Industrial automation
10 Caterpillar legal leaders
These ten current and former Caterpillar legal leaders have held deputy, associate and assistant general counsel roles at Caterpillar, across M&A, IP, digital, distribution, employment and compliance. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at Caterpillar from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10Brad Butler
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel - Global Employee and Labor Relations · Caterpillar Inc.
Associate General Counsel - Global Employee and Labor Relations at Caterpillar since July 2023; the profile describes leading the HR law team with responsibility for managing labor and employment law risks globally. Other Caterpillar roles shown include Assistant General Counsel - Lead Counsel to Global Information Services Division (2019–2020) and Assistant General Counsel - Lead Counsel to Human Resources Division (2017–2019).
Crystal A. Gothard
LinkedInExperience: Former Assistant General Counsel · Caterpillar Inc.
Former Assistant General Counsel at Caterpillar (2008–2021), based in Washington, D.C., overseeing legal strategy and contracting for international growth and technology, compliance, data privacy and security issues according to the profile. Other roles shown are Vice President and Managing Counsel at MCCA (2002–2008) and Associate at Greenberg Traurig (2001–2002).
James Rooney
LinkedInExperience: Former Deputy General Counsel · Caterpillar Inc.
Former Deputy General Counsel at Caterpillar (2012–2019) and Deputy General Counsel - Asia Pacific at Caterpillar (2008–2012). Other roles shown are Associate General Counsel - Litigation, Employment & Labor at Caterpillar (1998–2007), Associate General Counsel at Caterpillar (2019–2021) and Associate General Counsel at Cat Financial since July 2021.
Jeff Luenz
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel - Mergers & Acquisitions · Caterpillar Inc.
Associate General Counsel - Mergers & Acquisitions at Caterpillar since September 2022, leading the legal team of attorneys and paralegals supporting Caterpillar's mergers and acquisitions and venture capital projects according to the profile. Other Caterpillar roles shown are Assistant General Counsel - Mergers & Acquisitions (2020–2022) and Senior Corporate Counsel (2016–2020).
Jeff Ruppel
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel - Digital and IT · Caterpillar Inc.
Associate General Counsel - Digital and IT at Caterpillar since July 2022; the profile headline lists digital, eCommerce, IT, data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Other Caterpillar roles shown are Associate General Counsel - IP Risk Management (2020–2022), Assistant General Counsel - IP Risk Management (2018–2020) and Corporate Counsel - International Trade Group (2014–2016).
Katie Shan
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel - Distribution and Asia Pacific Legal Team · Caterpillar Inc.
Associate General Counsel - Distribution and Asia Pacific Legal Team at Caterpillar since July 2022, based in Singapore and leading a global legal team that supports Caterpillar's distribution services divisions according to the profile. Other Caterpillar roles shown are Associate General Counsel - Regional Compliance (2021–2022), Associate General Counsel - Commercial & Regional (2018–2020) and Lead Counsel - China Operations (2006–2017).
Mike Franke
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Deputy General Counsel · Caterpillar Inc.
Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at Caterpillar since September 2023, leading a global team of legal professionals supporting Caterpillar's digital, technology and distribution teams and Cat Financial according to the profile. Other roles shown are Assistant General Counsel, Resource Industries Sales, Services and Technology Division at Caterpillar (2023) and Assistant General Counsel at Cat Financial (2020–2023).
Mike K.
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Chief IP Counsel · Caterpillar Inc.
Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Chief IP Counsel at Caterpillar since July 2022. Other roles shown are Associate General Counsel at Caterpillar (2020–2022), Associate General Counsel at Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company (2018–2020), Corporate Counsel at Solar Turbines (2008–2018) and Attorney at Caterpillar (2005–2008).
Steve Matheny
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel · Caterpillar Inc.
Associate General Counsel at Caterpillar since August 2022, based in Dallas, leading a team providing global compliance legal support for the enterprise according to the profile. Other Caterpillar roles shown are Assistant General Counsel (2019–2022) and Attorney (2006–2022); other roles shown are Attorney at McGuireWoods (2000–2006) and Regulatory Affairs at Verizon (1990–1995).
Tim Parker
LinkedInExperience: Assistant General Counsel and Lead Counsel - Integrated Components Division · Caterpillar Inc.
Assistant General Counsel and Lead Counsel - Integrated Components Division at Caterpillar since August 2026, leading legal support for the division that designs and manufactures components used across Caterpillar products according to the profile. Other Caterpillar roles shown are Associate General Counsel Resource Industries Sales, Service and Technology Division (2025–2026) and Associate General Counsel - IP (2022–2025).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's practice area, such as M&A, IP, digital and IT, distribution, employment and labor, compliance or a product division, to the question you are bringing. Check whether the person still holds the role before asking about current practice.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does an equipment manufacturer's legal team support its dealer and distribution network?
- 02How do in-house lawyers at an industrial company handle digital, data and AI legal questions?
- 03How does a large manufacturer organize legal support for its product divisions?
Reaching Caterpillar legal leaders
How can I contact one of these Caterpillar legal leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Caterpillar Inc., based on profile data retrieved on October 15, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Caterpillar legal leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Caterpillar legal leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
Request a correction or removal