The Association of Corporate Counsel, the world's largest association of in-house counsel, has named James Merklinger, a long-time executive at ACC, as vice president and general counsel. In his new role, Merklinger will represent the organization on legal issues and advise the association on meeting the needs of the in-house counsel profession.

Merklinger, who joined ACC in 1995 as the director of legal resources, served most recently as ACC deputy general counsel and vice president of legal resources. Merklinger will continue to oversee the team responsible for developing ACC's array of legal resources to help in-house counsel do their jobs. He also is the lead executive working with 16 volunteer leadership committees organized by practice areas including employment, IP, litigation, IT and other key areas of law who contribute to the strategic development of the association's resources and education programs.

Merklinger was named ACC's Director of Large Law Programs in 2005, where he was the primary liaison some of the largest legal departments at companies around the world. He collaborated with faculty and members to develop relevant and insightful continuing legal education programs for in-house counsel in the U.S. and Canada. While in the position, Merklinger helped grow ACC's large law membership by more than 85 percent.