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“You’re not like any of the lawyers I’ve worked with before.”
It’s a statement Cathy Landman has heard many times. At first, the phrase caught her off guard—but not anymore. Over the course of a long in-house career spent at iconic retail companies, she’s learned how to accurately interpret the oft-repeated words. “I’ve developed a reputation for understanding each business I work in,” Landman explains. “I think people are struck when I act more like a businessperson than a lawyer, and I take that as a compliment.”
Landman didn’t enroll at the University of Wisconsin Law School to become a litigator or pursue a niche practice area. She chose to study law after earning an undergraduate degree in economics because she knew a JD would open many different doors. “One can apply the law in so many different ways, and I wanted to have many opportunities to choose from,” she says.
Her first job was as an associate at the Minneapolis firm Dorsey and Whitney. One standard assignment at the firm changed the course of her entire career. Landman was managing litigation for the general counsel responsible for one division of a large company and hearing the GC articulate how aspects of litigation were tied to business strategy opened Landman’s eyes. In that moment, she decided to prepare to take on an in-house role of her own.
“I’m curious, I love learning new things, and I’m always hungry for more.”
Cathy Landman
It didn’t take long for Landman to find a position at National Car Rental. Then, she joined Mary Kay and started handling more complex litigation matters. Over her three-year tenure, she was given the opportunity to oversee the company’s domestic intellectual property portfolio while managing legal issues for South American and Western European subsidiaries. Landman embraced the opportunities. “I’m curious, I love learning new things, and I’m always hungry for more,” she says.
Upon leaving Mary Kay, Landman logged twelve years at Pampered Chef. Stepping in as the family business’ first general counsel gave her the chance to broaden her skills and expertise. And, initially reporting to the CFO instead of the CEO helped Landman build business acumen. When the opportunity arose, she spent time managing human resources, and even a sales and marketing team.
Doris Christopher famously started the company in 1980 out of her Chicago-area basement by borrowing $3,000 from an insurance policy. Later, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway acquired Pampered Chef for an undisclosed sum rumored to be near $1 billion in 2002. The events helped Landman solidify her approach of merging expertise in business and law. “I have this business toolbox that I carry with me at all times, but I also carry a legal toolbox that helps me manage risk. That’s what I do day in and day out,” she says.
After Pampered Chef, Landman returned to Minneapolis to join Jostens where Landman revamped the legal, risk management and licensing functions, helping her teammates develop their own legal and business toolboxes.
“I think people are struck when I act more like a businessperson than a lawyer, and I take that as a compliment.”
Cathy Landman
In 2018, Landman took a job with a houseware company then known as Corelle Brands. The global business with a significant Asian Pacific presence gave her another opportunity to learn something new. This time, in addition to reenergizing the legal team, she would lead an HR team managing 2,400 people in different parts of the world, including China and South Korea.
Shortly after Landman joined, Corelle Brands acquired Instant Brands. At that time, Instant Brands was growing on the strength of its popular Instant Pot multicooker. Landman was a key leader in the integration efforts of the combined company. Unfortunately, the supply chain crisis harmed the business. Four years after the merger, in 2023, Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Landman was integral to the company exiting the Chapter 11 process by selling its appliance and housewares divisions in just eight months.
The curious lawyer and lifelong learner says the challenging ordeal was a valuable one. “There are opportunities for learning in every situation,” she says. For Landman, working through a bankruptcy underscored the importance of both trust and relationships in guiding the Instant Brands leadership team through the process.
With the exit from Chapter 11, Landman is looking to start the next chapter in her career. While she doesn’t know exactly where she will land, she has some ideas. She likes middle-market companies, founder-led organizations, and fast-moving environments. Those, she has found, are the types of organizations that give her energy and embrace her passion for learning. One thing is certain—whichever company Landman chooses will benefit from her mixture of legal and business expertise.
Landman encourages young lawyers looking to build a similar in-house career to be bold and daring. “Raise your hand to try something new,” she says. “We may manage risk as lawyers, but don’t just manage risk, take a risk in your career as it will propel you to new opportunities.”
“We’ve enjoyed working with Cathy as outside counsel, and are impressed by her legal knowledge, business acumen, and pragmatism. A team builder who sets high standards, she remarkably manages and accomplishes multiple tasks efficiently.”
–Bill Frankel, Partner
