2024 Notable General Counsel

As a company’s top legal executive, general counsel must be a true utility player, providing guidance on all legal issues affecting the business from contract negotiation and intellectual property to corporate governance and litigation. Though they often fly under the radar, these legal experts play a crucial role. Meet TCB’s 15 Notable General Counsel honorees for 2024.

Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive; it includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.

To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.

2024 Notable General Counsel

2024 Notable Logo

Paula Beck

Paula Beck

Executive vice president/general counsel, Sherman Associates
Paula Beck blends legal acumen with a passion for community enhancement to lead commercial real estate and development firm Sherman Associates through complex projects like the historic transformation of office
Erica Delain

Erica Delain

General counsel, The Doran Group
At The Doran Group, Erica Delain is responsible for evaluating all financial and partnership agreements for the real estate company’s current portfolio. She oversees all legal aspects related to development
Nancy Evert

Nancy Evert

Senior vice president/general counsel, HealthPartners
As a member of HealthPartners’ executive team, Nancy Evert has built a respected legal group known for its partnership with operational leaders to help achieve the organization’s goals. One of
Diana Geseking

Diana Geseking

Vice president/general counsel/corporate secretary, Restaurant Technologies
Since Diana Geseking began her tenure with Restaurant Technologies (RT) five years ago, the company has grown from just under 29,000 customers to almost 40,000. She oversees a variety of
Jim Goniea

Jim Goniea

General counsel, Self Esteem Brands
For Jim Goniea, the impact of a general counsel extends beyond the law. It’s also about creating a culture of understanding and problem-solving to not only insulate the company from
Sarah Gorsuch

Sarah Gorsuch

General counsel/chief privacy officer, Amplifon Americas
Sarah Gorsuch is responsible for steering the legal, compliance, and privacy functions and initiatives across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America for Amplifon, a hearing aid retailer. Her legal focus
Mindaugas Juska

Mindaugas Juska

Acting general counsel, Hana April; founder/principal attorney, Juska Law
Mindaugas Juska’s legal acumen helped turn Hana April, an Eden Prairie creative events company, into a seven-figure company within a few years of its 2011 inception. Acting as an outside
Jada Lewis

Jada Lewis

Civil division director, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
Jada Lewis is the leader of Ramsey County’s civil division, where she supervises 16 attorneys and six paraprofessionals. She also acts as general counsel for Ramsey County, with more than
Chuck Moorse

Chuck Moorse

General counsel, Norwest Capital
Welcomed as the first in-house general counsel in 2016, Chuck Moorse advises the platforms Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) and Norwest Mezzanine Partners (NMP), which have a combined $4.2 billion in
Rose Neale

Rose Neale

Senior vice president/general counsel, Sun Country Airlines
Rose Neale is part of Sun Country’s executive leadership team and partners with the CEO, president, and COO on strategy and vision. She oversees a $70 million budget and leads
Juliana Junqueira Panetta

Juliana Junqueira Panetta

General counsel, Mall of America
Juliana Junqueira Panetta oversees all legal matters for the Mall of America, addressing complex legal and operational challenges to reduce risk and reinforce the Bloomington mall’s prominence in the retail
Erik Romslo

Erik Romslo

Chief legal officer/secretary, Northern Oil and Gas
Erik Romslo oversees all legal, regulatory, and SEC-related matters as chief legal officer, and facilitates all board functions as secretary at Northern Oil and Gas (NOG). Based in Minnetonka, NOG
Elizabeth Truesdell Smith

Elizabeth Truesdell Smith

Senior vice president/general counsel, Allina Health; secretary, Allina Health Board
Elizabeth Truesdell Smith’s devotion to health care was passed down from her father and grandfather, who served as outside counsel and on the board respectively, for Abbott Northwestern Hospital. In
Suzanne Spellacy

Suzanne Spellacy

General counsel, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx
Suzanne Spellacy joined the executive team of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx as the first internal general counsel in 2021. Now entering her fourth season, she’s played a critical
Philip Young

Philip Young

Executive vice president/chief legal officer, TruStone Financial Credit Union
A detail-oriented leader, Philip Young is responsible for the overall legal affairs of TruStone Financial Credit Union. He oversaw the legal and regulatory process for the multibillion-dollar merger of TruStone