Occidental Petroleum Corporation announced that John C. Ale will be named Vice President and General Counsel. Donald P. de Brier will remain with the company as Corporate Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary with continuing responsibility for legal; health, safety and environment; public affairs and corporate communications; and security.
“John Ale brings to Oxy outstanding academic and professional credentials and extensive knowledge of our industry. We believe he will be a valuable asset to the company,” said Dr. Ray R. Irani, Executive Chairman of Occidental Petroleum Corporation.
“Among his impressive qualifications, John has over 30 years’ experience in the energy sector with two of America’s premier law firms. We are pleased to welcome this distinguished legal professional to our management team,” added Stephen I. Chazen, Occidental’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Ale, 57, was most recently the partner leading the Houston office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Prior to joining Skadden in 2002, he was a partner with Vinson & Elkins LLP in Houston and later was Managing Partner of the firm’s London office. Mr. Ale holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors in Economics from the University of Virginia, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Executive Editor of the Virginia Law Review. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Warren E. Burger, Chief Justice of the United States.
