Luxembourg business JournaL Luxembourg-American Chamber … · 2017. 12. 19. · Luxembourg usiness Journal: Q.4.2011 3 luxembourgbusiness.orgww. w A KRON, Ohio – The days of manually

2. New U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg 3. Goodyear Innovation 4. Netflix European Headquarters 5. Consular Meeting in Washington, DC 6. New Honorary

Consul 7. “Luxembourg House” Book Launch 9. EACC Networking 10.Fall Kickoff 11. ICT Seminar 13. Deloitte Seminar 14. Special Feature: Higher Education in

Luxembourg 19. Corporate Litigation Seminar 21. Mayor´s Office 23. Luxembourg Fest 25. Dr. Félicien Steichen 26. NYC Marathon 26. New Design 27. New Members

Symposium on Higher Education and Scientific Research in Luxembourg

2.

Also in This Issue:

3. 13. 23.

Luxembourg business JournaLLuxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce

Q.4

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© University of Luxembourg - Luc Deflorenne

2Luxembourg Business Journal: Q.4.2011www.luxembourgbusiness.org

Robert A. MandellAmbAssAdor of the

United stAtes of AmericA to the

GrAnd dUchy of LUxemboUrG

The U.S. Embassy announced that Ambassador Robert A. Mandell

presented his credentials to H.R.H Grand Duke Henri on November 16, 2011.

Following his nomination by President Barack Obama and confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Robert A. Mandell was sworn in as the 21st Ambassador of the United States of America to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on October 25, 2011, in Washington, DC.

Prior to becoming the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, he was Chairman and CEO of Greater Properties Inc., a closely held commercial real estate venture in Central Florida. Previously, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Greater Construction Corp. from 1998 until 2005. Greater was a family-owned homebuilding business established in Central Florida in 1965. During its history, Greater built 45 new communities in which it sold more than 12,000 homes in Central Florida. In October 2005, Greater Construction was sold to Meritage Homes, Inc., an Arizona company, and became part of the twelfth-largest homebuilder in America.

Ambassador Mandell has been involved in several capacities in the federal, state, regional and local governments. Two years ago President Barack Obama appointed him to serve on the President’s Export Council, where he was Vice Chairman of the Trade Promotion and Advocacy Subcommittee, as well as a member of the Small and Medium Sized Business Engagement Subcommittee. He took an active part in advancing President Obama’s goal of doubling exports within five years.

He also served on the Board of Directors of Florida Hospital, a 2000-bed, acute care hospital in Florida and part of the Adventist Health System. The Ambassador also was on the Audit and Finance Committee of the Adventist Health System. Other boards he has served on include the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research of LaJolla, California, and the Vermont Studio Center. He also was on the Central Florida Advisory Board of Orange Bank.

Additionally, Ambassador Mandell was Chairman of the State of Florida Environmental Regulation Commission

from 1987-1990; Chairman of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority in 1990 and 1991 and Vice Chairman from 1992 to 1995. He was a member of Orange County Chairman Richard Crotty’s Transportation Commission in 2002 and the Blue Ribbon Panel on Education for the Orange County Public School System in 2004-2005.

The Ambassador is a 1969 graduate of the University of Florida with a BS in Advertising and, in 1972, a Juris Doctor degree. He is an “AV” rated lawyer in the Martindate-Hubbell legal list. In addition, he graduated from the Harvard Business School’s OPM Executive Program in 2000.

Ambassador Mandell is married to Julie Walker Mandell and is the father of two boys: Zack, 26, and Xan, 20. Mrs. Mandell has two children: Lauren, aged 17, and Daniel, 25. The Ambassador’s hobbies are painting, traveling, and reading.

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg news


AKRON, Ohio – The days of manually adding air to under-inflated tires could be

a distant memory thanks to a new innovation under development in laboratories at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.Keeping tires properly inflated doesn’t just eliminate the practice of checking a tire’s air pressure and finding a tire pump and gauge that works. It also can mean real savings at the fuel pump.

Whether you drive a passenger vehicle or a commercial truck, underinflated tires result in between a 2.5 percent and 3.3 percent decrease in fuel mileage, according to government and industry research. At today’s prices, that translates to about 12 cents per gallon at the pump.

Properly inflated tires also result in lower emissions, longer tire life, enhanced safety and improved vehicle performance.Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) will enable tires to remain inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics. All components of the AMT system, including the miniaturized pump, will be fully contained within the tire.“While the technology is complex, the idea behind the AMT system is relatively simple and powered by the tire itself as it rolls down the road,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear

senior vice president and chief technical officer. “A tire that can maintain its own inflation is something drivers have wanted for many years. Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging,” said Kihn. “This will become the kind of technological breakthrough that people will wonder how they ever lived without.”Goodyear did not provide an estimate as to when this technology would be available at tire retailers, but said the timetable would be accelerated due to recent government research grants in United States and European Union.The United States Department of Energy’s Office of Vehicle Technology Wednesday announced it has awarded a $1.5 million grant for research, development and demonstration of the AMT system for commercial truck tires. The grant will be administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory and work will be conducted at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio.In July, Goodyear successfully applied for a grant from the Luxemburg government for research and development of an AMT system for consumer tires. That work will be conducted at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg. “While similar in concept, there are significant differences in AMT systems for consumer and commercial tires,” said Kihn. “The tangible support from both the U.S. and Luxembourg

governments underscores the value of these projects and the many positive benefits they can provide drivers around the world.” In addition, The DOE’s Office of Vehicle Technology today also announced that it will award a $1.5 million grant for a joint project between PPG Industries and Goodyear to improve the rolling resistance and fuel efficiency of tires. The project’s objective is to increase average fuel efficiency of passenger vehicle fleets through use of new tread and inner liner technologies.

“Advanced technologies that are invisible to the human eye – like those we are working on with PPG – will help to dramatically improve fuel efficiency of tires while maintaining other important qualities such as traction and tread-life,” said Kihn.Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs approximately 73,000 people and manufactures its products in 54 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.

For more information about Goodyear and its products, please go to www.goodyear.com.

New Goodyear Innovation Could Make Tire Pumps ObsoleteGovernment GrAnts to heLp QUicken deveLopment

Luxembourg news


Luxembourg Selected For Netflix European Head Office

Luxembourg news

Luxembourg/San Francisco, On December 5th, 2011, the Government

of Luxembourg announced that Netflix, Inc. is locating its European headquarters in Luxembourg.

Netflix is the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying films and TV shows, with over 20 million streaming members in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Offering a broad range of Hollywood, international and local movies and TV shows, Netflix has revolutionized entertainment by giving people a choice to enjoy what they want to watch, when they want to watch it, for a low monthly price over a wide range of Internet-connected devices.

Netflix has announced plans to open its service in the UK and Ireland in early 2012. The company has been streaming to U.S. members since 2007, adding Canada in 2010 and 43 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in September 2011.

“The decision by Netflix to establish its European operations center in Luxembourg

is a very exciting development,” said Jeannot Krecké, Luxembourg Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade. “We welcome their presence and look forward to their European expansion.” “Netflix’s choice of Luxembourg is further testimony of the country’s leadership in media and digital content delivery,” said François Biltgen, Minister for Communications and Media.“We are delighted to be establishing our European base in Luxembourg, joining the many Internet companies that have found it a great place to do business,” said Netflix Chief Financial Officer David Wells.

Products & ServicesWith more than 20 million streaming members in the United States, Canada and Latin America, Los Gatos, California-based Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. For about USD 7.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed over the Internet to PCs, Macs, and TVs. Among the large

and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, home theater systems, digital video recorders and Internet video players; Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, more than 700 devices that stream from Netflix are available. For additional information, go to Netflix.com.

About Luxembourg for Business Netflix joins many other leading companies that have established a location in Luxembourg as a result of Luxembourg’s major media and IT industry development effort during the past years. Among the other companies are iTunes, Amazon.com, Symantec, Skype, Kabam and PayPal. For more information about doing business in Luxembourg, visit www.investinluxembourg.lu/ict or www.investinluxembourg.us.


current state, challenges and opportunities and the tasks of the TIO in promoting Luxembourg.

Honorary Consuls play a vital role in the representation of a country with their responsibilities outlined in articles 63-67 of the Vienna Convention. They are volunteers who help the overseas Posts provide a more accessible and responsive service to Luxembourg citizens and third parties interested in the Grand Duchy. In countries as vast as the United States and Canada this is an invaluable support and was well reflected in the home locations of the Honorary Consuls ranging from Hawaii to Florida and from British Columbia/Canada to Missouri and Louisiana. The function of the Honorary Consul falls into three main areas: Consular work: Luxembourg Nationals, who find themselves in personal difficulties or have enquiries related to consular matters, will be able to receive direct assistance from the Honorary Consul.Commercial work: The Honorary Consul can act as a link between Luxembourg and

local institutions and businesses, helping to develop cooperation and joint working between commercial and non-commercial organisations. Representation: At events and public functions the Honorary Consul will be able to act as a representative of the Grand Duchy.The LACC was pleased to have the opportunity to present the activities of the Chamber, as this was a valuable step towards ensuring the close cooperation between the Honorary Consuls and the LACC.

At a festive dinner Mrs. Fernande Kuykendall from Scottsdale, Arizona was welcomed as new Honorary Consul. Congratulations - the entire LACC team wishes her all the best for her new assignment!

Please also see the following links for more information:www.mae.lu/enhttp://washington.mae.lu/enhttp://newyork-cg.mae.lu/enhttp://sanfrancisco.mae.lu/enwww.luxembourgforbusiness.luwww.luxamculturalsociety.org/www.luxembourgbusiness.org

H.E. Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger graciously hosted a Consular Meeting

at the Luxembourg Embassy in Washington, DC on October 11th -12th. The Ambassador was joined by Consuls General François Knaff from New York and Georges Schmit from San Francisco, representatives from the Luxembourg Embassy in Washington, Kevin Wester representing the Luxembourg American Cultural Society in Wisconsin and Tatjana Schaefer from the LACC. The purpose of this get together was an update of Luxembourg’s Honorary Consuls in the U.S. and Canada on topics pertaining to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg covering history, economy and visa issues. A unique testimonial to Luxembourg as an outstanding business location was given by Mr. Tip Osterthal, President and CEO of SES World Skies Government Solutions who presented his company which is headquartered in Luxembourg and has been a global success story in the satellite business. He was followed by Mr. Knaff and Mr. Schmit, who not only head the Consulates General but also represent the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office (TIO). They gave an overview of Luxembourg’s economy, its

Consular Meeting at the Embassy of Luxembourg in Washington, DC

Us news

H.E. Ambassador Senninger with participants of the Consular meeting


PwC Canada Senior Manager

Tax Services Ulrika Laurence

Appointed Foreign Trade Counsellor by

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

news north America

On June 20, 2011, Ms. Ulrika Laurence, Indirect Tax Senior Manager with PwC

in Toronto was appointed Foreign Trade Counsellor of Luxembourg in Toronto, Canada. Ulrika worked in Luxembourg from 2001 to 2008 where her focus was on the relocation of companies from both inside and outside the European Union to Luxembourg.

BackgroundBorn in Bavaria, Germany, Ulrika went to the University of Applied Sciences in Regensburg, Germany, graduating with a double major in Foreign Trade (Applied Economics) and Accountancy (Business Studies) in 1994.

Upon graduation, Ulrika was offered a position within the International Indirect Tax Refund Group at the German-British Chamber of Industry and Commerce in London, United Kingdom (UK). Her

international career with Big 4 Audit Firms led her to subsequent placements in Germany (1996 – 1999), UK (1999 – 2001), Luxembourg (2001 – 2008) and now Canada.

Within PwC, Ulrika has worked with many industry sectors, with particular emphasis in Technology, Information, Media und Telecommunication (TICE) for international companies and their Indirect Tax issues in Europe. Recognizing that Luxembourg has the lowest VAT rate within the European Union and offers tremendous benefits for the TICE industry, in 2001 Ulrika moved to Luxembourg to practise first in an advisory role and then in 2006 with PwC as a Director of Indirect Tax. Ulrika has published numerous articles on Indirect Tax issues in newspapers, business magazines and client newsletters. She has presented at various client

conferences on Luxembourg’s VAT advantages as well as to the Luxembourg Board of Economic Development (www.luxembourgforbusiness.lu).

In 2008, Ulrika and her husband moved to Canada where Ulrika is now with PwC Toronto consulting on international Indirect Tax issues. In her role as a Foreign Trade Counsellor to Luxembourg, Ulrika will consult and advise Canadian companies expanding into Luxembourg as well as Luxembourg companies venturing into Canada.

Ulrika Laurence PwC | Senior Manager, Tax ServicesPhone: (+1) 416 687 8106 E-mail: [email protected] LLPRoyal Trust Tower, TD Centre, Suite 3000Toronto ON M5K 1G8www.pwc.com/ca

From left to right: Luc Decker, Advisor Economic Development, Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg; Jeannot Krecké, Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg; Ulrika Laurence, Luxembourg Foreign Trade Counsellor and Senior Manager Indirect Tax with PwC in Toronto, Canada; and François Knaff, Consul General of Luxembourg in New York at a meeting in Toronto during the Luxembourg Economic Mission in North America (July 6, 2011).


events

“Dear Apex 2011 Winner: Congratulations!”

In June 2011, a package with an unfamiliar logo affixed to it arrived at the Consulate

General of Luxembourg in New York.

The five judges of the prestigious Apex Award for Publication Excellence had finished deliberating. The Luxembourg House on Beekman Place: Three Portraits in Time was selected 2011 winner in the One-of-a-Kind Custom Publications category. Apex had received over 3,300 entries of which 247 were submitted in the book’s winning category. “We won”!

The twentieth anniversary of the acquisition of 17 Beekman Place by the Government

of Luxembourg for its new Headquarters provided an unique occasion for the Consulate General of Luxembourg to publish a book about the untold story of the house and its three successive owners: the first U.S. secretary of defense James V. Forrestal; American legend songwriter Irving Berlin; and the Luxembourg Government in New York.

Launched in New York on October 20, 2010 at a business award event organized by the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce, H.R.H. Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and H.E. Mr. Jeannot Krecké, Luxembourg Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade, were the two fortunate individuals to receive the first copies. With further distribution, the book ultimately reached a wide array of individuals

and organizations in the United States of America, in Luxembourg, and beyond.

While letters of appreciation kept pouring into the office, the book was entered in several competitions. Consul General François Knaff decided to enter the book in several national competitions. Copies were sent to The New York Society Library Book Awards 2010, IPPY, 2011 Apex Awards, and others – for which results are still pending.

The Consulate’s winning publication reveals the unique story of 17 Beekman Place’s inhabitants. However, like many residences, the house still holds secrets within its walls. So it was fitting that the 2011 Apex Award Certificate would remain hidden from public knowledge and from the book team for just for just a little while….

THE LUXEMBOURG HOUSE ON BEEKMAN PLACE:three portraits in time receives the 2011 Apex Award for publication excellence commerative book and authors honored at special presentation

Three eras of Luxembourg House owners were represented at the book signing. Front row (seated) – left to right: Mary Ellin Barrett, eldest daughter of Irving and Ellin Berlin; Katherine (“Kit”) Callahan Forrestal, widow of Peter Forrestal, youngest son of James Forrestal; Linda Emmet, middle daughter of Irving and Ellin Berlin. Second row – left to right: Kathy McGilvery, art director; Millicent Ogden McKinley Cox, great-niece of Jo Forrestal; Pamela Hanlon, author; Debra Pickrel, project director and author; Francesca Forrestal, daughter of Kit Forrestal; Hon. François Knaff, Consul General of Luxembourg in New York; Marianne Matthews, author; Terry Hudak, contributor; and Laurence Pierron, executive assistant, Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office, and production director of the book. Back row – left to right: Peter Matson, grandson of Mary Ellin Barrett; Edward Emmet, son of Linda Emmet; Katrina McKinley Cox, daughter of Millicent Cox.


A One-Of-A-Kind Celebration for a One-of-a-Kind Publication

An event was planned to unveil the award to the unaware book team, guests, and media. For one evening, 17 Beekman Place would become the stage for accomplished writers and performers to deliver a short “rendition” of The Luxembourg House on Beekman Place: Three Portraits in Time, including their personal stories behind the book and offering public recognition to their respective contributors: family members of James & Jo Forrestal and Irving & Ellin Berlin, and officials from the Luxembourg Government.

On July 13, 2011, the special book presentation took place on the two first floors and in the ground-floor garden of the townhouse to honor co-authors Debra Pickrel, Pamela Hanlon, Marianne Matthews, art director Kathy McGilvery, and architect Terry Hudak, floor plan contributor.

Incorporating music into a book presentation is a rare occurrence, but it was a natural fit to the story of 17 Beekman Place. Glory Crampton, Broadway veteran with piano accompanist Michael Lavine, and Michel Reis, Luxembourg jazz pianist/composer joined the authors “on stage” following Consul General Knaff ’s opening remarks to the 140 guests.Say it with music, sing it with wordsGlory Crampton, whose great-grandfather, composer A. Baldwin Sloane, worked alongside Irving Berlin as a founding member of ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) took center stage with Cole Porter’s It’s D’Lovely hit song, inviting the audience on a journey going back to James & Jo Forrestal and their friendship with the iconic composer.

“Tonight, we are pleased to have with us Peter Forrestal’s widow, Katherine Callahan Forrestal and their daughter, Francesca – The Forrestals’ only grandchild” announced Debra Pickrel, author of the prologue and chapter one, The Forrestal Years. After explaining how the idea of writing the book emerged (see related sidebar), she then recommended the audience take a close look at the pine-paneled elevator with sunray

detail – “a must see,” she said.

Following Pickrel’s talk, Glory Crampton introduced The Berlin Years chapter with the song The Hostess from the Mostes’ on the Ball, an Irving Berlin composition written at 17 Beekman Place, taken from the musical Call Me Madam which tells the true story of the first U.S. female minister appointed in Luxembourg.

Pamela Hanlon, author of chapter two, The Berlin Years, tipped off the audience about the mysteries around Mr. Berlin’s many pianos in the house. “I am particularly grateful to the Berlin daughters, Mary Ellin Barrett and Linda Emmet here with us tonight,

for their tremendous effort in providing source material for my chapter,” concluded Hanlon. She also thanked Elizabeth Peters, the youngest daughter, who could not attend.

Michel Reis, second prize recipient of the solo piano competition at Montreux Jazz Festival, closed up chapter two and introduced chapter three with his own interpretation of Berlin’s How Deep is the Ocean – composed in 1932 when the Forrestals moved into their property - followed by Reis’ composition Fairytale. Marianne Matthews, author of chapter three, The Luxembourg Years, talked about the transformations necessary to turn the townhouse into an office space, while maintaining the public spaces the way the Berlins had them. Matthews added: “I would

like to take a moment to recognize key player and visionary former Consul General, Egide Thein, who found the property; Michel Frank, architect in charge of the renovations; H.E. Ambassador Sylvie Lucas for sharing insights about the mission of Luxembourg at the United Nations. Edward Emmet, grand-son of the Berlins; Anna Mae Wallowitch, sister of the late John Wallowitch who started a Christmas caroling tradition honoring Berlin; and, also several individuals featured in the book: photographers Michael Anton and Wade Zimmerman; violinist/composer Raimundo Penaforte; and of course, Glory Crampton and Michel Reis”.

The secret is out… Creating some suspense at the conclusion of the program, Consul General François Knaff invited art director Kathy McGilvery and Terry Hudak to join the authors “on stage” while the well-kept secret was about to be unveiled.

Mr. Knaff announced: “I now congratulate all involved in the making of this book for the impressive accomplishment of winning the 2011 Apex Award”. The audience and the book team in particular, were elated. One guest whispered “… and they even won an Award!” That guest was Edward Emmet. Smiles were on all faces and guests rushed to the first floor to receive signed copies of the book.

A Historical Moment for PosterityDecorated with photographs depicting the house’s occupants and its elegant rooms over time as well as letters from renowned individuals include H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri and President Barack Obama, the Luxembourg House instantly became the scene of a never-to-be-repeated occasion.

For the very first time, members of the Forrestal and Berlin families, as well as Luxembourg representatives, gathered at 17 Beekman Place for a joint celebration.

The evening was undoubtedly one of the most historic events that took place at in the house….. almost like a Fairytale.Start Spreading The News… Right There in Old New York...

events


eventsThe Luxembourg House on Beekman Place: Three Portraits in Time has prompted more online and print media attention than any coverage on the house since 2005. A July 3rd New York Times book review by Sam Roberts in “An Era When the City Roared,” was followed by features on DNAinfo.com, a New York neighborhood news Web site and in Our Town, a publication and partner Web site that covers news in the Consulate’s

Turtle Bay area, and on October 12th, Michael Riedel, theater columnist from The New York Post wrote an in-depth article “Blue Skies: Berlin’s Beekman.” Mentions of the book were even included on Irving Berlin’s Facebook page! As we go to press, several other articles are pending.

The Luxembourg House on Beekman Place: Three Portraits in Time is an historic story that

came to life on one very memorable evening last summer. Its pages reflect the passage of a fascinating eighty years and celebrate how the Government of Luxembourg uses the house to forward relations with the United States today. The book is available exclusively on Amazon.com.

Article by Laurence Pierron

Now in its twenty-third year, APEX is a prestigious awards program honoring excellence in publications work by professional communicators. Writers, editors, publications staffs, and business and nonprofit communicators participate in the competition. Sponsored by the editors of Writing That Works: The Business Communications Report, awards are given based on excellence in editorial content, graphic design, and in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence.

Other participants in the 2011 competition included leading national companies and organizations such as Bloomberg, Ford Motor Company, Hearst Magazines, Merrill Lynch, Time Inc., and many more.

AboUt the Apex AwArd

European American Chambers of Commerce Fall Networking 2011

Fireworks illuminated the skies on October 6th as the “Princess World Yacht” passed Lady Liberty – onboard

more than 330 guests enjoyed the traditional fall networking event organized by 13 European American Chambers of Commerce. Each October the European business community and its representative organizations come together for an evening affording participants with an outstanding opportunity to mingle, crowned by fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline, excellent food and inspiring music.

The Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce was excited to welcome not only many of its members at the event, but also a delegation of AMCHAM Luxembourg members attending the World Business Forum in New York. “The boat cruise is a wonderful platform to further the relations between the Chambers and with the AMCHAM Luxembourg delegation joining us, we could establish a direct link to Luxembourg’s business community,” so Fernand Lamesch, LACC’s Chairman. Excellent business relations can sometimes be just a boat cruise away!

european American chambers of commerce fall networking 2011

LACC Chairman Fernand Lamesch with LACC members and guests

FALL EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE NETWORKING EVENT

Payment guarantees registration • We operate a policy of advance payment • No refund for cancellations • No walk-ins Return form with non-refundable payment to: The Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce 17 Beekman Place • NY, NY 10022 • Tel. 212.888.6701 • Fax 212.935.5896 [email protected]

Name: _________________________________________ Company name: _______________________________

Address: _______________________________________ City: _________________________ Zip: _____________

Guests’ names and company names: ____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tel: ____________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________

• PLEASE RSVP BY 10/04Members: Please Reserve ..…..Place(s) at $65 Non-members/Guests Please Reserve……..Place(s) at $100

European-American Chamber of Commerce in the United States, Inc.

FALL NETWORKING EVENTFALL NETWORKING EVENTBOAT CRUISE

Thursday, October 6th, 20115:45 - 9:00 PM

Payment guarantees registration • We operate a policy of advance payment • No refund for cancellations • No walk-ins

For more information, call 212.888.6701 or email [email protected]

THE PRINCESS WORLD YACHTPier 81

West 41st Street at the Hudson River

Registration begins at 5:45 PMThe boat will leave the dock at 6:30 PM sharp!

We thank our Gold Sponsor

Presented byLuxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce Portugal-U.S. Chamber of CommerceRomanian-American Chamber of Commerce Spain-U.S. Chamber of CommerceSwedish-American Chamber of Commerce

U.S.-Austrian Chamber of CommerceBelgian-American Chamber of Commerce

BritishAmerican BusinessFrench-American Chamber of CommerceFinnish American Chamber of CommerceGerman American Chamber of Commerce

Italy-America Chamber of CommerceSwiss American Chamber of Commerce


events

The warmth of summer still lingers, yet the harbingers of fall are already

recognizable as trees are clad in the colorful foliage of a true Indian Summer. This is the perfect time for the Luxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce to join forces with the Belgian and French Chambers to host the annual “Fall Kickoff Networking Event”. On September 8th over 120 guests enjoyed the wine and beer tasting as well as the networking opportunities held at the Luxembourg House. The get-together is a relaxed and pleasant way of immersing oneself into the rich tradition of wine- and beer-making the three countries boast: The Romans introduced wine-making to both

Luxembourg and France; beer-brewing has been a tradition in Belgium since monasteries developed refined techniques in the Middle-Ages.

François Steichen, wine expert and long standing LACC member provided the Luxembourgish wines ranging from Cremant to Auxerrois and graciously updated guests on the Grand Duchy’s wine culture.

The participants enjoyed the added thrill of a raffle: LACC’s President Michel Franck was Master of Ceremony as the names of the lucky winners were drawn. Several beautiful books on the history of the Luxembourg

House and Luxembourg’s cuisine found happy new owners; the grand prize was sponsored by OpenSkies kindly offering a roundtrip flight New York-Paris. OpenSkies is unique in the sense that it operates “business class only” flights between New York and Paris at very competitive rates.Catering was provided by the team of “Touche de Finesse”, headed by Julien Balsamo and Jean-Pierre Adéchi, who elegantly incorporate their multi-cultural upbringing into a cuisine combining New York City urban-flair and French heritage. Thank you to our sponsors: OpenSkies, Bei Steichen op der Weistroos, Monsieur Touton, Duvel, Stella Artois and Touche de Finesse.

It’s Fall!fALL kickoff networkinG hosted by the LUxemboUrG, beLGiAn And french chAmbers of commerce


On September 23rd the LACC and Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office New York were pleased to welcome two representatives of the Luxembourg ICT community at the Luxembourg House. Mr. Veit Rohen from Teralink and Mr. Kamel Amroune from Farvest presented

their organizations, outlining the newest developments and opportunities in the ICT sector in the Grand Duchy. Please read the following two contributions for more details:

ICT Seminar at the Luxembourg House

events

TERALINK is the high speed international fiber optic broadband network of P&TLuxembourg, the leading telecommunications provider in Luxembourg. With 16 points of presence established in multiple major business centers in Europe, it provides a solid infrastructure to help businesses connect with consumers and allows access to all main global networks with redundant fast and reliable connectivity.The partnerships and subsidiaries enable businesses to benefit from a global offering covering many aspects of the value chain. Noteworthy is EBRC, the company providing world-class managed hosting services which combined with TERALINK, can offer integrated solutions for storing, managing and transporting valuable data in a reliable and secure way. Another attractive aspect is the LuxTeleport satellite station owned and operated by P&TLuxembourg making it possible to

offer complete communication solutions to secure the availability of vital business services. The teleport has already played an important role in the successful operations of broadcasting companies like RTL, Canal+ and Arte.

Luxembourg is traditionally known as a banking and finance center, but due to great efforts of the Government Luxembourg has gained a place on the international map for other types of businesses, especially ICT, e-business and media companies. It comes as no surprise that companies like Amazon, Skype and iTunes have set up their headquarters in Luxembourg. This development has been gaining momentum supported by substantial investments in IT infrastructure and by positioning Luxembourg as a top location to drive business.

terALink infrAstrUctUre heLps connectinG peopLe And bUsinesses


events

These efforts are perfectly underlined by the introduction of `Luxfibré by P&T Luxembourg in September this year. This ultra high fiber optic network enables around 85% of the households to connect to the internet with a speed of up to 30Mbit/s and around 25% with speeds up to 100Mbit/s with the strategic plan to offer all households speeds up to 100Mbit/s by 2015. Another example of these ambitions to create an innovative business environment is the recent upgrade of the complete TERALINK network, making this is one of the fastest broadband networks supporting connections up 100Gbit/s. The first link between Luxembourg and Frankfurt is already in active service.

However, it is not just in Luxembourg where the action takes place. A TERALINK delegation has recently been on a successful mission to New York, visiting the Luxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce, participating in a digital media conference focusing on online gaming and meeting with several U.S. based companies to explore international business opportunities. This is an important step in reaching out and connecting with businesses that can potentially benefit from the proposition Luxembourg and TERALINK are able offer in order to support global expansion and successfully grow business across the Atlantic Ocean. For more information don’t hesitate to visit them: www.teralink.com and check out the new blog at www.teralinkinsight.com!Contact Details:TERALINKE-mail: [email protected]: (+352) 4991 5801

Farvest, www.farvest.lu, is the leading B2B marketing agency in Luxembourg. Based on an approach of positioning and targeting, it helps its clients to optimize their communication. With opportunities for each target group (Information Technology, Human Resources, Marketing Communication, Finance, Automobile, Green Business…), Farvest offers the Luxembourgish market a panel of communication solutions. Oriented towards modernity and networking, all of

Farvest’s initiatives are responding to the Luxembourgish vision of the business.Each of the above-mentioned communities offers its dedicated market ways to bring end-users and consultants together. For example, IT One, is offering the Information Technology market a framework for exchange between end-users (mainly CIOs) and consultants (mainly suppliers). Through its Internet platform www.itone.lu and events organized all year round, IT One enhances the recognition of the sector. The IT One Gala is in line with this framework, gathering more than 750 IT professionals every year, with the event permitting the community an exchange of ideas about a special topic and rewarding the best players of the sector.With Private Banker, Fundsevent, ICT Spring or the Eventoria Forum, Farvest is now growing on an international scale. Although still based in Luxembourg, these projects welcome professionals from abroad, at a worldwide level. For its 3rd edition, the ICT Spring, taking place in Luxembourg on the 19th and 20th of June 2012, will gather more than 2300 IT professionals. At the center of this forum: innovation. 80 Start-ups will represent innovation, as they have the opportunity to present new technologies and projects

during the show without costs associated for them. The forum will comprise 5 villages representing the whole innovation ecosystem: online business & gaming; infrastructure & telecom; funding & finance; cloud and e-hosted solutions as well as advisory & consulting. Throughout the presentations of start-ups, conferences, meetings and lunch IT professionals will have only one thing in mind: innovation. Farvest will also offer the 80 start-ups the opportunity to meet some venture capitalists and new investors for their projects. On the evening of June 19th, an exceptional dinner will unveil the best European ICT professional and companies.Currently at the first step of the organization of the 3rd edition, Farvest is calling for sponsors, speakers and start-ups. To contact the team, please write to [email protected] or call (+352) 26 27 69 1.More information on this event can soon be found on www.ictspring.com

From left: Jerrold Seeman (Luxcore), Kamel Amroune (Farvest), Tatjana Schaefer (LACC), Veit Rohen (Teralink)


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It seems the headlines in the newspapers report only doom and gloom and it

would be natural for anyone to be less than enthusiastic about the global economy. Certainly in today’s economic climate, the prospects for the future remain uncertain: the global economy can be instantly and irrevocably impacted by a market disruption, and the effects can be long-lasting. The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis in 2008 demonstrated just how far-reaching the impact can be; it quickly turned into a global economic recession leaving a profound mark on the economies and societies around the world. Its impact is felt even today, three years later. As with every other country, Luxembourg must deal with this volatile and ever-changing environment.

Deloitte hosted a seminar to spotlight the opportunities during these times of economic adversity. A panel of experts convened on September 27, 2011 to present Luxembourg’s economy, its challenges, and how the country is forging a new path in these times of uncertainty. Highlights of the evening included a discussion on Luxembourg’s political, social and fiscal stability and the government’s quest to welcome new businesses and diversify the economy. Luxembourg boasts a highly-responsive legislature that fosters innovation within a business-friendly environment; key assets of a compelling financial center and an economy primed for opportunities and diversity.

The panelists first presented Luxembourg’s “Undertaking for Collective Investment

in Transferrable Securities” (UCITS) and “Specialized Investment Fund” (SIF) legal and regulatory regimes which are designed to address the growing scrutiny within the financial industry. The experts also explained what makes Luxembourg such an attractive and stable tax system, with an extended double tax treaty network, making it a strategic locale for investment managers who want to deliver to their investors high yields net of tax when exploring investments in emerging markets (BRICs) and the new asset classes (i.e. wine, art, etc.). Furthermore the panelists discussed the importance and benefits of appropriate substance in Luxembourg to withstand scrutiny from foreign jurisdictions, especially in the current EU Sovereign debt crisis where foreign countries are facing more and more pressure on their budget and tax collections.

The second part of the seminar underlined the opportunities offered by Luxembourg in their efforts to diversify the economy, such as the IP box regime (i.e. 80% exemption on royalties and capital gains), especially in context of the recent opening by the internet authorities (ICANN) to allow brands and communities to apply for Top Level Domain (e.g. www.chardonnay.wine). Luxembourg has also introduced a special expatriate tax regime, demonstrating the country’s open door to attract new talent.

To close the seminar, the Deloitte “Art & Finance” initiative was presented which offers exceptional opportunities to investors in works of art. This initiative has been promoted and discussed by Deloitte with

the Luxembourg government for more than three years and has resulted in a change to the law which allows for the suspension of VAT payments for high-value goods warehoused in Luxembourg’s free trade zone nearby the airport.

Industry professionals in attendance participated in a lively discussion during the Q&A session after the presentation. A cocktail reception followed at which participants could network and share their ideas and experiences. All enjoyed the musical rendition of homage to Edith Piaf by performing artists Ms. Natasha Ombri and Mr. Sacha Heck. This event was hosted at the Luxembourg House with the support and cooperation of the Luxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, please contact:Deloitte Tax LLP Luxembourg Desk 2 World Financial CenterNew York, NY 10281-1414www.deloitte.com

Axel MotteHead of the Luxembourg Desk in New YorkPhone/Direct: +1 212-436-4307 Fax: +1-212-653-3029 [email protected]

Dany TeillantSenior Manager TaxPhone/Direct: +1-212-436-3233 Fax: [email protected]

Deloitte’s seminar “Luxembourg: Seize the Next Opportunities”From left: Alain Buttignol, Axel Motte, Dany Teillant, Tatjana Schaefer, François Knaff


The current economic climate has highlighted the strong impact

institutions of higher education and scientific research can have on a business location, ranging from attracting and retaining know-how, job creation, student and alumni spending to creating the right framework for businesses. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has taken decisive steps to strengthen the country’s position in regards to education and research by founding the University of Luxembourg in 2003. The University of Luxembourg is a young and dynamic institution with a strong focus on research. Luxembourg is a country with an international orientation, a multilingual population and a welcoming framework for expats. Ideal conditions for a promising future!

Several months ago, the opportunity for a first get-together of University representatives and the LACC Executive Committee as well as Luxembourg’s Consul

General in New York, François Knaff arose. Prof. André Prüm, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance expressed his interest in further expanding the working relations with U.S. academic institutions and building on the links that had already been established. This initiative led to the organization of a symposium on “Higher Education and Scientific Research in Luxembourg” which took place on October 3rd and 4th in New York and Ridgefield, CT.

A unique group came together comprising the delegation from the University of Luxembourg, representatives from academic institutions active in the U.S. and the Grand Duchy such as Sacred Heart University and Miami University as well as Luxembourg and U.S. researchers and professionals from fields ranging from Architecture to Computer Sciences.

The goal of the event was threefold:

1) Provide relevant information pertaining to higher education in Luxembourg and North America;2) Foster the creation of a personal network of scientists and academics on both sides of the Atlantic; and3) Create a platform for an exchange of ideas.

On October 3rd a reception was hosted at the Luxembourg House, where the participants could get to know each other in a convivial atmosphere enhanced by the amazing performance of magician Mark Mitton, who sparked many lively conversations of the astounded audience. In preparation for the following day, Karen Walker from Oneteam Consulting, was introduced as event coach and collected the input from the participants on their expectations for the symposium.

Higher Education and Scientific Research in Luxembourg

Symposium on October 3 and 4, 2011

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Luxembourg University delegation with participants of the Symposium


eventsOn October 4th the Leir Retreat Center in Ridgefield, CT graciously hosted the event at their beautiful premises. LACC’s Chairman, Mr. Fernand Lamesch welcomed everyone and gave a special thank-you to Ms. Margot Gibis, Vice President of the Leir Charitable Foundations and her team who had been most supportive throughout the organization of the symposium!

Created in October 1996 by the late Henry J. Leir, the Foundation was first known as The Ridgefield (Connecticut) Foundation, Inc. The Foundation has since been rededicated as The Leir Charitable Foundation, Inc. in Mr. Leir’s memory. Mr. Leir contributed 37 acres of land located in Ridgefield, Connecticut to the Foundation and built a facility known as “Leir House” on the property. Leir House serves as a Summer Camp for deserving children from Luxembourg during the summer months and is available to charitable organizations for Board Meetings and events and a conference center for Special Focus Conferences during the remainder of the year.

Mr. Lamesch’s address was followed by a presentation on “Luxembourg as a Gateway to Europe” presented by Consul General Francois Knaff who outlined the structure of Luxembourg’s economy as well as the dynamic of diversification efforts undertaken by the Government.

“The University of Luxembourg is a special project that has been discussed with great passion” Prof. André Prüm stated at the beginning of his introduction of key facts and figures of the University. Since its inception in 2003 it has grown to 5,000 students, offers 11 bachelor programs, 25 master degrees and 9 additional programs. It is characterized by its multi-lingualism with English, French and German being the main languages, its strong research orientation and the connection to the business community and EU institutions. Due to its size it nonetheless affords a personal touch to those studying in Luxembourg. Three permanent faculties have been established:

• Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance• Faculty of Science, Technology and

Communication• Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education

The target groups differ for bachelor and master students; in the first case the majority are from the Greater Region and in the latter the composition is more international. A remarkable fact is that about 1/3 of master’s students remain in Luxembourg after graduating, which constitutes a positive “brain gain” for the country.

The University has already established international relations with 50 partner universities

Prof. Paul Heuschling, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication introduced the audience to “The Scientific Infrastructure in Luxembourg” which comprises not only academic institutions such as the University of Luxembourg, Sacred Heart University, Miami University’s John E. Dolibois European Center, but numerous research and interdisciplinary centers. There are three Public Research Centers, namely the CRP Santé (health related issues), CR Henri Tudor (strong focus on ICT, environmental issues and materials sciences) and CRP Gabriel Lippmann (devoted to applied scientific research and technological development). In the recent past, strong efforts have been made to develop scientific clusters, e.g. the Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster or the Logistics and Maritime Cluster.

These developments all follow the understanding R&D and innovation are among the main pillars for a knowledge-based economy. They are also key factors for supporting long-term growth and developing the country’s economic competitiveness.

In the course of the day four breakout sessions allowed the participants to focus on topics most relevant to their day-to-day work:

International Recruitment of Teachers and Students Moderator Prof. Paul Heuschling, University

of Luxembourg discussed the topic with panelists Prof. Bobby Gempesaw, Miami University Ohio and Prof. Ronald H. Rosenberg, William and Mary Law School.

Attracting the best professors and students from abroad enriches the culture of a university and opens doors for a successful scientific exchange of ideas on an international level. Regarding the recruitment of students, the quality should be the guiding criterion more than merely following the goal to attract as many international students as possible. In the case of professors and teachers, the international aspect is a given, especially for a small country like Luxembourg, where the necessary know-how can not be found exclusively within the country’s borders.

Campus Design – Creating the Right Framework for Teaching and LivingModerator Michel Franck, Spacesmith LLP was joined by panelists Prof. Gerardo Brown-Manrique, Miami University Ohio and Mr. William Paxson, Aedas Developing a campus that is conducive to study and communication is a crucial factor in the successful operation of institutions of higher education. The current development of the University of Luxembourg’s Belval project in the south of the country was presented by Prof. Brown-Manrique, followed by 3 case studies presented by William Paxson from Aedas. The projects reflected an approach of transparency with structures as the library being visible from the outside and thus drawing people in.

Four main aspects were discussed:• Design for Living: Housing including safety aspects, potential income for universities to learning communities in the residences• Design for Learning: influence of new technologies, complimentary of new media• Design for Social Life: importance of Public Spaces, Lounge Spaces, Food Programs• Design for Show- General Infrastructure: improved infrastructure as sales toolQuintessentially the logic of the set-up differs between U.S. and European


eventsuniversities; nonetheless certain concepts can be considered for implementation to enhance the learning and teaching experience at universities.

Alumni NetworksJames Barquinero, Sacred Heart University, CT moderated the breakout session and was supported by panelists Dr. Thierry Leterre, Miami University Luxembourg and Ms. Natalie Kirwan, University of Luxembourg.

The role alumni networks play is twofold: one as a support system towards the alma mater and secondly as a source of business contacts, where entrepreneurs who need investors, advisers, and employees can tap their alumni networks to find those key connections. In this context the key factor is “identity”. Students and teachers alike should find an environment where they are inclined to identify themselves with their academic institution. In the U.S. a strong feeling of “belonging” has been achieved through various approaches, e.g. sports

teams. Students, who have an emotional attachment to their alma mater, will be more likely to support the institution as alumni and can help with the continued success of a university.As the University of Luxembourg is still a very young institution this can certainly be a goal which can be achieved over time.

Establishing Relations between the Academic World and the Business Community Moderator Prof. André Prüm, University of Luxembourg discussed the topic along with panelists Dr. Michel Hack, IBM Research - T.J. Watson Research Center and Carine Feipel, Arendt & Medernach The academic and the business community can create mutually-beneficial relations leading to tangible results for both sides. For universities this can lead to sponsorship of programs and for businesses the presence of a university can be a crucial element in deciding on a business location. The University of

Luxembourg has several funded chairs and boasts a very successful relation with the business community. These collaborations should, however, not interfere with academic independence in choosing fields of research and innovation. For businesses it is of importance to be in close partnership with institutions of higher education, to enhance their chances of finding candidates with relevant qualifications in the recruitment process.

LACC President Michel Franck wrapped up the full-day event by inviting each moderator to present the key findings of their discussions. The Chamber strongly supports a continued dialogue between academic institutions and researchers on both sides of the Atlantic and is confident that this symposium will not remain the only event of its nature! For more information please contact the LACC at [email protected]

From left: Prof. Gempesaw, Prof. Rosenberg and Prof. Prüm


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The speakers comprised:

Egide Thein, founder of Truth Technologies and former Consul General of Luxembourg in New York. Truth Technologies has offices in Washington DC, and Luxembourg and cooperates with a local partner in the Cayman Islands. The focus is put on anti-money laundering, anti-fraud and compliance products and services.

Jonathan Sobel, an experienced trial attorney and litigator who founded Sobel & Feller in 2009. His practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling, in the areas of patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright and other intellectual property.

Gregory Cancilla, a Certified Computer Forensic Engineer and the Director of Forensics at RVM. He is experienced in the preservation, identification, extraction, documentation and interpretation of computer data using computer forensics tools.

Following the three speakers have summarized their presentations:Litigation and compliance Egide Thein – Truth TechnologiesCompliance and litigation represent a similar challenge and risk to corporations. Compliance is the obligation to abide by a set of laws and regulations. Obligations in litigation are less defined except for

emerging best practices. Both have in common an obligation of results, which cannot be improvised. The guideline is thus: be prepared. Under litigation, you may have to produce evidence. Under compliance, you will have to produce evidence at various levels from audits to inspections and investigations.

“Know Your Customer” laws and regulations represent the most mature and challenging compliance obligations. They address the need to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and financial crimes globally. An international standard set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a body of OECD, has worldwide application. Those standards not only apply to financial institutions but to corporations generally. Legislation to be mentioned are the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA Patriot Act and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the European Anti Money Laundering Directives. Non compliance in this area has resulted in criminal investigations and in spectacular fines by regulators, recently reaching $ 1 billion!

Pity the Compliance Officer who is overwhelmed by constantly changing customer and government watch list data. Compliance has to be efficient, cost-effective, with reliable archived results, available within seconds. Automation is a must! It brings a new challenge, the

In a seminar held on October 18th the various aspects of corporate litigation ranging from preemptive practices, litigation readiness to strategic response planning were covered. For foreign corporations entering the U.S. market it is essential to be aware of the legal framework and

measure of preparedness in order to avoid potentially costly consequences.

The event has been organized in cooperation with RVM Inc., a company with offices in New York, Chicago and Cleveland providing legal technology consulting, data forensics and litigation support.

The International Landscape of Corporate Litigation

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From left: Egide Thein, Greg Cancilla and Jonathan Sobel


eventsfalse alarms known as false positives. Name matching is a science and Truth Technologies’ module by now follows 20,000 rules. At that level of technological challenge, compliance solutions have to be outsourced to share the cost of development, maintenance and daily updates of data sources.

Electronic Discovery in U.S. LitigationJonathan Sobel – Sobel & Feller LLPJonathan’s presentation was entitled “Beware What Lurks: Key Points About Electronic Discovery in U.S. Litigation”. Although electronically stored information (ESI) makes up perhaps 95% of a company’s communications and documents, many organizations do not realize how important it is to have a plan in place, in advance of litigation or the threat of litigation, for how to handle ESI in the event of litigation. When litigation is reasonably anticipated, a legal obligation to preserve relevant ESI arises. At that point, the company and its attorneys are obligated to send out a “litigation hold” notice to the employees who might have relevant information, advising them that they must not delete relevant emails and electronic documents concerning the dispute. The company and its attorneys must follow up on the litigation hold notice and speak with key employees who are most likely to have relevant ESI, and confirm that they are in fact aware of their preservation obligations. The company must also take steps to suspend its usual email deletion procedures, at least with respect to the emails and files of individuals in the company who might have relevant information. As part of the ESI preservation process as well as subsequent to it, the company’s outside counsel should work with an e-discovery vendor to begin to collect relevant ESI from each employee who is identified as having relevant documents that should be collected. The determination as to which ESI files are relevant should not be left to the employees; rather, the attorneys should speak with the employees about how and where their emails and documents are stored, and should determine which files to collect. The attorneys should work with the e-discovery vendor to collect those files in a manner that is proper and defensible in court. Courts may impose sanctions against a party that neglects its obligations to preserve, collect, and produce responsive electronic information, even where the party acted in good faith. Sanctions will be more severe where documents are intentionally destroyed (which is known as spoliation), or where there is evidence that a party willfully or in bad faith failed to comply with its e-discovery obligations. Where documents are destroyed, whether in bad faith or not, sanctions may include an adverse inference instruction to the jury, whereby the jury is told that it may infer that had the documents been preserved, they would have been adverse to the party that failed to preserve them. Sanctions may also include fines, reversal of the burdens of proof at trial, and in severe instances, dismissal of claims or defenses. Once documents are collected from employees, they need to be searched electronically in an efficient manner, and then they need to be reviewed by attorneys before production. To reduce the cost of processing the ESI for review, and the cost of reviewing it, it is important to apply efficient and sensible search criteria, which requires

knowledgeable and careful attorney and e-discovery vendor input. There are many areas where efficiency and experience can help to reduce costs while ensuring compliance with legal obligations.

Litigation ReadinessGreg Cancilla – RVM Inc.Litigation Readiness is the extent to which an organization is prepared to properly respond to the rules governing litigation, notably e-Discovery. While many organizations believe that their odds of facing litigation are low, industry studies reveal otherwise. In 2010 29% of US companies and 50% of UK companies faced one to five lawsuits. Also, 40% of US companies and <50% of UK companies believe they will experience an increase in litigation and investigations due to the economic downturn.Indeed, it will behoove corporate leaders to honestly answer this most important question:If your organization were to face litigation tomorrow, would it be ready to handle the onerous demands of e-Discovery?A first step in responding to this question is to consider how your organization handles electronically stored information (ESI). ESI encompasses a myriad of devices/platforms, including computers, cloud storage, mobile devices, USB drives, among many others. All data that one handles on said devices also constitutes ESI. So, potentially every email, tweet, document, image, and other activity performed on a digital device can fall within e-Discovery’s ever growing clutches. As if that weren’t enough for corporate leaders to swallow, the laws now also require that litigants produce metadata (i.e. “data about data”). Corporate leaders must meet with their IT departments, to determine not only where the data resides but also who qualifies as a data custodian. Ideally, management and IT should work together to prepare a data map, featuring all potential data custodians, data repositories, and forms of data. The estimated data volume per custodian equals eight to ten gigabytes. One gigabyte equals 30 boxes of documents. Then, as a proactive exercise, they should formulate a collection plan, before the onset of litigation. This may involve partnering with a forensics expert, legal counsel and/or other e-Discovery professional.

Links:Truth Technologies – www.truthtechnologies.comSobel & Feller – www.sobelfeller.comRVM Inc – www.rvminc.com


What do a French restaurant, a European consulting firm, an Asian luxury hotel, a Singapore-based spa chain and a UK

insurance company have in common? They all received assistance from the Division for International Business in the Mayor’s Office with setting up or expanding their operations in New York City. The Division is part of the Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol (UNCCP), the primary liaison between New York City government and the largest diplomatic community in the world including 193 missions to the United Nations, 113 foreign consulates, and trade commissioners from 77 countries.

The Division plays a role in attracting foreign businesses and investment to New York City by providing overseas companies with a customized information and referral service to encourage them to open or expand operations in the five boroughs. It also offers “concierge service” which consists of providing access to public and private sector resources, trade organizations, and local business associations so that non-U.S. companies can become operational as quickly as domestic ones. At the Division’s request, the New York City Bar Association arranges a one-hour pro bono consultation with an attorney who can advise on issues related to business visas, incorporation, and taxes. The Division also provides local knowledge and guidance on U.S. business culture and government regulations.

Providing Market Entry Support In the case of the French restaurant chain, the Division worked with the managers to identify locations in Manhattan that would fit the restaurant’s theme. It introduced the managers to staff in the Fire Department, the Department of Buildings, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene who could guide them on the regulatory approval process. The Division

explained the role of the local community board when applying for a liquor license.

When a European green consulting company wanted to open a New York office, the Division helped find low-cost office space in a business center that caters to eco-friendly companies. To help recruit staff, it provided the company with contacts at local university career centers, just one of many workforce development options the City promotes.

Guidance through the regulatory process in the United States, with our federal system of government, regulations to protect the health and safety of the public can come from City, State, and Federal governments. The Division helps companies examine possible regulations to determine which rules are applicable and provides guidance throughout the process on how to meet the various requirements. The Asian luxury hotel contacted the Division for assistance with plans for a New York City expansion. Working with in-house counsel, the Division contacted the Department of City Planning to determine the zoning regulations for the site. It then set up and attended meetings with the Department of Buildings to determine what expansion was possible under existing city regulations. Through this process the hotel was able to determine the steps needed to request a zoning change for the site and what expansion options were available.

When a Singapore spa chain was making plans to open their first U.S. location, they wanted to import their plant-based products for the spa in Soho. The Division introduced them to the NYC office of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, a federal agency, for assistance with meeting the relevant regulations. The Division also provided information on New York State licensing requirements

How the New York City Mayor’s Office Helps Foreign Companies

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and a list of state-licensed beauty schools in NYC where the spa chain could recruit staff.

Another company making plans to open a New York City office was a UK-based insurance company specializing in coverage to the arts and entertainment industry. The Division introduced them to the New York State Insurance Department for information on obtaining an operating license.

Serving a Diverse Network In 2010, the Division received 184 requests for assistance from companies in 62 countries. About a quarter of all requests came from companies in professional services. The next three largest industries represented were financial, cultural/educational, and media/IT. A third of the businesses wanted information on how to

open an office in New York City. Two-thirds of the businesses wanted assistance with marketing and promotion or referrals to city, state, and federal agencies.

For More Information: The Division for International Business website at www.nyc.gov/international has important resources for the international business community. The on-line International Business Directory is a compendium of almost 2,000 foreign-owned businesses with a presence in NYC. The International Business Calendar is updated weekly and lists events in the five boroughs of interest to the international business community. Companies interested in opening an office in NYC can reach the Division by email at [email protected].

Elizabeth Rose Daly has been Director, Division for International Business, NYC Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol Office of the Mayor, since April, 2003.

Ms. Daly has extensive experience in international business, having held various regulatory and administrative positions at Credit Industriel et Commercial, Commerzbank and FTC Communications. Ms. Daly was also Executive Director of Brooklyn Goes Global, a program of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, working with Brooklyn manufacturers to export their products. Ms. Daly has a BA in French from Fordham University, and a Masters in Public Administration from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. She speaks fluent French and German.

Carlton Vann is a Director in the Division for International Business at the Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps, and Protocol in the New York City Mayor’s Office. Mr. Vann has worked in both the private and non-profit sectors in the U.S., Russia and Japan. His private sector experience includes positions as an analyst for an asset management firm in New York City and as a business development manager for a Japanese consulting company in Tokyo. In the non-profit sector he has worked as a program coordinator for a U.S.-Japan policy research program. He holds an A.B. in government from Harvard University, an M.A. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University, and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

Interview with Elizabeth R. Daly and Carlton Vann

1. What do you enjoy most about your job?

CCV: The unpredictability. One day, a Trade Commissioner from Eastern Europe calls for assistance with the City’s Department of Finance. Another day, a representative from a major Asian city wants information on New York City initiatives to support the fashion industry. Later, our colleagues from the State of New York ask us to meet a South Asian company that is interested in opening a food processing facility here. I enjoy responding to all the different challenges.

ERD: The people who come from all corners of the globe. This year I advised the CEO of a French design studio on suitable neighborhoods for his office, assisted a Latin American trade commissioner find information on setting up a restaurant, and introduced a European trade association to business incubators in the City which specialize in incubating tech companies.

2. Do you see a trend in the development of international business in New York City?

CCV: In the first half of 2011 we met with 8 media/IT companies and 3 clean technology companies that were interested in opening an office in NYC. These are two of the industry sectors that are being promoted by our Administration. Other sectors being promoted include biotechnology as well as the City’s legacy industries such as finance and fashion.

ERD: For the first half of this year, requests from Asian companies were about 16% of our total, up from 10% in 2010. Interest from Western Europe continues to be very strong – over 50% of our total requests.

3. What is the best advice for a foreign company interested in settling in New York City?

CCV: Research how to meet city, state and federal government requirements that might be applicable to your business in NYC. The Division for International Business can point foreign companies in the right direction and identify the types of licenses and permits that might be needed.

ERD: Take advantage of our local knowledge. The Division for International Business can introduce resources that are not easily apparent to a company coming from overseas. For example, each borough has a Chamber of Commerce where companies can meet potential suppliers or customers. In addition, there are many NYC schools whose graduates would make great hires.

business community


Luxembourg Americans and residents of the Grand Duchy gathered August 12 -

14 in Belgium, Wisconsin, USA to celebrate Luxembourg Heritage Weekend and the 25th Luxembourg Fest of America - the World’s Largest Luxembourg Family Reunion. Luxembourg Fest is the largest Luxembourg celebration outside of the Grand Duchy’s ever popular Schueberfouer.

Luxembourg Heritage Weekend began with the Society’s 5th Annual Cultural Conference entitled “Let’s...Letzebuergesch!” The goal of the conference was to help participants come to a greater appreciation of Lëtzebuergesch and to learn some conversational Lëtzebuergesch. Keynote speaker and facilitator of the conference was Dr. Cedric Krummes, orginally of Pétange, Luxembourg and now professor of Luxembourg linguistics at the Bangor University in England.

On Friday evening, the LACS celebrated its annual Grand Ducal Circle Event for major donors to the Society. As part of the event, the 20 member Luxembourg young adult band Crazy Cube offered its first public performance for the weekend, with the band being sponsored by the LACC. In addition, the featured exhibit of Heritage Weekend, Luxembourg By Hot Air Balloon, made its debut. The exhibit was co-sponsored by the Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Luxembourg in Washington, DC and the LACS.

On Saturday morning, Luxembourg Fest of America was kicked off with an expanded Fest parade down Main Street in Belgium. Leading the parade was “Peanuts” the Red Lion of Luxembourg. The Red Lion was followed by the Luxembourgish Hämmelsmarsch, a process of sheep by sheep tenders wearing the traditional blue

Luxembourgish kiddel.Following the parade, visitors gathered in Belgium Community Park to enjoy food and refreshments, an Art & Craft Fair, tours of the Belgium Fire Department, Children’s Entertainment and Enrichment activities, Lëtzebuergesch Language Workshops for children and adults, Honored Family exhibits, and a performance by Crazy Cube.

One of the highlights of Saturday afternoon was the first, annual Minute to Win It Treipen Eating Contest. Treipen is the traditional blood sausage of Luxembourg. Fourteen contestants were given one minute to see how much Treipen they could consume in accord with strict guidelines set down for the contest. Daniel Krier-Boehm, a 22 year old from Belgium, Wisconsin, was named the Treipen Eating World Champion, successfully consuming over 1.5 lbs of Treipen in one-minute.

Luxembourgers Gather to Celebrate Heritage

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On Saturday evening, over 260 LACS members and friends gathered at the beautiful Prairie Center in West Bend, Wisconsin to celebrate the 7th annual Green Heart Gala Dinner Auction benefiting the Luxembourg American Cultural Society. Guests enjoyed a silent auction with over 120 items, a Wine Pull, raffles, a gourmet dinner, and a live auction featuring the 12 top auction items. The final auction item was a Schleck Brothers jersey autographed by Luxembourg bicycling sensations Frank and Andy Schleck who donated the shirt for the auction.

Luxembourg Fest of America culminated on Sunday morning with the outdoor celebration of Honored Family pageantry and Mass and the introduction of dignitaries and special guests.

LACS Executive Director Kevin Wester stated: “This year’s Heritage Weekend and Luxembourg Fest was bigger and better than ever and a resounding success. It demonstrates the overwhelming pride that so many Americans have in their Luxembourg heritage and the continued, unique bond between Americans and Luxembourgers. We look forward to next year’s Fest and to our continued friendship with the Grand Duchy.”

Hammelsmarsch

Crazy Cube Band from Luxembourg Performing

2011 Duke & Duchess - Dennis and Marge Thein of Rochester, Minnesota


Dear Félicien,You left us, but I won’t write an obituary. You would have said yourself, with that twinkle in your eyes: “this ain’t a place for obituaries.”

We met 22 years ago when I moved with my family into your neighborhood in

Larchmont, New York. You lived there on 12 Pryer Lane with your wife Michèle, your daughters Anne and Claire and your son François, in your beautiful home overlooking Long Island Sound. The old BMW in your driveway, with that big letter “L” on the bumper, let everyone know that there was a true Luxembourger around. I knew you already as a “Living National Monument”, for your incredible contributions to medical science. I came to learn more about your tireless work, developing laparoscopic surgery.Your neighbor, a surgeon himself, would say how guilty he felt playing with his dogs while he knew that you were working on yet another paper. I can still see you there, the lamp glowing on top of that cypress table crafted by an Amish cabinetmaker. In this office, your creative genius would produce dozens of scientific papers, to promote minimally invasive thoracic and abdominal

surgery. They cover the challenges of sutures and stapling, the introduction of 3D in laparoscopic surgery together with new tools known as “Tools of Steichen”. For more than 48 years, after graduating from the University of Lausanne, you left giant footprints at many places such as Baltimore and Johns Hopkins Hospitals, Lenox, and Saint Agnes. The crowning of your tremendous work and the worldwide recognition as the great pioneer and professor was the creation of the Félicien M. Steichen Chair of Surgery at New York Medical College in 1993, of which you became the first holder. Among your many awards, this is the ultimate one.

We all remember you as the discreet gentleman, who would be first in line to do anything “Luxembourg.” We had such fun launching the Luxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce in New York. I am

most thankful for your ever open doors. One day I needed your help as a surgeon. I’m still wearing (proudly) the three tiny marks of laparoscopic incisions you made. And for sure the following morning I left Saint Agnes all repaired. My wife and I mostly remember the days of deep distress, when you showed up at our son’s hospital bed. Your spontaneous travel to that place, your appearance in that hospital room has done more than all medical science on earth.

Dear Félicien: You are a great benefactor to mankind. Every morning, thousands of patients get readied for surgery somewhere. Many will have an amazing recovery, thanks to your pioneering work. They’ll say of their doctors what one of your friends told me about you: “He saved my life!” At the LACC, you have touched ours. We send our most heartfelt condolences to your family,

Egide Thein

Dr. Félicien Steichen with his wife Michele


member news

On November 6th the New York City Marathon enticed 47,000 runners from around the world to join one of the best-known

sports events of the year. Runners from the Grand Duchy again were among the athletes taking on the 26.2 mile challenge, with one being very special to the LACC: Dr. Maud Reiter, member of LACC´s Board of Directors participated in this year´s Marathon and finished in an outstanding time of 3 hours 35 minutes. As a matter of fact, this is the second time the Chamber was well represented at the event, as LACC President Michel Franck had successfully crossed the finish line in the recent past.

Maud originally hails from Luxembourg, studied chemistry at the University of Oxford and was a postdoctoral scholar at Princeton University. After working in New York for several years, she just recently moved to Geneva, Switzerland where she has taken on the role of Director of New Ingredient Discovery at Firmenich, an international producer of perfumery and flavor chemicals. The LACC is proud to count her amongst its members.Congratulations!

The LACC is excited to present you the new design and layout of its Business Journal which we hope reflects more appropriately

our development as a professional organization. Since 20 years the magazine has been the main voice of the Chamber and an important platform to showcase the organization’s activities, member news and developments in the economic relations between the Grand Duchy and North America.

The new design was developed in cooperation with Anita Dore, a native from New York State who now resides in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Anita is a graduate from Cornell University with her specialties being Graphic Design, Branding, Multi-media Branding, Textile Design, Product Design and Home Accessories. As Director

of Anita Dore Design she boasts more than 15 years of design experience and has worked with a diverse array of clients, ranging from small non-profits and start-ups to large companies in the United States and Europe. It has been a true pleasure working on this project with her.

Enjoy the reading!

LACC Board Represented at 2012 New York Marathon

New Design for LACC Business Journal

Dr. Maud Reiter (in pink T-Shirt) 200 yards away from the finishing line


new members

Interested in the LACC?

The Chamber of Commerce comprises companies and individuals,both from Luxembourg and abroad, who wish to establish anddevelop economic or trading activities with US or Luxembourgentities, whatever sector they may operate in.

Belonging to the Chamber of Commerce provides members withthe opportunity of selecting the very best way to expand theiroperations and goals into other countries, with advantageousaccess to foreign markets and favoring multiple opportunities forexpansion and growth, the fruit of this interaction.

For more information on becoming a member please contact the Chamber at

212 888 6701 or [email protected]

Mr. Nicolas Henckes - Director 10A, rue des Merovingiens

L-8070 BertrangeGrand Duchy of Luxembourg

Telephone: (+352) 26 31 64 1 • E-mail: [email protected] • www.legitech.lu

AMMC LawMs. Cynthia Kalathas - Partner

45 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 2000 • New York, NY 10111 Telephone: (+1) 917 214 5925 • www.ammclaw.com

NOIR

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UTILISATIONEN RESERVE

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Main: 888-747-7077www.covingtontravel.com

New York: 1 (646) 471 4000Luxembourg: (352) 49 48 48 1

www.pwc.com

1 (212) [email protected]

S A C R E D H E A R T

U N I V E R S I T Y

FAIRF IELD • LUXEMBOURG • STAMFORD

1 (203) 365-4763 +352 22 76 13www.sacredheart.edu www.shu.lu

In Luxembourg: +352 42 [email protected]

www.cargolux.com

1 (312) 899-3969http://www.arcelor.comLuxembourg: +352 451451

New York: 1 (212) 436-5672www.Deloitte.com

Luxembourg +352 4078781New York 1 (212) 554-3541

www.arendt.com

Tel: +1 212 989 3112 ext. 318Fax: +1 646 365 2700www.alterdomus.com

(212) 525-8854www.hsbc.com

Luxembourg – 352 464010Boston (617) 786-3000www.statestreet.com

212 918 8000www.traxys.com

609-987-4000www.ses.com

Telephone: (+352) 27 44 84 02www.united-itrust.com

(+352) 42 42-2000www.bgl.lu

Luxembourg: +352 26449200New York: 1 (212) 949-5530

San Francisco: 1 (415) 874-3146Houston: 1 (813) [email protected]

Luxembourg: +352 2625 8888New York: 1 (212) 309-8713

www.masint.com

GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURGTrade and Investment Off ices


1 (415) 788- [email protected]



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(+352) 42 42-2000www.bgl.lu




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Documents

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