United Continental Holdings, Inc., the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines, has appointed Brett Hart as its senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, effective December 15, 2010.

1. General Counsel Consulting Career Feature
United Continental Holdings, Inc.- Brett Hart
By Rebecca Neely
United Continental Holdings, Inc., the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines, has appointed Brett Hart as
its senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, effective December 15, 2010.
He replaces Tom Sabatino, who is leaving United. Sabatino ChicagoBusiness.com reported that Hart left Sara Lee
announced his plans to leave on the same day that the in anticipation of a management shake-up following the
October 1 merger was finalized. Sabatino had been selected resignation of CEO Brenda Barnes. She suffered a stroke this
to head the merged airlines’ legal department, but, according year.
to the November 18th article at law.com, a spokesperson told
CorpCounsel.com at the time he’d simply opted not to move Before Sara Lee, Mr. Hart was a partner with Sonnenschein,
forward with the company. Nath & Rosenthal in Chicago. He also previously served
as special assistant to the general counsel at the U.S.
Sabatino is the second general counsel to leave United in Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C.
under a year. Paul Lovejoy resigned in November 2009 ‘’for
personal reasons,’’ a company spokesperson said at the time. Hart earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of
Chicago Law School, and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy
In his role at United Continental Holdings, Mr. Hart will and English from the University of Michigan.
be responsible for managing the company’s legal affairs
worldwide, and will report directly to President and CEO Jeff United Continental Holdings, Inc. is the holding company
Smisek. for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together
with United Express, Continental Express and Continental
In a press release, Smisek was quoted as saying: ‘’Brett’s Connection, these airlines operate a total of approximately
experience, leadership skills and legal expertise are great 5,800 flights a day to 371 airports on six continents. United’s
assets to our senior management team. He will play a key role and Continental’s more than 80,000 employees reside in every
as we integrate United and Continental and build the world’s U.S. state and in many countries around the world.
leading carrier.’’
Mr. Hart most recently served as executive vice president,
general counsel and corporate secretary at Sara Lee
Corporation, where he directed global legal operations for the
corporation.
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