitration.

Panayotis M. Bernitsas

M. & P. Bernitsas Law Offices, Athens

Panayotis M. Bernitsas is the Managing Partner of M. & P. Bernitsas Law Offices, one of the largest and most respected firms in Greece. He has served as Counsel to the Hellenic Banking Association from 1980 to 1990; as Counsel to the Prime Minister on EC matters from 1989 to1990; as Counsel to the Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1989 and 1990; and as Advisor to the Ministry of National Economy during the negotiations for Greece's Accession to the European Community.

Catherine-Marie Karatzas

Karatzas & Partners, Athens

Catherine-Marie Karatzas is the Managing Partner of Karatzas & Partners, one of the most respected law firms in Greece, with a particular emphasis on Capital Markets.

Geoffrey Green

Ashurst, Hong Kong

Geoffrey Green has been a partner at Ashurst since 1979, with various roles at the firm. Currently, he is head of the firm's Asia practice, with extensive experience of major corporate transactions in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

Richard Thornhill

Slaughter and May, Hong Kong

Richard Thornhill is the senior partner in Slaughter and May's Hong Kong office, which leads the major international law firm’s transactions in Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, and the rest of the Asia Pacific region. He has considerable experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and general commercial work, as well as debt raising and infrastructure project work in the region, including the first privatization in Hong Kong.

Dr. András Szecskay

Szecskay Attorneys at Law, Budapest

Dr. András Szecskay is the managing partner of Szecskay Attorneys at Law, a leading independent Hungarian law firm with international clientele and scope of activities. He specializes in M&A transactions, Corporate and Project Finance, Litigation/Arbitration, and Intellectual Property Law. He serves as Vice-President of International Relations of the Hungarian and the Budapest Bar Associations, and he is the head of the Hungarian delegation to the CCBE.

Rajesh Bagga

Vice President of Legal
Tata Motors Limited

Rajesh Bagga joined Tata Motors Limited as the Vice President of Legal and Global General Counsel in June 2009. Mr. Bagga has been in the Corporate Sector as an In-house Legal Counsel for over 28 years, working with DCM Group, and the Unilever Group of Companies in India. In addition to his work at Tata Motors, he is presently the Co-Chairman of the Apex Industry Chambers of India viz., Federation of Indian Chamber Commerce of India and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers - Committees on Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Counterfeiting.

Fali Sam Nariman

Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi

Fali Sam Nariman has been President of the Bar Association of India since 1991. He was President of ICCA (International Council for Commercial Arbitration) from 1994 to 2002. He has served as Vice-Chairman of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris (1989-2005) and as a member of the London Court of International Arbitration (1988-2005). He was nominated by the President of India as Member of Parliament in 1999 and served for a full term of six years.

Ravi Nath

Rajinder Narain & Co., New Delhi

Mr. Ravi Nath is a Senior Partner with Rajinder Narain & Co., one of the most respected law firms in India and the first to be established in New Delhi soon after Independence. He was President of the Inter Pacific Bar Association in Tokyo from 2003 to 2004. He is the Chair of a Committee of the International Bar Association in London and Vice President of the Society of Indian Law Firms.

Soli Jehangir Sorabjee

Patron The Foundation for Non-violent Alternatives

Mr. Sorabjee was designated Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India in 1971. He was the Attorney General for India 1989-90 and 1998-2004. He also served as Vice-President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and as a Member of the Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament Law of International Law Association. He was appointed in 2000 as a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague for six years.

John Cronin

McCann FitzGerald, Dublin

John Cronin is Chairman of McCann FitzGerald, holding the position since May 2008. The firm is one of Ireland's pre-eminent and largest with more than 500 people, including over 275 lawyers, and with offices in Dublin, London, and Brussels. Mr. Cronin became a partner in the firm's Banking & Financial Services Department in 1991. From 1991 until August 2002, he led the firm's London office.

Liam Quirke

Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Dublin

Liam Quirke is the Managing Partner at Matheson Ormsby Prentice, one of Ireland's leading corporate law firms with 72 partners and tax principals, more than 350 legal and tax professionals and a total staff of 560. The firm has offices in Dublin, London, New York, and Palo Alto, California. He is a member of the Irish Prime Minister's Committee on International Banking and Treasury and was at the forefront in the construction of the statutory framework to facilitate international securitization and repackaging transactions in Ireland.

Julian Yarr

A&L Goodbody, Dublin

Julian Yarr is the Managing Partner of A&L Goodbody, a leading Irish law firm providing legal services to the corporate sector across the island of Ireland. The Firm has offices in Dublin and Belfast, London, and New York. Before taking the seat of Managing Partner, Mr. Yarr was head of A&L Goodbody's London office. In addition to leading the firm, his practice focuses on corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, and private equity law.

Shlomo Cohen

Dr. Shlomo Cohen & Co., Tel Aviv

Dr. Shlomo Cohen heads Dr. Shlomo Cohen & Co., one of the most respected boutique intellectual property firms in Israel.  From 1999 to 2007, he was President of the Israel Bar, both the statutory professional trade union for Israeli lawyers and the organization that certifies lawyers to practice law in Israel.

Giuseppe Bisconti

Studio Legale Bisconti, Rome

Dr. Giuseppe Bisconti is the principal of Studio Legale Bisconti, with offices in Rome, Milan, London, and New York. He was the President of the International Bar Association from 1990 to 1992. He is also a Founding Member and Honorary Life President of the Pan African Lawyers Union, a Permanent Senate Member of the European Bar Presidents' Conference, and Chair of the International Foundation for the Rule of Law and the Independence of Lawyers and Judges.

Bruno Cova

Paul Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Milan

Bruno Cova is Co-Chair of the Milan office of Paul Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. Prior to joining the firm, he was Group General Counsel of Fiat SpA. He was also the chief legal adviser to the Commissioner appointed by the Italian government to investigate Europe’s largest financial fraud at Parmalat, and deal with the restructuring of the company.

Antonino Cusimano

Director of Legal Affairs
Telecom Italia

Antonino Cusimano is Director of Legal Affairs for Telecom Italia. Prior to joining Telecom Italia in 2008, Mr. Cusimano was European General Counsel and held various global legal affairs positions with PPG Industries International.

Nadine Faruque

General Counsel & Group Compliance Officer
UniCredit

Nadine Faruque is General Counsel & Group Compliance Officer of UniCredit. Prior to her work with UniCredit, Ms. Faruque worked in the Office of the General Counsel at Merrill Lynch International, London in addition to previous practice at private firms in the United States and Europe.

Giovanni Nardulli

Legance Studio Legale Associato, Rome

Giovanni Nardulli is the Managing Partner of Legance, a leading Italian firm with a global scope. He focuses his practice on international and domestic mergers and acquisitions transactions. He also has lengthy experience dealing with joint-ventures and real estate transactions.

Prof. Alberto Piergrossi

Piergrossi Studio Legale, Milan

Professor Alberto Piergrossi is Co-Founder and Chairman of Piergrossi Bianchini Eversheds, with offices in Milan and Rome. He is also a Professor of Civil Procedure at the State University of Milan.

Takashi Ejiri

Nishimura & Asahi, Tokyo

Mr. Takashi Ejiri was the head of Asahi Law Office which merged with Nishimura on July 1, 2007, to become Nishimura & Asahi. He is well known in the M&A circles in the Securities and Private Equity area. He was Vice Chairman of the International Relations Committee of Japan Federation of Bar Associations from 1986 to 1994, Chairperson of Financial Institutes and Transactions Committee from 1992 to 1994, and Secretary General of Inter-Pacific Bar Association from 1995 to 1999.

Kenichi Fujinawa

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, Tokyo

Kenichi Fujinawa is the Managing Partner of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, the first law firm in Japan to surpass the 100-lawyer milestone. As of January 1, 2009, the firm has 334 lawyers (inclusive of foreign-licensed lawyers). Mr. Fujinawa focuses his practice in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions.

Toru Ishiguro

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, Tokyo

Mr. Toru Ishiguro is a Managing Partner of Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, a major Japanese firm with more than 260 attorneys and a support staff of over 380. He has been serving as a Member on the Planning Committee of the Japan Investor Relations Association since 1994 and the Financial Law Board since 1998. He has been a Director of the IR Academy since 2001 and was a Member of the JASDAQ Securities Exchange Disciplinary Committee in 2005.

Akira Kawamura

Anderson Mori and Tomotsune, Tokyo

Akira Kawamura is President of the International Bar Association and an influential member of the Japanese Bar, having served as Executive Vice President of the Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association, Executive Director of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (Nichibenren), and Chairman of the JFPAs' Foreign Lawyers and International Legal Practice Committee.

Mitsuhiro Moroishi

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners, Tokyo

Mr. Moroishi is a Partner in the firm of Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners, a major Japanese law firm with offices in Tokyo, Osaka, and Shanghai. He served as Senior Managing Director of the Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., from 1998 to 2004. He is also a Member of the Legislative Council of the Ministry of Justice, where he also serves as a Member of the Corporate-Law Sub-Council, and a Member of the Intellectual Property Policy Council of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Satoru Murase

Bingham McCutchen Murase, Sakai Mimura Aizawa, Tokyo

Satoru Murase practices corporate and international law at Bingham McCutchen LLP. His focus is on the representation of major Asian and Japanese corporations in their overseas operations, and major U.S. and European corporations operating in Asia. He actively advises global corporations regarding cross-border investments in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He is a Director of the Japan Society and a member of the Trilateral Commission.

Yoshiaki Muto

Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office, Tokyo

Yoshiaki Muto focuses his practice in the areas of domestic and international dispute resolution involving litigation and arbitration components, corporate restructuring and distressed asset acquisition, structured leasing, and general corporate matters. He is a member of the Committee on International Legal Affairs and Foreign Attorneys for the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA).

Kenneth A. Siegel

Morrison & Foerster and Ito & Mitomi, Tokyo

Mr. Siegel is the Managing Partner of Morrison & Foerster's Tokyo office and the head of the office's 40 attorney M&A team. He has represented a large number of high technology companies in acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances and is Vice-chairman of the High-Technology Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce of Japan.

Olga Chentsova

Aequitas, Almaty

Dr. Chentsova is the Managing Partner of Aequitas, a leading law firm in the Republic of Kazkhstan, with offices in Almaty, Astana, Atyrau. In 1990-1991, she worked as an advisor at the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan. She has participated in governmental working groups for the development of important commercial legislative acts of the Republic including the RK Civil Code, Foreign Inves