A trusted resource

On winning the outstanding associate general counsel of a small legal department award from the Houston Business Journal in 2012, Shannon Weinberg remarked, ‘The biggest challenge I face is lack of resources, but the same challenge has provided me with the opportunity to develop a more in-depth understanding of the law.’ Now, as senior counsel of a large legal department backed by the resources of $86 billion energy company ConocoPhillips, Weinberg is showing she can be a trusted resource for her company.

Weinberg has earned Corporate Secretary’s rising star award for 2013 for her ability to get a great deal done in a short amount of time – and then to take on even more. After joining ConocoPhillips in late 2012, she led the effort to modernize the firm’s proxy statement. Demonstrating great initiative for a new employee, she collaborated with directors, senior management, the corporate secretary’s office and human resources, collecting key information for the proxy statement and helping the company prepare for its annual meeting. Getting all those executives to agree to significant changes to the proxy statement quickly and without the reassurance of a strong track record at the firm is testament to Weinberg’s people skills and persuasiveness.

She has also impressed her colleagues with her ability to find new ways to tackle problems. Understanding the importance of shareholder engagement, she created a website specifically for ConocoPhillips’ annual meeting, making it easier for shareholders to access materials prior to the meeting and to communicate directly with the company while the temporary website was active. The website also included a welcome video for shareholders from chairman and CEO Ryan Lance – a nice touch that allowed shareholders to get a more personal message from senior management.

While co-ordinating the proxy statement and annual meeting project, Weinberg handled her general corporate practice responsibilities, which include the preparation and review of all reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, management of NYSE listing requirements, administration of Section 16 filings, conducting board evaluations and the directors’ and officers’ questionnaire process, preparing board and shareholder resolutions and board packages, attending board and shareholder meetings, maintaining corporate records and preparing minutes, and assisting with Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance.

She has also been appointed secretary of the human resources committee and a member of the disclosure committee working group, where she is developing and monitoring compliance of legal policies, conducting employee training and handling other corporate secretarial, governance and legal department administrative responsibilities. Weinberg is a wonderful talent with a bright future ahead of her.

For photos of the 2013 awards, click here.

Award sponsor: Innisfree