Attorney Profile

I have a broad range of experience in multiple fields of law, having spent many years at a Fortune 100 consumer products company.  For much of that time, I was a Vice President and Associate General Counsel in the company’s Legal Department.  During this tenure, I also served as Chief Counsel for a business division with annual revenues exceeding $4 Billion.  While Chief Counsel, I provided most of the services of a General Counsel, handling all non-specialist work and serving on the business division’s executive leadership team.  I also spent nearly a decade supporting the company’s global supply chain operations and was a member of that leadership team.  While dealing with the purchasing, manufacturing, distribution, and customer service aspects of the global supply chain area, I also managed the legal support for the Information Services and Finance Departments of the company.

I was the lead in-house business lawyer on a number of major acquisitions and outsourcing relationships, as well as other strategic initiatives.  In many cases, I was the sole attorney handling the multi-million dollar business contract negotiations with key suppliers of goods and services.

For a little more than four years, I served as the company’s Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer.  This encompassed leading the Compliance and Integrity Group, overseeing corporate compliance policies and programming, and maintaining a compliance culture across the organization.  Additionally, I reported regularly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on key investigations and other compliance matters, and ensured that the company was effectively managing its compliance risks on a continuing basis.

At the Law Office of Robert L. Herst, I have continued to work in the consumer products arena, such as the foodservice industry and general food business.  I have also provided counsel to various other industries, including technology, distribution, and other professional service companies.

I received my Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of Chicago, cum laude, after graduating from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.  I am licensed to practice law in Illinois, and am a member of the Illinois State Bar Association as well as the American Bar Association.  In addition, I have received a Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ of 5.0 out of 5.0 (AV® Preeminent™).  If you would like to read some of these peer reviews, please use this link:  http://www.martindale.com/Robert-L-Herst/958947-lawyer.htm?view=cr