Biography

Ms. Cranston is a highly regarded advisor, business leader and lawyer with substantial expertise in complex antitrust, mass tort, class action and securities law. She has received numerous recognitions for her work, including being named one of the 50 most influential and effective directors by the National Association of Corporate Directors and one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America by the National Law Journal. Ms. Cranston was also inducted into the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame in 2023, which recognizes individuals for their extraordinary achievements in advancing businesses and industries in the Bay Area of California to positions of national and international prominence.

During her tenure as Chair and CEO of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLC, she expanded the firm into a global platform through two large mergers, more than doubling the firm’s revenue. She also oversaw efforts to innovate the client service model and streamline operations, significantly boosting the firm’s profitability. Her extensive experience as a director of global public companies allows her to provide the Board with critical insights on leading corporate governance practices, legal and regulatory risk mitigation, compliance and cybersecurity oversight.

Ms. Cranston holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University, a Master’s degree in education from the University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. from Stanford University.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Complex Litigation and Class Action Resolution: Ms. Cranston has advised on the economics of regulated industries and securities litigation, has litigated over 300 class actions in state and federal courts and is widely considered an expert on procedural and trial issues and all aspects of class action settlements. Ms. Cranston was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor reserved for the top trial lawyers in the United States. Ms. Cranston has also had a lead role during her service on the Board of Chemours in overseeing liability management and resolution efforts since Chemours’ launch as a publicly traded company.
• Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets: Ms. Cranston has over 30 years of experience advising Fortune 100 companies on M&A transactions. During her tenure as CEO of Pillsbury, she expanded the firm from a regional California base to a global platform through mergers with New York- and D.C.-based law firms and the addition of seven offices. In board roles throughout her career, Ms. Cranston has also overseen major acquisitions, both from the acquiree and acquirer sides.
• Human Capital and Talent Management: Acquired experience throughout her senior executive leadership roles overseeing the operations of a global law firm. Ms. Cranston’s accomplishments include aligning talent management and growth strategies, leading change management and post-merger integration efforts, and driving employee engagement initiatives.

 Career Highlights:

• Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman LLP
  • Senior Partner and Chair Emeritus (2007-2011)
  • Chair and CEO (1999-2006)

Other Public Company Boards:

• TPG Inc. (since 2022)
• McAfee Corp. (2018-2022)
• Visa Inc. (2007-2022)
• MyoKardia, Inc. (2016-2020)
• Juniper Networks, Inc. (2007-2015)
• Exponent, Inc. (2010-2014)
• International Rectifier Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG) (2008-2014)
• GrafTech International Ltd. (2000-2014)

Private Company Directorships and Other Organizations:

• Go Health Urgent Care (since 2021)
• Boardspan, Inc. (since 2016)
• CSAA Insurance Group (2006-2023)
• Stanford University Board of Trustees (2000-2010)