Anheuser-Busch and InBev overhaul legal teams
Anheuser-Busch InBev has overhauled its internal legal function in the wake of the merger that has established it as the world's largest brewer. The company has combined the legal teams from Anheuser-Busch and InBev, which completed their $52bn (£36bn) union last month (18 November), creating a single 250-strong legal group.
December 11, 2008 at 01:03 AM
3 minute read
Merged drinks giant combines legal functions; world's largest brewer set for adviser review in new year
Anheuser-Busch InBev has overhauled its internal legal function in the wake of the merger that has established it as the world's largest brewer.
The company has combined the legal teams from Anheuser-Busch and InBev, which completed their $52bn (£36bn) union last month (18 November), creating a single 250-strong legal group.
With the internal restructuring complete, the group is now set to kick off a panel review in the new year, set to be watched closely by InBev advisers Sullivan & Cromwell, Linklaters and Clifford Chance and Anheuser-Busch regulars Lovells and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.
The revamp of the legal team has seen former InBev general counsel Sabine Chalmers (pictured) named as the merged company's chief legal and compliance officer and fellow InBev lawyer Benoit Loore chosen as general counsel, corporate.
Gary Rutledge, former chief legal officer of Anheuser-Busch, becomes the only lawyer from Anheuser to gain a senior role, leading the North America arm of the legal team. Former InBev North America legal chief Susan Rabkin will now head the Canada team.
In Europe, Oleg Moubarakshin will head the Western Europe legal team, while Marilen Kenington leads the Central and Eastern Europe division. Frank Wang has been named as general counsel for Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, Pedro Mariani and Ignacio Nicholson have been named as general counsel for Latin America North and South respectively.
Since the merger 10 Anheuser-Busch lawyers have departed the company. Of the 250 lawyers remaining around 200 are from InBev and 50 from Anheuser, which previously had a legal team based almost entirely in North America.
Chalmers told Legal Week: "Due to the geographical spread of the new company, it will be a fantastic place for career development within the function, with opportunities now available across the globe."
She added: "I feel really privileged to be working at the new merged company. We now have a balance between global interests, and having more of a presence in the US is a benefit of the legal function as a whole."
The review of outside counsel is due to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2009.
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