Monica Welt Named Next RILA GC & RLC President

Washington, DC - The Retail Litigation Center (RLC) and Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced today that Monica Welt will become the next General Counsel of RILA and President of the RLC. Ms. Welt will succeed Deborah White, who announced her plan to retire at the end of 2025 after 12 years in the role.

Ms. Welt joins RILA and the RLC after nine years with the Ohio-based retailer Big Lots. At Big Lots, Ms. Welt built the company’s first compliance department, then ascended through the legal department, rising to Deputy General Counsel in 2021. In that role, Ms. Welt was the retailer’s top compliance leader and assistant corporate secretary, leading legal, compliance and corporate governance strategies for the $6 billion public company. Among her responsibilities were leading cross-functional activities, including supporting the retailer’s omnichannel strategy, establishing oversight for sourcing operations abroad, and co-leading the company’s nationwide response to COVID.

During her time at Big Lots, Ms. Welt was an active participant in several RILA peer communities.

Prior to joining Big Lots, Ms. Welt focused on product liability litigation and risk management as an attorney with Crowell & Moring, LLP, in Washington, DC. Ms. Welt began her career as a trade attorney at Dewey Ballantine LLP and later as a litigator at Wallace King Domike & Branson.

“We are thrilled to welcome Monica to the team,” said RILA President and CEO Brian Dodge. “The knowledge and relationships that she brings to this position after more than two decades in retail and in private practice are truly unique. The team and I look forward to working with her to build on RILA and the RLC’s long record of success.”

“Monica is a talented lawyer with a deep understanding of the challenges that retail legal leaders face every day because she herself has been one,” said Lacey Bundy, PetSmart Chief Legal Officer and Chair of the RLC Board of Directors. “Her experience and deep appreciation for the power of collaboration make her uniquely suited for this role.”

“I’m honored to be RILA’s next General Counsel and RLC President at such a pivotal time for retail,” said Welt. “Over the past 15 years, as both outside and in-house counsel, I’ve benefitted from the outstanding value RILA delivers to its members and I’m excited to continue that work.  I want to sincerely thank Deborah White for her exceptional leadership and dedication—her legacy has set a strong foundation for our path forward.”

“I’m incredibly excited that Brian and the RLC Board have chosen Monica to be the next RILA General Counsel and RLC President,” said Deborah White. “I have been fortunate to work with Monica over the years, and I have been thoroughly impressed with her deep understanding of the transformative role that trade associations can play. I know the inhouse insights that she brings from her previous experiences will provide outstanding value to the RILA and RLC legal communities.”

Ms. Welt will join RILA on August 6 and work closely with Ms. White to ensure a smooth and successful transition following the Retail Law Conference in October. Ms. White will serve as an advisor to RILA and the RLC through the end of the year.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is the U.S. trade association for leading retailers. Through collaboration and thought leadership, RILA convenes top retail executives to network, share best practices, advance ideas, and act to effect change.  

Directed by the chief legal officers of the country's leading retail companies, the Retail Litigation Center (RLC) is the trade association RILA established in 2010 to design ways to help leading retailers solve complex, common litigation issues through collaboration among smart in-house litigators and their outside counsel defenders.

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