Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker: Leslie M.Turner

Leslie M. Turner is General Counsel for Coca-Cola North America.

Leslie joined The Coca-Cola Company in January 2006 as Associate General Counsel, Bottling Investments Group. Immediately prior to joining the Company, she was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.

Leslie began her legal career in 1985 as law clerk to the Honorable William C. Pryor, former Chief Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. In 1986, she joined Akin Gump’s litigation practice group in Washington, D.C. In 1993, Leslie accepted the U.S. Senate confirmed position of Assistant Secretary for the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. In that role, Leslie managed the office that oversaw U.S. relations with such territories and federated states as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Micronesia and Palau. In 1995, Leslie became counselor to then-Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, and she also served as director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Leslie returned to Akin Gump in 1996 and practiced with that firm until she joined The Coca-Cola Company.

Leslie serves on the Board of Directors for Georgia Appleseed and the Student Conservation Association and is also a trustee for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Leslie is the recipient of the distinguished Wiley A. Branton Award and the Heman Marion Sweat awards.

Leslie received her Masters of Law from The American University, Washington College of Law, Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center and Bachelor of Science degree from New York University. Leslie is admitted to practice in New York and Washington, D.C.