Title: 1) Managing Director and Founder; 2) Principal
Company: 1) Mercure Global; 2) Gilman Law PLLC
Location: Easton, Connecticut, United States
Derek Gilman, managing director and founder of Mercure Global and Principal at Gilman Law PLLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in the legal field.
With over four decades of experience, Mr. Gilman excels in international law, specializing in foreign military sales, export controls, CFIUS, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Since 2018, he has been the managing director of Mercure Global and the principal at Gilman Law PLLC. His previous roles include partner at Nichols Liu LLP from 2017 to 2018, and chief operating officer and general counsel at Blenheim Space from 2015 to 2018.
Mr. Gilman also served as general counsel and principal director at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in the U.S. Department of Defense from 2011 to 2015. He was assistant division chief for international and operational law in the Office of the Judge Advocate General for the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2013, associate general counsel at the U.S. Department of Defense from 2009 to 2011, and executive director of international tax services at Ernst & Young from 2008 to 2009. Additionally, he held roles as associate deputy general counsel for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Defense from 2006 to 2008, counsel at Day Pitney LLP from 2000 to 2006, deputy general counsel for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, Iraq from 2003 to 2004, and associate at Curtis Brinckerhoff & Barrett from 1993 to 2000.
Mr. Gilman’s government roles include senior counsel for Afghanistan-Pakistan matters, chair of the Offsets Working Group at the U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. government counsel at the “Reset” Summit with Russia and senior DoD counsel for international armaments cooperation. His military career includes retiring as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he served from 2004 to 2013, and service from second lieutenant to captain in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1988. In light of his impressive undertakings, he was honored with the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. Additionally, he contributed to legal education as associate editor of the Connecticut Law Review from 1991 to 1992 and author of the Law of War Manual for the U.S. Department of Defense. Laying a solid foundation for his success, he earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy in 1983, followed by a Master of Arts from Cambridge University in 1990. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut in 1992 and a Master of Laws from New York University in 1997.
Standout moments in Mr. Gilman’s career achievements include two significant endeavors in Iraq while serving with the Coalition Provisional Authority. Firstly, he led an international team of lawyers, collaborating with key stakeholders such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the governments of the United States, Britain, and Australia, alongside Iraqi leadership, to implement 30 laws crucial for Iraq’s transition to a modern market economy. Secondly, he served as the United States advisor in drafting the legislation that established the War Crimes Court, which ultimately prosecuted Saddam Hussein. Reflecting on his career path, he was deeply influenced by his family’s history of military service, with his father and uncles serving in the United States Navy during World War II and a lineage extending back to the Civil War. Looking to the future, he is dedicated to enhancing the success of his businesses.
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