Richard A. Kruse
Senior Legal Executive
Legal Leadership | Corporate & Commercial | Strategic Ventures and M&A
Strategic Legal Leadership. Business minded judgment. Practical solutions. Effective execution.
Senior legal executive with more than 25 years of experience advising CEOs, Boards, executive leadership and business teams across organizations ranging from Fortune 100 multinationals to emerging growth companies.
Permanent Legal Leadership | Interim General Counsel
Strategic Transactions - Corporate/Commercial/Operations - Special Projects
Legal Leadership Built Around the Business
The best legal advice does more than identify issues and risk. It helps the business make better decisions, capture opportunities and create value through practical solutions.
I am a senior corporate attorney and legal executive with more than 25 years of experience helping companies solve complex legal and business challenges. Throughout my career, I have worked at the intersection of law, strategy, finance, operations and commercial execution, helping teams identify and evaluate opportunities, structure solutions, manage risk and move important initiatives forward. This includes senior in-house, interim General Counsel and outside-counsel roles supporting public and private companies across consumer products, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, professional services, distribution and other industries. For example, with The Coca-Cola Company, I advised sophisticated businesses operating at global scale, and I have worked with entrepreneurial growth companies. I have led and supported hundreds of transactions and strategic matters ranging from complex commercial arrangements to acquisitions to new ventures, each involving substantial enterprise value.
My work combines strategic thinking with personal execution and regularly requires collaboration across executive leadership, finance, corporate development, marketing, sales, operations, supply chain, HR, compliance, technology, tax and other functions. I routinely translate complex legal issues into understandable business choices and help very diverse stakeholders.
Where I Add Value
Complex Transactions & Strategic Ventures
Lead, negotiate and support hundreds of sophisticated transactions, including domestic and cross-border M&A, divestitures, strategic ventures, joint ventures, investments, alliances, integrations, restructurings, and complex commercial arrangements.
Global & Cross-Functional Leadership
Work across functions, industries and geographies to coordinate legal, business and subject matter experts and move complex initiatives from objectives through execution. Stepping into organizations requiring experienced legal leadership and topical expertise, quickly assessing priorities, building trusted relationships, managing active matters and providing practical counsel with minimal ramp-up.
Commercial Value Creation
Structure and negotiate high-value customer, supplier, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, sales, licensing, technology, SaaS, and other critical matters to enhance revenue, operations, and growth.
Legal Operations, Technology & Innovation
Develop and improve contracting processes, legal workflows, governance systems and infrastructure to increase responsiveness, consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. Leverage technology, AI, innovation, and resource management.
Executive Counsel & Governance
Advise senior executives on significant strategic, operational, commercial, governance, policy, and Board/Secretarial matters, balancing legal considerations with business goals.
Regulatory, Compliance & Risk
Proactively advise on compliance, competition/antitrust, healthcare regulation, privacy, enterprise risk, employment, dispute resolution, and management of outside counsel and litigation.
Areas of Expertise
Corporate & Strategic
Mergers & Acquisitions
Divestitures
Integration & Restructure
Joint Ventures
Strategic Alliances
Investments & Finance
Corporate Governance
Board Support
Entity Management
Commercial & Operational
Complex Commercial Contracts
Manufacturing & Supply
Distribution
Sales & Marketing
Key Customers & Suppliers
Technology & SaaS
Licensing
Services Agreements
International Business
Leadership, Governance & Risk
General Counsel Leadership
Executive Counseling
Enterprise Risk Management
Regulatory Compliance
Healthcare Industry Matters
Antitrust & Competition
Privacy & Data
Employment Matters
Litigation Oversight
Outside Counsel Management
Delivering Support & Innovation
Legal Department Strategy
Contracting Processes
Contract Lifecycle Management
Workflow Improvement
Legal Technology
AI-Enabled Legal Processes
Scalable Legal Infrastructure
Cross-Functional Teamwork
Consumer Products & Retail
Consumer-facing businesses, sales and marketing, promotions, advertising, distribution, retail relationships and commercial operations.
Industry Experience
Production & Distribution
Supply chains, manufacturing, logistics, distributors, strategic vendors and complex operational contracting.
Technology & Intellectual Property
Enterprise software, technology transactions, licensing, SaaS, data management, privacy, IP-centric and tech-enabled business models, and R&D.
Healthcare & Other Regulated Industries
Healthcare transactions, personal data handling, hospital-system relationships, regulated commercial arrangements, outsourcing, franchised structures, and professional services.
How I Work
Understand the Business
Exercise Judgment
Find Solutions
Communicate Clearly
Enable the Enterprise
Build for Scale
Own the Details
Drive to Completion
Leadership for the Long Term, or When It is Needed Most
Sustained Success
Long Term Commitment: My career includes multi-year periods of progressive responsibility and success within the same organization. I love building strong relationships, learning the intricacies of the business, and making high impact, long lasting contributions. I am excited about opportunities where a permanent role is the right fit.
My initial objective in any role is to understand the business quickly, identify what matters most, establish credibility with stakeholders, and keep the organization's important work moving.
Interim & Special Situation Impact
Experienced Leadership When the Organization Needs It Most: Companies sometimes need senior legal leadership before they need or can complete the search for a permanent executive, or the need is temporary. I am available for selected interim General Counsel, fractional legal leadership and senior transactional engagements where substantial experience and the ability to become effective quickly are particularly valuable. Typical situations include:
Talent Transitions: GC departures, parental or other leave coverage, leadership gaps and searches for permanent legal executives.
Transactions & Strategic Initiatives: Periods of significant M&A, divestiture, integration, restructuring, joint-venture or other strategic activity requiring additional senior-level capability.
Legal Function Development: Organizations seeking to centralize legal responsibility, establish governance and contracting processes, improve legal operations or build scalable legal infrastructure.
Special Situations: Businesses facing an unusual combination of strategic, operational, commercial or compliance matters requiring experienced legal judgment.
I welcome conversations regarding senior legal leadership, strategic ventures, and selected interim engagements.
