Gerald L. Walden

About Gerald L. Walden

A skilled in-house counsel with demonstrated success working in the retail industry on an array of legal matters and leading high visibility initiatives including those involving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Possessing significant and proven experience throughout an over 20-year legal career related to the following:• Advising and collaborating with executive leadership and multiple business units to achieve desired outcomes while mitigating risk; • Handling a large volume of internal clients, contracts and other matters simultaneously while helping to achieve targeted goals;• Ensuring the legal department operates more efficiently and effectively by minimizing outside counsel spend and leading process improvements;• Developing policies, procedures and trainings impacting employees throughout the employment life cycle and ensuring compliance with same;• Participating in employee-related investigations involving alleged discrimination, retaliation, etc;• Managing a companywide litigation portfolio which includes (i) outside counsel selection and management, and (ii) developing settlement strategies and negotiating same in disputes; • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial vendor contracts and store leases, as well as performing due diligence related thereto; and • Leading the successful development and implementation of DEI strategies, a DEI corporate board, and various tools and programs (i.e, business resource groups) that foster a culture of belonging.In addition to the above, extremely active in numerous professional and civic organizations holding leadership roles in most. The recipient of several local and statewide awards and honors. An avid mentor and advisor to numerous students, attorneys and business professionals.Commercial Transactions | Labor and Employment | Commercial Real Estate | Litigation Management| Compliance | Complex Negotiations | Legal Analysis & Research | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Experience

1. Group VP - General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

   The Fresh Market

   Aug 2023 — Present · US

Education

• Elon University - Martha and Spencer Love School of Business

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Administration, Management and Operations

  2012 — 2014

• North Carolina Central University School of Law

  JD, Law

  1998 — 2001

• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

  BS, Mechanical Engineering

  1992 — 1996