Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced Stephen "Steve" Roddenberry, a partner in the firm's Corporate Practice Group, garnered top recognition in the prized Directorship 100 list by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). The annual guide honors leading corporate directors, corporate-governance experts, policymakers and influencers, who made significant contributions to boardroom practices and performance. For nearly four decades, NACD has celebrated individual directors who serve as role models in promoting exemplary board leadership, oversight and courage in the boardroom.
Roddenberry's NACD nomination follows his numerous board roles performed since 2006 at World Fuel Services Corporation. Those include presiding director and chairman of the governance committee, as well as member of the compensation committee. World Fuel Services Corporation is a global leader in fuel logistics, specializing in the marketing, sale and distribution of marine, aviation and land fuel products and related services. NACD will recognize Roddenberry during the organization's Directorship 100 gala on Nov. 30 in New York, along with all other 2016 honorees. Further, NACD Directorship magazine will include profiles of these leaders in its November-December 2016 issue.
For more than 40 years, Roddenberry has specialized in corporate compliance and governance issues, public and private securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions and private equity. He has served as lead counsel to boards of directors, buyers, investors, sellers, special committees and other stakeholders in hundreds of mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and restructurings of private and public companies. Roddenberry has garnered longstanding recognitions as one of the leaders within the corporate and legal community, with rankings from Chambers USA and other publications.
"NACD is honored to recognize the achievements and commitment to boardroom excellence exemplified by these exceptional individuals. Effective corporate directors and governance leaders are nothing short of essential to the success of the enterprise — from creating and sustaining long-term value to serving as a guiding light in times of disruption," said NACD CEO Ken Daly. "The NACD Directorship 100 honorees set a standard for excellence that all directors should strive to meet."
NACD nominees are evaluated in four key categories: integrity, mature confidence, informed judgment and high performance standards. An independent selection committee reviews each nominee's history of advancing board performance and leading corporate governance practices in accordance with established NACD principles. The principles are a framework that encourages excellence in areas critical to boardroom leadership, including, but not limited to, risk oversight, corporate strategy, compensation and transparency.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 650 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 24 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2016). Akerman also is ranked among the top 60 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2016).