EY promotes deputy to GC as global legal chief announces retirement

David Weintraub will replace Michael Solender at the Big Four firm in July

David Weintraub Photo courtesy of EY

Big Four accounting firm EY has named David Weintraub as its next global general counsel and vice chair, replacing current GC Michael Solender who is retiring at the end of June.

Weintraub has been with EY since 2010 when he joined as US deputy GC before becoming global deputy GC in 2014. That has given him deep experience overseeing and coordinating EY’s global legal function, working with global, area and region leaders and serving as a key advisor to the company’s global executive team. He will take up his expanded role at the start of July.

EY provides consultancy, assurance, tax and transaction services to some of the world’s largest businesses.

In a statement, EY said: “Under David’s leadership, the legal function will continue its strong track record of enabling the objectives of EY’s businesses and protecting and defending the organisation.”

Prior to joining EY, Weintraub spent almost two years at investment bank JPMorgan Chase after it rescued his previous company Bear Stearns, where he spent just under five years before its collapse during the 2008 financial crisis. He also had earlier stints in private practice, spending six years as an associate at Arnold & Porter and two years at Debevoise & Plimpton.

Solender, meantime, is stepping down after more than 15 years with EY, the past 10 of them as global vice chair and GC. He originally joined in 2009 as Americas vice chair and GC. Before arriving at EY, he had a brief stint at Washington Mutual Bank as chief legal officer, having also previously worked at Bear Stearns, where he was GC until June 2008 after it was bought by JPMorgan.

Like Weintraub, he is also an Arnold & Porter alumni. He spent close to nine years in its Washington office, the final three as a partner before he joined the US Consumer Product Safety Commission as GC, his first in-house role.

Last November, EY’s big four accounting rival PwC hired Kylie Gray as GC of its Australia business, replacing interim GC Karen Evans-Cullen who had been standing in since July.

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