Meet Cecilia

Cecilia L. Gardner is the former President, CEO and General Counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to compliance with laws pertaining to the jewelry industry.  She serves on the Board of Directors of CIBJO, and is Chair of its Ethics Commission.  She also serves as General Counsel and Director of the United States Kimberley Process Authority Institute. She was the former General Counsel to the World Diamond Council, an international association whose purpose is to end the trade in conflict diamonds. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, the American Gem Trade Association, the Women’s Jewelry Association and Jewelers for Veterans.

A graduate of Smith College and Hofstra University School of Law, Ms. Gardner’s professional career included positions as an Examining Attorney with the Department of Investigation of the City of New York, and as a federal prosecutor at the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.  As an Assistant United States Attorney, she specialized in narcotics, money laundering, organized crime and white-collar cases.  Her positions included appointments as the Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Unit and as Attorney-in-Charge in the Long Island Office.  Her work included numerous international investigations and prosecutions, and she was awarded the Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance.  Ms. Gardner was an Adjunct Professor at Hofstra University School of Law, where she taught International Criminal Law.  

Core Competencies

LEGAL ADVISOR

Legal services pertaining to regulatory compliance, employment law, not-for-profit governance and compliance, anti-money laundering services, and small business regulations.