Michael Buckner Joins Agilent Technologies as Chief Legal Officer

Agilent Technologies Inc. has appointed Michael Buckner as chief legal officer. The new executive team member has nearly three decades of experience as a senior global legal executive, with a proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams and deep expertise in complex transactions and regulatory environments.

“We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the Agilent team,” Agilent Technologies President/CEO Padraig McDonnell said. “His experience leading global legal organizations, combined with his expertise across governance, compliance and regulatory matters, will play a key role as we continue to advance our strategy and deliver for our customers and stakeholders worldwide.”

Buckner joins Agilent from Danaher Corp., where he was vice president, deputy general counsel, and chief M&A counsel. In that role, he led legal strategy for mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, intellectual property transactions, and debt securities, while overseeing a global team. He played a central role in several high-profile transactions, including the acquisition of Abcam and the Veralto spin-off, while advising senior leadership and members of the board on legal strategy and risk management.

Previously, Buckner spent 16 years at General Electric in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as vice president and chief counsel for mergers and acquisitions, where he served as the company’s lead mergers and acquisitions lawyer globally. Earlier in his career, he held legal roles at Capital One Financial Corp. and in private practice, where he focused on corporate and securities law.

Buckner earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science, with high honors, from Rutgers University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School.

Agilent Technologies Inc. is a global developer of analytical and clinical laboratory technologies. The company’s full range of solutions includes instruments, software, services, and expertise that provide answers to customers’ most challenging questions. The company generated $6.95 billion in fiscal year 2025 revenue and employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide.