John F. Kowal

The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. OSI places a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities. Investor and philanthropist George Soros in 1993 created OSI as a private operating and grantmaking foundation to support his foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Those foundations were established, starting in 1984, to help countries make the transition from communism. OSI has expanded the activities of the Soros foundations network to encompass the United States and more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Each Soros foundation relies on the expertise of boards composed of eminent citizens who determine individual agendas based on local priorities.

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP provides legal services. Its client roster includes institutional, entrepreneurial and individual clients, including public and private companies, investment banks, hedge and private equity funds, domestic money centers and foreign commercial banks, broker-dealers, investment advisers, private investment partnerships, venture capitalists and pension funds. The firm expertise in domestic and cross-border acquisitions to high-stakes litigations, multilayered financings, high-profile real estate deals, debt restructurings, and estate and trust administration. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP provides legal services. The firm's practice areas encompasses corporate, executive compensation and benefits, international business, litigation, pro bono, tax, and trusts and estates. Its lawyers and associates' training focus on addressing and handling clients' legal issues, business transaction, and disputes. The company was founded in 1819 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, non-governmental organization headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1936, the Foundation provides grants, projects and loans to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation and advance human achievement. The foundation funds derive from an investment portfolio that began with gifts and bequests of Ford Motor Company stock by Henry and Edsel Ford.