Valukas to speak at Lawrence graduation

APPLETON - A Lawrence University graduate who played a key role in the Lehman Bros. bankruptcy case is scheduled to speak at the university’s graduation in June.

Lawrence University has announced Anton “Tony” Valukas will be the principal commencement speaker. He will also receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the graduation ceremony.

Valukas served as the court-appointed examiner in the 2009 case, the largest bankruptcy in the nation’s history. After reviewing 34 million documents and interviewing nearly 300 witnesses, Valukas issued a seven-volume, 2,200 page report detailing potential wrongdoing by certain Lehman executives and Ernst & Young, the auditor.

Valukas served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1985 to 1989. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in government at Lawrence in 1965, Valukas earned his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1968. He joined Jenner & Block in 1976 and was named the firm’s chairman in 2007.

Lawrence’s 163rd commencement ceremony is set for June 10.