GC Influencers
Most Influential GCs - USA
Brian W. Ellis of Danaher Corporation
Brian Ellis was appointed as Danaher’s general counsel in early 2016, having previously served as chief legal counsel to Medtronic and held senior positions at GE Healthcare’s legal group. His role sees him advise on a broad spectrum of legal, regulatory and compliance issues at the science and technology conglomerate, while also taking charge of its environmental, health and safety group.
Under his stewardship, the legal department has continued to demonstrate its strong affinity for complex transactional mandates. Shortly after his appointment, the company spun off a significant segment of its industrials segments into Fortive, while last year the company announced its intention to also spin off its dental division into a new public company. This year also saw Ellis put his insider knowledge of GE Healthcare to good use in Danaher’s acquisition of his former employer’s biopharmaceuticals unit in a USD21.4 billion deal.
Prior to moving in-house, Ellis served as an Assistant US Attorney in Chicago and spent a number of years in private practice at Chicago firms Altheimer & Gray and Ungaretti & Harris.