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Michael T. Williams, ’82 (JD), Appointed SVP, General Counsel of Staples, Inc.

Framingham, Mass. (November 14, 2012)—Today, Staples, Inc. announced that University of San Diego (USD) School of Law alumni Michael T. Williams, ’82 (JD), has been appointed senior vice president, general counsel and secretary effective November 7, 2012. Williams will have global management responsibility for the company’s legal team, reporting to Staples’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ron Sargent.

Before joining Staples, Williams was executive vice president, general counsel and secretary at Sony Electronics, Inc., where he was responsible for legal operations of several professional and consumer electronics companies in the U.S., Central America and South America. He spent 22 years in private practice before joining Sony in 2004, working at the law firms of Heller Ehrman LLP and Andrews Kurth LLP representing Sony and other Fortune 500 companies in a variety of aviation, anti-trust, unfair competiton, construction, product liability and commercial disputes. Williams also served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Williams was selected by USD School of Law and the Law Alumni Association Board of Directors as the 2010 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award—the highest honor bestowed upon alumni.  The award is presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves at an exemplary level, and who embody the high ethical standards and commitment to community service that USD School of Law instills in its graduates.

Read the full press release from Staples.