Thomas R. Lalla

Education

Thomas R. Lalla Jr. was the General Counsel of Pernod Ricard USA, a position that held for the past 22 years until June 2013.  He also held the position of Senior Vice President.   Pernod Ricard USA is the U.S. subsidiary of Pernod Ricard S.A., the world’s co-leader in the spirits and wine industry.  Mr. Lalla supervised all U.S. legal matters involving the brands produced and imported by Pernod Ricard USA, including Absolut vodka, Chivas Regal Scotch whisky,  Malibu flavored rum, The Glenlivet Scotch whisky, Jameson Irish whisky, Kahlua coffee liqueur, and Perrier-Jouet and Mumm champagnes.

In addition to his duties as General Counsel, Mr. Lalla oversaw the Corporate Social Responsibility programs at Pernod Ricard USA.  In that position, he forged relationships with various not-for-profit and educational institutions in Westchester County and New York City, including Food Bank for Westchester, Pace University School of Law, ArtsWestchester, Food Bank for New York City, and God’s Love We Deliver.  Mr. Lalla served on the Internal Approval Panel of Pernod Ricard S.A., which reviews marketing and advertising campaigns throughout the world.

Mr. Lalla is a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Council of Westchester, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, ArtsWestchester, and the Performing Arts Center at SUNY Purchase.  Mr. Lalla is a member of the Board of Visitors of Pace University School of Law.   He has served in the past as a Director of the Westchester-Fairfield Division of the American Corporate Counsel Association and a Director of the National Association of Manufacturers, a leading and influential organization of U.S. manufacturers. 

For the past five years, Mr. Lalla has been contributing to the “Inside Perspective” column of Inside Counsel magazine.  He has spoken at national and international legal seminars on the topics of advertising in regulated industries, and developing or acquiring famous trademarks.

Prior to joining Pernod Ricard USA, Mr. Lalla was a partner at the firm of Buchman & O’Brien. Mr. Lalla also managed this firm from 1986 to 1991.  Mr. Lalla served as an Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York from 1975 to 1981, where he was a member of the Superior Court Trial Division and gained both litigation and appellate experience.  

He is a graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D. 1975) and Fordham University (B.A. in History and Political Science 1972).

In January 2008, Mr. Lalla became an Adjunct Professor at Pace University School of Law where he is currently teaching Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Planning. He recently completed his tenth semester of teaching at the School of Law.

In November 2009, Mr. Lalla received the 2009 Leadership Award from Pace Law School.  In 2013 the Food Bank for Westchester and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley also honored him for his commitment to corporate social responsibility.  In April 2012, the Business Council of Westchester awarded Pernod Ricard USA its Corporate Citizenship Award, on the basis of the Corporate Social Responsibility program led by Mr. Lalla.

He has been a lifelong resident of Westchester County, New York.  He grew up in Yonkers and currently resides in Chappaqua.