Kristi Bennett Email & Phone Number

Kingsport, Tn, Us

Kingsport, Tennessee, United States

Specialty Plastics Division Lead CounselLead global team in support of business with revenue in excess of $1.5B annually; thought partner and advisor to leadership team; develop creative strategies for complex customer arrangements; train team members with concentration on antitrust laws; first lawyer to lead contract strategies for circular economy initiative; developed customized agreements for sale of first-of-their-kind chemically recycled products to various levels of the value chain; in partnership with environmental and regulatory experts, developed agreements for the collection of scrap materials as feedstock for large-scale recycling.Circular Economy Platform CounselLead counsel for circular economy contracting strategies from concept to commercialization; advisor on government grants awarded for circular economy projects; guide risk analysis and mitigation, issue identification, negotiation, and dispute resolution; liaise with cross-functional partners to facilitate robust communication and collaboration; recipient of 2021 Eastman Technology Innovation Summit Award.Worldwide Engineering & Construction Lead Counsel Contracts and claims management; train designers and construction professionals on development, negotiation, and execution of capital projects; close EPC contracts for major corporate initiatives; advise leadership on high value claims and negotiation strategies, risk mitigation, and cost recovery.Corporate GovernanceManage delegations of authority for parent and 180 subsidiaries; maintain corporate filings and registrations; Secretary of Eastman Foundation; develop and maintain all Foundation policies and procedures; advise on governance and operational matters.People LeaderLead team of lawyers in their professional growthPrior Roles: Business Development and Strategic Planning; Fibers Division Lead Counsel; Lead Counsel to Global Sourcing & Procurement and Supply Chain.

Knoxville, Tennessee Area

Counsel to the environmental control systems, gas turbines, and boiler businesses; led negotiations of supplier agreements and complex EPC contracts with major U.S. utilities providers; advised executives and sales teams in risk reviews at local, country and global levels; managed claims strategies from inception to resolution; managed litigation with and inquiries from governmental agencies; led team of lawyers and contract managers responsible for proposals and contracts with average annual combined values of $750 million and $658 million, respectively.

Led complex construction litigation in all venues; negotiation, mediation, arbitration, litigation for plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases; active motion and trial practice; managed junior associates, paralegals and assistants; prepared and managed litigation budgets; invited by over 10 national seminar companies and 20 professional organizations to present construction law training.

Doctor Of Law (J.D.)

Activities and Societies: Dean’s List; Kolwyck Fellowship; Certificate of Excellence in Trial Practice; Speaker Series, Vice-Chair.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), English Literature, Minor In Business Administration

Activities and Societies: Dean’s List; Order of Omega Honor Society; Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, Rush Chair, All-Sing Chair; Delta.