Chaka Patterson is a trusted Senior Consultant and Executive Coach with more than three decades of experience guiding senior leaders, boards, and organizations through complex business, governance, and risk environments. As a Senior Consultant with Highland Performance Solutions, Chaka brings a rare combination of public company leadership, legal expertise, and financial acumen to his work with executives navigating high-stakes decisions, transformation, and growth.
Chaka’s advisory and coaching approach is grounded in firsthand operating experience. He has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of a publicly traded global education company and held multiple executive roles at a Fortune 500 energy company, including Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer. These roles required close partnership with boards, investors, regulators, and executive teams, giving Chaka deep insight into the realities of enterprise leadership, stakeholder management, and organizational accountability.
In his coaching and advisory work, Chaka partners with General Counsel, C-suite executives, and senior leaders to strengthen strategic judgment, executive presence, and leadership effectiveness. He is particularly effective in helping leaders integrate legal, financial, and business perspectives; manage risk and complexity; prepare for board and investor engagement; and lead with confidence in moments of uncertainty or change. Clients value his thoughtful, candid style and his ability to challenge assumptions while remaining practical and grounded.
In addition to his consulting work, Chaka is a Lecturer on the Law at the University of Chicago Law School, where he teaches advanced civil procedure and mentors future legal and business leaders. He is also a frequent speaker and facilitator for executive audiences, presenting on topics such as leadership effectiveness for General Counsel, the strategic value of legal and compliance functions, and how executives can leverage financial insight to enhance decision-making and influence.
EDUCATION • Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School • Master of Business Administration in Finance and Economics from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Amherst College