Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Partner J. Dominic Campodonico has assumed the role of President of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) for 2025–2026. He officially stepped into the position on July 10, 2025, at the organization’s 2025 Annual Meeting at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Campodonico’s extensive involvement with the IADC began in 2011, including serving on the Board of Directors since 2021.
“I’m honored to take on this leadership role with an organization that has been so instrumental in my career,” said Campodonico. “The IADC has long stood for excellence, professionalism, and community, and I’m excited to help carry that legacy forward. This year, my focus will be on strengthening public trust in the justice system, supporting strategic growth, particularly in South America, and ensuring our members continue to experience meaningful value from their involvement.”
The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Founded in 1920, the IADC has members from six continents, 49 countries and territories, and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism, support the rule of law, and facilitate camaraderie among its members, their clients, and the broader civil justice community. GRSM has long demonstrated a deep commitment to the IADC, with active members across various offices from all over the United States.
“We congratulate Dominic on this well-deserved honor and are incredibly proud of his achievement,” said Laura De Santos, a former Board Member and current member of the IADC. “Dominic’s consistent professionalism and dedication have made him a standout leader. There is no doubt that the IADC is in capable hands.”
Campodonico has been a member of the IADC since 2011 and has been actively involved in its Drug, Device, and Biotechnology and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committees. In 2015, he was appointed to the organization’s Engagement and Retention Committee, which he chaired from 2018-2020. In 2019, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Foundation of the IADC, which globally advances the rule of law and access to justice. He has also served on the IADC’s Membership, Continuing Legal Education, and Nominating Committees and was appointed as IADC Convention Chair in 2020.
In 2021, Campodonico was named to the 16-member Board of Directors, which oversees activities benefiting the organization’s members and their clients, as well as the civil justice system, the legal profession, and society as a whole. As a member of the Board, Campodonico has served as liaison to a number of committees and assisted with the IADC’s Trial Academy, one of the oldest and most esteemed programs for honing defense advocacy skills, which he completed in 2002. For decades, GRSM has been a foundational presence in the IADC’s Trial Academy, consistently sending its rising star attorneys to participate in the prestigious week-long program.
“Having worked closely with Dominic, not only as a law partner but also through many IADC projects, I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to excellence and mentorship,” said Nancy Erfle, a former IADC Board Member and 2019 Trial Academy Director who continues to serve the organization in various capacities. “His leadership as president reflects not only his deep involvement in the IADC but also his dedication to the future of the defense bar.”
In addition to the 2025 IADC Trial Academy at Stanford University, events throughout the next year will include a Product Liability Roundtable at Bayer Corporation in New Jersey, the International Corporate Counsel College in London, a Midyear Meeting in New Orleans, a Corporate Counsel College in Chicago, an Annual Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, and regional meetings in locations across the globe including Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Buenos Aires.
Beyond Campodonico’s legal practice, which focuses on commercial litigation and product liability cases, including mass torts involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer products, he has made significant contributions to GRSM. Campodonico has served as the hiring partner for the San Francisco office’s Summer Associate Program and has participated on the Summer Associate Hiring Committee for nine years. He is actively involved in the firm’s Diversity, Community Service, and Pro Bono Committees and currently serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s national LGBTQ+ Affinity Group.
Learn more about the IADC’s Board of Directors.