Walmart Inc., the largest corporate employer in the U.S., has named former Dallas prosecutor Erin Nealy Cox as its new chief legal officer.
Cox, who has been a partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Dallas since 2021, will assume the job as the retail giant’s top lawyer April 13.
In a statement, Walmart CEO John Furner said the company needed a lawyer “to lead global governance for a company of our scale and complexity” and that Cox “has thrived in the most demanding environments.”
“Erin is exactly that leader,” Furner said. “She brings a rare combination of legal strategy and operational rigor that will be essential as we continue to navigate the new era of retail, while staying true to our purpose of helping people save money and live better.”
Cox, who is an expert in cybersecurity, served as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas from 2017 to 2021. She has been widely viewed as a finalist for the federal judgeship in Dallas.
“Walmart is a company defined not just by its scale, but by its heart; and I am honored to join the team at such a pivotal moment,” Cox said in a statement. “Throughout my career in both the public and private sectors, I’ve found that the best strategies are always rooted in purpose. Walmart has a clear purpose, one I believe in deeply, and I’m excited to dive in and help our teams continue to serve our customers and members when, how and where they want.”
Since 2021, Cox served as a partner in the internal investigations practice group at Kirkland, which is the largest corporate law firm in the world by revenue.
Earlier this month, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law honored Cox, a 1995 graduate, with its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award.
“What the resume doesn’t show is the person,” Cox’s husband, Trey Cox, wrote in a LinkedIn post recognizing his spouse. “Erin works harder than anyone I know, leads with integrity, and never forgets the responsibility and humility that comes with leadership.”
Erin and Trey Cox have long been considered one of the power couples in Dallas. Trey Cox is a trial lawyer and co-managing partner of the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, which is considered a nationally elite firm and top competitor to Kirkland.
During her time at Kirkland, Cox launched a pro bono initiative called “Project Second Chance,” which assisted victims of domestic violence and human trafficking in expunging related criminal records. Since its inception in 2022, the program has helped 73 clients clear 232 charges.