Honorable Gordon D. Giffin

Ambassador Gordon Giffin is a partner and global vice-chair emeritus in Dentons, the world’s largest law firm. His practice is focused on international transactions, trade matters and disputes, government procurement, energy regulatory and policy matters, federal and state regulatory matters and public policy. He maintains offices in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia.

From August 1997 to April 2001, Ambassador Giffin served as the nineteenth U.S. Ambassador to Canada. As Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, he managed U.S. interests in the world's largest bi-lateral trading relationship, as well as U.S. collaboration with Canada on global issues in international fora. He received the Superior Honor Award from the Department of State for negotiating a pre-clearance agreement.

From 1975 to 1979, he was legislative director and chief counsel to U.S. Senator Sam Nunn in Washington, DC. 

Ambassador Giffin is a graduate of Duke University and Emory University School of Law and holds several honorary degrees. He was a recipient of the Emory University School of Law's 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes outstanding alumni who have achieved distinction in legal practice, teaching, research or public administration. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law at Emory University School of Law.

Ambassador Giffin currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Carter Presidential Center; is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission; and serves on the Board of Directors of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. He served on the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Board from 2001 to 2017, joined the Board of TransAlta Corporation in May 2002 and served as its Chair from April 2011 to April 2020, and served on the Board of Canadian National Railway from May 2001 until April 2021.