Bayer picks next US general counsel

William Dodero will become Bayer’s new US general counsel and senior vice president, as well as a member of its US country leadership team, effective January 1, 2023.

In his new role, Dodero will oversee six functional areas of law at the life sciences company, covering compliance, corporate law, litigation, safety and environmental law, employment and labor law and international trade services.

Dodero is at present vice president and global head of litigation at Bayer. He has been with the company for 20 years and spent five additional years as national trial counsel for Bayer while in private practice. Dodero was previously the global legal head for Bayer’s consumer health business, and before that he was senior counsel in the company’s pharmaceutical business and litigation group.

He succeeds Scott Partridge, who the company says has decided to leave Bayer at the end of 2022 after spending 16 years at Monsanto and Bayer, which bought Monsanto. Partridge is leaving to focus on dispute resolution representation and advocacy, Bayer says.

Partridge joined Monsanto after working for 27 years in private legal practice focusing on strategic litigation, crisis management and dispute resolution. He began work at the company as chief deputy general counsel, leading its international law function, managing litigation and guiding resolutions of major disputes.
 

‘HEALTH FOR ALL. HUNGER FOR NONE’
Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, president of Bayer US, says in a statement: ‘We are excited to have Bill step up to the US general counsel role and look forward to having his vision, leadership and experience help guide the company’s work to achieve its vision of ‘Health for all. Hunger for none.

‘Bill is a special talent who is deeply respected within Bayer, has extensive knowledge of all of our businesses and is an accomplished legal strategist and practitioner. We are also deeply indebted to Scott for his longstanding leadership, thank him for his extensive service and wish him the very best in his new pursuits.’

Partridge states in the announcement: ‘I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked at Bayer, tackling the many legal challenges that come with an innovative company at the forefront of breakthroughs in food and medicine. Having worked closely with Bill for the last four years, during which he has consistently demonstrated his strong legal skills, I know that he will do an excellent job as the US general counsel.’