Around the house

General Motors (GM) has announced that former deputy general counsel for federal oversight Jeff Taylor has stepped up into the role of deputy general counsel and chief compliance officer. Prior to joining GM in November, Mr Taylor served as vice president and general counsel of Massachusetts-based Raytheon Integrated Defence Systems following a stint as chief executive of Ernst & Young’s Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services practice in the Americas. In his new role, Mr Taylor will report directly to GM executive vice president and general counsel Craig Glidden.

Gowling WLG is on the hunt for a new general counsel to replace incumbent GC Eddie Breen. Mr Breen announced his intention to step down from the role in October last year after 22 years with the firm, first with legacy Wragge & Co and then through successive mergers with Lawrence Graham & Co in 2013 and then last year with Canadian giant Gowlings. He will be working closely with Gowling WLG chief executive David Fennell to find a replacement, searching ‘not just outside the firm but also to other professional services firms and outside of law firms generally.’ Mr Breen’s successor will work closely alongside him for a two-month handover period commencing in August.

Meanwhile, Carol Mauch Amir has been named as the new senior vice president and general counsel of the University of Southern California. Ms Amir joined USC in 1999 and was named general counsel in 2008. Her latest promotion will expand her duties as a key strategic, business and legal advisor to the university’s senior management while continuing her leadership of USC’s Office of the General Counsel. She will also retain her position as secretary of the university.

Emerson Asia-Pacific president Sarah Yang Bosco will be taking over as the company’s new senior vice president, secretary and general counsel from May 15. Ms Bosco joined Emerson as general counsel for the Asia-Pacific region in 2005 and has been overseeing the global manufacturing and technology group’s corporate operations and strategic development as regional president since 2008. She will replace interim GC Timothy Westman, who is retiring this year after 30 years with Emerson.

Finally, US-based Atlas General Insurance Services has named Ryan Kirby has its new chief legal officer and general counsel. Mr Kirby was listed as a Super Lawyers rising star in 2016 and has represented a range of Fortune 500 companies, both within and outside of the insurance industry. Prior to moving in-house to Atlas, Mr Kirby practiced as an attorney at San Diego firm Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge.