The American Kennel Club Appoints Jay W. Waks As Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry, has appointed Jay W. Waks as its Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

In this new role, Waks will serve as the chief legal officer of the AKC and its entities. He will report to Dennis Sprung, President and CEO of the AKC.

“I am pleased to welcome an attorney of Jay’s caliber to the AKC,” said Chairman of the Board, Ron Menaker. “His legal acumen and leadership skills will enhance an already talented legal department.”

“Jay’s work with AKC spans the past 19 years,” said Sprung. “His expertise and experience will be invaluable to our entire organization.”

As Sr. EVP and General Counsel, Waks will oversee key legal decisions, advise on laws affecting AKC, consult on all disciplinary matters and Trial Board hearings and select and manage its lawyers and the organization’s liability, property and commercial insurance programs. He also will be responsible for implementing and administering AKC’s arbitration program. Additionally, he will oversee the Compliance program and provide guidance in its operations.

“I truly am excited to join the AKC as it forges ahead,“ says Waks. “The dynamic history of the organization, its present work and its planned projects ensure a bright and promising future for the AKC and dog lovers everywhere.”

Waks has over 43 years of experience as a lawyer, all at Kaye Scholer LLP, prior to joining AKC. He was a Kaye Scholer litigation partner from 1981-2014, prior to stepping down under its Partnership Agreement, after which he served as Special Counsel. Waks is respected for his defense of U.S. and International companies in his private practice and is a recognized leader in resolving complex issues through internal investigations and application of dispute resolution programs. He has been a frequent media commentator, CLE lecturer and author; is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and ABA Foundation; member of The American

Law Institute; Advisor to ALI’s Restatement of Employment Law; and on the Members Consultative Group for ALI’s Model Penal Code: Sexual Assault and Related Offenses. He also is General Counsel/Board member of Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund; Board Member of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), chairing CPR’s Employment Disputes Committee for over 25 years; member of Executive Committee of the Federal Bar Council; member of Cornell ILR School’s Advisory Council and Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution’s Board of Advisors; past president of the Cornell Association of Class Officers; past chair of the Cornell University Council (Life Member) and Cornell Law School Advisory Council; and a National Finance Industry Employment Law Committee member. Jay has received the highest alumni awards of Cornell University, its ILR School and its Law School.