Darla Roden
General Counsel at LALA U.S., Inc- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Aaron Armas Fernández
Darla is a well rounded executive, she brings balance to business continuity decisions, making sure all different scenarios are evaluated, providing guidance through a thorough understanding of how the company operates. She is a tenacious attorney, looking to guide and enable others to succeed. It has been an honor and a delight working with Darla.
Jorge Ramos Santoyo
I have had the privilege to work with Darla for some years in Lala US, Inc., where she oversees the Legal Department as General Counsel. Darla is a senior professional and a Company leader who consistently shows her expertise in legislation and regulatory affairs, ensuring we do business responsibly and ethically. Darla has a solid business acumen, always interested in fulfilling our customer requirements and consumer needs. Her strong common sense always helps to unlock discussions and to generate knowledge within the teams. Her curiosity and pragmatism are some of Darla’s key differentiators which help to simplify complex business decisions. She is an authentic leader, who is always leading by example and always challenging the status quo to ensure we ask the difficult and unpopular questions and to make the right decisions. Darla excels in her risk management skills, and she is always clear and thorough about levels of risk involved in business and people situations and she consistently helps to build risk management scenarios to protect our business and our teams. Darla is a professional who inspires trust and generates long-term relationships with colleagues and team members.
Aaron Armas Fernández
Darla is a well rounded executive, she brings balance to business continuity decisions, making sure all different scenarios are evaluated, providing guidance through a thorough understanding of how the company operates. She is a tenacious attorney, looking to guide and enable others to succeed. It has been an honor and a delight working with Darla.
Jorge Ramos Santoyo
I have had the privilege to work with Darla for some years in Lala US, Inc., where she oversees the Legal Department as General Counsel. Darla is a senior professional and a Company leader who consistently shows her expertise in legislation and regulatory affairs, ensuring we do business responsibly and ethically. Darla has a solid business acumen, always interested in fulfilling our customer requirements and consumer needs. Her strong common sense always helps to unlock discussions and to generate knowledge within the teams. Her curiosity and pragmatism are some of Darla’s key differentiators which help to simplify complex business decisions. She is an authentic leader, who is always leading by example and always challenging the status quo to ensure we ask the difficult and unpopular questions and to make the right decisions. Darla excels in her risk management skills, and she is always clear and thorough about levels of risk involved in business and people situations and she consistently helps to build risk management scenarios to protect our business and our teams. Darla is a professional who inspires trust and generates long-term relationships with colleagues and team members.
Aaron Armas Fernández
Darla is a well rounded executive, she brings balance to business continuity decisions, making sure all different scenarios are evaluated, providing guidance through a thorough understanding of how the company operates. She is a tenacious attorney, looking to guide and enable others to succeed. It has been an honor and a delight working with Darla.
Jorge Ramos Santoyo
I have had the privilege to work with Darla for some years in Lala US, Inc., where she oversees the Legal Department as General Counsel. Darla is a senior professional and a Company leader who consistently shows her expertise in legislation and regulatory affairs, ensuring we do business responsibly and ethically. Darla has a solid business acumen, always interested in fulfilling our customer requirements and consumer needs. Her strong common sense always helps to unlock discussions and to generate knowledge within the teams. Her curiosity and pragmatism are some of Darla’s key differentiators which help to simplify complex business decisions. She is an authentic leader, who is always leading by example and always challenging the status quo to ensure we ask the difficult and unpopular questions and to make the right decisions. Darla excels in her risk management skills, and she is always clear and thorough about levels of risk involved in business and people situations and she consistently helps to build risk management scenarios to protect our business and our teams. Darla is a professional who inspires trust and generates long-term relationships with colleagues and team members.
Aaron Armas Fernández
Darla is a well rounded executive, she brings balance to business continuity decisions, making sure all different scenarios are evaluated, providing guidance through a thorough understanding of how the company operates. She is a tenacious attorney, looking to guide and enable others to succeed. It has been an honor and a delight working with Darla.
Jorge Ramos Santoyo
I have had the privilege to work with Darla for some years in Lala US, Inc., where she oversees the Legal Department as General Counsel. Darla is a senior professional and a Company leader who consistently shows her expertise in legislation and regulatory affairs, ensuring we do business responsibly and ethically. Darla has a solid business acumen, always interested in fulfilling our customer requirements and consumer needs. Her strong common sense always helps to unlock discussions and to generate knowledge within the teams. Her curiosity and pragmatism are some of Darla’s key differentiators which help to simplify complex business decisions. She is an authentic leader, who is always leading by example and always challenging the status quo to ensure we ask the difficult and unpopular questions and to make the right decisions. Darla excels in her risk management skills, and she is always clear and thorough about levels of risk involved in business and people situations and she consistently helps to build risk management scenarios to protect our business and our teams. Darla is a professional who inspires trust and generates long-term relationships with colleagues and team members.
Credentials
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Leadership Institute-Texas General Counsel Forum
Texas General Counsel ForumMay, 2019- Oct, 2024 -
Trial Advocacy Skills Program
National Institute for Trial AdvocacyJun, 2000- Oct, 2024 -
Lawyer
State Bar of TexasJan, 1997- Oct, 2024
Experience
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LALA U.S., Inc
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United States
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Food & Beverages
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300 - 400 Employee
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General Counsel
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Apr 2017 - Present
As the General Counsel for LALA U.S., Inc, I spearhead the legal operations in this new organization and serve on the executive leadership team, providing legal advice to support the strategic direction. Execute a full spectrum of legal matters, managing all outside counsel, directing all phases of litigation, advising on employment law and labor relations matters, drafting and negotiating commercial and procurement contracts, supporting divestitures, mergers and acquisitions. Creating, implementing, and delivering training on company policies, internal controls, compliance programs, and corporate governance. Manage transactional, regulatory, and compliance matters. Develop high-performing team members. Promote company values to drive profitability and impact the organizational framework. ► Draft company policies and procedures, revised employee handbook and consumer care protocols, and created template contracts; lead pandemic crisis response policy creation ► Evaluate and develop the strategy for managing all contract disputes, EEOC claims, trademark challenges, compliance matters, and other litigation to mitigate the risk of impact on business; established outside counsel guidelines and management procedures ► Instituting the Company’s contract management platform, housing 700+ entries, and supporting the implementation of the Company’s first supplier management and compliance platform ► Supporting labor and employment matters for 250+ employees, including supporting 4 collective bargaining agreement negotiations, managing union grievances and arbitrations ► Govern the US risk management program, steering the casualty and corporate insurance program, saving 5–10% per renewal, and securing a $MM recovery on insurance claim ► Assist in M&A due diligence, evaluated risks, and made recommendations for integration ► Joined as Associate General Counsel April 2017, promoted to General Counsel October 2017
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Borden
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United States
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Food and Beverage Services
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500 - 600 Employee
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Associate General Counsel
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Aug 2013 - Apr 2017
As the Associate General Counsel of the Borden Dairy Company, I managed the national litigation docket, coordinated risk management programs, and worked closely with adjusters, brokers, and TPAs. Supported environmental compliance programs, Consumer Care agents, and Human Resources and Safety teams. Worked with business leaders to develop legal strategies to satisfy business needs and protect company assets and reputation, focusing on risk mitigation and continuous improvement. Oversaw litigation reports to coordinate with legal and accounting, establish reserves, and present material case updates to the executive team. ► Deployed the legal strategy for the national litigation docket of 300+ open matters in commercial, transportation, premises liability, product liability, worker’s compensation, environmental, and employment litigation, and managed a national roster of outside counsel ► Managed labor union grievances and arbitrations with 8+ unions, achieving favorable outcomes ► Represented the Company at numerous depositions, mediations, arbitration, and at trial ► Supported the HR and Safety teams at 16+ manufacturing facilities ► Teamed with HR on workforce planning to secure SG&A savings of 20%+ with no adverse claims ► Partnered with leadership and HR to close 3 facilities, layoff personnel, and dispose of assets
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Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
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United States
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Law Practice
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700 & Above Employee
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Counsel
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Sep 1997 - Aug 2013
As Counsel with Andrews Kurth LLP (now Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP), I represented corporate clients on a broad spectrum of commercial litigation matters and post-transaction disputes. Participated with the Corporate Compliance, Investigations, and Defense (CCID) group representing clients in securities matters: defending clients in internal and governmental investigations, including alleged violations of the FCPA. Advocated for clients in numerous depositions, first chair at hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and trials. ► Managed all aspects of litigation in state and federal court systems, developed strategies for efficient case management, and administered discovery and e-discovery ► Handled insurance coverage disputes and represented a major insurer in $MM coverage disputes ► Represented a court-appointed receiver in a suit filed alleging a $55M securities fraud scheme ► Represented a major credit card issuer in numerous significant fraud cases throughout Texas
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Education
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1994 - 1997
University of Virginia School of Law
Juris Doctorate, Law -
1990 - 1994
University of Oklahoma
Bachelor of Arts - BA, Letters
Community
