For the last ten years, Mr. Kessler has been a legal advisor for the private and public sector. He holds an LL.M. from Georgetown University.

Mr. Kessler was the general counsel for Finantsinspektsioon, the single regulator for the financial markets of Estonia, a member of the European Union. Mr. Kessler was the substitute member to the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR), established by the EU Commission, and a member of permanent committees of CESR. He also actively participated in the CESR expert group drafting advice on the Transparency Directive.

Mr. Kessler successfully lead teams writing the Estonian corporate governance code, implementing the European Market Abuse Directive. Mr. Kessler drafted Estonia's takeover rules and is the co-author of a number of banking, insurance, mutual funds and securities regulations.

Mr. Kessler is the member of Estonian Bar Association. In 1995-2002 he worked with Tark & Co., one of the biggest law firms in the Baltics, structured a number of groundbreaking IPO's and
M & A transactions. Mr. Kessler is the member of the Council for Tallinn Stock Exchange Arbitration Court , until 2002 the chairman of the Surveillance Committee of the Exchange. He initiated a seminar on corporate governance in Tallinn, co-sponsored by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Kessler lectures securities regulation at Tartu University Law Institute.

During his Humphrey year, Mr. Kessler will focus on certain U.S corporate governance practices, aspects of securities and financial markets to analyze their impact on European market. He also hopes to enhance his management and public relations skills.