Andrew Kessler Email & Phone Number

Greater New York City Area

New York, New York

New York, New York

Responsible to lead a team of 17 professionals responding to several hundred subpoenas annually. Achieved substantial reductions in response time while improving quality. Responsible for collection, review and production of financial statement audit workpapers requested in SEC, PCAOB and Justice Department investigations. Achieved high level of compliance with requirements of government regulatory system. Responsible to drive improvements in the General Counsel's Office's protocols and procedures for litigation holds and pre-trial litigation support. Established in-house document review solution for complex legal matters resulting in 30% savings in review costs. Drove improvements in law department collaboration with firm's IT and Information Security groups resulting in 40% reduction in data loss incidents relating to the firm's legal function. Negotiated, drafted and managed vendor contracts to achieve 20% reduction in fees while gaining improved vendor services. Achieved 85% reduction in firm's orphan data storage and maintenance costs through well-conceived strategy of incremental document life-cycle management. Conceived and implemented annual paralegal training programs to address legal discovery challenges germane to the accounting industry.Provided timely and insightful legal advice to leadership regarding changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on e-discovery.

Served as a member of Skadden's Mass Torts/Products Liability litigation group Managed trial calendar of nationwide asbestos litigation for prominent U.S. insurer Performed extensive research re: historical use of asbestos in American industry Achieved decertification of nationwide breach of warranty class action filed against U.S. laptop manufacturer Successfully defended European pharmaceutical co. in the Taco Bell Starlink Corn Litigation Defended U.S. manufacturer against environmental claims brought by the City of New Orleans Member of defense team of major U.S. underwriters in the WorldCom Litigation Defended leading U.S. pharma company in insurance coverage litigation arising from failed diabetes drug Defended U.S. vaccine manufacturer during U.S. regulatory investigation and congressional hearings into the Flu Shot Shortage of 2004 Successfully defended against deportation more than a dozen African and European refugees

J.D. Cum Laude, Law

Activities and Societies: The Tax Lawyer -- Notes and Comments Editor

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science; Russian Language And Literature