GCs and the Greatest Challenges They Face

Brian T. Markley serves as Cahill's Co-Administrative partner and Co-Chair of the Ethics Committee.

Brian represents companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with civil litigation and internal investigations and inquiries by the DOJ, SEC and other governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations. He frequently investigates potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") and other anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in countries around the world, as well as allegations of accounting fraud, earnings management, workplace harassment and other misconduct. Brian also advises companies in connection with FCPA diligence for mergers, acquisitions and other investments in jurisdictions with high corruption risk and works with clients to implement effective post-acquisition compliance programs.

In addition, Brian represents financial institutions in connection with regulatory investigations, examinations, enforcement actions, litigations and internal investigations involving residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, credit default swaps and other complex financial products, as well as general commercial and securities litigation.

Brian has been recognized as a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation 2018 and was named to Global Investigations Review's “40 under 40” list of the world’s leading investigations lawyers in 2014. Brian began his legal career at Cahill in 2000 and was elected partner in 2009.

An entrepreneurial business lawyer and litigator, Antonio Gutierrez serves as First in Service Travel's (F1S) General Counsel & Chief Administration Officer, and as a member of the Board of Directors. He joined the company in March 2015. F1S is a global travel management company with offices in New York, Beverly Hills, Miami, London, Bogota, and Madrid. Antonio leads F1S' global legal and administrative operations, and as a member of the executive team he plays a significant role in the company's day-to-day management and long-term growth strategy, particularly in business development, sales, marketing, communications, and supplier relations.

Antonio began his career at LeClairRyan, an Am Law 200 law firm, where he practiced employment counseling and litigation, business litigation, and corporate and trademark law. Afterwards, he co-launched Plata Ferrer & Gutierrez LLC (PF&G), a business boutique law firm where he served as a founding partner for almost 5 years. At PF&G Antonio provided legal and business counsel to start-up and emerging growth companies, and non-profit organizations concerning business entity formation and related agreements, corporate law, intellectual property law, employment law, corporate governance, and financing and raising capital. Additionally, Antonio litigated shareholder and business disputes, and intellectual property disputes. Furthermore, he advised U.S. businesses interested in operating in Latin America. He worked closely with carefully chosen and highly informed local counsel to assist clients navigate local laws and regulations regarding business formation, the hiring of personnel, etc. Conversely, Antonio also counseled Latin American businesses interested in operating in the United States.

Antonio received his BA from American University in Washington, DC and his JD from Rutgers School of Law in Newark.

Thomas E. Ayres is the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Air Force and Chief Legal Officer and Chief Ethics Official for the Air Force at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. In this role, he provides oversight, guidance and direction for legal advice provided by more than 2,600 Department of the Air Force military and civilian lawyers worldwide.

Prior to his appointment as the General Counsel, Mr. Ayres spent the majority of his professional career as an active duty judge advocate. He retired from active duty as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army. As a Brigadier General, he served as the Commander of The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Commander, U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, and Chief Judge, U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Former key positions included: Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Staff Judge Advocate, Multi-National Corps-Iraq; Staff Judge Advocate, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg; and Staff Judge Advocate, 82d Airborne Division, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Early assignments included service as a Trial Counsel, Senior Prosecutor, and Chief of Criminal Law, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and as an Environmental Law and Litigation Attorney. Prior to serving as a judge advocate, Mr. Ayres served as an airborne rifle platoon leader, executive officer and personnel officer.