Michael J. Leffell is the founder of Portage Advisors, LLC, a privately held company focused on alternative asset investments and consulting. Until his retirement in December 2009, Mr. Leffell was the deputy executive managing member of Davidson Kempner Capital Management, an event-driven, multi-strategy hedge fund. Mr. Leffell co-ran the firm’s Distressed Securities strategy for 20 years. Mr. Leffell is president of the Board of Trustees of the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester, a trustee of Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, UJA Federation of New York, Commentary Magazine, and the Gruss Life Monument Funds, Inc. He is also a Wexner Heritage Fellow. He received his JD from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his undergraduate degree from Clark University.