10 Kohler legal leaders
Brian O'Laughlin, VP - Legal, Litigation, Government Affairs & International, heads this set of Kohler legal leaders, which also includes regional legal directors for EMEA and Latin America and legal directors for commercial, employment, UK, M&A and IP work. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at Kohler from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Allan Di Bartolomeo
LinkedInExperience: Legal and Tax Director - Latin America · Kohler Co.
Allan Di Bartolomeo holds the role of Legal and Tax Director - Latin America at Kohler Co., started in February 2024, and is based in Brazil. Allan Di Bartolomeo served as Director - Legal & Taxation - South America at Kohler Co. from 2021 to 2024 and as Legal Manager - Tax Corporate Services from 2016 to 2021, and the profile headline lists corporate governance, compliance, enterprise risk, M&A and regulatory affairs.
Brian O'Laughlin
LinkedInExperience: VP - Legal, Litigation, Government Affairs & International · Kohler Co.
Brian O'Laughlin has been VP - Legal, Litigation, Government Affairs & International at Kohler Co. since August 2026, based in Kohler, Wisconsin. Brian O'Laughlin was Senior Legal Director - Litigation & Government Affairs at Kohler Co. from 2023 to 2026, Senior Legal Director - Litigation, Regulatory & Legal Operations from 2021 to 2023 and Legal Director - Litigation, Regulatory & Legal Operations from 2019 to 2021.
Jack Pawley
LinkedInExperience: Legal Director-Employment · Kohler Co.
Jack Pawley has been Legal Director-Employment at Kohler Co. since August 2019, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and the profile places the role in the Legal department in Kohler, Wisconsin. Jack Pawley also lists the title Senior Staff Attorney-Labor Relations at Kohler Co. since October 2006.
Katie Harris
LinkedInExperience: Director - Legal UK · Kohler Co.
Katie Harris has been Director - Legal UK at Kohler Co. since July 2024, based in Gloucester, England, and also lists Legal Manager - UK at Kohler Co. since August 2020. Katie Harris was a Senior Attorney at Kohler Co. from 2019 to 2020 and a Senior Associate at Irwin Mitchell from 2017 to 2019.
Mark Ropella
LinkedInExperience: Director of Intellectual Property · Kohler Co.
Mark Ropella holds the role of Director of Intellectual Property at Kohler Co., started in November 2023, and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The profile describes responsibility for global IP strategy, portfolio management and enforcement at Kohler Co., and Mark Ropella was an Associate Attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP from 2019 to 2024.
Michelle Schultz
LinkedInExperience: Assistant General Counsel - M&A, Corporate & International, and Assistant Corporate Secretary · Kohler Co.
Michelle Schultz was Assistant General Counsel - M&A, Corporate & International, and Assistant Corporate Secretary at Kohler Co. from August 2024 to April 2026 and Assistant General Counsel - M&A, Corporate & International, and Corporate Secretary from 2023 to 2024. Michelle Schultz was Senior Legal Director - M&A, Corporate & International from 2022 to 2023 and has been Of Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP since June 2026, based in Minneapolis.
Nikki Paterson, JD, MBA, CPA
LinkedInExperience: Legal Director - M&A · Kohler Co.
Nikki Paterson holds the role of Legal Director - M&A at Kohler Co., started in August 2026, and is based in Greater Milwaukee. Nikki Paterson also holds the title of Senior Counsel - Commercial, Real Estate, Construction at Kohler Co., started in January 2025, and was a Real Estate Attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP from 2018 to 2025; the profile lists JD, MBA and CPA credentials.
Ryan Parsons
LinkedInExperience: Assistant General Counsel - Commercial, Labor and Employment · Kohler Co.
Ryan Parsons served as Assistant General Counsel - Commercial, Labor and Employment at Kohler Co. from August 2023 to June 2025, held the Interim General Counsel role from 2023 to 2024 and is now Of Counsel at Foley & Lardner LLP, based in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. Ryan Parsons also served as Senior Director of Labor and Employment at Kohler Co. from 2022 to 2023 and Senior Director of Labor Relations from 2021 to 2022.
Thomas Wilson
LinkedInExperience: Legal Director - Commercial · Kohler Co.
Thomas Wilson has been Legal Director - Commercial at Kohler Co. since May 2025, based in Kohler, Wisconsin. Thomas Wilson was Legal Manager - Commercial at Kohler Co. from 2021 to 2025, Sr. Counsel - Commercial from 2019 to 2021, Attorney in 2019 and Associate Attorney from 2016 to 2019.
Valerie Block
LinkedInExperience: Directrice juridique / Conformité EMEA/SSA - Legal/Compliance Director EMEA/SSA · Kohler Co.
Valerie Block has been Legal/Compliance Director EMEA/SSA at Kohler Co. since April 2024, based in France. Valerie Block was Legal/Compliance Director, Kitchen&Bath and Power EMEA at KOHLER from 2019 to 2024 and Responsable Service Juridique at SDMO INDUSTRIES - BEALAS ENERGIE SERVICES - SOREEL, Groupe KOHLER (USA) from 2008 to 2019.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope, such as litigation and government affairs, commercial contracts, employment, M&A or a regional legal team, to the decision you face. Check when each role started or ended to judge how recent the person's view is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What has your own work taught you about dividing legal work across regions?
- 02What did you change first when you took on your legal role, and why?
- 03How do you decide which commercial or litigation matters stay in house and which go to outside counsel?
Reaching Kohler legal leaders
How can I contact one of these Kohler 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: Kohler Co., based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Kohler legal leaders?
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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. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. 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.
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