Walt Holmes rose through the ranks of the law department at Interstate Battery System of America Inc. to take on more than just legal work, and he does it all while following the Golden Rule: to treat others as they would want to be treated.

Holmes, Interstate’s senior vice president and chief legal officer, and the legal department at the Dallas-based company feel they run their legal affairs a little bit differently from other large companies. Not only do they blend business and legal duties into their jobs, but they do it while following this companywide philosophy.