Xata Corporation, a provider of mobile compliance and fleet management software systems, has named Bruce McPheeters as the company’s general counsel. McPheeters most recently held the position of general counsel, corporate secretary and senior vice president at Lawson Software, Inc., based in Minneapolis and St. Paul, where for 12 years he was responsible for all legal matters for the global enterprise software provider.

“Bruce’s expertise in the legal and technology fields is highly valued,” says Jay Coughlan, chairman and chief executive officer, Xata.

McPheeters will join Xata’s executive team alongside Coughlan; Steve Chamberlain, executive vice president, field operations; Scott Meyer, chief marketing & strategy officer; and Odell Tuttle, chief technology officer.

Prior to joining Lawson Software, Inc., McPheeters was in private law practice for 18 years, focusing on software, securities, and mergers and acquisitions, most recently as a principal at the Gray Plant Mooty Law Firm in Minneapolis, where he also served on the firm’s board of directors.

McPheeters received an engineering degree from Iowa State University and a law degree from the University of Southern California Law School.