Brunswick Corp. general counsel Kristin Coleman has a customized playbook for each type of legal matter the $3.9 billion company hands off to outside counsel.
The 15,700-employee recreation-products manufacturer competes in the marine, fitness, bowling and billiards industries. Popular brands include Sea Ray boats and Life Fitness exercise equipment. It also operates bowling alleys. That portfolio puts litigation, intellectual property, commercial contracts and labor and employment, including for some union workers, under Coleman’s list of responsibilities.The company strives to keep complex business-critical work either entirely in-house or at least to lead it internally, said Coleman, who also serves as vice president and corporate secretary. But Brunswick seeks an assist from all kinds of law firms under a variety of billing and work arrangements when it needs special expertise, or for high-volume work including commercial contracts.
