Harriette Dorsen, long-time general counsel at Bantam Doubleday Dell who went on to become senior v-p, secretary and general counsel for Random House following Bertelsmann's purchase of RH, has stepped down from those posts. In addition to serving as the top in-house lawyer for RH, Dorsen has been the executive in charge of overseeing the development of the company's new world headquarters building, which is due to open in several months. Dorsen is also credited with playing a crucial role in Bertelsmann's purchase of Random and in its integration.
Assuming Dorsen's responsibilities as head of RH's legal staff is Kathy Trager, who has been named senior v-p, general counsel. Trager had been a deputy counsel with RH from 1987 until 2000, when she left to earn a master's at Columbia Teacher's College.
In announcing Trager's appointment, Ed Volini, executive v-p, chief administrative officer and CFO of RH, said Trager "will be a highly valued member of our leadership group as we face a wide range of traditional and fresh legal issues and challenges."
