10 CHS legal leaders
Brandon B. Smith, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at CHS Inc., is the most senior current member of this group of CHS legal leaders, which also includes associate and assistant general counsels and regional legal directors. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at CHS from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Brandon B. Smith
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President and General Counsel · CHS Inc.
Brandon B. Smith has been Executive Vice President and General Counsel at CHS Inc. since March 2021. Brandon B. Smith was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Tenneco from 2017 to 2021 and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel there from 2014 to 2017.
Eric Larson
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel and Senior Director of Trading Compliance · CHS Inc.
Eric Larson has been Associate General Counsel and Senior Director of Trading Compliance at CHS Inc. since January 2023. Eric Larson was Director of Global Trade Programs and Assistant General Counsel at CHS Inc. from 2019 to 2023 and Principal Legal Counsel there from 2017 to 2018.
Gretta Hanson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Associate General Counsel · CHS Inc.
Gretta Hanson has been Vice President, Associate General Counsel at CHS Inc. since January 2026. Gretta Hanson was Associate General Counsel, Chief Counsel Commercial Operations at CHS Inc. from 2023 to 2026 and Assistant General Counsel there from 2020 to 2023, and has been Adjunct Faculty at the University of St. Thomas since 2016.
John Norton
LinkedInExperience: Assistant General Counsel · CHS Inc.
John Norton has been Assistant General Counsel at CHS Inc. since January 2014 and is based in St Paul, Minnesota. John Norton was an Associate at the law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP from 2009 to 2014, according to the profile, which lists these two roles.
José Alvarado
LinkedInExperience: Legal & Compliance Director · CHS Inc.
José Alvarado has been Legal & Compliance Director at CHS Inc. since November 2020, based in Argentina, and also lists a Legal & Compliance Manager role at CHS Inc. from July 2014. José Alvarado was a Lawyer at O Telhar Agro from 2007 to 2014 and at Marval O'Farrell, Mairal from 2003 to 2007.
Malcolm McDonald
LinkedInExperience: Retired - Vice President and Assistant General Counsel · CHS Inc.
Malcolm McDonald is a former Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at CHS Inc. (2001 to 2021), a role the profile now lists as retired, and is based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Malcolm McDonald was a Partner at the law firm Moore, Costello & Hart, P.L.L.P. from 1981 to 2001.
Marina Ferro e Silva
LinkedInExperience: EMEA Legal Director · CHS Inc.
Marina Ferro e Silva has been EMEA Legal Director at CHS Inc. since January 2024 and has also held the title Senior Legal Counsel - EMEA at CHS Inc. since April 2022, based in Barcelona. Marina Ferro e Silva was Corporate Counsel at Molins from 2020 to 2022 and held a Latin America group counsel role at Avery Dennison from 2017 to 2020.
Nanci Lilja
LinkedInExperience: Director, Legal Operations · CHS Inc.
Nanci Lilja is a former Director, Legal Operations at CHS Inc. (1979 to 2023), and the profile headline describes Nanci Lilja as retired from a senior director role in legal and compliance operations at CHS Inc. Nanci Lilja was also President of the CHS Foundation from 2017 to 2023.
Richard Ramones
LinkedInExperience: Corporate Compliance and Assistant General Counsel · CHS Inc.
Richard Ramones has been Corporate Compliance and Assistant General Counsel at CHS Inc. since September 2026 and has also been Global Investigations Program Lead and Trade Compliance Counsel there since 2025. The profile says Richard Ramones manages global investigations, antifraud and other compliance programs, and Richard Ramones was Senior Legal Counsel at CHS Inc. from 2022 to 2025.
Ryan Hoch
LinkedInExperience: Assistant General Counsel · CHS Inc.
Ryan Hoch has been Assistant General Counsel at CHS Inc. since January 2019, and the profile describes the role as division lead attorney managing a team of attorneys and paralegals. Ryan Hoch was Principal Legal Counsel at CHS Inc. from 2014 to 2019 and Senior Legal Counsel there from 2009 to 2014.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's legal area and region to your question: trade, trading compliance and commercial titles for those matters, division counsel for business unit work, and regional directors for work outside the US. Check each person's dates, since a past role may not reflect current practice.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What legal issues took up most of your time supporting CHS businesses?
- 02How did you work with business and compliance teams on legal risk?
- 03What did you learn about running in-house legal work in your area?
Reaching CHS legal leaders
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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.
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