News In Brief: |
Date: 02/18/2008 |
AAR Corp. Hires New GC In March Robert J. Regan will join AAR Corp. as its new general counsel. Regan previously served as a partner at law firm Schiff Hardin, LLP, and has represented the company for more than 25 years. His experience with AAR and his legal expertise will help with his transition into becoming general counsel. "I am looking forward to a smooth transition and to working with Bob as a key member of our executive leadership team," said Chairman and CEO David P. Storch. Regan graduated from Colgate University and received his J.D. from Cornell University Law School. Sallie Mae's GC Steps Down The general counsel of student loan company Sallie Mae recently stepped down after 16 years of service. Robert Lavet, who joined the company in 1992, was the company's top lawyer and oversaw a team of 29 lawyers. With him gone, Michael Sheehan will step in and run the department temporarily. Lavet previously served as an associate at Howrey & Simon and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. After joining Sallie Mae in '92, Lavet was promoted to GC in 2005. "It was an amicable parting," said spokesman Tom Joyce regarding Lavet's departure. "Rob has been a tremendous general counsel for Sallie Mae. We wish him all the best." Lavet, having gone through a difficult year, is resigning to take time off to be with his family. ConocoPhillips Hires for China Division For the first time, U.S. oil and gas company ConocoPhillips has hired a legal director to run its China division. Hal Fiske, who joined the company in early February, will report to Georg Storaker, ConocoPhillips's president in China and general counsel for the Asia-Pacific region. Fiske recently served as traveling agency eLong's general counsel. In his new role he will negotiate deals with the Chinese government. Heading the company's global legal team as general counsel is Janet Kelly. New GC at Penton Media On February 11 "business-to-business media company" Penton Media announced that Elise Zealand will become its new general counsel. Zealand recently served as a senior associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, focusing on several industries, including media and entertainment, publishing, and finance. Stationed at Penton's New York office, Zealand will report to the CEO, John French. Previously, Zealand worked as an associate at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP; Sullivan & Cromwell; and Cahill, Gordon & Reindel, LLP. She also clerked for U.S. District Court Judge William C. Conner as well as reported for the Cumberland Times-News and the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin. Cephalon GC Resigns The general counsel for biopharmaceutical company Cephalon Inc. announced on February 8 that he will retire from his position on March 31. John Osborn's future plans include joining the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies as a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford as well as advising at international consulting firm McKinsey & Company Inc. Osborn, having joined Cephalon in 1997, was promoted to GC in 1998, where he has managed several different departments. |
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