Naketa Conley, Esq.
Naketa Conley, Esq., is a distinguished commercial legal professional whose career spans traditional law practice, in-house counsel roles, and international experience. Currently, Naketa serves as Outside Commercial Contracts Counsel at Southwire Company, where she provides strategic legal guidance on a wide range of commercial contracts, ensuring compliance and optimizing business outcomes.
Naketa began her career following the conventional path of law but quickly expanded her scope to global and cross-disciplinary opportunities. A formative period in her career was her tenure with the United Nations in West Africa from 2008 to 2011, where she applied her legal expertise to humanitarian and human rights initiatives, gaining deep insight into international law and justice systems.
Following her international experience, Naketa transitioned into senior in-house counsel positions across various industries, including roles with Amwell, Sungard Availability Services, and Coca-Cola Beverages Florida. Her work encompasses both federal and state legal frameworks, contract negotiation and administration, procurement oversight, and compliance management. She has successfully negotiated contracts ranging from $75K to $50M, led procurement processes for multi-million-dollar budgets, and contributed to significant cost savings through strategic contract and risk management.
In private practice, Naketa owned and operated a law firm providing comprehensive legal services to individuals, entrepreneurs, corporations, and religious institutions, specializing in tax compliance, corporate formation, property matters, and commercial contracting. Her efforts included orchestrating the removal of tax judgments and liens, realizing over $200K in direct client savings.
Naketa’s educational background laid a strong foundation for her multifaceted career. She earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) in Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law from American University Washington College of Law, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science and Government from the University of Illinois Chicago. This combination of rigorous legal training and broad-based political knowledge has equipped her to navigate complex legal, corporate, and international landscapes with confidence and precision.
• Learning GDPR - 2022
• American University - JD
• University of Illinois Chicago - BA
• American Bar Association
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to seeing myself as more than just an attorney. But now, I identify as a spiritual person with legal skills. That shift changed everything for me—not just how I work, but why I work. My approach rejects rigid archetypes in favor of authenticity and self-expression—qualities I believe are essential to building trust with clients and creating inclusive legal spaces. I learned that being real doesn’t mean being unprofessional. It means being human. That’s what people connect with.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was: You don’t have to wear a mask to be respected. That simple truth became a foundation for my career. It gave me permission to lead with integrity, value my voice, and work with courage even in environments resistant to change.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I am deeply committed to paying that wisdom forward. To rising attorneys—and especially those who feel like they don’t “fit the mold”—I say: Carve your own path. Success isn’t about imitation—it’s about alignment. Your most powerful work will come when you’re being yourself. I emphasize the importance of mental clarity, spiritual grounding, and building a career that supports—not stifles—your personal life.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the biggest challenges within the industry involves the need for legal spaces where people of all backgrounds not only show up—but thrive. That means creating room for new leadership styles, communication styles, and cultural intelligence.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
At the heart of it all, my values guide me. I’ve always believed in expanding consciousness. I was once labeled “non-conformant,” but I leaned into my individuality and drew strength from my own source—who I am as a human being, not just a professional. For me, authenticity isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of everything I do.