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Krista Whitaker was named executive vice president of legal and business affairs & chief legal officer on April 9, 2024. She leads the legal and security departments and collaborates closely with President & CEO Kevin Warren, ownership and the senior leadership team, providing comprehensive legal counsel and support to the club. She leads and oversees all legal affairs and develops a strategic solution-based legal department. Her expertise guides the organization through complex legal matters while ensuring alignment with the club's business objectives. Whitaker manages the Bears' day-to-day global legal department across all transactional, corporate, litigation, commercial, security and regulatory matters.

Krista Whitaker was named executive vice president of legal and business affairs & chief legal officer on April 9, 2024. She leads the legal and security departments and collaborates closely with President & CEO Kevin Warren, ownership and the senior leadership team, providing comprehensive legal counsel and support to the club. She leads and oversees all legal affairs and develops a strategic solution-based legal department. Her expertise guides the organization through complex legal matters while ensuring alignment with the club's business objectives. Whitaker manages the Bears' day-to-day global legal department across all transactional, corporate, litigation, commercial, security and regulatory matters.

Whitaker brings a wealth of experience from her tenure as vice president, associate general counsel with the Miami Heat. Her expertise encompasses a diverse range of legal matters, including financial negotiations, sponsorship agreements and media rights.

Whitaker's background as a corporate associate at Proskauer Rose, specializing in sports and media law, further enriches her capabilities. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a keen ability to navigate complex transactions and provide strategic counsel to organizations within the sports and entertainment industries.

Recognized for her contributions, Whitaker has been honored by esteemed publications such as Sports Business Journal and The Legal 500. Her commitment extends beyond her professional endeavors, as she actively contributes to legal education and serves her community. As an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law, Krista shares her expertise with aspiring legal professionals, while also serving as a member of the law school's Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Program Advisory Board.

In her free time, Whitaker enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband, cooking, binge-watching the latest TV shows and practicing mindfulness and meditation. She earned her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and her law degree from Stanford Law School.