PUBLISHED:June 05, 2009

David Ichel '78 to chair Duke Law Board of Visitors

David Ichel ’78 has been named chair of Duke Law School’s Board of Visitors (BOV) succeeding Michael Dockterman ’78, who will soon complete his two-year term as board chair. Ichel assumes leadership of the BOV, the Law School’s alumni advisory group, effective July 1, 2009.

“David Ichel is a dedicated volunteer who cares deeply about Duke Law, its faculty and students,” Dean David F. Levi says. “He knows the school and our community, and he is committed to helping us build on the loyalty and enthusiasm of our alumni body as we continue to move Duke Law forward even in challenging times.”

“As we welcome David into his new role, we are grateful to Michael Dockterman for his leadership these past two years,” Levi adds. “His counsel to me during my transition to the Law School was invaluable, and I am indebted to him for his efforts in introducing me to the Duke Law community and in helping all of us shape our priorities and goals for the future.”

Ichel is a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City where he focuses on a wide range of complex commercial litigation, including securities and banking litigation, class action defense, product liability and mass tort defense, antitrust and unfair trade practice claims, defamation, insurance coverage, and insurance company insolvency litigation. He also is a longtime volunteer and supporter of Duke Law School, having served as co-chair of the Law School’s Building Campaign Committee and as a member of reunion committees, the Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Law School’s Board of Visitors. He also is a past chair of the New York Metropolitan Duke Law School Alumni Association.

“I look forward to building on the enormous efforts and accomplishments of my predecessors as chair including Mike Dockterman ‘78, Peter Kahn ‘76, George Krouse ‘70, Bob Montgomery ’64, and John Lowndes ‘58,” Ichel says. “I plan to be available to advise Dean Levi and the Duke faculty on important issues to the Law School and to bring about even greater alumni participation in support of Duke Law School.”

The Board of Visitors is a reporting and recommending body to the Law School administration, the University administration, and the University Board of Trustees on matters of student development, alumni relations, fundraising, and faculty and academic affairs. Duke Law’s volunteer alumni boards are committed to communicating the interests of alumni and friends of the Law School to the dean and staff, representing the Law School in the greater community, and providing leadership for community-building initiatives and other programs that support the school.

As BOV chairman, Ichel says he hopes to help expand employment opportunities for Duke Law graduates; capitalize on the scholarly strength of faculty and the school’s newly renovated facilities to provide expanded educational offerings that meet the changing needs of legal practice; and further engage the school’s prominent alumni leaders in law firms, the judiciary, government, business, education and nonprofit organizations in mentoring programs to provide advice to law students about building leadership skills and career paths.

“I want to encourage any Duke Law alumnus who has not been back to the Law School in recent years to come and visit the tremendous new facility, see how energized and accomplished today’s students are, and get involved,” Ichel says. “I guarantee it will raise your spirits.”