Karl John Ege
Karl advises senior executives and boards on matters involving corporate governance, internal controls and corporate investigations.
Karl Ege returned to private practice in March 2008 after serving for more than 15 years as Chief Legal Officer for Russell Investments Group. While in that role he had global responsibility for Russell's legal, compliance, internal audit and risk management functions and was instrumental in developing Russell's international business.
At Perkins Coie, Karl is also involved in advising the firm's investment and financial services clients and emerging companies, as well as assisting on the firm's efforts in Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Karl is a former chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Business Law Section and was the Business Law Section Liaison to the ABA Task Force on Financial Markets Regulatory Reform. He is also a former chair of the Washington State Bar Association Business Law Section. Karl has served in a wide variety of leadership capacities at the American Bar Association, including as a founder and chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee. He is a former chair of the Corporate Laws Committee (drafters of the Model Business Corporation Act). Karl was actively involved in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and in 2008 participated as a delegate to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., with distinction, Order of the Coif, Managing Editor, Cornell Law Review, 1972
- Syracuse University, M.B.A., 1970
- Princeton University, B.S., Chemical Engineering, with honors, 1965
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Washington
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Related Employment
- 20 - 20 Investment Association, Director, 1994-2015; Vice Chair, 2006-2015
- Russell Trust Company, Chairman, 2007-2008
- Russell Investment Group, Board of Directors, 1992-1998; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, 1992-2007; Vice Chairman, 2006-2008
- Bogle & Gates PLLC, Associate, 1972-1977; Partner, 1978-1991
- United States Marine Corps, Captain, 1965-1969
Professional Recognition
American College of Governance Counsel, Fellow, 2015-present
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Corporate Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law, 1983-1991, 2016-2024
Listed in Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance, 2015-2017
"Jane T. Russell Heart and Soul Award," 2005
Impact
Professional Leadership
- American Bar Association
Section of Business Law
Chair, 2008-2009
Council Member, 1996-2000
The Business Lawyer, Editor-in-Chief, 2006-2007
Membership Committee, Chair, 1999-2002
Corporate Laws Committee, 1983-1989; 2009 - present; Chair, 2013-2016
Mergers & Acquisitions Committee, 1986-present; Chair, 1991-1995
Corporate Governance Committee, 1988-present
Special Investigative Committee, 2003
Standing Committee on Audit, 2010-2014
Standing Committee on Technology and Information Systems, Chair, 2003-2006
Board of Governors Investment Subcommittee, 2012-2014 - Pacific Council on International Policy, Member, 2002- 2012
- APEC Business Advisory Council, Alternate Member, 2006-2008
- Washington Council on International Trade, Chair, 1998-1999
- National Center for APEC, Board of Governors, 1994-2009
- Japan-America Society, Board Member, 1996-1999
- The Conference Board, Council of Chief Legal Officers, 1995-2001
Community Involvement
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Trustee, 2001-2006; 2007-2016
International Committee, Chair, 2007-2009
Executive Committee, 2008-2016
Finance Committee, 2008-2014; Chair, 2009-2014
- Seattle Opera, Trustee, 1994-2011; Treasurer, 1994-2001
- Seattle Rotary Club, Member, 1992-present; President, 2004-2005
- Cornell Law School Advisory Council, 1994-2011
- The Rainier Club, Board of Trustees, 2006-2013
Vice President - Operations, 2007-2009
Secretary, 2009-2010
President, 2011-2012