WMACCA Corporate Counsel Awards Honor Washington Area Leaders

October 8, 2009 9:30 PM EDT

-- Awards celebrate accomplishments of in-house bar --

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA), the largest regional bar association for in-house counsel, today announced the winners of the Fifth Annual Corporate Counsel Awards. The awards honor the work of the region's leading in-house counsel practitioners over the past year in the categories of Outstanding Chief Legal Officer, Outstanding In-House Counsel, Outstanding Law Department, and Community Service. Held at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner in McLean, Va., the awards reception attracted a crowd of more than 300 people from the legal and business communities.

Chosen from a field of 15 finalists, the winners of the 2009 WMACCA Corporate Counsel Awards are:

    --  Outstanding Chief Legal Officer -- Michael J. Huppe, SoundExchange, Inc.
    --  Outstanding In-House Counsel -- John Thorne, Verizon Communications Inc.
    --  Outstanding Law Department -- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
        of America
    --  Community Service Award -- Paul Mamalian, Apptis, Inc.

"The successful in-house practice of law requires a unique blend of legal and non-legal skills, attention to company standards and industry trends, and an ability to provide tailored and proactive advice and counsel to our colleagues in our organizations," said Manik K. Rath, WMACCA president, and senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of LMI. "WMACCA is pleased to recognize our colleagues for their abilities and achievements, and it is wonderful to see the excitement these awards generate among the finalists and winners, and among their friends and colleagues."

"The talent and accomplishments of this year's finalists was truly impressive and made the judges' job a difficult one. We are proud to celebrate the energy, creativity, integrity and intelligence of these individuals and their departments," said Kevin S. Lapidus, vice president and general counsel of SunEdison, who is a WMACCA Board member and was chair of the Corporate Counsel Awards.

Michael J. Huppe, executive vice president and general counsel of SoundExchange Inc., was named Outstanding Chief Legal Officer in recognition of the legal strategy he created and employed to transform the landscape of digital music service. Through carefully coordinated litigation and lobbying, Huppe significantly increased the royalty rates that copyright holders and performers receive for the digital use of their recordings. The impact on the business has been huge, particularly for the smaller recording artists and independent record labels that receive royalties through sound exchange.

John Thorne, senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Verizon Communications Inc., was named Outstanding In-House Counsel for his leadership and involvement in Verizon's acquisition of Alltel, a transaction that made Verizon the largest wireless carrier in the United States. An expert in antitrust issues, Thorne was responsible for managing the competition issues raised by the merger, and his team conducted a great deal of the market analyses of more than 100 small markets central to the deal. For his work on the deal, Thorne was recognized as AmLaw Dealmaker of the Week in November 2008.

The Outstanding Law Department award went to the legal department of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Representing one of the main stakeholders in the health-care reform debate, PhRMA and its lawyers have taken a lead role in working with AARP, health insurance companies, the AMA and Congressional staff to help determine the form of proposed legislation. In addition, PhRMA attorneys helped shape a recent update to the industry's voluntary code of ethics on interactions with health-care professionals.

Paul Mamalian, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Apptis, Inc., was selected as the winner of the Community Service Award in recognition for his work with Street Law, a program that goes into high schools to help teach students a variety of law concepts, broadening their understanding of law and business. Mamalian finds it extremely gratifying to connect with "at risk" youth whose only prior dealings with the law may have been negative. Mamalian also was recognized for his involvement with the National Kidney Foundation of the National Capital Area for nearly 20 years. During that time he co-founded the local chapter's young members group (which became the prototype for the NKF's young members organizations around the country), served on the Board of Directors, and has volunteered for and chaired many events.

Lastly, in addition to the night's four competitive awards, WMACCA honored CG Appleby, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., with its Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award in recognition of his 30-plus years of exemplary service to that organization (including 11 years as Chief Legal Officer), as well as his leadership role in WMACCA and ACC. Among his accomplishments, Appleby played an instrumental role in Booz Allen's separation in 2008 of its U.S. government and global commercial businesses, as well as the sale of a majority stake in the U.S. government consulting business to The Carlyle Group. Appleby served as WMACCA's President in 1989 and also served on its Board. His department received the Employer of Choice Award from the Minority Corporate Counsel Association in 2004 for its commitment to diversity. Appleby has served in leadership roles in professional and charitable organizations, including Chairman of the Professional Services Council, President of the Northern Virginia Community Foundation, board member of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and member of the Board of Directors of the Fairfax County, Va. Chamber of Commerce.

The finalists were selected from a large pool of nominations submitted by the legal community at large in response to an open call for nominations. The panel of judges for the Corporate Counsel Awards is comprised of:

    --  Mike Daniels, Director, Sybase, and Former Chair of Mobile 365, Inc.,
        and Network Solutions, Inc.
    --  Robert E. Gans, VP of External Relations of WMACCA, Assistant General
        Counsel, CSC
    --  Fred Krebs, President of the Association of Corporate Counsel
    --  Kevin S. Lapidus, Immediate Past-President of WMACCA, Chair of the
        Corporate Counsel Awards, and Senior VP and General Counsel, SunEdison
    --  Frederick M. Lawrence, Dean and Robert Kramer Research Professor of Law,
        The George Washington University Law School
    --  Manik K. Rath, President of WMACCA, and Senior VP, General Counsel &
        Secretary, LMI
    --  Ryan M. Schwarz, Managing Director, U.S. Growth Capital Fund, The
        Carlyle Group
    --  Robert J. Spagnoletti, Immediate Past-President of the D.C. Bar, and
        Partner, Schertler & Onorato, LLP
    --  Louise M. Wager, VP, Government Contract Lending, TD Bank

About WMACCA

With more than 1,700 members, the Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA) serves the professional needs of in-house counsel in Washington, D.C., the Commonwealth of Virginia, and suburban Maryland. WMACCA is the largest chapter of the global Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). WMACCA members can participate in more than 60 substantive networking and professional development programs each year. WMACCA has been active in issues and education to encourage advancements in the standards of corporate legal practice. The Corporate Counsel Awards were created in 2005 in celebration of WMACCA's 25th anniversary. In just five years, the WMACCA Corporate Counsel Awards have become a well-recognized and sought-after honor for in-house community in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and suburban Maryland. More information about WMACCA is available on its Web site: http://wmacca.acc.com

    Source: Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA)

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