By William Martin

USCIB Senior Vice President for Development

USCIB covers a comprehensive set of international policy issues that truly makes us a “one-stop shop” for international advocacy. As such, we touch many different areas of a corporation, including departments such as government affairs, environment, health and safety, tax, legal and privacy. While you may be interested in one or two particular issues that we cover, it is important to note that other parts of your company can take advantage of your membership as well.

Late last year, we created a Corporate Counsel Subcommittee as part of USCIB’s Committee on Arbitration. The subcommittee, chaired by Roland Schroeder of General Electric, provides a forum at which corporate counsel can exchange ideas and gain a better understanding of arbitration and ADR, with a view to making it more cost- and time- efficient and responsive to business needs. The subcommittee provides a forum for members to provide direct feedback on the workings of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and highlights the particular advantages of arbitration under the ICC’s rules.

Besides developing targeted services and communication to corporate counsels, we also want to raise our profile within this community. As such, we are co-sponsoring an intellectual property conference this April in New York, organized by Argyle Executive Forum, at which senior corporate counsel will discuss how their companies are wrestling with global IP issues.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to learn how you can get involved.

Alison Hoiem can be reached at (202) 682-1291 or ahoiem@uscib.org.

In Memoriam: Bill Eberle, Christopher Phillips

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of William D. Eberle, the U.S. trade representative in the 1970s who later served as president of USCIB and remained actively engaged with us since then. Mr. Eberle passed away on April 3 at his home in Concord, Mass. at age 84.

A native of Boise, Idaho, Mr. Eberle served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served two terms in the Idaho state legislature, then went on to co-found the pulp and paper company Boise Cascade, and later served as CEO of American Standard. President Nixon appointed him as special trade representative for the United States in 1971.

He was very active in the work of the International Chamber of Commerce, chairing its international trade commission, and serving on its executive board and finance committee. For many years, Mr. Eberle chaired USCIB’s Policy Coordinating Committee. At his death he was a USCIB Vice Chair and Trustee.

“Bill Eberle was an outstanding statesman in every sense of the word,” said USCIB President Peter M. Robinson. “He was steadfast in his commitment to open markets and free trade, and his personal dedication to organizations like ours that he chose to work with was nothing short of remarkable. He will be sorely missed.”

We also regret to announce the passing of another distinguished former president of USCIB, Christopher Phillips, who died on January 10 in Gloucester, Mass., age 87. Mr. Phillips was a career U.S. diplomat who served as executive head of the organization from 1965 to 1969. He returned to government service following his years with the Council, and he was named U.S. ambassador to Brunei under President Reagan.

Member News and Notes – At a March 13 dinner in Paris, Richard A. Johnson, senior partner with Arnold & Porter, LLP and chair of USCIB’s Biotechnology Committee, was presented with the BIAC Leadership Award by the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD. “Rick’s award is very much deserved,” commented BIAC Chairman Charles Heeter. Mr. Johnson also chair’s BIAC’s Biotechnology Committee. … USCIB’s board of directors, the Executive Committee, is pleased to announce the following elected appointments: Inge Thulin, 3M (Vice Chair); Ron Baukol (Senior Trustee); Jim Quigley, Deloitte (Trustee); Stephen Tritch, Westinghouse Electric Company (Trustee); Dick Crawford, McDonald’s (Executive Committee); Bill Sterrett, Roanoke Trade Services (Executive Committtee); Barclay Resler, Coca-Cola (Executive Committee).

USCIB staff news – Welcome to Bridgett Edwards, who joined USCIB as an Administrative Assistant for the Issuing and Marketing section of USCIB’s Carnet Department. Most recently Bridgett worked in the entertainment practice at the law firm Greenberg Traurig.