BRENDAN J. GARDINER

BRENDAN J. Gardiner is chief litigation and regulatory counsel, and director of insurance, at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a global food ingredient and commodities trading company.

Gardiner, based in Chicago, leads a team of legal professionals advising on litigation, regulatory, and employment matters. In addition, he heads up ADM’s Insurance & Risk Management Department, with responsibility for ADM’s global insurance programs, captive insurance operations and claims handling.

Before joining ADM in January 2017, Gardiner spent 11 years with Caterpillar in Illinois, California and Belgium, during which time he counseled the company on litigation, regulatory, commercial and compliance matters in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific.

Prior to moving in-house, he practiced in the Chicago office of Sidley, specializing in commercial and securities litigation and internal investigations.

Gardiner earned a BA from the University of Notre Dame; while there, he spent a year abroad at Maynooth University in Ireland. He earned a JD from Notre Dame Law School. Following law school, he clerked for Judge Susan H. Black on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Gardiner is married with three children. His father is from Rathnamagh, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo, and his mother is from Dawros, Tourlestrane, Co. Sligo. Gardiner is president of the board of Irish Community Services in Chicago.