Michele Coleman Mayes is executive vice president, general counsel for Allstate Insurance Company, and a member of Allstate's senior leadership team. She is responsible for guiding Allstate's strategy to ensure sound compliance of governance practices and fostering a healthy legal, legislative and regulatory environment.
Mayes joined Allstate in 2007. From 1976 through 1982, she served in the United States Department of Justice as Assistant United States Attorney in Detroit and Brooklyn, eventually assuming the role of Chief of the Civil Division in Detroit. In 1982, Mayes entered the corporate sector as managing attorney of Burroughs Corporation. Her career continued to evolve as Burroughs and Sperry Corporation merged, creating Unisys Corporation, for which she was appointed staff vice president and associate general counsel for worldwide litigation. In 1992, she joined Colgate-Palmolive Company as vice president and associate general counsel U.S. In 1993, she was promoted to vice president of human resources and legal for North America. She next became vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant secretary, and was promoted in 2001 to vice president, legal and assistant secretary, and elected a corporate officer. In 2003, she transitioned to Pitney Bowes, where she served as senior vice president and general counsel.
Mayes is the recipient of numerous awards, including American Bar Association, Commission on Women in the Profession - The Margaret Brent Award and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association Trailblazer Award. She also was named one of America's top black lawyers by Black Enterprise in 2003. In 2009, Mayes was recognized as one of the most Influential general counsels in America by The National Law Journal. Her influence is felt in business as well as the private sector, where she is a sought-after speaker, positive role model and mentor who works tirelessly for causes that help minorities and women.
Mayes serves on numerous boards, including Legal Momentum, RAND Corporation, the American Bar Association Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and Leadership Counsel for Legal Diversity.
She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and her JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
