New North America Managing Partner and Chairman of the Asia Pacific Regional Council
Chicago, November 3, 2008 (LAWFUEL) – Baker & McKenzie has announced the election of Partners Alan Harvey (Dallas) and Jeremy Pitts (Tokyo) to the Firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Harvey and Mr. Pitts will work closely with Chairman John Conroy and the five other Executive Committee members in managing the Firm. Mr. Harvey succeeds David Hackett (Chicago) and Mr. Pitts succeeds David Jacobs (Sydney), whose terms have concluded. Mr. Hackett has completed four years, and Mr. Jacobs has completed three years, on the Committee. Both will return to full-time practice with the Firm.
In addition, Baker & McKenzie Partners Peter Engstrom (San Francisco/Palo Alto) and Poh Lee Tan (Hong Kong) have been elected Managing Partner of North America and Chairman of the Asia Pacific Regional Council, respectively.
Also, Partner Andres Ochoa-Bünsow (Monterrey) was elected Chairman of the Policy Committee. He replaces Koen Vanhaerents (Brussels), who served as Chairman of the committee for the past three years. The Policy Committee consists of representatives from Baker & McKenzie’s offices throughout the world. Its primary purpose is to make recommendations to the Firm on policy issues, although it also has specific responsibilities such as electing new partners.
“Having had the privilege to work closely with David Hackett, David Jacobs and Koen over the years, their strategic vision and leadership has helped us attain much higher levels of overall performance, and for that, we are extremely grateful. I know they will remain actively involved in major strategic initiatives as they return to practice,” said John Conroy, Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Mr. Conroy added: “We congratulate Jeremy, Alan, Peter, Poh Lee and Andres on their new roles. They have demonstrated exceptional leadership and steadfast commitment to the Firm. We are confident they will factor prominently in our progress to achieve more ambitious objectives under our Firm Strategy.”
Alan Harvey, Executive Committee
Alan Harvey has been Baker & McKenzie’s Managing Partner in Dallas since 2008. He has extensive experience in counseling companies on securities and corporate transactions. Mr. Harvey has served as Chair of the Firm’s North American Financial Management Committee. He joined the Firm in 1992.
Jeremy Pitts, Executive Committee
Jeremy Pitts has been the Firm’s Managing Partner in Tokyo since 2003. His practice focuses on the areas of financial regulation, financial product development, and structured finance transactions. He has also served as Chair of Baker & McKenzie’s Steering Committee of the Global Banking and Finance Practice Group since 2004. Mr. Pitts joined the Firm in 1985.
Peter Engstrom, North America Managing Partner
Peter Engstrom has been a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee since 2007. He served as Managing Partner of Baker & McKenzie’s San Francisco/Palo Alto offices from 2001-2007. Mr. Engstrom has extensive experience in commercial and business litigation. He joined the Firm in 1988.
Poh Lee Tan, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Regional Council
Poh Lee Tan has been a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee since 2005. Her practice focuses on M&A and private equity transactions throughout the Asia Pacific region, with a particular focus on the technology, media, telecommunications sector. Ms. Tan joined the Firm in 1985.
Andres Ochoa-Bünsow, Policy Committee
Andres Ochoa-Bünsow served as an Executive Committee member from 2003-2005. His areas of practice include corporate law, mergers and acquisitions; securities; banking; partnership law; bank lending; commercial lending and other extensions of credit (general), and general commercial law. Mr. Ochoa-Bünsow joined the Firm in 1986.
Baker & McKenzie’s Executive Committee conducts the day-to-day affairs of the Firm and has primary responsibility for global management. Its duties include: developing and executing the Firm’s strategy; client management, development and service; practice development; financial performance of the Firm; quality maintenance and improvement; external relations, marketing and communications strategy; and Partner relations.
Other members of the Committee include: Rafael Jimenez-Gusi (Barcelona); Eric Lasry (Paris); and Roberto Mendoza (Caracas).
