Mark Fordham — Senior VP and Deputy General Counsel for the Law & Corporate Affairs at Starbucks

Mr. Mark Fordham is Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for the Law & Corporate Affairs department at Starbucks Corp. January 2018. Mr. Fordham currently serves as the lead lawyer for Starbucks Global Retail as well as for Corporate Development. Mark manages legal teams in the Americas and Asia that provide real estate, commercial and other support for the operation of Starbucks Stores and for strategic transactions such as joint ventures and acquisitions around the globe. During his years at Starbucks, he has helped with expansion into markets in Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East, reorganized and set up the legal framework for Starbucks business in China, served as the first lead lawyer for the Channel Development business, supported the Global Supply Chain and, immediately before taking responsibility for Global Retail, served as lead lawyer for the China/Asia Pacific region. His experience includes the negotiation and establishment of numerous international joint ventures, complex license arrangements and acquisitions and consulting on a variety of commercial matters. Prior to joining Starbucks, he was an Associate Attorney at the Seattle firm, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. He served as law clerk to the Honorable William L. Dwyer at the beginning of his legal career in Seattle. His extensive community involvement includes a previous role as President of the King County Bar Association, and serves currently as President of the Board of the Hamlin Robinson School, Treasurer and Director of Advancing Justice/Asian American Justice Center; and as a trustee on numerous other non-profit boards. He holds a law degree from Columbia Law School and a B.A. from the University of Washington.