David Murdoch to Receive Germany's Highest Civilian Honor for Work Strengthening U.S.-German Relations

Pittsburgh attorney David A. Murdoch, Esq., will receive the Cross of the Order of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz), the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to an individual, whether German or foreign, at a luncheon ceremony in Pittsburgh on Feb. 22, 2010.

Murdoch, a partner at K&L Gates and chairman of the board of directors of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and Honorary Consul for Germany in Pittsburgh, will receive the honor for his work in strengthening German-American relations from Dr. Horst Freitag, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York.

Freitag will be speaking on the topic of "The U.S. and the EU: From Pittsburgh to the G-20 Summits in 2010" at the Duquesne Club beginning at noon on Feb. 22.

Mark A. Nordenberg, Esq., Chancellor and CEO of the University of Pittsburgh and board member of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, will serve as master of ceremonies for this special luncheon event.

The event is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Eric M. Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany.

The Pittsburgh G-20 Summit and the upcoming G-20 summits in Ontario and Seoul address major global challenges - economic recovery, energy sustainability, and environmental issues - through partnerships on multiple levels. The transatlantic alliance is crucial in defining the way forward. How are Europe and the U.S. working together on the recovery of the global economy? What are our shared goals in promoting energy sustainability and effectively tackling climate change? Freitag will address these issues and more.

From 2007-2008, Freitag was a Visiting Fellow with the Brookings Institution's Center on the United States and Europe. Previously, Dr. Freitag served as the Commissioner for Near and Middle East Affairs in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Dr. Freitag's extensive diplomatic career has taken him to postings in Tegucigalpa, Washington, and Ramallah.

Costs:

$45 Council Members* and Partners
$60 Non-Council Members
$360 Table of eight
*There is no additional charge for those members with full or flex LDG Subscriptions. No refunds for cancellations made after Friday, February 19th. Please advise in advance of any dietary restrictions. REGISTER NOW

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