George W Koch

Mr. Koch has a general business practice that focuses on business affairs, association governance and management, and legislation and regulation analysis and advocacy at the federal and state levels as well as in the European Union.  He has broad experience and knowledge of international, national, state and local public policy development and substantial experience in association governance and the operation and management of trade and professional associations. Prior to joining K&L Gates in 1990, Mr. Koch served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc. (GMA).  GMA is a national trade association for the major branded goods manufacturers in the United States. Mr. Koch served as North American Counsel for the International Center for Companies of the Food Industry (CIES).  The CIES, which is headquartered in Paris and has offices in Washington, DC and in Tokyo, includes 500 member companies in over 45 countries.  CIES retail members generate annual global sales of approximately $1.2 billion, employ over 2 million people, and operate close to 206,000 stores worldwide. Mr. Koch has also served as Congressional Advisor to the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN), an international organization which brings together business executives on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Members of the U.S. Congress and European Parliament, representatives of the U.S. State and Commerce Departments, trade officials from the U.S. and the European Commission to discuss important current issues affecting the U.S.-EU partnership. Mr. Koch formerly served on the Boards of Directors of Borden Chemicals and Plastics, Inc. as well as McCormick & Company, Inc.  In addition to his corporate boards, he served on the Board of Directors of the Watchdogs of the Treasury, the Advisory Council of the International Executive Service Corps and the Board of Trustees for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. He served in the Cincinnati City Solicitor’s office while in law school and following graduation he was appointed Assistant City Solicitor.  He was Associate Director of the Ohio State Council of Retail Merchants.  He then joined Sears, Roebuck & Company to establish their Washington office where he served as Director of Federal Affairs for six years.  In 1966, Mr. Koch became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grocery Manufacturers of America.  After 24 years, he retired from that position and became a partner at K&L Gates.