GC Appointments

Molson Coors Brewing Co. promoted Mike Abbass to vice president and general counsel and promoted Sherri Heckel Kuhlmann to chief compliance officer. Abbass has been on the company's legal team for eight years. Kuhlmann practiced business and employment law with Holme Roberts & Owen before joining Molson Coors in early 2009 as deputy general counsel.

The ACE Group, a Zurich-based insurance provider, promoted Howard Schrader to executive vice president and general counsel of ACE's overseas general operations. Previously he served as senior vice president and general counsel for the company's Asia Pacific, Far East and Latin American regions.

NJVC, a Vienna, Va.-based information technology provider that serves the Department of Defense, named Tom Sofo general counsel. Previously he served as vice president and general counsel at Apptis Holdings.

Tessera Technologies Inc. promoted Bernard Cassidy to executive vice president and general counsel. Previously he was the San Jose-based company's senior vice president and general counsel.

Gov. Gary Herbert, R-Utah, appointed John Pearce as his general counsel. Pearce previously practiced antitrust and securities law, labor law and media law at Salt Lake City firm Jones Waldo.

International Game Technology promoted Robert Melendres to chief legal officer and corporate secretary. He joined the Nevada-based computer gaming machine company in June 2009 as chief of staff.

Richard Strouse was named vice president and general counsel of the Philadelphia Phillies. Previously he was a senior partner in the litigation department at Ballard Spahr. Strouse succeeds Bill Webb, who will continue working with the club as its secretary and counsel.

Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Brands, parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, named Rich Emmett senior vice president and general counsel. Previously he served as executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary at Quizno's parent company, QCE Holding.

The Florida Public Service Commission appointed Curt Kiser as general counsel. Previously Kiser was a Florida state senator and most recently worked as a lobbyist for the Florida Press Association and the American Cancer Society.

Business aviation company General Dynamics Corp. promoted Greg Gallopoulos to senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Previously he served as the Falls Church, Va.-based company's vice president and deputy general counsel. He succeeds David Savner, who retired at the end
of 2009.

Marc Harris was named general counsel of Fairfield Funding, an Atlanta-based company that purchases and funds settlements. Previously Harris served as counsel for two companies in the asset securitization industry.

Baker & McKenzie named Jonathan Westwell general counsel and secretary for its London division. Westwall previously served as counsel in the firm's IT and telecommunications practice.

Gold mining company Rubicon Minerals Corp. appointed Glenn Kumoi vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Previously he was chief legal officer, corporate secretary and VP of human resources at Ballard Power Systems.

Foster Wheeler AG, a Switzerland-based engineering and construction firm, appointed Michelle Davies acting general counsel. Previously she served as general counsel of the company's largest subsidiary, Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd.

Don Fitzgerald was named vice president, corporate counsel of I.C. System, a St. Paul-based company that provides accounts receivable management services. Previously he was president-general counsel of his own consumer debt investment firm.

New York-based private broker-dealer Bruderman Brothers named Daniel Jacobson general counsel. Jacobson recently served as general counsel for Bruderman Enterprises.

Managed futures firm Steben & Co. appointed John Grady general counsel and chief compliance officer. He previously served as president of Arcady Investment Consulting.

Michael Keefe was appointed executive vice president, general counsel of asset protection solutions firm MISTRAS. Prior to joining the Princeton Junction, N.J.-based firm, Keefe served as president, general counsel and chief financial officer of International Fight League.

Other In-House News

Home improvement store Lowe's promoted Todd Woods to senior vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant secretary. He previously served as the Mooresville, N.C.-based company's vice president, associate general counsel and assistant secretary.

Aaron Hockly was appointed Growthpoint Properties Australia's company secretary and legal counsel. He previously served as legal counsel and assistant company secretary at Aviva Australia.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski, D-Ore., appointed James Carter to a four-year term as a Port of Portland commissioner. Carter will continue to serve as general counsel of athletic wear company Nike Inc.

Patrick Reeder was appointed senior director of government relations for Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America. Previously he served as vice president and associate general counsel of Genworth Financial.

Law Firm News

Paul De Stefano joined the Health Industry Advisory and Life Sciences & Medical Devices practice groups at McDermott Will & Emery. Previously he served as chief legal officer at biotech company Genentech.

John Schulman joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as a partner and chair of the firm's entertainment department. He previously served as executive vice president and general counsel of Warner Bros.

Gary Compton joined Jackson Walker as a partner in its Environmental and Legislative group. He continues to serve several roles with the Texas Railroad Commission, including special counsel, special advisory counsel to the Blue Ribbon Natural Gas Rules Committee and special general counsel to the Railroad Commission Chairman's Committee on Natural Gas Marketing.

Associate Editor Lauren Williamson researched and wrote Career Talk. Please send her promotions, career changes, hires and awards at [email protected].

GC Appointments

Molson Coors Brewing Co. promoted Mike Abbass to vice president and general counsel and promoted Sherri Heckel Kuhlmann to chief compliance officer. Abbass has been on the company's legal team for eight years. Kuhlmann practiced business and employment law with Holme Roberts & Owen before joining Molson Coors in early 2009 as deputy general counsel.

The ACE Group, a Zurich-based insurance provider, promoted Howard Schrader to executive vice president and general counsel of ACE's overseas general operations. Previously he served as senior vice president and general counsel for the company's Asia Pacific, Far East and Latin American regions.

NJVC, a Vienna, Va.-based information technology provider that serves the Department of Defense, named Tom Sofo general counsel. Previously he served as vice president and general counsel at Apptis Holdings.

Tessera Technologies Inc. promoted Bernard Cassidy to executive vice president and general counsel. Previously he was the San Jose-based company's senior vice president and general counsel.

Gov. Gary Herbert, R-Utah, appointed John Pearce as his general counsel. Pearce previously practiced antitrust and securities law, labor law and media law at Salt Lake City firm Jones Waldo.

International Game Technology promoted Robert Melendres to chief legal officer and corporate secretary. He joined the Nevada-based computer gaming machine company in June 2009 as chief of staff.

Richard Strouse was named vice president and general counsel of the Philadelphia Phillies. Previously he was a senior partner in the litigation department at Ballard Spahr. Strouse succeeds Bill Webb, who will continue working with the club as its secretary and counsel.

Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Brands, parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, named Rich Emmett senior vice president and general counsel. Previously he served as executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary at Quizno's parent company, QCE Holding.

The Florida Public Service Commission appointed Curt Kiser as general counsel. Previously Kiser was a Florida state senator and most recently worked as a lobbyist for the Florida Press Association and the American Cancer Society.

Business aviation company General Dynamics Corp. promoted Greg Gallopoulos to senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Previously he served as the Falls Church, Va.-based company's vice president and deputy general counsel. He succeeds David Savner, who retired at the end
of 2009.

Marc Harris was named general counsel of Fairfield Funding, an Atlanta-based company that purchases and funds settlements. Previously Harris served as counsel for two companies in the asset securitization industry.

Baker & McKenzie named Jonathan Westwell general counsel and secretary for its London division. Westwall previously served as counsel in the firm's IT and telecommunications practice.

Gold mining company Rubicon Minerals Corp. appointed Glenn Kumoi vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Previously he was chief legal officer, corporate secretary and VP of human resources at Ballard Power Systems.

Foster Wheeler AG, a Switzerland-based engineering and construction firm, appointed Michelle Davies acting general counsel. Previously she served as general counsel of the company's largest subsidiary, Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd.

Don Fitzgerald was named vice president, corporate counsel of I.C. System, a St. Paul-based company that provides accounts receivable management services. Previously he was president-general counsel of his own consumer debt investment firm.

New York-based private broker-dealer Bruderman Brothers named Daniel Jacobson general counsel. Jacobson recently served as general counsel for Bruderman Enterprises.

Managed futures firm Steben & Co. appointed John Grady general counsel and chief compliance officer. He previously served as president of Arcady Investment Consulting.

Michael Keefe was appointed executive vice president, general counsel of asset protection solutions firm MISTRAS. Prior to joining the Princeton Junction, N.J.-based firm, Keefe served as president, general counsel and chief financial officer of International Fight League.

Other In-House News

Home improvement store Lowe's promoted Todd Woods to senior vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant secretary. He previously served as the Mooresville, N.C.-based company's vice president, associate general counsel and assistant secretary.

Aaron Hockly was appointed Growthpoint Properties Australia's company secretary and legal counsel. He previously served as legal counsel and assistant company secretary at Aviva Australia.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski, D-Ore., appointed James Carter to a four-year term as a Port of Portland commissioner. Carter will continue to serve as general counsel of athletic wear company Nike Inc.

Patrick Reeder was appointed senior director of government relations for Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America. Previously he served as vice president and associate general counsel of Genworth Financial.

Law Firm News

Paul De Stefano joined the Health Industry Advisory and Life Sciences & Medical Devices practice groups at McDermott Will & Emery. Previously he served as chief legal officer at biotech company Genentech.

John Schulman joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as a partner and chair of the firm's entertainment department. He previously served as executive vice president and general counsel of Warner Bros.

Gary Compton joined Jackson Walker as a partner in its Environmental and Legislative group. He continues to serve several roles with the Texas Railroad Commission, including special counsel, special advisory counsel to the Blue Ribbon Natural Gas Rules Committee and special general counsel to the Railroad Commission Chairman's Committee on Natural Gas Marketing.

Associate Editor Lauren Williamson researched and wrote Career Talk. Please send her promotions, career changes, hires and awards at [email protected].