GC Appointments

Former ACADEMI general counsel and occasional InsideCounsel magazine columnist Suzanne Rich Folsom is set to begin the newest challenge on her radar: the GC position at U.S. Steel Corp. Prior to ACADEMI, Folsom served as d as deputy general counsel and chief regulatory and compliance officer for American International Group as well as a counselor to the president of the World Bank Group. “I am delighted to welcome Suzanne to U. S. Steel, where her extensive expertise in corporate and international law, ethics and governance, compliance and government affairs will add immediate value,” U.S. Steel CEO Mario Longhi in a statement.

It's an in-house move for Steven C. Schnitzer as he leaves the law firm world to take the GC position with Arc Logistics Partners. Arc Logistics, which is principally engaged in the terminalling, storage, throughput and transloading of crude oil and petroleum products, hired Schnitzer away from a 13 year-career at Katten Muchin Rosenman, where he most recently served as head of the Corporate Group. Schnitzer has also worked for Crowell & Moring and Debevoise & Plimpton. “We are pleased to have Steven join our senior management team. He brings a wealth of corporate legal experience to our growing partnership, with expertise in both energy related matters as well as master limited partnerships,” said Arc Logistics CEO Vince Cubbage in a statement.

MTN Group Ltd., Africa's biggest wireless operator, has named Michael Fleischer as the company's chief legal officer. “Fleischer will be responsible for leading the group legal and regulatory team, and providing strategic legal counsel to the company,” MTN Chief Executive Officer Sifiso Dabengwa said in an e-mailed statement. Fleischer, however, comes to MTN Group with name recognition. He had most recently served as South African mining company Gold Fields' GC, where he had worked since 2006 before resigning abruptly on Jan. 20. According to Bloomberg, Gold Fields is being investigated by the U.S. SEC regarding the sale of a stake in its South Deep mine in 2010 under a South African program to expand black ownership. Fleischer is not accused of wrongdoing in the case.

Ignyta Inc., an oncology precision medicine biotechnology company, believes it has the cure for its legal department with industry veteran Matthew Onaitis becoming the company's newest GC. Onaitis previously worked as GC of Trius Therapeutics Inc., where he helped lead the company's legal division through acquisition by Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. Before Trius, Onaitis also worked as GC of Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Matt has broad legal experience with development-stage and publicly-traded, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical companies,” said Jonathan Lim, M.D., Chairman and CEO of Ignyta. “His background in managing corporate governance and compliance programs, supporting operational teams, and advising on various business transactions will strengthen our management team.”

Just as FARO Technologies is helping customers move into the future with 3D measurement, imaging and realization technology, the company hopes it's moving into a future of solid legal standing through hiring Jody Gale as general counsel. Gale holds experience in innovation, having previously worked as associate general counsel – M&A, Securities & Governance for Biomet, Inc., one of the world's leading medical device manufacturers. He also previously worked at the firm Kirkland & Ellis. “We are very excited to welcome Jody to the FARO team,” said Jay Freeland, FARO's President and CEO, in a statement. “His background and expertise fit well with FARO and we look forward to working with him as a member of our senior management team and a key contributor to the execution of our growth plans and overall business strategy.”

Law Firm News

For former Bayer Corp. GC Gary D. McConnell, a return to private practice means a return to his roots. McConnell has joined Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott as a partner in the firm's Pittsburgh office, where he will focus on products liability, mass tort and commercial litigation. Prior to working for Bayer, McConnell had worked in private practice in St. Louis, Mo., as well as working in law enforcement for a time. “Gary embodies our firm's unique approach to assisting clients with complex, high-stakes disputes,” Eckert Seamans CEO Timothy P. Ryan said in a statement. “Many of us have known and worked with Gary for years. He is an outstanding and zealous advocate for his clients, who will bring his many years of diverse business counseling experience to the firm.”

GC Appointments

Former ACADEMI general counsel and occasional InsideCounsel magazine columnist Suzanne Rich Folsom is set to begin the newest challenge on her radar: the GC position at U.S. Steel Corp. Prior to ACADEMI, Folsom served as d as deputy general counsel and chief regulatory and compliance officer for American International Group as well as a counselor to the president of the World Bank Group. “I am delighted to welcome Suzanne to U. S. Steel, where her extensive expertise in corporate and international law, ethics and governance, compliance and government affairs will add immediate value,” U.S. Steel CEO Mario Longhi in a statement.

It's an in-house move for Steven C. Schnitzer as he leaves the law firm world to take the GC position with Arc Logistics Partners. Arc Logistics, which is principally engaged in the terminalling, storage, throughput and transloading of crude oil and petroleum products, hired Schnitzer away from a 13 year-career at Katten Muchin Rosenman, where he most recently served as head of the Corporate Group. Schnitzer has also worked for Crowell & Moring and Debevoise & Plimpton. “We are pleased to have Steven join our senior management team. He brings a wealth of corporate legal experience to our growing partnership, with expertise in both energy related matters as well as master limited partnerships,” said Arc Logistics CEO Vince Cubbage in a statement.

MTN Group Ltd., Africa's biggest wireless operator, has named Michael Fleischer as the company's chief legal officer. “Fleischer will be responsible for leading the group legal and regulatory team, and providing strategic legal counsel to the company,” MTN Chief Executive Officer Sifiso Dabengwa said in an e-mailed statement. Fleischer, however, comes to MTN Group with name recognition. He had most recently served as South African mining company Gold Fields' GC, where he had worked since 2006 before resigning abruptly on Jan. 20. According to Bloomberg, Gold Fields is being investigated by the U.S. SEC regarding the sale of a stake in its South Deep mine in 2010 under a South African program to expand black ownership. Fleischer is not accused of wrongdoing in the case.

Ignyta Inc., an oncology precision medicine biotechnology company, believes it has the cure for its legal department with industry veteran Matthew Onaitis becoming the company's newest GC. Onaitis previously worked as GC of Trius Therapeutics Inc., where he helped lead the company's legal division through acquisition by Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. Before Trius, Onaitis also worked as GC of Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Matt has broad legal experience with development-stage and publicly-traded, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical companies,” said Jonathan Lim, M.D., Chairman and CEO of Ignyta. “His background in managing corporate governance and compliance programs, supporting operational teams, and advising on various business transactions will strengthen our management team.”

Just as FARO Technologies is helping customers move into the future with 3D measurement, imaging and realization technology, the company hopes it's moving into a future of solid legal standing through hiring Jody Gale as general counsel. Gale holds experience in innovation, having previously worked as associate general counsel – M&A, Securities & Governance for Biomet, Inc., one of the world's leading medical device manufacturers. He also previously worked at the firm Kirkland & Ellis. “We are very excited to welcome Jody to the FARO team,” said Jay Freeland, FARO's President and CEO, in a statement. “His background and expertise fit well with FARO and we look forward to working with him as a member of our senior management team and a key contributor to the execution of our growth plans and overall business strategy.”

Law Firm News

For former Bayer Corp. GC Gary D. McConnell, a return to private practice means a return to his roots. McConnell has joined Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott as a partner in the firm's Pittsburgh office, where he will focus on products liability, mass tort and commercial litigation. Prior to working for Bayer, McConnell had worked in private practice in St. Louis, Mo., as well as working in law enforcement for a time. “Gary embodies our firm's unique approach to assisting clients with complex, high-stakes disputes,” Eckert Seamans CEO Timothy P. Ryan said in a statement. “Many of us have known and worked with Gary for years. He is an outstanding and zealous advocate for his clients, who will bring his many years of diverse business counseling experience to the firm.”