GC careers: a panel discussion

11/21/06

GC careers: a panel discussion

The University of Virginia School of Law recently held a panel discussion on the general counsel career path. Entitled "Life on the Other Side: Career as a General Counsel," the program was conducted by Professor Earl Dudley, and panelists included UVA alumni Byron Marchant, Sharon Owlett, Tom Sidman, and Jeffrey Ferguson, as of whom work as general counsels. The panel commented on the role of the general counsel as a responsible ethics officer and explained that an aspiring general counsel must possess experience and knowledge in a number of areas before taking the corporate plunge. A number of students hoping to explore opportunities outside law firms attended the meeting.

RPM appoints VP, GC, and Secretary
Ohio-based RPM International, Inc., hired Edward W. Moore as Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. Moore replaces P. Kelly Tompkins, who has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. A former partner with Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP, Moore has extensive corporate and securities law experience. During his tenure as a partner in the firm, Moore handled RPM's securities law and corporate governance matters and was responsible for RPM-related acquisitions, employee benefits, real estate, environmental, and litigation matters. RPM International is a multinational holding company with subsidiaries manufacturing and marketing high-performance coatings, sealants, and specialty chemicals, primarily for the purposes of maintenance and home improvement.

CapRock Communications hires new VP and GC
Texas-based global satellite communications provider CapRock Communications appointed Alan Aronowitz as its Vice President and General Counsel. Taking over the responsibilities of Chief Legal Officer, Aronowitz will primarily handle all legal and compliance matters related to the company and its subsidiaries. As the company continues to implement an aggressive growth strategy by forming business alliances and increasing its number of international support offices, Aronowitz will play a crucial role in navigating the regulatory and legal environments of different geographic regions. Aronowitz will provide extensive international legal and regulatory expertise, which will enable CapRock to successfully enter new markets.

NYSE announces new GC
Effective November 20, Rachel Robbins will be the new General Counsel for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Robbins comes from Axiom Legal Solutions, where she served as a strategic advisor. She also worked with JP Morgan for 20 years, holding various positions with the company, including General Counsel and Legal Head. NYSE will gain leverage from Robbins' international experience and expertise in corporate practice. The world's largest stock exchange, NYSE has a total market capitalization of $23 trillion.

New deputy GC for the SEC
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has announced the appointment of Alexander F. Cohen as Deputy General Counsel for Legal Policy and Administrative Practice. Cohen will work alongside Andrew N. Vollmer, Deputy General Counsel for Litigation and Adjudication. Cohen is currently a partner with Latham & Watkins, LLP, and also the co-chair of the firm's corporate finance practice group. He specializes in representation of non-U.S. issuers under U.S. securities law and has significant experience with the European and Asian capital markets.

Hospitality giant announces promotion of legal executive
Hospitality industry leader Marriott International, Inc., has promoted Edward A. Ryan to Executive Vice President and General Counsel. He will take on the new role when Joseph Ryan retires and should begin serving in this post by the end of the year. Since joining Marriott in 1996, Edward Ryan has managed the company's management agreements and real estate issues. He has also recently worked on Marriott's corporate transactions and corporate governance matters, among other legal issues. Prior to joining Marriott, he was a partner with Hogan & Hartson in Washington, DC. Marriott International operates 2,800 lodging properties in the U.S. and 67 in other countries.

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