Washington partner E. Donald Elliott was appointed to the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council Board of Environmental Studies and Toxicology (BEST) effective September 16, 2003. BEST is the top study unit of the National Academy of Sciences that advises the federal government on environmental pollution and its impact on human health and the environment. During his 3-year term, Elliott will be part of the top National Academy of Sciences committee that advises the federal government on issues concerning air and water pollution, solid and hazardous waste, toxicology, epidemiology, risk assessment, applied ecology and natural resources. The program also deals with issues relating to environmental engineering, economics, law and policy. A former General Counsel of EPA and first holder of the chair in environmental law at Yale Law School, Mr. Elliott is now Chair of the worldwide Environmental Law Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, based in the Washington, D.C office. He advises companies in both the EU and U.S. on environmental aspects of complex corporate and real estate sales and acquisitions, and also represents companies and trade associations on major regulatory policy issues, class action litigation, product liability and legislative matters. He recently testified in both the House and Senate on upgrading the role of science at the EPA.