BMW North America General Counsel: Leading Legal Strategy in the U.S. and Canada
In the dynamic landscape of the North American automotive sector, BMW North America’s General Counsel stands at the forefront of legal strategy, ensuring compliance, mitigating risk, and upholding the company’s values across the U.S. and Canada.
BMW North America General Counsel: Guardian of Legal Excellence
As BMW’s chief legal officer for North America, the General Counsel oversees a broad spectrum of legal matters—from regulatory compliance and contract negotiation to intellectual property protection and employment law. This role is pivotal in navigating complex legal environments, ensuring BMW’s operations align with local and federal regulations while supporting sustainable growth and innovation in the competitive North American market.
Key Responsibilities Driving Corporate Integrity
The General Counsel leads in managing legal risk through proactive policy development, advising senior leadership on high-stakes decisions, and representing BMW in litigation and regulatory matters. By fostering a culture of compliance and ethical conduct, this leader safeguards the company’s reputation, strengthens stakeholder trust, and enables seamless expansion in a region marked by evolving legal challenges and heightened scrutiny.
Contributions to Innovation and Sustainable Leadership
Beyond compliance, BMW North America’s General Counsel plays a strategic role in aligning legal frameworks with corporate sustainability goals. By integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into legal practices, this executive ensures BMW advances responsibly while meeting stakeholder expectations and regulatory demands in North America’s evolving automotive landscape.
With deep expertise in law, business strategy, and regulatory navigation, BMW North America’s General Counsel shapes the foundation of legal resilience and corporate integrity. For professionals seeking insight into the intersection of law and leadership in the automotive industry, understanding this role offers critical perspective on driving sustainable success across borders.
Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel, and Secretary of BMW of North America, LLC Experience: BMW of North America, LLC Education: Georgetown University Law Center Location. Corporate governance of BMW Group: Everything you need to know about the Board of Management, Supervisory Board and corporate governance. In this role, he focused primarily on dealer, distribution, antitrust, merger and acquisition, and legislative matters.
In 2008, he was appointed Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel.Prior to joining the BMW Group, Harris practiced law in Ford Motor Company's Office of the General Counsel in Dearborn, Michigan. Read the biography of Howard Harris, at BMW North America as Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Se Full bio on The Official Board. Howard Harris is a Vice President, Legal Affairs & General Counsel & Secretary at BMW of North America based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Previously, Howard was an Attorney In the Office of the General Counsel at Ford. The BMW Of North America Inc management team includes James Cogdill (Chief Executive Officer), Yoonjin Hwang (Head Of Human Resources), and Richard Corthell (Chief Compliance Officer). General Counsel, U.S.
And Canadian BMW Group Companies Howard S. Harris is Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel of the U.S. and Canadian BMW Group companies.
He also has responsibility for the legal affairs of BMW Financial Services in Mexico. In addition, Harris serves as Secretary for most of the BMW Group's companies in North America. He has been in his position since July.
The general counsel and patent attorneys of the BMW Group Legal Affairs department and the specialist intellectual property, labour and social law and tax law departments carry out their work with professional independence. Associate General Counsel, BMW of North America Specialties: Automotive franchise law; automobile distribution, sales and marketing Experience: BMW of North America, LLC Location. Howard Harris, based in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, US, is currently a Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel, and Secretary at BMW of North America, LLC.
Howard Harris brings experience from previous roles at Ford Motor Company.