Jason WEINTRAUB
Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel Jacuzzi Group
UC Berkeley School of Law
Jason Weintraub has had a stellar in-house career not just at Jacuzzi Group, where he has worked for the past four years, but also at companies such as Taco Bell, Broadcom Corporation, Bosch Home Appliances and El Pollo Loco (at the latter two companies, he served as chief legal officer). At Jacuzzi, he has led the deal team for two significant completed acquisitions in the past two years. The acquisition of Baths for Less allowed Jacuzzi Group to enter the bath remodel business. This is now the company’s fastest-growing segment, with revenue having increased by over 10 times since the closing date. The other acquisition was Vortex Leisure, the largest spa manufacturer and retailer in Australia/New Zealand, the third largest spa market in the world. These acquisitions allowed Jacuzzi Group to increase its global spa retail footprint by over 60%, while adding two global spa brands to its portfolio.
Weintraub also commenced litigation on multiple continents against a major spa business competitor to enforce Jacuzzi's intellectual property rights. He and his team obtained a complete victory less than six months after filing suit, including a worldwide commitment by the competitor not to sell the infringing product. He also successfully filed a declaratory judgment action against a significant bath business competitor who was threatening a patent infringement action. In that case, he obtained a favorable settlement less than three months after filing suit that cleared Jacuzzi's product for sale without restrictions or payment.
Weintraub has obtained $5.3 million in insurance recoveries in 2023 alone. He has also reduced Jacuzzi Group's global insurance premiums by over 50% in the past two years, saving over $9 million per year. Weintraub has also dramatically strengthened Jacuzzi's trademark/brand protection program for the globally famous Jacuzzi trademark. Results of that effort have included a 180% increase in enforcement activity; a 10 times increase in efficiency of infringement detections; a 95% enforcement success rate; and successful enforcement against four major global competitors without the need for litigation. In addition, Weintraub was promoted in 2023 to lead Jacuzzi's Regulatory, Employee Health & Safety (EHS) and ESG functions.
PRIVATE COMPANY ENTERPRISE FINALISTS
Lisa GOK
Chief Legal Officer
Cetera Financial Group
Columbia Law School
Lisa Gok has been a prominent figure in the Los Angeles legal community for over 25 years and has spent the last 12 years at Cetera Financial Group, where she now serves as chief legal officer. Her career began as an assistant U.S. attorney in the DOJ's organized crime and public corruption departments, handling complex cases like "Operation Broken Faith." After moving in-house in 2005, Gok held senior roles at Transamerica and Green Dot Corporation, where she led the company's legal team through its IPO in 2010. Her leadership also extended to Cetera’s acquisition of Avantax, adding 3,111 financial professionals and $82.3 billion in assets under administration. Her legal oversight has been crucial in both M&A and regulatory navigation, driving growth and positioning Cetera for continued success.
Ayano ICHIDA
Chief Legal & General Counsel
Aderans America Holdings, Inc.
USC Gould School of Law
Ayano Ichida is the chief legal/general counsel of Aderans America Holdings, Inc. (AAH), a global leader in innovative hair care solutions, including Hair Club for Men, Bosley and medical and beauty wigs. She plays a key role in AAH’s recent agreement to commercialize proprietary hair regeneration cell therapy technology. With over 25 years of experience, Ichida excels in legal, compliance and risk management across industries, such as entertainment, beauty and hospitality. She has successfully led international legal transactions and corporate strategies. A USC Gould School of Law graduate, she also serves as an adjunct professor and a board member of Grateful Crane. Fluent in English and Japanese, Ichida is known for her pragmatic, strategic counsel and global expertise.
Niloofar SHEPHERD
Deputy General Counsel–Litigation & Employment
Creative Artists Agency
UC Berkeley School of Law
Niloofar Shepherd serves as the deputy general counsel at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), overseeing legal aspects of the agency's growth in entertainment and sports and its expansion into new regions. She is primarily responsible for global litigation and employment matters while providing comprehensive legal support across CAA’s diverse businesses, including motion pictures, sports, television, fashion and brand consulting. Shepherd played a critical role in advising on the employment aspects of CAA’s acquisition of ICM Partners and managing the DOJ's antitrust review process. She successfully managed a two-year legal dispute between the Writers Guild of America and the Association of Talent Agents, leading to the resolution that reunited agents with their clients. A champion for employee welfare, she developed CAA’s employee-centered policies, including a leading anti-sexual harassment training program.
