Practices:

• Compliance and Investigations
• Corporate
  • Financing and Lending
  • Governance Center

Industries

• Financial Services

Experience

R. William "Bill" Ide is a Partner in the Atlanta office of McKenna Long & Aldridge, an international law firm. In his practice he focuses on representing boards of directors, audit committees and management with special investigations, crisis management ethics and corporate governance.

Mr. Ide currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) where he serves on the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of AFC Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFCE) where he chairs the Governance Committee and serves on the Audit Committee.

He is also chair of the Advisory Board to the Conference Board’s Governance Center, a senior fellow and co-founder of Emory University’s Directors Institute and he serves on the Audit and Governance Committees of the Clark Atlanta University Board of Trustees and on the Audit Committee of the EastWest Institute.

Mr. Ide formerly served as senior vice president and General Counsel of Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON), a $30 billion life sciences company, Counsel to the United States Olympic Committee and President of the American Bar Association. 

Mr. Ide received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University, J.D. degree from the University of Virginia and M.B.A. degree from Georgia State University.  He has lectured extensively and published numerous articles on corporate governance.  He was admitted to the Bar in both Georgia and the District of Columbia.

Notable Engagements

Mr. Ide focuses on representing boards of directors, audit committees and management with special investigations, ethics, corporate governance, crisis management and strategic advice including the following:

Has led successful 10A investigations for NYSE and NASDAQ board audit committees, extensive interface with the Big Four and relevant regulators.

Serves as standing counsel to the Audit Committee for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Reviewed compliance programs of Fortune 100 corporations and recommended extensive modifications to Boards which were accepted and implemented.

Led team that persuaded the U.S. government to overturn its suspension on doing business with a Fortune 200 multinational corporation within ten days. Avoided any negative publicity about the ban. Successfully distanced the corporation from previous executives under investigation.

Served as special counsel to a “reform” Board of Directors to resolve conflicting AmLaw 100 legal opinions as well as to recommend governance reforms and actions against former officers and directors of large insurance and financial services company. Instituted litigation against and received restitution from former executives and directors. Restored company’s reputation in the capital markets, thus enabling significant raising of capital.

Hired by major NYSE company to investigate suspicion of wrong doing in division. The investigation led to removal of the leader of a major business unit. Quickly alerted regulators to violations of law revealed by the investigation and worked with regulators to cure issues without incurring any penalties or negative publicity.

Represented NYSE company in a Section 10 A investigation requested by external auditor. The investigation provided comfort to the auditors and convinced them that no illegal acts had occurred, and that accounting treatment was correct, averting negative publicity.

Represented multinational company in developing and implementing a resolution to a threatened ban by European Union regulators of a major product line.

As Counselor to the United States Olympic Committee, oversaw the investigation of allegations of malfeasance during the bid for the Salt Lake City Games. Quickly uncovered wrong doing, developed correction strategy, and communicated to Committee, Board and appropriate regulators. Implemented and monitored mechanisms for future detection of violations and improved management controls.

Prepared a report for the Board of Directors of Fortune 200 multinational outlining steps the company had taken to address its governance issues. The report was furnished to regulators, and convinced regulators that the necessary reforms had been made and the issues resolved..

Participated in formulation and implementation of a global public affairs, legal, regulatory, government affairs and crisis management strategy to overcome health, environmental, nationalistic and cultural product acceptance concerns across the European Union, South America, Asia and Africa. Worked with country business leaders and consultants to tailor solutions appropriate to local markets. Further, oversaw aggressive and primarily successful defenses to regulatory and legal attacks on five continents.

Created and implemented Developing Countries outreach program to gain support of their leaders for plant biotechnology as a solution for hunger, nutrition and food security issues in their countries. Overcame several years of advance work performed by groups opposed to genetically modified foods and expanded education programs for consumers to reverse impression of bioengineering.

Successfully defended legal attacks in state and federal courts on powers of Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority to receive tax revenues and undertake eminent domain, resulting in creation of a sound basis for the financing and implementation of the $2 billion rapid transit system for the city.

Education

• J.D., University of Virginia
• M.B.A., Georgia State University
• B.A., Washington and Lee University, cum laude

Admitted

• Georgia
• District of Columbia