The Nasdaq-listed battery developer Stardust Power has appointed Bruce Czachor as its new general counsel.
Reporting directly to founder and CEO Roshan Pujari, Czachor will oversee all legal, regulatory and corporate governance matters for the company.
He enters the role with over 30 years of experience, having most recently served as EVP and chief legal officer at Piedmont Lithium. During his tenure he oversaw the cross-border public merger between Piedmont Lithium and Elevera Mining (formerly Sayona Mining).
Before that, Czachor also served as VP and general counsel at Paringa Resources as well as partner-level positions at A&O Shearman, Orrick and Duane Morris.
‘Bruce’s experience and deep expertise in corporate governance and capital markets make him an ideal addition to our leadership team, and his appointment strengthens our legal and governance framework as we advance the Muskogee refinery toward construction,’ says Pujari.
Over at biopharmaceutical company LB Pharmaceuticals, Minako Pazdera has been named as general counsel.
She brings with her 25 years of experience spanning corporate governance, intellectual property, strategic corporate transactions and compliance, the company says.
Prior to joining LB Pharmaceuticals, Pazdera served as general counsel and corporate secretary at Kardigan. Before that, she was general counsel and corporate secretary at Carmot Therapeutics. Her earlier rolesincluded similar roles at Lyell Immunopharma, Sangamo Therapeutics and Genentech.
‘Dr Pazdera has broad expertise encompassing both financial and strategic transactions, as well a deep understanding of intellectual property law and corporate compliance. Her contributions will be invaluable as we advance the development of LB-102 and work towards our broader vision of building a fully integrated CNS-focused company,’ says LB Pharmaceuticals CEO Heather Turner.
Meanwhile, Nasdaq-listed Central Garden & Pet Company has appointed Apur Patel as chief legal officer. He succeeds George Yuhas, who is retiring from the company.
Patel joins from The Clorox Company, where he most recently served as VP and deputy general counsel. Earlier in his career, Patel held senior legal roles at Cisco, Cargill and UnitedHealth Group.
‘We’re grateful to George for stepping back into the role on an interim basis and helping ensure a smooth transition,’ says Central Garden & Pet Company’s CEO Niko Lahanas.
‘As George returns to retirement, we’re excited to welcome Apur to Central. Apur brings deep experience and a strong track record of aligning legal strategy with business priorities while effectively managing risk in complex, global organizations.’
Elsewhere, luxury wine company The Duckhorn Portfolio has named Adam Copley as its new EVP, chief legal officer and general counsel.
Copley will assume the role as of February 2, succeeding Catherine Sullivan, who has served as the interim general counsel since May 2025 and will continue as the VP, deputy general counsel, business affairs.
Before joining Duckhorn, Copley served as general counsel and head of human resources at Ste Michelle Wine Estates. Before this, Copley was a corporate associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
‘Adam’s experience as a long-tenured general counsel with a proven track record across M&A, brand development, and corporate strategy makes him an invaluable addition to our executive team as we accelerate the execution of our strategy,’ says The Duckhorn Portfolio’s CEO Robert Hanson.
Lastly, TSX-listed Homeland Nickel has confirmed the appointment of Jordan Black as corporate secretary following the resignation of Errol Farr.
Black, a Senior Geotechnical Engineer, currently serves as CEO and director of Ramp Metals. Before this he was Geotechnical Team Lead (and Senior Geotechnical Engineer) at WSP Canada. He also served as VP of business development at GoldSpot Discoveries
‘It’s been a great 2 years with Errol as our corporate secretary and we wish him well in his new CEO roles. We also welcome Jordan Black aboard who will make an excellent fit with Homeland going forward,’ says Steve Balch, Homeland Nickel’s CEO.