Karen Mathis, a partner at the Denver office of McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter, has taken over as the new ABA president, succeeding Boston-based lawyer Michael Greco. Ms Mathis is a business and commercial lawyer and she set out four main planks to her year in office: protecting legal professional privilege; encouraging lawyers to assist young people at risk of crime and other social problems; spurring recently retired lawyers to become involved in an ABA-organised pro bono scheme; and campaigning to protect and promote the general concept of the rule of law. The ABA also announced the appointment of Henry White as its new executive director. A lawyer, Mr White started his legal career with New York-based law firm Hill Betts & Nash, before setting up the New York office of Los Angeles firm Barger & Wolen.