Veronica Hayes Gromada
Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
Description of field of expertise
Veronica is a partner in Shook’s award-winning Product Liability Litigation Practice, serves as co-chair of Shook’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practice, and was named as one of American Lawyer Media’s top 25 lateral hires of 2022. Veronica began her career as a consumer and products liability lawyer working on mass, class and single plaintiff matters for consumer goods, industrial and retail clients. Her 22-year career includes 17 years with global retailer Walmart, working a wide range of litigation including product liability and class actions. Ultimately, Veronica supervised one of the largest tort litigation portfolios in the nation and led two of Walmart’s largest in-house legal sections, including a cross-functional team with nationwide and some global responsibilities. At Shook, in addition to her litigation responsibilities, Veronica counsels clients on a variety of legal risk management strategies related to business functions, particularly supply chain issues and recalls. Her extensive in-house experience gives her a global in-house view that few have. When advising clients, she is able to strike the balance between managing legal, reputational and financial risks while aligning with what is important to a company’s business goals for its customers, employees and other stakeholders.
Veronica is a proud HBCU alum of Thurgood Marshall School of Law (with honors) and served on the Board of Trustees of Voorhees University for ten years. Veronica was a 2022 Houston Business Journal – Women Who Mean Business honoree and served as a mentor for HBJ’s 10th Annual Mentor Monday as part of the national event coordinated by the 40 major business journals across the country.
Veronica continues her commitment to leadership and diversity through participation and support of a number of organizations, including Corporate Counsel Women of Color, WOC Entrepreneurs and the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession’s ongoing U.K.—U.S. Roundtable on Inclusive Leadership.
What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?
Don’t just make career decisions. Make life choices and be successful on your own terms. After 17 years in a Fortune 5 legal department, my decision to return to private practice baffled many. Yet, I needed those 17 years to become the lawyer and woman I am today—blessed with a vast corporate network, strong professional reputation, an adult child and the ability to travel while putting my needs first. Moreover, I’ve returned to private practice a more capable lawyer, shrewd businesswoman and confident leader.
Basically, you have one life. That’s why “work-life” balance is so difficult. Take a holistic approach to how you want to live—and define success—based on your station in life while planning your career in stages. ALWAYS have a long-term life and career plan with incremental goals along the way. Track your progress, milestones and plan for your continued professional growth.