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General and In-House Counsel Awards 2011Standout corporate and in-house counsel attorneys navigate complicated contract negotiations, defend their companies in high-stakes litigation and defend some of an organization's most important assets. Click on the 2011 honorees below to view their profiles. The May 3 summit and awards event to honor the winners is presented in partnership with the Association of Corporate Counsel, the State Bar of Michigan's Business Law Section and the Oakland County Bar Association. The awards will be presented in an evening reception and strolling dinner that follows an afternoon summit with speakers, panels and educational sessions. To register or for more information about the event click here. Focus: General and In-House Counsel
2011 honorees
Winner: David Leitch11/02/11 • Age: 50 • Title: Group vice president and general counsel • Company: Ford Motor Co. • Claim to fame: Advising Ford and overseeing disclosures on the private borrowing that allowed the automaker to avoid a government bailout, and its subsequent $14.5 billion reduction in debt.
Publicly Traded Companies, Revenue Over $1 Billion: Todd Wiseley11/02/11 • Winner • Age: 41 • Title: General counsel and senior vice president of administration and corporate secretary • Company: Valassis Communications Inc., Livonia • Claim to fame: Coordinated and led four law firms in Valassis' successful lawsuit against its archrival that ended with a $500 million settlement.
Publicly Traded Companies, Revenue Over $1 Billion: Robert Spence11/02/11 • Finalist • Age: 54 • Title: Vice president of business development and general counsel • Company: SPX Test and Measurement, Canton Township • Claim to fame: Leading SPX through several acquisitions, including three in four months.
Publicly Traded Companies, Revenue Under $1 Billion: Jay Knoll11/02/11 • Winner • Age: 47 • Title: General counsel and chief administrative officer • Company: Energy Conversion Devices Inc., Rochester Hills • Claim to fame: A savvy negotiator who balances ECD's need to protect intellectual property with a common-sense approach based on the cost of litigation.
Publicly Traded Companies, Revenue Under $1 Billion: Chris Heaphy11/02/11 • Finalist • Age: 53 • Title: Senior vice president, general counsel and secretary • Company: Taubman Centers Inc., Bloomfield Hills • Claim to fame: Keeps the legal team involved early on in business processes, such as retail leasing, to speed things up and head off problems.
Privately Held Companies, Revenue Over $1 Billion: David Sherbin11/02/11 • Winner • Age: 51 • Title: Vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer • Company: Delphi Automotive LLP, Troy • Claim to fame: Navigating Delphi through its four-year Chapter 11 bankruptcy in which the supplier shed nearly $6 billion in debt and $22 billion in liabilities.
Privately Held Companies, Revenue Over $1 Billion: Holly Leese11/02/11 • Finalist • Age: 55 • Title: Senior vice president, general counsel and secretary • Company: Chrysler Group LLC • Claim to fame: Overseeing and preparing argument and brief templates for arbitration appeals by dealerships appealing their termination.
Privately Held Companies, Revenue Under $1 Billion: Gabe Karp11/02/11 • Winner • Age: 41 • Title: Executive vice president and general counsel • Company: EPrize LLC, Pleasant Ridge • Claim to fame: Leading ePrize through the legal nettles of sweepstakes promotions based on new communications technologies.
Nonprofit: Carol Hustoles11/02/11 • Winner • Age: 58 • Title: Vice president for legal affairs and general counsel • Employer: Western Michigan University • Claim to fame: Heightening awareness of how legal issues can impact university areas, and a preventative approach to reduce risk of litigation and legal liability.Legal eagles fly high at Crain's inaugural awards program, summit04/10/11 Crain's Detroit Business and its partners in the inaugural General and In-House Counsel Awards will honor top legal minds and provide a forum for legal education at a May 3 summit. |
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