Angelique Strong Marks

 

Our member spotlight this quarter shines on Angelique Strong Marks who served on the ACC Board from 2012 to 2014 and who the America Corporate Counsel Association Docket magazine recently featured as an influential female General Counsel. Angelique is an adventure seeker who has enjoyed many adventures, both in-house and personally.

 

1. What is your role at MAHLE?

I serve as the General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Regional Compliance Officer for MAHLE's North American operations.  I am responsible for managing all of the legal affairs for MAHLE North America, which includes the United States, Mexico, and Canada. MAHLE is a global Tier I automotive supplier for major OEM automotive manufacturers headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany with its North American operations headquartered in Farmington, Michigan.  Each day is new, challenging, and exciting!  My Northern American team includes 4 attorneys (including myself), a law clerk, and two legal interns.  My team and I handle matters that vary from banking and finance matters, complex transactions, contract review, commercial disputes, corporate governance, environmental matters, government regulations and investigations, human resources matters, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.  Every day is a different day that allows me and my team to work on a variety of significant matters!

 

2. How long have you been in-house? 

I began my career as a lawyer in 1995 and my in-house career in 1998 with Frank's Nursery & Crafts, at that time the country's largest dedicated lawn and garden retail operation.  Frank's had 256 stores operating in 15 states.  It was an amazing opportunity for me that would open doors for several other opportunities to come.

 

3. What career path led you to MAHLE?

My undergraduate degree is in Finance.  I also have a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Management that I earned prior to entering law school.  During law school, I focused my coursework on classes that would prepare me for a corporate career.  My first legal position with the law firm of Hardy, Lewis and Page, P.C. provided me with an opportunity to represent General Motors Corporation and Delphi Automotive.  In 1998, when I transitioned to Frank's Nursery & Crafts, I started as an employment law attorney, but within 3 months became the chief legal counsel responsible for all legal matters and reported directly to the CEO. After Frank's I gained experience in Corporate Securities and Finance at CMS Energy and DTE Energy. Then I became the General Counsel for Handleman Company, a publicly traded distribution company.  After serving as a team member to sell Handleman's assets, I next moved into the position of General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Behr America.  MAHLE acquired Behr America, and MAHLE selected me to serve as its General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

 

The most interesting project for me was working on the transition to Sarbanes Oxley in 2002. There was a lot of uncertainty during this time because although the regulators had not released the final regulations, corporations had to anticipate the final regulations and the impact they might have on their corporate structure. It was exciting to build from the ground up and to ensure that we were working cross functionally to implement best practices in an area that significantly changes the reporting requirements of publicly traded companies.

 

My biggest surprise being in-house counsel is discovering the dynamics of serving in an in-house position. Each day, there is an opportunity to not only hone your legal skills but to make an impact for your company by serving as a partner to your business clients.  Legal plays a significant role in protecting the brand and the integrity of the company! Furthermore, Legal also helps by contributing to a successful bottom-line.

 

I am a full supporter of the American Corporate Counsel Association.  I believe that it is imperative for in-house counsel to stay connected with other in-house counsel in order to ensure that they are aware of the best practices.  The ACC provides outstanding resources through its website, conferences, and the Virtual Library.  Involvement with the ACC at a national and especially a local level allows in-house counsel to connect with other similarly situated counsel and build a support network. The ACC annual conference is the most beneficial of all of the conferences that I have attended.

 

In my opinion, ACC establishes the standards to which in-house lawyers should adhere.  ACC educates the in-house legal community on issues that are critical as well as provides them with best practice guidance to perform effectively.  ACC leads the difficult and sometimes complex discussions about issues that in-house counsel must address such as alternative fee arrangements, unreasonable billable hours and rates, and the role of ethics and competency in our in-house counsel roles.

 

I have been an ACC Michigan Chapter member since I began my in-house career.  I also served as a Board Member for the ACC Michigan Chapter.  I love the resources that the Michigan Chapter provides through its seminars.  I also enjoy the networking events because I always meet new and interesting in-house lawyers when I attend. I would encourage any Michigan in-house counsel that is not actively involved in the Michigan Chapter to make it a priority to come out to at least one event.  Once you do, you will definitely become an active member!

 

In-house lawyers must learn to be business partners with their colleagues.  We have to get involved in the business and understand the business.  We also have to remember that, unlike a law firm, the in-house legal department is not a profit center.  In-house legal departments add value by insulating the company from liability and serving as partners to the business unit.

 

I love to run, travel, and seek adventure! Last year, I completed a Triathlon in Tanzania, Africa in which I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to the highest peak (Uhuru Peak), completed a 28 mile up/down mountain bike ride, and ran a marathon.  I have completed the Detroit and Chicago Marathons.  I have also done a tandem jump from 2 miles high out of an airplane.  I have spent three weeks serving as a volunteer at a center in South Africa for women and children infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDs.  In June 2013, my daughters, Amari Ajene and Jalia Iman, and I spent two weeks in Uganda, Africa immersed in the culture!  We visited the Equator, the Source of the Nile River, and went on a Safari! We will return to Uganda and Kenya this year in June to participate in more exciting adventures!

To become a trusted advisor for business executives, it's imperative for in-house counsel to understand the business operations of your company. Attend these business education courses offered by ACC and the Boston University Questrom School of Business to learn critical business disciplines and earn valuable CLE credits:

This year's Golf Outing also includes our Annual Meeting (including the election of officers and directors).  Non-golfers can join us for networking, cocktails, the Annual Meeting, and dinner!