Vail Thorne

Vail Thorne worked for The Coca-Cola Company for 25 years, and was the Company’s chief Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Counsel. He was responsible for EHS and sustainability issues confronting The Coca-Cola Company’s operations worldwide, including Company policy, legal compliance, internal auditing and related corrective action, regulatory engagement, litigation and administrative proceedings, SEC and other Company public reporting, and due diligence and other issues concerning proposed Company transactions. He also advised the Company on the rules governing “green” or environmental marketing and was counsel to the Company’s government relations function.

Mr. Thorne has extensive knowledge regarding the EHS laws and regulations of many countries, including in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. He also has substantial experience regarding various EHS matters, including access to and conservation of water resources, treatment and discharge of wastewater, management of hazardous and solid waste, environmental cleanup, climate change and air pollution, HazMat transport, and workplace safety.

Mr. Thorne’s experience includes crisis management and conducting related internal investigations, negotiating with governmental authorities, and prosecuting or defending against related litigation and administrative proceedings. Additionally, Mr. Thorne’s experience involves counseling on EHS compliance, managing and defending against EHS civil and criminal enforcement actions, helping to develop and implement strategic corporate sustainability programs, and engaging in government EHS rulemaking.

Mr. Thorne is past chair of two (2) American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Committees: International Environmental Law; and In-House Environmental Counsel. Mr. Thorne is a member of the Bar and admitted to the practice of law in California and Georgia. He received his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law where he served as an editor and staff on the Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Thorne served as a law clerk for the Honorable Jesse W. Curtis, a U.S. District Court Judge in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Thorne earned his undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University and then worked for U.S Senator John W. Warner (Va.) in Washington, D.C. before attending law school.