PEOPLE : New General Counsel for Times Mirror

Kathleen G. McGuinness has been named vice president and general counsel of Times Mirror Co., the company announced Monday.

McGuinness, 47, will be responsible for supervising the operations of the legal department and advising the board of directors and senior management on all significant legal matters, the company said in a statement.

Most recently, McGuinness was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers, where she specialized in corporate law. She joined the Los Angeles-based firm in 1977 after graduating from law school, and became a partner in 1985.

At O’Melveny, she worked on corporate transactions, principally financings and debt restructurings, and represented corporations in connection with acquisitions and securities issuances.

“We are very pleased to have someone of Katie’s ability and experience join Times Mirror, and we know she will make a major contribution to Times Mirror’s growth,” Times Mirror President and Chief Executive Mark H. Willes said.

McGuinness attended Smith College and earned her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she graduated magna cum laude. She received her law degree from the University of San Diego Law School, graduating cum laude.

Times Mirror, a Los Angeles-based information company, publishes the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers, magazines, books and educational materials.