Siemens Hires Seven New General Counsel

03/10/08

Siemens Hires Seven New General Counsel

Seven new general counsel were hired at Siemens AG, Europe's largest engineering company. Each GC will report to management board member Peter Solmssen. The new hires "will have a formative role and decision-making function in business operations," said Solmssen. "Their responsibilities in this key position will go considerably beyond merely identifying risks."

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Hires New GC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has hired Cheryl Falvey as its new general counsel; she began her responsibilities on March 3, 2008. Previously, Falvey was a partner at law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP. There, she had numerous responsibilities including heading the firm's litigation practice group and advising clients on consumer product safety issues. "I am extremely pleased to join the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission," she said. "I look forward to working with the CPSC's talented staff to assist them with their mission to protect children and families against consumer product hazards." She received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Wall Street Journal GC Asked to Leave
General Counsel and Vice President Stuart Karle has left the Wall Street Journal after being asked to leave on February 28. While at the Journal, Karle was responsible for erasing the newspaper's $223 million libel verdict. He was also a former Journal reporter as well as a lawyer at Los Angeles-based Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. "I've had a spectacularly good time," he said of his time with the newspaper.

Superior Energy Hires New GC
Superior Energy Services has hired William B. Masters as its new executive vice president and general counsel. Masters, who previously spent 26 years at law firm Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, LLP, has worked as Superior's GC for 13 years. "Bill has been involved with every significant transaction Superior has completed since the company went public through a reverse merger in 1995. As a result, Bill has extensive knowledge of the company and our industry, and his counsel has been an integral part of our success. We are pleased to welcome Bill to our executive team," said Chairman and CEO Terry Hall. Masters received his bachelor's degree from Tulane University and his J.D. from George Washington University.

GC Leaves FCC to Join Law Firm
Former General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission Samuel L. Feder will join law firm Jenner & Block as a partner. Feder, who has a background as a communications lawyer in both the private and public sectors, became the FCC's general counsel in 2005 and oversaw a team of 50 attorneys. Previously, he was a legal advisor to two FCC employees, Chairman Kevin J. Martin and Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. "Sam has been general counsel at the FCC at a time when the telecommunications industry is undergoing a process of rapid technological and legal change," said Gregory S. Gallopoulos, managing partner at Jenner & Block. "His experience in all areas of telecommunications, especially spectrum, cable, and wireline communications, will be of great benefit to the firm's clients."