Starbucks Gets Fresh Cup of Legal Talent With New Top Lawyer
Starbucks has named a new general counsel, EVP and secretary, nine months after the previous top lawyer stepped into a new nonlegal role with the company.
March 16, 2018 at 12:44 PM
2 minute read
![Rachel Gonzalez, Starbucks](https://images.law.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/390/2018/03/031618Rachel-Gonzalez.jpg)
The world's largest coffee chain announced a new top lawyer Wednesday. Rachel Gonzalez will join Starbucks Corp. from airline technology company Sabre Corp.
“Starbucks is a world-renowned brand that has had a tremendous positive impact on the lives of many. It's an honor to join the team,” Gonzalez said in a press release Wednesday. “I'm excited to support the company's continued growth and evolution for partners, customers and shareholders around the world.”
In her new role at Starbucks, Gonzalez will be tasked with leading the law and corporate affairs department, supporting the board of directors and acting on the coffee company's executive leadership team, according to the company.
Starbucks announced back in July that its former GC of five years, Lucy Lee Helm, would be moving into the new role of chief partner officer.
Gonzalez, through a spokesperson for Starbucks, declined an interview.
Gonzalez joined Sabre in 2014 as the company's general counsel and was later named chief administrative officer. She previously served as general counsel with Dallas-based Dean Foods and worked in-house at Affiliated Computer Services.
Before moving in-house, Gonzalez was a partner with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rachel to the Starbucks family,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson, in the announcement. “A leader with outstanding judgment and tremendous business acumen, Rachel is a terrific addition to Starbucks as we continue to accelerate our leadership position as a global brand with a rich heritage in coffee, long-standing values, and the responsibility to use our scale for good.”
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