ACC today announced that it has appointed Susanna McDonald to serve as vice president & chief legal officer.
WASHINGTON (June 1, 2018) — The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), a global legal association representing more than 43,000 members in 85 countries, today announced that it has appointed Susanna McDonald to serve as vice president & chief legal officer (CLO).
In her new role, McDonald will lead the ACC legal department responsible for all Office of the General Counsel (OGC) responsibilities, including employment, compliance, and commercial matters. She will also oversee the association's advocacy efforts speaking out on behalf of the in-house bar, as well as legal resource development for members in 85 jurisdictions. McDonald also leads all of ACC's IT infrastructure and web development projects.
McDonald has served as a member of the legal team at ACC for 10 years, most recently as deputy general counsel and associate vice president, technology governance and compliance. She recently provided counsel on mergers in Australia and Hong Kong, as ACC welcomed members of the former Australian Corporate Lawyers Association and former Hong Kong Corporate Counsel Association into the ACC membership base. She also advised on ACC chapter incorporation in the Middle East and Europe, taking into account laws of multiple jurisdictions. McDonald has also managed all matters of compliance and privacy for ACC, including issues specific to non-profits and membership organizations.
"In her tenure at ACC, Susanna has taken on complex legal issues during a time of increased regulatory scrutiny and especially new privacy laws," said Veta T. Richardson, ACC President & CEO. "She has always provided thorough counsel and risk analysis, and we look forward to her strong leadership of the entire legal function. I am especially pleased to welcome Susanna to ACC's executive management team!"
McDonald assumes the CLO role from Amar Sarwal, who held the position of CLO and senior vice president of advocacy and legal services until his resignation, effective June 1, to spend time as a stay at home father.
"I look forward to leading the Office of the General Counsel, advancing ACC's advocacy efforts, and managing the team that develops the legal resources our members rely upon in their daily work," McDonald said. "I am honored to lead a legal department that serves not only ACC but our more than 43,000 members around the world."
A cum laude graduate of Delaware Law School, McDonald is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association. Prior to joining ACC, McDonald worked as counsel and director of information for CMS, a technology company based in Delaware. Earlier in her career, she was a software developer for the insurance, banking, and petrochemical industries, where her contributions included developing a system for managing complex toxic tort litigation claims.
About ACC: The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global legal association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for corporations, associations and other organizations through information, education, networking, and advocacy. With more than 43,000 members in 85 countries employed by over 10,000 organizations, ACC connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.® For more information, visit www.acc.com and follow ACC on Twitter: @ACCinhouse.