Walmart Taps Kirkland Partner as Top Lawyer After Her Judge Bid

A former federal prosecutor will serve as Walmart’s top lawyer after withdrawing her bid to become a federal judge in Dallas.

Erin Nealy Cox, a partner with Kirkland & Ellis, will become Walmart Inc.'s chief legal officer, executive vice president of global governance, and corporate secretary, the retail giant announced Thursday. She will start her new role on April 13.

Cox served as US attorney for the Northern District of Texas during the first Trump administration, and will succeed Rachel Brand, who stepped down as Walmart’s legal chief in January. Brand also served in the Justice Department during the first Trump administration.

Jeffery Spalding, chief counsel for Walmart’s international and global sourcing business, and Elisebeth Collins, special counsel and global chief ethics and compliance officer, temporarily assumed Brand’s responsibilities following her departure.

Texas’ Republican senators had recommended Cox to fill one of three open federal judgeships in Dallas. A Senate aide said Cox had the backing of both Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and a White House official said Cox withdrew from consideration before a decision was made on her nomination.

The prospect of her nomination faced some conservative backlash. As US attorney, Cox condemned the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the US Capitol by Donald Trump supporters. Her husband had also donated to some judicial candidates running as Democrats in state elections, campaign filings show.

At Walmart—which recently hit $1 trillion in market valuation for the first time—Cox will work with new president and CEO John Furner. She’ll be the top lawyer for the biggest private employer in the US, where 1.6 million of their roughly 2.1 million employees are located.

Furner said in a press release that Cox “brings a rare combination of legal strategy and operational rigor that will be essential as we continue to navigate the new era of retail, while staying true to our purpose of helping people save money and live better.”

Cox said in a statement that she is “honored to join the team at such a pivotal moment.”

“Walmart has a clear purpose, one I believe in deeply, and I’m excited to dive in and help our teams continue to serve our customers and members when, how and where they want,” she said.