Lanesha T. Anderson, Esq

Senior Legal Counsel Shell Oil, Houston, Texas Age: 34

Senior legal counsel for Shell Oil Co., Lanesha T. Anderson is lead attorney for the U.S. division of Shell Aviation and advises Shell’s U.S. lubricants business. In this role for less than two years, she has negotiated multimillion dollar sales and supplier deals for notable Shell Lubricant brands, including Pennzoil, Quaker State, Rain-X and Fix-A-Flat.

Prior to joining Shell, Anderson was corporate counsel for Sprint Nextel Corp. and before that an associate at K&L Gates, an international law firm. She was recognized in Rolling Out and Diversity & the Bar magazines and won the 2007 Black Achievers in Industry Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Kansas City Chapter.

“Work hard. Add value. Give back,” she says of her career. “I work every day to strengthen my craft, understand my clients’ business objectives and deliver sound, solution-oriented legal counsel aligning with those objectives.”
Anderson provides pro bono legal counsel to low-income families in child custody and domestic violence matters.

A member of the National Urban League’s Board of Trustees, she co-chairs its Centennial Commission, which is planning the organization’s 100-year celebration in 2010. She is also a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Corporate Counsel Women of Color. Anderson obtained a juris doctorate with honors and an MBA from the University of Tulsa, Okla., and graduated magna cum laude with a B.Sc. from St. Louis University. Ten years from now, “I expect I’ll be doing more of the same, but the jury’s still out,” she says.

Quote: “Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue Persistently." William Arthur Ward

Fun Facts
Favorite book/author: Maya Angelou
What actress should play you in a movie: Jada Pinkett Smith
Favorite sports team: Sooners, University of Oklahoma football
What artist would you go on tour with: Prince
First car: Cherry Red Nissan 200SX
Favorite comedian: Eddie Murphy
SUV or Hybrid: SUV
Favorite charity: National Urban League