David Savner, Former General Counsel of General Dynamics, Returns to Jenner & Block

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Jan 18, 2010, 10:54 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- David A. Savner, the former Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for leading global defense contractor General Dynamics, has returned to Jenner & Block as a partner in the Firm's Chicago office.

During his nearly 12 years of service as the chief legal officer for General Dynamics, Mr. Savner was instrumental in helping to transform the company from a $4 billion enterprise into a $31 billion global leader in the defense industry. Prior to joining General Dynamics, Mr. Savner was a partner at Jenner & Block and Chair of the Firm's Corporate Practice.

"We are thrilled that David is returning to Jenner & Block," said Managing Partner Susan C. Levy. "David was a transformative leader at General Dynamics, a long-time client of the Firm. He possesses an incredible knowledge of corporate law and vast experience in handling the unique legal and regulatory issues facing today's publicly traded and privately held companies. We're excited that he will be joining our Corporate Practice again to continue his remarkable career."

"David brings to our Corporate Practice tremendous experience in handling the entire range of transactional, governance, compliance and securities matters, both within and outside the defense industry," said Joseph P. Gromacki, Chair of the Firm's Corporate Practice. "We are truly honored to have him join our team and to be able to offer his extraordinarily valuable strategic insights to clients."

At General Dynamics, Mr. Savner led a worldwide legal department of approximately 80 attorneys. During his tenure, he successfully pursued and executed a number of key acquisitions and transactions that helped General Dynamics evolve into a 21st century global leader in marine and land combat systems, aerospace, and information systems and technology.

"I am very excited to return to Jenner & Block," said Mr. Savner. "I have long admired, both as an in-house counsel and as a private practitioner, the Firm's unwavering commitment to its core values of providing exceptional client service and pro bono service to the needy. I look forward to building new client relationships, reconnecting with former colleagues as a partner, and giving back to the community at my new home."

During his tenure, Mr. Savner led the General Dynamics legal team in the company's acquisition and successful integration of over 50 businesses around the globe. Among his most notable accomplishments while at General Dynamics, Mr. Savner spearheaded the acquisition of the defense businesses of GTE Government Systems Corporation and Motorola; the purchase of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation; and the acquisition of the combat vehicle business of General Motors Corporation. In addition, he was a leader at the company in its purchase of the naval shipyards in San Diego, California and Bath, Maine, as well as the creation of General Dynamics' European land systems group. The aggregate value of these key acquisitions for the company is $20 billion. In the early 1990s, Mr. Savner led the Jenner & Block legal team in representing General Dynamics in the disposition of certain company assets, including the sale of the F-16 fighter aircraft program to Lockheed.

Mr. Savner left Jenner & Block in April 1998 to join General Dynamics as Senior Vice President of Law and Secretary. From May 1999 until the end of 2009, he served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the company. He is a 1965 graduate of Northwestern University and received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1968. He serves as a Director of Everybody Wins, a reading and mentoring program.

Mr. Savner rejoins a vibrant Corporate Practice at the Firm. The Corporate Practice has just completed a very active year. In 2009, the Firm served as lead M&A counsel to General Motors in the widely publicized 363 sale that enabled the automotive manufacturer to successfully emerge from bankruptcy. The Firm's corporate team also successfully completed transactions for companies such as General Dynamics, Bayside Capital, Honeywell, KPS Capital Partners, Viskase Corporation and Wolters Kluwer. In September 2009, Robert S. Osborne, former Group Vice President and General Counsel of General Motors, also rejoined Jenner & Block's Corporate Practice.

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