In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, Adrienne Mosley discusses the traits she seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with her and more.
Texas Lawbook: What do you and your lawyers look for in hiring outside counsel?
Adrienne Mosley: When we hire outside counsel, we are not simply looking for impeccable legal expertise — we are seeking true partners who embody PepsiCo’s values in how they think, act and deliver. That means putting the consumer at the center of their advice, anticipating our needs with foresight and helping us create superior brand experiences — not just answering legal questions in isolation. We expect counsel to act as owners — thinking end-to-end and collaborating across issues to prioritize what is best for the company as a whole. We value advisors who cut through complexity and deliver clear, actionable guidance so we can move fast on what matters most. Timeliness and efficiency are critical, and we look for firms that are digitally enabled and capable of scaling solutions across our global business. We hold ourselves to high standards, and we expect our outside legal partners to do the same. We seek top-tier talent that demonstrates excellent expertise and continuously challenge and develop their teams by remaining curious. At PepsiCo, inclusion is non-negotiable, and we expect outside counsel to reflect the communities we serve and embrace honest discussion from diverse perspectives. Above all, we require unwavering integrity — partners who are transparent, authentic and committed to doing what is right for PepsiCo. In short, we seek outside counsel that are not just advisors, but extensions of the amazing internal PepsiCo legal team that I am privileged to represent.
Lawbook: What does outside counsel need to know about you?
Mosley: I look for good lawyers who are also good humans. I like to work with happy, authentic, thoughtful people. I value law firm referrals from other In-house counsel. I value law firm referrals from another firm. I value law firms who have taken the time and done the homework to understand PepsiCo’s ecosystem. I expect speed and honesty if there is bad news about a matter.
Lawbook: What are your pet peeves about outside counsel?
Mosley: Don’t like arrogance and know-it-allism, interruption, poor listening, lack of curiosity, lack of optimism, poor teamwork. A lawyer talking about him or herself only; not the team or partnership with the client. Firms that claim to be good at everything. Nonresponsiveness to requests from me and our team.
Lawbook: What do you see as the biggest challenges for in-house and GCs of Texas companies regarding diversity within corporate legal departments and their role in pushing their outside law firms in being more diverse?
Mosley: The biggest challenge is sustaining momentum. Thankfully, the PepsiCo law department culture is embedded with inclusion principles as being paramount to its success. It is essential for a diverse set of champions to continue to drive the momentum of inclusion. The path forward requires a consistent, sustainable set of advocates and resources in both law firm and in-house environments that ensure rich experiences for their colleagues of all backgrounds.
Lawbook: What advice do you give law firm managing partners about diversity?
Mosley: Make inclusion a part of your competitive advantage in an ever-growing field of capable law firms. Ensure that voices of many backgrounds, geographies and worldviews have a seat at the table in setting and implementing strategies to help your clients’ success in legal matters and in business growth.
Lawbook: What question about you am I not asking that I should be asking?
Mosley: What makes me tick? My faith — Christian. My Family. Friends. Mentors — there are many. Having lost two critical mentors this past year, Ronald Parker — former SVP of PepsiCo — and June Bruns — former senior legal assistant at PepsiCo — the importance of showing gratitude is at the top of my agenda in this season of my career. Thank you to all of my mentors, sponsors, advocates, feedback givers, challengers and friends who have helped pave my path in career and in life.
Lawbook: How has AI impacted the work of your legal department?
Mosley: AI has had a profound impact on the way our legal department operates at PepsiCo. As the company advances its strategic transformation and regulatory complexity intensifies, increasing demands on our team mean we must leverage every tool in our toolkit to meet these challenges. Like so many in the Texas legal community, we know expectations are at an all-time high for in-house legal departments, and we would be remiss if we did not embrace technologies that enable us deliver to more efficiently and effectively. At PepsiCo, we have integrated AI to drive productivity and continue to explore new ways to expand its use. With obvious considerations for confidentiality, AI tools are now embedded in our daily operations, helping us with everything from automating routine systems, developing initial drafts, reviewing outside counsel spend, and capturing and summarizing key points and action items from meetings. AI allows us to focus on the strategic, multifaceted and nuanced legal work that defines our value to the business. AI has become an essential partner — helping us navigate the changing landscapes of PepsiCo’s strategic transformation and the increasingly complex regulatory frameworks we operate within — ensuring that we continue to deliver the high-quality, business-oriented legal support.
Click here to read the Lawbook profile of Adrienne Mosley.