The state Senate on Thursday confirmed two prominent Los Angeles business people to the University of California Board of Regents: attorney and civic leader George Kieffer and former entertainment executive Sherry Lansing.

Kieffer, 62, a Los Angeles resident, was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the board in May 2009 for a 12-year term. He is a partner in the West Los Angeles law firm of Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, where he chairs the government and regulatory policy division. A longtime Democrat and civic leader, Kieffer chaired one of the two city charter reform commissions during the administration of former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

Kieffer also served as chair for two years of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, during which time he worked to boost the chamber’s political activism. And he served as president of the board of governors of the California Community College system.

Kieffer also has close ties to the Schwarzenegger family; he has been the personal attorney for Maria Shriver, both before and since she became the First Lady of California.

Lansing, 65, was first appointed to the UC Board of Regents by former Gov. Gray Davis in 1999; Schwarzenegger earlier this year appointed her to a second 12-year term. She is currently vice chair of the board.

As chief executive of Paramount Pictures’ Motion Picture Group for 12 years and before that, head of the film division at 20th Century Fox, Lansing was the first female chief executive of a major Hollywood studio. Lansing also owned an independent production company.

Lansing currently heads a foundation that funds cancer research and supports arts and education programs.

The UC Board of Regents consists of 26 members, 18 appointed by the governor to 12-year terms, seven ex-officio members (including the Governor and Lt. Governor and the Speaker of the Assembly) and one student representative appointed to a one-year term. There is no salary.