Veta T. Richardson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACC is the world’s largest bar association dedicated exclusively to serving the interests of in-house counsel. With an international membership of more than 34,000 in-house lawyers at more than 10,000 organizations in 85 countries, ACC serves as the “voice of the in-house bar.”

With more than 57 chapter operations around the world, Richardson’s top priority at ACC involves increasing the organization’s global footprint and charting ACC through a strategic plan and vision geared to address the unique needs and challenges of corporate lawyers. Members look to ACC to advocate in support of their rights and interests as in-house counsel, as well as to offer the practice resources, education, global legal and regulatory analysis and networking opportunities needed to advance their professional development.

Previously, as executive director of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) from 2001-2011, Richardson raised the bar on the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession through the establishment of a multi-pronged platform that consisted of ground breaking research and white papers; thought provoking publications, such as Diversity & the Bar; and best-in-class programs, services and networking events. Under her leadership, the MCCA emerged as a thought leader on diversity, recruitment and retention and pipeline initiatives for multinational corporations around the world.

Earlier in her career, Richardson served as vice president and deputy general counsel at ACC, where she oversaw the development of resources and continuing legal education for in-house lawyers. Her own expertise in the in-house arena was shaped through her work for more than a decade as in-house counsel at Sunoco, Inc. in Philadelphia, where her practice focus was corporate governance, transactions, securities disclosure and finance.

She received a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Maryland at College Park and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.

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About ACC: The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global bar association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for corporations, associations and other private-sector organizations through information, education, networking opportunities and advocacy initiatives. With more than 33,000 members employed by over 10,000 organizations, ACC connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.® For more information, visit www.acc.com and follow ACC on Twitter http://twitter.com/ACCinhouse.