If you've ever picked up a bowling ball, chances are you know Brunswick Corp. But today, the Lake Forest, Ill.-based company is also a global manufacturer of recreational boats and engines, fitness equipment and tables for foosball, table tennis and finally, billiards — its original business, founded in Cincinnati in 1845. Now based in the Chicago area, Brunswick reported 2012 sales of $3.7 billion and a global payroll of 16,000 employees. Brands include Mercury Marine, Sea Ray, Life Fitness and 90 Brunswick Zone bowling centers across the country.
LEGAL TEAM
Kristin Coleman heads a team of 12 attorneys and 20 staff members who handle the bulk of corporate legal work plus its government affairs, real estate and health and safety matters. "We're pretty busy, so I would say the team has a beyond-regular-business-hours schedule," said Coleman, who reports to chairman and chief executive officer Dustan McCoy. The sale of two of the company's major brands was handled by a "very capable in-house mergers and acquisitions attorney," she said. The team tries to do as much "high-value work" as possible.
