The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and Responsibility.org today announced that Courtney J. Armour has started her new role as chief legal officer and corporate secretary of the two organizations.
“The board and I are pleased to have Courtney back at DISCUS in her new role as chief legal officer and corporate secretary,” says DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger. “Courtney’s expertise in antitrust law and deep knowledge of policy issues will greatly benefit our member companies at a critical time for the industry.”
Armour joins DISCUS and Responsibility.org from the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she was a member of the firm’s antitrust group. At Wilson Sonsini, Armour represented clients on competition matters in complex litigation, merger advocacy, product innovation and business counseling, and both domestic and foreign government investigations.
These matters involved representation before federal courts, the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission, and other state and foreign authorities.
Armour also served as a Competition Counsel Secondee to Google, Inc., in New York City, where she managed investigations and provided counseling on product innovations and business plans, both domestic and foreign.
Prior to receiving her juris doctor degree, cum laude, from Northwestern School of Law, Armour served as DISCUS’ state government relations manager.
Lynne Omlie, who served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary since 1989, will shift into a role at DISCUS as a senior advisor. Omlie will continue to oversee the DISCUS Code of Responsible Practices for Beverage Alcohol Advertising and Marketing and support the Code Review Board. She will also work closely with Swonger and Armour to continue to provide advice on important issues facing the beverage alcohol industry.
“Our member companies and I cannot thank Lynne enough for her passion and dedication to the organization and the countless contributions she has made to the spirits industry over the decades. I am extremely grateful for Lynne’s commitment to continue to serve in this important capacity,” says Swonger.
