Bradley M. Gayton, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Ford Motor Co. Photo: Eric W. Perry

Two iconic American companies—The Ford Motor Co. and the Coca-Cola Co.—are getting new top lawyers. 

Bradley Gayton, who has spent the entirety of his nearly 30-year legal career at Ford, most recently as general counsel and chief administrative officer, announced Monday that he had accepted an offer to serve as Coca-Cola's next chief lawyer. 

Gayton will leave the Dearborn, Michigan-based carmaker Aug. 31 and start his new role the following day at Coca-Cola's headquarters in Atlanta. 

"I have always said I would leave for only a handful of companies and Coca-Cola has long been on that short list," Gayton stated Monday in an email.

"Its history, its place in our social fabric, its global reach and dynamism in addition to an energetic and winning culture, top management team, and strategic course make it an interesting and attractive opportunity for further challenge and growth," he added. "The company has an ethos that I personally connect with and I'm excited about the opportunities in front of Coca-Cola."

Before he leaves, Gayton will help Ford's longtime associate general counsel, John Mellen, transition to the role of GC. Mellen, who has worked at Ford for nearly 40 years, officially takes over as Gayton's successor Aug. 1, according to a news release. 

As associate GC, Mellen has managed Ford's global litigation practice while advising on safety and environmental regulatory compliance, labor and employment, occupational health and safety, and insurance issues. He was not immediately available for comment.

Gayton, who has managed a team of more than 600 people while overseeing Ford's wide-ranging legal affairs, stated that he was "always looking for fresh ways to think, learn, and innovate." He described his next career move is an "opportunity for new challenges and growth."

"Ford is deeply part of me, and it's been an honor to make a difference at such an iconic and important global company," Gayton added. "There's a lot to be proud of, particularly the programs we've established that could enhance diversity for generations to come."

As Ford's in-house leader, Gayton has pushed for diversity in the legal profession and created a program that helps minority high school students find paths to legal careers. The National Bar Association named Gayton as a 2020 Diversity in Tech and IP Law award recipient. 

Gayton also is known as a vocal advocate for equal justice and pro bono work—he personally helps victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking who are in the United States under the U visa program—and received the National Legal Aid & Defender Association Exemplar Award in 2018.  

"We believe it is a tremendous privilege to practice law and that lawyers have an obligation to use our talents to help improve access to justice," Gayton stated when he received the NLADA honor. 

Gayton worked his way up to the GC seat in 2016, after first arriving at Ford's legal department as a 2L summer clerk. He went on to serve as director of global trade taxation and customs, assistant tax officer and director of tax operations, assistant GC and assistant corporate secretary and group vice president.

He succeeded David Leitch, who first announced that he was retiring in 2016, after more than a decade as Ford's top lawyer, but later went to work for Bank of America as general counsel. At Coca-Cola, Gayton replaces Bernhard Goepelt, who retired in February. 

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