The novel coronavirus forced manufacturer 3M to pivot to producing and distributing N95 respirator masks for health care workers. Known for making absorbent wipes and adhesive tape, the applied sciences company depends on Ivan Fong, 3M’s general counsel, senior vice president and secretary. The former general counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama has managed the St. Paul, Minnesota-based legal department since 2012.

“3M has already put into motion additional investments and actions that will enable it to double its capacity again to 2 billion globally within 12 months, with additional capacity to begin coming online in the next 60 to 90 days,” Fong told Corporate Counsel sister publication The American Lawyer in April. “In the U.S., for example, 3M expects to be producing N95 respirators at a rate of 50 million per month in June, a 40% increase from current levels.”