The PERSUIT Podcast

National Grid's Justine Campbell on Leadership, Regulation and Keeping the Lights On

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Most legal AI conversations happen in the abstract. Not for Justine Campbell, Chief Legal Officer at National Grid.

National Grid runs the electricity and gas transmission networks across the UK and the US, and literally keeps the lights on. In this episode, Justine joins PERSUIT COO Michelle Landy to talk about what AI adoption actually looks like when your industry is heavily regulated, your customers can't opt out, and the margin for error is nil.

They cover:

Why speed is the wrong metric for legal transformation in a regulated business
How National Grid is piloting AI tools — and the non-negotiable guardrails around them
Running hackathons with external law firms to co-design solutions
What "right-sizing" outside counsel relationships really means
The capability that will separate leading legal departments over the next few years

If you work in legal, compliance, or operations in energy, financial services, healthcare, or any other heavily regulated sector — this one's for you.

The world's top in-house teams aren't just managing their firms — they're mobilizing value. PERSUIT.

Lead with value.

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Executive Presence, ChatGPTing Yourself and Getting "Weirdly Excited" About RFPs

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

What does it take to stand out, stay human, and lead with authenticity in legal marketing? 💡

In this episode of The PERSUIT Podcast, host Alex Bullington sits down with Rachael Shilling, Director of Marketing & Client Services at Liskow, for an honest, energizing conversation about:

🚀 Standing Out in a Crowded Market How a 90-year-old regional firm competes with global giants by doubling down on its energy-sector roots.

💼 Rethinking RFPs & Client Value Why Rachael loves RFPs, how she first discovered PERSUIT, and how data-driven transparency helps firms win on expertise—not size.

🤖 AI, Empathy & the Future of Legal Work Rachael’s refreshing take on what AI can do—and what it can’t replace: trust, empathy, and real connection.

Subscribe to The PERSUIT Podcast to stay ahead of the innovation curve in legal and lead with value.

The world's top in-house teams aren't just managing their firms — they're mobilizing value. PERSUIT.

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Re-Play: Owning the AI Narrative (Before Someone Else Does)

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

It's a special crossover episode of the PERSUIT Podcast this week as we re-play Jim Delkousis' recent interview with Mary O'Carroll on the Pearls On Gloves Off podcast.

The two cover a lot of ground, including:

Leading legal like a business
The AI reckoning of the billable hour
The hot topic of reverse auctions

Big thank yous to Mary and her team for letting us share this episode. You can subscribe to Pearls on Gloves Off on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The world's top in-house teams aren't just managing their firms — they're mobilizing value. PERSUIT.

Lead with value.

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Get the Right People in the Room, with Chris Grant of Goodwin

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 15:17:37 +0000

From re-thinking the billable hour with Effective Fee Arrangements to building trust through transparency, Chris shares how clients and law firms can work smarter—not harder. Discover why the right people, the right data, and the right conversations are key to driving change in the legal industry.

The world's top in-house teams aren't just managing their firms — they're mobilizing value.

PERSUIT.

Lead with value.

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Demystifying Legal Accruals with Chris Perry of Apperio

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Chris Perry, VP of Sales at Apperio, joins the PERSUIT Podcast to unpack why accruals are such a persistent challenge in legal ops—and how to fix them.

From inaccurate estimates to strained client–firm communication, accruals impact far more than just finance.

Key takeaways:

Why hourly billing makes accruals inherently messy
The pitfalls of relying on law firm estimates
How Apperio uses actual unbilled data to improve accuracy
The role of clear communication and expectation setting
Why value-based pricing could be a game changer

Listen in to learn how to rethink your accruals process. Learn more about Apperio and PERSUIT, book a demo today at http://www.persuit.com

The world's top in-house teams aren't just managing their firms — they're mobilizing value.

PERSUIT.

Lead with value.

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Law Firm Pricing is More Bespoke Than You Think

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the PERSUIT podcast, host Chris Albrecht speaks with Maui Guevero, Senior Manager for the Legal Advisory Team at PERSUIT. They discuss the evolving landscape of client-firm relationships, the intricacies of law firm pricing strategies, and the critical role of communication in legal services.

The conversation also delves into the impact of AI on legal work and how it is reshaping the dynamics between clients and firms. Insights from the PERSUIT Exchange event highlight the need for proactive communication and collaboration to enhance these relationships.

Topics include:

The client-firm relationship is often tense due to pricing pressures.
Law firms can adopt bespoke pricing strategies tailored to client needs.
Clients should articulate their priorities to foster collaboration.
Clients are becoming more informed about AI capabilities.
Both firms and clients need to initiate communication proactively.

Find Maui on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmcge/

The world's top in-house teams aren't just managing their firms — they're mobilizing value. PERSUIT.

Lead with value.

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New FinServ and AFA Legal Spending Data Will Surprise you

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:25:00 +0000

Jordan Weinstein, VP of Data & Growth at PERSUIT, shares insights around legal pricing trends for FinServ clients and AFAs, including:

Do FinServ clients pay less?
Why have some key cost-driving activities in AFAs plateaued in recent years?
How can clients and firms take advantage of this research?
The PERSUIT Podcast delivers deep discussions around the innovations happening in the legal space.

PERSUIT.

Lead with value.

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Sebastian Lochen: Thyssenkrupp - Innovations and Challenges in Legal Compliance

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Dr. Sebastian Lochen, the General Counsel and Head of Compliance at Thyssenkrupp, shares his professional journey within the company, where he began his career in the compliance department in 2011 and rose to lead the legal function in 2021. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Lochen emphasizes the significance of embedding the legal team within the business units to ensure proactive support and early involvement in organizational projects and decisions.

Lochen speaks to the environmental and regulatory challenges Thyssenkrupp faces as it transitions to greener technologies, and how the changing business model, driven by regulatory pressures and economic shifts, requires adaptive strategies from the legal team to provide robust support while also maintaining vigilance over traditional risk areas like antitrust issues.

The two also explore the evolving dynamics between Thyssenkrupp and its external legal advisors. Dr. Lochen discusses the critical role of law firms in providing innovative solutions and leveraging technology to enhance legal service delivery. He emphasizes the importance of a collaborative relationship with external partners to navigate new regulatory landscapes effectively.

04:36 Expansion of Compliance Programs Since 2011

07:36 Diversified Industry Ventures Overview

09:50 Integrating with Business Operations

13:41 Future Challenges: Regulation and Efficiency

18:06 AI Compliance Implementation Strategies

19:48 Evolving Role of Law Firms

24:53 Steel Industry's Green Transition

25:46 Navigating Economic and Legal Changes

29:33 Nurturing Children's Interests through Exploration

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Samallie Kiyingi: Standard Chartered Bank - Building Resilience and Trust

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Cynthia Lareine interviews Samallie Kiyingi, the global General Counsel for Corporate Investment Banking at Standard Chartered Bank. The two talk about Samallie's impressive career journey, emphasizing her transitions across prestigious organizations like Afreximbank, Clifford Chance, Deutsche Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. Despite initially focusing on international law and human rights, Samallie’s path led her into finance law, a transition influenced by mentors and opportunities to develop a wide range of skills. Her global career, spanning continents including Australia, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and her current role at Standard Chartered reflect a natural progression towards leveraging finance to foster prosperity.

The conversation delves into Samallie’s leadership style, enriched by her culturally diverse work experiences. She discusses the challenges of adapting to different cultural contexts, such as her significant moves from Sydney to London, Cairo, and Singapore. One pivotal moment in her career was negotiating and procuring COVID-19 vaccines for African countries, where her structured finance expertise played a crucial role. Samallie stresses the importance of maintaining personal resilience and celebrating team wins in high-pressure situations. She advocates for clear daily routines, empathetic leadership, and building trust within teams to enhance productivity and innovation.

Samallie also shares insights on elevating the in-house legal team's strategic role within organizations. She emphasizes the necessity of relationship-building, over-communicating, and taking ownership to demonstrate value beyond the traditional legal advisory scope. Additionally, as a member of Standard Chartered’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Samallie highlights the importance of fostering diverse leadership and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. She balances forward-looking perspectives on technological advancements in the legal field with practical advice for young lawyers on betting on themselves and seeking roles that open future opportunities. Her personal reflections and professional guidance make for an inspiring episode, underscoring her belief in leveraging law and finance as tools for broader societal impact.

06:57 Cultural Bias in Leadership Adaptation

08:41 Cultural Sensitivity in Workplace Communication

14:16 Vaccine Collaboration and Coordination

17:16 Managing Stress Through Routine

19:28 Celebrating Wins Amid Challenges

24:04 Surprise Award Highlights Global Impact

27:16 Building Legal-Business Trust

30:17 Boosting Personal Visibility at Work

32:28 Visibility and Relationship-Building Strategies

36:10 Enhancing Diversity Through Senior Engagement

40:10 Tech Innovations in Legal Industry

43:26 Career Decisions: Prioritizing Future Opportunities

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Tia Sherringham: DoorDash - Making Legal the Department of "Yes, And"

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:09:41 +0000

In this episode, Jim Delkousis, CEO of PERSUIT, sits down with Tia Sherringham, General Counsel at DoorDash, to explore how legal can be a true business partner rather than just the department of “no.” Tia shares her journey from being the second lawyer at DoorDash to leading a global legal team of 150, navigating the company through hypergrowth, the pandemic pivot, and its IPO. She also dives into building a problem-solving legal culture, partnering with external counsel, and scaling legal for a global company.

From empowering her team with a "Yes, And" mindset to balancing business agility and compliance, Tia offers valuable insights for legal leaders looking to evolve with their companies.

For more great episodes of the Innovative Legal Leadership podcast, visit PERSUIT.com

[00:01:14] - Tia's Journey to Law and DoorDash

[00:03:18] - The Scrappy Early Days as DoorDash’s second lawyer

[00:04:23] - The Pandemic Pivot, Pausing the IPO

[00:06:51] - Scaling Legal Through an IPO & Beyond

[00:12:04] - The DRI Model and Empowering Her Legal Team

[00:13:11] - Choosing the Right External Legal Partners

[00:17:33] - Legal as the "Department of Yes, And"

[00:19:34] - Legal & Marketing Collaboration (Including a Super Bowl appearance)

[00:21:32] - The Future of Legal & AI

[00:22:40] - Advice to Her 25-Year-Old Self

[00:24:25] - Fun Wrap-Up: Tia’s Go-To DoorDash Orders

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Lynn Charytan: Comcast Cable — Building a Strong Legal Department

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the Innovative Legal Leadership Podcast, Jim Delkousis sits down with Lynn Charytan, the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Comcast Cable. Lynn traces her career journey, starting from her early days at the Washington Post, moving on to a 17-year tenure at WilmerHale as a partner, and finally transitioning to Comcast in 2010. She describes the challenges she faced in establishing a legal regulatory function at Comcast without a structured onboarding process and reflects on important milestone moments that shaped her career, including a transformative realization about her leadership approach.

Lynn discusses her perspective on leadership, emphasizing the need to empower her legal team to excel rather than focusing solely on her own expertise. She recounts how her department has grown and evolved with the addition of new legal functions like compliance and government investigations. Lynn highlights the importance of having a robust onboarding process to foster a strong team culture. She also touches on topics like cybersecurity, the role of AI in business and legal operations, and maintaining strategic partnerships with external law firms.

00:00 Lynn's Career and AI Insights

04:49 Establishing a Legal Regulatory Team

07:20 Career Transition and Reflection

12:44 Empowering Colleagues for Success

16:39 Navigating Selective Leadership and Trust

18:06 Enhancing Interdepartmental Collaboration

23:38 AI's Role in Law Efficiency

26:30 Collaborating to Overcome Resistance

29:37 Collaborative Firm Negotiations

34:18 Understanding Business Strategy for Decisions

35:01 Integrating Legal Advisors in Strategy

38:58 Shifting Focus: From Self to Others

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Angelique Strong Marks: Cars.com — AI, Diversity, and Crafting a Winning GC Narrative

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Angelique Strong Marks, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer at Cars.com, joins us to discuss what it truly means to win as in-house counsel.

She emphasizes the importance of understanding a company’s business goals and aligning legal strategies accordingly.

Angelique also explores how AI is transforming the legal field, allowing lawyers to focus on more strategic tasks, and shares her unique take on diversity, highlighting the need to redefine success metrics in the legal profession.

Tune in for valuable insights into holistic legal strategies, AI’s role in legal operations, and the future of diversity in law.

Join us as we discuss:

[1:48] Leadership and what it means to win as an in-house legal counsel
[7:41] AI and digital transformation in the legal profession
[15:48] Why the diversity conversation is still flawed

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

What it Means to Win for In-House Counsel by Angelique Strong Marks

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Nisreen Al-Shaker: Nokia — The Rise of Legal Operations and Its Strategic Impact

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Nisreen Al-Shaker, Global Head of Legal Operations and Strategy — Legal and Compliance at Nokia, didn’t passionately pursue legal ops. Instead, her diverse experiences in multiple international legal departments naturally pushed her into the dynamic field.

Nisreen believes an expansive skillset is essential to understanding the challenges that come with today’s lightning-fast change in the legal industry.

She gives us an exclusive snapshot of how her team is embracing innovative tools and collaborating with partners like PERSUIT to establish operational resilience in their Middle Eastern market.

Join us as we discuss:

[5:23] How legal ops helps in-house teams navigate complex issues
[15:04] Partnering with PERSUIT to help unravel spending expectations
[23:53] Operational resilience in the face of rapid change
[33:11] The rise of legal operations in the Middle East

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Damien Atkins: Aura —Transforming In-House Culture to Drive Value

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Damien Atkins, CLO and GC at Aura, a provider of online security solutions, has learned a lot about leadership during his extensive career spanning companies like AOL, Panasonic, and Hershey’s.

His reputation has garnered him recognition in multiple publications, including recently being named as one of the most influential executives in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine.

Yet he’s always chasing more insights, which is why he launched The Purposeful Leader, a podcast featuring executives from law and business who discuss leadership values.

Damien joins us for a compelling conversation about what distinguishes great legal leaders, how they can drive cultural change, and why they need to work outside of the legal box.

Join us as we discuss:

[4:38] Drawing from the leadership philosophies of great sports coaches
[14:06] Creating in-house culture for differentiated value to the business
[22:57] Expanding the influence of in-house within the business
[36:24] Using technology strategically to drive more impact

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Otilia Phiri: Microsoft — Shaping the Future of Legal Tech

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000

From Zimbabwe to Nairobi, Otilia Phiri has solidified her reputation as a leader in the African legal tech space.

As Principal Corporate Counsel for the Africa Regional Cluster at Microsoft, she’s committed to transforming how legal departments support business objectives, promoting diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to in-house projects.

Otilia gives us an exclusive peek into how Microsoft is transforming the African continent with exciting new technology and how she thinks AI will give legal professionals more creative freedom.

Join us as we discuss:

[15:38] AI conversations at Microsoft and African agencies
[25:33] Use cases for AI tools in Microsoft’s legal departments
[32:08] DEI and career advancement opportunities
[46:06] Why old traditions are holding the legal industry back

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Porter Merriman: AutoDesk — Why “Belonging” Has Earned Its Spot in DEIB

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000

How does one begin to measure the social impact of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives in legal? And how can you get others to buy in?

When Porter Merriman">Porter Merriman, VP & Assistant GC at AutoDesk"> AutoDesk, helped spearhead her department’s new DEIB program, she knew she couldn’t force people to be fully invested. But she could acknowledge and reward those who were.

In this episode of our new Mission Possible series, Porter gives other legal leaders a map to help them charter their own DEIB programs and build diverse partnerships.

Join us as we discuss:

- Why DEIB can’t be a string of start-stop initiatives (1:54)

- Factoring DEIB in the external sourcing process (7:59)

- Advice to legal leaders starting internal DEIB programs (14:29)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

AutoDesk FY2023 Diversity & Belonging Report">AutoDesk FY2023 Diversity & Belonging Report

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Ulrike Schwarz-Runer: Boston Consulting Group — Building a Psychologically Safe Legal Department

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Ulrike Schwarz-Runer, Managing Director and Senior Partner, GC and CLO at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), has long been a champion for DEI and psychological safety in the workplace.

While she’s overseeing BCG’s global legal operations, she’s also leveraging her position to empower her people to feel safe and heard while participating in international forums on inclusivity.

Ulrike shares how BCG is driving DEI initiatives through innovation, effective communication, and expertise deployment.

Join us as we discuss:

➡️[5:11] Why diverse teams are more effective and innovative

➡️[14:32] The importance of psychological safety in the workplace

➡️[21:39] Keeping the human connection in digital transformation

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

➡️The Positive Domino Effect of Psychological Safety (BCG)

➡️Flexible Teams Are Key for In-house Lawyers to Share Expertise (Financial Times)

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André Wright: NiSource — How to Get Buy-In for DEI Initiatives in Legal

Tue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 +0000

It takes everyone, from corporate leadership to interns, to drive successful DEI initiatives through an in-house legal department.

So, when Forbes recognized NiSource as one of the top employers for diversity in the energy field in 2023, André Wright and his team knew their efforts had paid off.

The VP & Deputy GC for NiSource joined us to talk about how they implemented their DEI strategy and share some of the surprising challenges and outcomes of bringing everyone along.

Join us as we discuss:

[4:05] Carrying out DEI initiatives at the strategic level
[11:59] The need to find like-minded suppliers and partners
[16:48] Why it’s important to consider opposing viewpoints

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
NAMWOLF

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Kailee Goold: Cardinal Health — Contribution Over Perfection in Building a Better Legal Department Culture

Tue, 07 May 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Creating a positive culture is hard — especially in the legal space.

Old institutions and ways of doing things are difficult to unseat, and modern corporate legal departments need to lean heavily into building culture that works for both the company and its people equally.

Kailee Goold, VP of Litigation and Legal Operations at Cardinal Health, sits down with PERSUIT’s own Michelle Landy to discuss how to disrupt outdated patterns of thinking and behavior when it comes to culture and belonging inside of your organization.

When everyone has a seat at the table and is comfortable sitting in it, legal departments win.

Join us as we discuss:

[3:30] Acting as an “actor in a playground of critics”
[6:15] Tailoring DEIB to your department’s culture
[11:00] How disrupting existing patterns can impact legal department health

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

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Brent Dyer: Trend Micro — Run Your In-House Legal Department Like a Business

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

As the Director of Legal Operations, Employment Law, and Litigation at Trend Micro, Brent Dyer is leading the transformation of legal operations within the multinational cybersecurity giant.

His journey from aspiring opera singer to legal innovator is not just a fascinating career transition but a testament to the dynamism and versatility required in the legal ops landscape.

Brent joins us to unpack the world of legal ops, sharing insights on enhancing operational efficiencies, strategic litigation management, and spearheading initiatives that challenge the conventional law firm model.

Join us as we discuss:

[6:57] The duality of legal ops and traditional legal work
[15:44] Optimizing litigation management and billing issues
[26:02] Why law firms need to care more about the client experience
[35:15] Underappreciated value of non-lawyers in legal ops

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Veronica Gromada: Shook, Hardy, & Bacon L.L.P. — Run for the Fire Hose Instead of the Fire Exit

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Most of our guests started their legal journeys in private law firms before pivoting to corporate in-house legal departments. In this insightful episode, the shoe is on the other foot.

Veronica Gromada spent nearly 20 years with Walmart’s in-house legal department, leading teams of attorneys, paralegals, and various professionals and managing the retailer’s extensive tort litigation portfolio.

Now, as a partner at the prestigious law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Veronica is not only overseeing their products liability group. She is also the co-chair for multiple ESG initiatives.

Hear how Veronica is using her Fortune One experience to give her colleagues new perspectives on business relationships and how she’s championing diversity in AMLAW firms.

Join us as we discuss:

[3:03] Pivoting from a massive in-house department to private practice
[13:51] Why law firms need to adopt a business mindset
[23:56] The challenges of being a black female partner
[34:34] How AI will free legal professionals to better serve clients

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Ben Adams: Western Union — Why CLOs Must Be True Problem Solvers

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

The roles of chief legal officer or general counsel can mean different things in different corporate hierarchies.

But if there’s one thing that Ben Adams has learned on his way to becoming CLO and Corporate Secretary at Western Union, it’s that those men and women must be true problem solvers.

He’s always reminding his in-house team that a uniform legal background will only get them so far. It’s the willingness to adapt and learn the ins and outs of their business that will take them places.

Ben gives us an exclusive peek into how his team manages the legal challenges that can arise in financial services and how they’re cautiously approaching AI to help with international transactions.

Join us as we discuss:

[7:53] Core values and the Western Union Foundation
[19:46] If in-house legal job titles really tell the whole story
[28:53] How technology ties into transparency in legal departments

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Western Union Foundation

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Sue Manik: Standard Chartered Bank — How Legal Ops Teams Can Justify Value

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0000

As AI tools continue to infiltrate the global workforce, how can legal ops teams separate relevant AI services from ill-fitting alternatives? And how can in-house teams best leverage some of these exciting new data models to make informed decisions?

Sue Manik, Head of Supplier Performance at Standard Chartered Bank, believes that legal professionals must reevaluate how they think about data if they want to keep up with accelerated innovation.

Sue walks us through the changes she’s witnessed in legal operations’ evolution from data-wielding sidekicks to collaborative partners and how Standard’s D&I task force is breaking barriers.

Join us as we discuss:

[3:10] How embedding in legal operations opens up new opportunities
[12:43] Why legal professionals should never take data at face value
[20:44] Measuring ROI on legal operations initiatives
[33:32] Standard Charter Bank’s D&I task force

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Sterling Miller - Hilgers Graben: The Art of Embracing Opportunities

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The role of the GC has come a long way since the days when everyone only wanted to work for big law firms.

GCs have now evolved into a more strategic and important role within organizations, where lawyers are doing more of the legal work and interacting with the business.

For the role to continuously improve, lawyers must stay endlessly curious, evaluate what they’re doing and improve upon it, and learn how to delegate.

This week, we're joined by Sterling Miller, CEO and Senior Counsel at Hilgers Graben PLLC. Sterling’s diverse professional experience has enabled him to strategically adapt to each position, embrace change, and disrupt the legal department.

In this interview, we delve into what it takes for the GC to chart a more strategic path within their organization.

Join us as we discuss:

[08:23] How the GC role has evolved
[21:34] How lawyers can be more productive
[26:01] How to foster innovation and diversity in the legal department

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

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Shane O’Connor – Commonwealth Bank: Successful Change Management in Legal

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0000

If lawyers and the legal function are going to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce, they need to be tech-savvy, forward-thinking, and able to project manage.

The legal landscape is in a constant state of evolution, and teams must embrace that change to stay ahead.

They need to push alternative ways of doing things and work differently.

This week, we're joined by Shane O’Connor">Shane O’Connor, General Manager of Strategy and Operations at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia">Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Shane’s extensive experience across different functions in the banking industry has enabled him to tackle challenges head-on, question the status quo, and implement positive disruption within his organization.

In this webinar, we delve into what it takes to initiate change within an organization.

Join us as we discuss:

- [07:40] How Shane created the legal ops function at Commonwealth Bank

- [14:18] Shane’s problem-solving process and how he implemented a rollout

- [20:53] Strategies for winning the hearts and minds of lawyers

- [24:36] What proper change management looks like

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Shane O’Connor">Shane O’Connor

- Commonwealth Bank of Australia">Commonwealth Bank of Australia

- PERSUIT">PERSUIT

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

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Maui Gevero – PERSUIT: Successfully Navigating Mass Arbitration

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Unbeknownst to many, mass arbitration is actually something that recently evolved in the legal landscape as an alternative to large class action lawsuits.

What should companies be aware of, and how can they deal with mass arbitration successfully?

This week, we're joined by Maui Gevero">Maui Gevero, Senior Manager of Legal Advisory at PERSUIT">PERSUIT.

We dive into what mass arbitration is and how companies can proactively address challenges arising from this.

Maui also shares his views on where the system loopholes are and what companies should do to test different approaches to handling mass arbitrations. He also leaves us with some tips regarding what companies requiring legal consultation must do.

Join us as we discuss:

- The definition of mass arbitration (00:10)

- Maui’s best examples of mass arbitration cases (02:44)

- Three steps that companies should follow related to mass arbitration (07:18)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Inderpreet Sawhney: Infosys — AI’s Impact on the Lawyers of Tomorrow

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000

A lot has happened since Inderpreet Sawhney">Inderpreet Sawhney became General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Infosys"> Infosys in 2017. After globetrotting through several firms and businesses, she now oversees an in-house team that is witnessing incredible advances in generative AI firsthand.

And like many other GCs and legal professionals, she’s curious to see how these innovations will redefine value in the field.

Inderpreet gives us her insights into what generative AI could mean for future lawyers, and some do’s and don’ts when transitioning from big law firms to in-house teams.

Join us as we discuss:

- How the role of GC has evolved from tactical to strategic (8:12)

- Generative AI and its impact on relationships with outside counsel (14:27)

- The evolution of the young lawyer’s traditional training ground (25:03)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Infosys Topaz">Infosys Topaz

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Jim Delkousis: PERSUIT —The Power of Value-based Pricing

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Nobody loves the billable hour. For too long, law firms have viewed it as a necessary evil, partly because the right technology just hadn’t shown up yet.

But now, ChatGPT and large language models have entered the public scene. And Jim Delkousis">Jim Delkousis, Founder and CEO at PERSUIT">PERSUIT, is loving every minute of it. Today, he’s watching AI breathe new life into his vision of a legal industry that values outcomes over time.

Don’t miss this exclusive peek into how Jim’s career path inspired him to start PERSUIT and why he’s excited about an AI-driven legal industry.

Join us as we discuss:

- An overwhelming introduction to a powerful international firm (5:03)

- Realizing the need for a transparent legal marketplace (19:40)

- Why AI will drive the cost of knowledge creation to zero (30:51)

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Cynthia Lareine: PERSUIT — Bridging Client and Law Firm Values

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Like many young attorneys, Cynthia Lareine">Cynthia Lareine, Director of Community Development at PERSUIT">PERSUIT, experienced the relentless grind early in her legal career. Feeling the pressure to always say “Yes,” she survived a culture that viewed clocking out as a sign of weakness.

But today, she’s channeling her drive and experience to help advance PERSUIT’s mission to drive better outcomes in the legal industry.

In this episode, we revisit Cynthia’s passionate interview as she talks about how she thinks innovation will help transform relationships and bring about real value to the field.

Join us as we discuss:

- How childhood discrimination influenced Cynthia’s career path (3:44)

- The pressures endured by junior associates at large firms (10:02)

- How working with the African legal community led her to PERSUIT (23:00)

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PERSUIT: David Falstein — The Alternative Fee Arrangement Myth

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Litigation is like war. Long, drawn-out, and unpredictable. Which is why many law firms are reluctant to quote fixed fees for these types of matters.

But David Falstein">David Falstein, VP of Product at PERSUIT">PERSUIT (and former lawyer and legal sourcing expert at J&J), thinks that’s really just an excuse to delay inevitable change. And he gives a compelling argument as to why AFAs can be a winning proposition for clients and firms, alike.

Tune in as we revisit this insightful discussion with David about transparent pricing in fixed fee arrangements.

Join us as we discuss:

- Debunking the uncertainty around alternative fee arrangements (13:34)

- Challenges to transitioning to a fixed fee model in law firms (24:30)

- Why billable hours are a mental health nightmare (30:49)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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How AI Will Disrupt the Future Legal Landscape

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

There’s a lot of excitement and some trepidation around the introduction of AI in the legal ecosystem.

One thing that everyone can agree on is that it’s imperative for legal functions across organizations - regardless of size - to start thinking about their AI strategy.

The real value comes from learning what’s working and initiating those conversations early on.

In this special webinar recap hosted by PERSUIT’s Senior Manager of Legal Advisory Maui Gevero">Maui Gevero, we discuss how AI is rapidly changing the legal landscape. Listen in as Maui leads the discussion featuring Chris Grant">Chris Grant, David Cunningham">David Cunningham, and Sean Monahan">Sean Monahan, who share what they’ve learned about how companies should approach the AI conversation.

Join us as we discuss:

- What your firm’s overarching AI strategy should be (09:57)

- Where Generative AI would have the greatest impact (33:01)

- A good way to approach the AI conversation with outside counsel (49:52)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Unlocking the Power of Value-Based Pricing: An Introduction to AFAs

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

The hourly bill is a relic in the age of AI.

Accelerated change is driving unparalleled efficiency in the legal industry. So it’s time for law firms to stop valuing time and effort over outcomes.

Also, it’s just a crappy way to work.

In this special webinar recap, PERSUIT’s Director of Legal Advisory, Laura Spalding">Laura Spalding, and Legal Advisory Manager, Cassieoppia Snowden">Cassieoppia Snowden, present an overview of alternative fee arrangement (AFA) models. From the benefits to practical applications, Laura and Cassieoppia unpack why law firms should adopt AFAs and put the hourly bill in a museum.

Join us as we discuss:

- Why law firms need to move away from hourly billing (4:20)

- A breakdown of AFA families and their respective models (14:51)

- Why scoping is the biggest barrier to adopting AFAs (45:00)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Chris Grant: HSBC — Forget About the Input; Price for Output

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

There was a time when Chris Grant">Chris Grant, Head of Legal Engagement at HSBC"> HSBC, started to second-guess his career path in law. A lack of innovative tools and collaboration to help streamline efficiencies gave him a chronic case of wanderlust as he bounced between in-house and private practice.

But now that forward-thinking tech vendors and AI technologies are finding their feet, the future that Chris was waiting for is finally here.

Chris gives an exclusive peek into the legal operations of one of the largest financial institutions in the world and how he and his team are meeting aggressive change head-on.

Join us as we discuss:

- (5:43) Why innovators aren’t exclusive to in-house or private practice

- (10:31) 3 things that need to change in the industry going forward

- (18:19) How to measure ROI for new legal initiatives

- (27:46) The power of conversation and the future of legal ops

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Legal Geek">Legal Geek

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Gregg McConnell: Corteva — Always Look for the Next Disruptor in Legal Ops

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Thanks to large language models like ChatGPT, legal ops has seen incredible accelerated change over the last nine months. And some teams are still struggling with how much they can reasonably integrate these tools into their processes.

Gregg McConnell">Gregg McConnell, Global Director of Legal Operations and Innovation at Corteva">Corteva, thinks they shouldn’t be afraid to hop on the AI train. But embracing this innovation could bring on a whole new set of challenges for the legal ops teams of the future if they’re ill-prepared.

Gregg shares his insights on AI technology’s impact on legal operations and where he looks to find the next great disruptor.

Join us as we discuss:

- (8:18) What the ideal GC and legal ops partnership looks like

- (20:33) Corteva’s internal uses of AI, including a unique set of chatbots

- (32:33) How AI will ultimately impact legal ops roles and workflow

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Shannon Thyme Klinger: Moderna — How Generative AI Will Transform Legal

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

ChatGPT and similar large language models are already making a historic impact on law firms and in-house legal teams alike. So what does the future hold for day-to-day work practices in the industry, and how will we weigh the value of time going forward?

In this special episode, we recap our extraordinary webinar with Shannon Thyme Klinger">Shannon Thyme Klinger, Chief Legal Officer at Moderna">Moderna.

Jim and other members of the PERSUIT team join Shannon to address the future of AI in legal, as well as answer some burning questions from our audience.

Join us as we discuss:

- Risk management and compliance concerns with ChatGPT (10:43)

- Why AI applications will be essential for legal teams (17:51)

- PERSUIT’s ChatGPT study on RFP proposal analysis (25:22)

- How large language models will redefine time’s value (38:44)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- The Implications of ChatGPT for Legal Services and Society">The Implications of ChatGPT for Legal Services and Society

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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I. Stephanie Boyce: JUSTICE — Everyone Deserves a Seat at the Table

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

In early 2021, I. Stephanie Boyce">I. Stephanie Boyce made history as the first woman of color to become President of The Law Society of England and Wales">The Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW) in its 200-plus years. During her tenure, she was instrumental in pushing for new socio-economic initiatives, including the ACT (Achieving Change Together) task force. Although her time as acting President is over, her work to advance the DEI discussion by putting words into action is just beginning.

The President of the Leicester University Law Society">Leicester University Law Society and Board of Trustees member for JUSTICE">JUSTICE shares her incredible insights on in-house legal challenges and the future of DEI.

Join us as we discuss:

- Stephanie’s journey to becoming President of LSEW (3:25)

- ACT and other group-driven DEI initiatives (10:05)

- Being a steady voice in leadership during times of crises (17:42)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- I. Stephanie Boyce">I. Stephanie Boyce

- The Law Society of England and Wales">The Law Society of England and Wales

- LSEW Race for Inclusion Report">LSEW Race for Inclusion Report

- Achieving Change Together">Achieving Change Together (ACT)

- Solicitors Regulation Authority">Solicitors Regulation Authority

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Maui Gevero – PERSUIT: Killing the Billable Hour Through Positive Disruption

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

The growth in demand for legal services has been flat for more than a decade.
Can AI help to change this trend and disrupt the way that law firms work?
This week we're joined by Maui Gevero">Maui Gevero, Senior Manager of Legal Advisory at PERSUIT">PERSUIT.

We dive into some trends that have significantly impacted demand in the legal industry, and how law firms are expanding their teams faster than they’re growing demand.

Maui also shares his views on why the traditional law firm business model no longer works, and how AI and machine learning will enable GCs to eventually phase out the billable hour format and be more outcome-driven.

Maui and Jim also talk about:

- Demand and supply: Trends that have impacted law firms [00:45]

- Why law firms are expanding faster than the market demand [3:38]

- Why the traditional law firm business model is no longer relevant [10:07]

- Why and how law firms need to think about their AI strategy [33:30]

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Maui Gevero">Maui Gevero

- PERSUIT">PERSUIT

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Twitter v. Wachtell: How it will end…and what comes next?

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Twitter v. Wachtell.

What can we expect to happen?

And what does it mean for the future of the billable hour?

Join PERSUIT’s CEO (and former Biglaw partner) Jim Delkousis as he shares:

- Why the case will settle quickly

- Why Wachtell has so much at stake in the matter (besides a mere $60M)

- How the case exposes legal procurement’s “black box” and why that needs to change

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz">Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Catheryn O’Rourke: Reckitt — Can Legal Teams Slay Soul-Crushing Work With AI?

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

As general counsels and their legal teams sally forth into the age of AI, the lasting impact large language models could have on the industry is a hotly debated topic.

Catheryn O’Rourke">Catheryn O’Rourke, General Counsel & Company Secretary at Reckitt"> Reckitt, is cautiously optimistic about the potential for AI to abolish “soul-crushing” work. But she keeps herself grounded by leaning on technological experts to help guide her team’s AI strategy.

Tune in to hear Catheryn’s insights into innovative tools like ChatGPT and why she thinks GCs are steadily becoming the champions of calm and confidence in the C-suite.

Join us as we discuss:

- Why getting comfortable with uncertainty is critical to the GC role (11:39)

- The ongoing evolution of GCs and their impact on the boardroom (23:46)

- Leaning on knowledgeable experts to forecast an AI strategy (37:55)

- Shifting to balance ESG efforts with business needs (43:56)

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Twitter v. Wachtell: A Reckoning for Firm Sourcing?

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

As Elon Musk prepares to go toe-to-toe with legal giant Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz over $90 million in billed fees, this high profile case raises several questions about outcome-based legal fees and how corporate legal teams determine a fair and reasonable price in sourcing their outside counsel.

Did Wachtell overstep in their mad scramble to bill a $60 million premium right before Musk closed his Twitter acquisition?

Did the board abdicate their duty to shareholders by not questioning Wachtell’s terms?

How will this impact how the legal industry measures the value of legal services in the future?

Jim Delkousis chimes in with his thoughts on why Musk’s suit matters to the legal industry, and not necessarily for the primary reasons that it’s making headlines.

Join us as we discuss:

- 3 big questions the lawsuit raises (3:01)

- Justifying ROI and determining market value (8:04)

- Who was looking out for Twitter’s best interests (12:56)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz">Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Mark Gregory — Rolls-Royce: Fixing the Legal Ecosystem Using AI

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

This week we're joined by Mark Gregory">Mark Gregory, General Counsel & Corporate Affairs Director at Rolls-Royce">Rolls-Royce
We dive into his career as the longest serving exec at Rolls-Royce and the unique perspective it gives him on how his team, and the industry as a whole, are evolving in response to a rapidly changing marketplace.

Mark talks about the historic misalignment of interests between in-house teams and their outside firms and why an ecosystem approach is the only way to fix it.

Mark also shares his take on how AI will help in doing so, as well as how AI and other technologies will empower GCs to be more effective strategic advisors to the business.

Join us as we discuss:

- How stepping outside his comfort zone led him to his current role [14:17]

- Bridging the gap between today’s and tomorrow’s lawyers [23:11]

- How A.I. and automation will help GCs modernize their function [26:52]

- The impact of holding your position through drastic changes like Covid & A.I. [35:23]

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Mark Gregory">Mark Gregory

- Rolls-Royce">Rolls-Royce

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Sarah Flint: HubSpot — Embracing AI & ESG in Transformative Legal Operations

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Modernizing a large legal department isn’t an easy task.

What’s your strategy?

Buy tech? Build tech? Experiment until something sticks?

This week, we sat down with Sarah Flint">Sarah Flint, Director of Legal Operations and Technology at HubSpot">HubSpot to see how it’s being done at one of the world’s biggest CRM companies.

Join us as we discuss:

- Hubspot’s recent wins and challenges in legal ops [8:08]

- If legal ops need to come from a legal background [11:47]

- What role generative AI has played [15:08]

- Forming your ESG Pillars around your company culture[20:27]

A critical part of building for the future of your organization, and tackling changes in AI and ESG is to have the conversation about being aligned with your vendors.

Asking them how they are moving forward and how they can pivot with you and your organization will have the edge as these new developments in AI and ESG continue to evolve.

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Rozan Simoni: COFCO International — Freedom Works

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Rozan Simoni">Rozan Simoni spent his early childhood in Albania under a despotic Soviet regime. Soon after the Berlin Wall fell, U.S. Secretary of State Jim Baker came to visit Rozan’s country. The young Albanian boy never forgot two simple words that Baker uttered that day:

“Freedom works.”

Today, as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary - North America at COFCO International">COFCO International, Rozan is paying it forward by giving his colleagues the autonomy they need to reach their potential.

In this captivating episode, Rozan shares how his journey to the U.S. shaped his outlook on mentorship and why he’s excited about the future of AI innovation in legal.

Join us as we discuss:

- Mentorship and giving young lawyers autonomy (5:53)

- Leaving a positive impact on internal relationships (17:27)

- How AI will allow firms to respond to client needs much faster (26:41)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Cornel Fuerer: Corteva Agriscience — Feeding the World One Change at a Time

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000

How does an organization’s in-house legal team help farmers worldwide feed billions of people? According to Cornel Fuerer">Cornel Fuerer, Senior VP, General Counsel, and Secretary at Corteva Agriscience">Corteva Agriscience, they start by tackling change one bite at a time.

Cornel built up a wealth of private and in-house legal experience during his globetrotting journey toward his current role at Corteva. And he did it by looking at every new challenge as a learning opportunity.

In this episode, Cornel shares his incredible career path and how his team is embracing innovation to buy back time to work on the things that matter.

Join us as we discuss:

- Exploring opportunities with an invaluable life partner (6:50)

- Bringing legacy in-house teams together post-merger (12:38)

- AI and the value of legal operations during rapid change (19:20)

- How innovation is affecting relationships with external firms (29:26)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Alex Guajardo: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP — Legal Ops: Who They Are. What They Do. Why We Need Them.

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Change is a constant, but when embraced, it becomes a superpower.

This week we sat down with Alex Guajardo">Alex Guajardo, the Global Director of Commercial Strategy at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP">Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. Alex shared how she is using change in legal ops to not only stay current but to get a step ahead of the curve.

Sometimes we dismiss the power of information in the process of change, but it seems the more we have, the better off we are.

In this episode, we not only get an inside look at legal ops, who they are, and what they do, but we also get to see how someone's perspective on change is helping make a difference in real-time.

Staying in the know is critical in a legal ops role, and Alex is among the best in the business.

Join us as we discuss:

- Establishing a brand new global team in a natural disaster’s aftermath (3:58)

- Convincing outside firms that low prices don’t always equal good value (10:12)

- Why flexibility and data can be legal operations’ greatest strengths (14:24)

- How to justify AFAs to the C-Suite and euthanizing the billable hour (23:27)

- Alex’s alternate timeline if she hadn’t gone the legal route (27:30)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Alex Guajardo">Alex Guajardo

- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP">Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Damon Hart: Liberty Mutual Insurance — Efficiency Is No Longer a Choice

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000

When Damon Hart">Damon Hart left big law to join the in-house team at Liberty Mutual Insurance">Liberty Mutual Insurance, he didn’t have a specific career goal in mind. But one thing he knew for certain was he wanted to lead change from the front.

Today, as Liberty’s Chief Legal Officer, he’s enterprising legal leadership in the C-Suite by working towards the best interests of not just his team, but all 50,000 Liberty employees.

Damon gives us an exclusive peek into how he gained the trust of his peers through active listening as well as how he thinks AI will disrupt the legal industry.

Join us as we discuss:

- How in-house legal departments are comparable to a team sport (8:11)

- Gaining the trust of C-Suite peers by being present in the moment (14:36)

- AI’s impact on the legal industry and the human connection (22:39)

- Why legal firms can no longer ignore tools that drive efficiency (35:19)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Damon Hart">Damon Hart

- Liberty Mutual Insurance">Liberty Mutual Insurance

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Norfolk Southern: Dana Pierre-Louis — What You Do Today Impacts Generations Forever

Tue, 30 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

What drives you? Is it success? Is it the competition?

For Dana Pierre-Louis">Dana Pierre-Louis the Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern Corporation">Norfolk Southern Corporation simply put, it’s “excellence”.

“From a very early age, the insinuation of excellence and doing above and beyond was always there.” – Dana

We sit down and talk about everything from what inspired her journey (she started at 7 years old) to how she plans on passing her learnings and experience on to her children.

In this episode, we delve into a life of corporate law and how family is a much bigger piece than you may think.

Join us as we discuss:

- Where it all started for Dana and how it was much earlier than most [2:36]

- How pivotal moments, though uncomfortable lead to success [8:54]

- How finding the correct place to grow may be one of the most fundamental things in your career [20:28]

- The importance find perspective before you find success [32:37]

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Standard Bank Group: Renee Du Preez - You Justify Your Existence By Outcomes

Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Rene Du Preez">Rene Du Preez always felt she had to jump right in and give her all with everything she did.

Rene started her career as the only female associate at her first South African law firm in the early 90s. Since then, the GC at Standard Bank Group">Standard Bank Group has become an advocate and mentor for other African women breaking into the field.

Rene shares how her experiences in investment and retail banking helped shape her as a leader and a champion for change in the African legal space.

Join us as we discuss:

-Testing boundaries when new challenges arise (10:02)

- Breaking down the silo mentality across in-house departments (16:58)

- Justifying legal work through outcome-driven results (31:47)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Rene Du Preez">Rene Du Preez

- Standard Bank Group">Standard Bank Group

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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LaTanya Langley: Edgewell — Embrace Your Differences as Your Strengths

Tue, 16 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

According to a March 2023 report from Russell Reynolds">Russell Reynolds, Fortune 500 companies made significant headway in hiring female GCs to lead their legal teams in 2022. But as LaTanya Langley">LaTanya Langley, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Edgewell Personal Care">Edgewell Personal Care, suggested, female legal professionals must continue to use their gifts to take up space.

For much of her career, LaTanya had to overcome conventional biases. But instead of wilting, she embraced her differences as strengths and took her spot in the room.

LaTanya tells us how she’s leveraging relationships to sponsor other women and young black professionals in the legal industry and what challenges they still face today.

Join us as we discuss:

- What attracted LaTanya to in-house legal work (4:36)

- Collaborating with outside counsel to help young black lawyers (11:14)

- Underrepresented groups in legal teams and the C-Suite (17:59)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- National Bar Association Commercial Law Section">National Bar Association Commercial Law Section (NBACLS)

- More Diversity, More Experience: Meet the Fortune 500 General Counsels">More Diversity, More Experience: Meet the Fortune 500 General Counsels

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Megan Beauregard: Enel North America — Powering DEI Initiatives in the Energy Industry

Tue, 09 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Megan Beauregard">Megan Beauregard thought she was living out her dream at a small law firm in New Hampshire, but after a client suggested she consider moving in-house, her curiosity was piqued. So when she happened upon a Craigslist posting in 2008 for legal counsel in the energy industry, she knew it was the right time to explore new possibilities.

Fifteen years later, as the Chief Legal Officer at Enel North America">Enel North America, Megan is moving the needle in DEI initiatives for her industry.

Megan gives us an exclusive peek into the day-to-day of legal professionals in the power sector and addresses the double-edged perception of AI tools.

Join us as we discuss:

- Chasing curiosity and leaving private practice for in-house (4:06)

- Why risk management is her team’s top priority (10:06)

- Finding new ways to appreciate your people’s value (18:49)

- Why women need to fill more seats at the head table (24:30)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Megan Beauregard">Megan Beauregard

- Enel North America">Enel North America

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Veta Richardson: ACC — Take a Hand, Take a Stand, Take Command

Tue, 02 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Veta Richardson">Veta Richardson, President and CEO of the Association of Corporate Counsel">Association of Corporate Counsel, thinks everyone deserves a hand up if they can find the humility to ask for it. That’s why she’s a champion for greater inclusion of women and people of multicultural backgrounds in the global marketplace.

Veta believes in the power of helping others, putting those values to paper in her best-selling book, Take Six: Essential Habits to Own Your Destiny, Overcome Challenges, and Unlock Opportunities">Take Six: Essential Habits to Own Your Destiny, Overcome Challenges, and Unlock Opportunities.

Today, Veta and her team drive initiatives to empower underrepresented groups and give GCs and CLOs a voice in the C-suite.

Join us as we discuss:

- Helping organizations attract a more diverse workforce (3:42)

- Opening a direct line between in-house legal officers and CEOs (10:31)

- Mentoring young lawyers and clarifying career goals (13:39)

- Issues keeping the industry’s CLOs up at night (19:00)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Veta Richardson">Veta Richardson

- Association of Corporate Counsel">Association of Corporate Counsel

- Seat at the Table">Seat at the Table

- Take Six: Essential Habits to Own Your Destiny, Overcome Challenges, and Unlock Opportunities">Take Six: Essential Habits to Own Your Destiny, Overcome Challenges, and Unlock Opportunities

- Minority Corporate Counsel Association">Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA)

- Georgetown Law School">Georgetown Law School

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Maui Gevero: PERSUIT — What Is a True Market Price for Legal Services?

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Maui Gevero">Maui Gevero, Senior Manager of Legal Advisory at PERSUIT, has always had a passion for numbers, so the financial industry seemed like the perfect fit for his talents. But after spending a few years with Goldman Sachs, he knew that the banking life wasn’t for him. He loved digging into data and analytics, but the traditional institution had a traditional way of thinking.

He wanted to use the information at his fingertips to tell stories more akin to a Western than an infomercial, so he joined the legal profession and never looked back.

Maui talks with us about jumping feet-first into the legal industry, his fascination for RFPs, and the true market price conundrum.

Join us as we discuss:

- Streamlining a rough RFP process (7:07)

- The chicken and egg problem in fixed pricing models (11:04)

- Fighting for transparency in true market price (16:05)

- Why the billable hour isn’t the final solution (25:47)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Maui Gevero">Maui Gevero

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Cam Findlay: Archer Daniels Midland — Why GCs are the New CEOs of Legal

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

After reading The Wise Men">The Wise Men in the 1980s, Cameron Findlay">Cameron Findlay knew that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of America’s political trailblazers. He achieved his dream, wearing multiple hats in the judicial and executive branches of the U.S. government before pivoting to the private sector.

Today, Cam is serving as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at his third Fortune 500 company, Archer Daniels Midland">Archer Daniels Midland.

Cam shares the incredible insight he’s gained during his colorful journey as an in-house GC, including how much the role has changed during his 25-plus years in the legal industry.

Join us as we discuss:

- Pros and cons of pivoting between different industries (5:57)

- The evolution of the general counsel role in the 21st century (13:19)

- Running your in-house legal department like a business (17:14)

- Optimizing spending and building relationships with law firms (24:10)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Cameron Findlay">Cameron Findlay

- Archer Daniels Midland">Archer Daniels Midland

- The Wise Men">The Wise Men

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Michelle Landy: PERSUIT — Keep Expanding Your Discomfort Zone

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

We’ve enjoyed so many sharp conversations with legal experts and industry game-changers on the journey to our hundredth episode of Innovative Legal Leadership. So who better to celebrate this milestone with than Michelle Landy">Michelle Landy, General Counsel and Chief Operations Officer of PERSUIT.

With over 25 years of experience in private law firms and in-house practice, Michelle’s set foot on quite a few branches of the career tree. She calls it such because she argues no one shares the same ladder — everyone’s journey is different.

Michelle shares her exclusive veteran insight and explains why we should expand our discomfort zones and simply open up to the adventure that awaits.

Join us as we discuss:

- Natural curiosity and expanding your discomfort zone (6:53)

- Finding the balance between career fulfillment and security (12:37)

- Volunteerism and helping with international development (21:27)

- Defying perfectionism and relying on gut instinct (26:13)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Kilimanjaro Education Foundation">Kilimanjaro Education Foundation

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Nicole Kelsey: Amyris — Do Something You’re Afraid of Every Day

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

You could say Nicole Kelsey">Nicole Kelsey, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at Amyris">Amyris, is addicted to learning. Since Nicole was young, her Algerian mother branded a love for languages and different cultures on her daughter’s heart. Now, she’s bringing her fiery passion for continuing education to the legal profession.

Nicole shares her provocative story of grit and growth in pursuing a GC role and empowering her team through innovative leadership.

Join us as we discuss:

- Early inspiration for a life of endless learning (6:36)

- Overcoming adversity in career advancement (16:03)

- Finding creativity in a gritty mindset (22:01)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Nicole Kelsey">Nicole Kelsey

- Amyris">Amyris

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Alan Tse: Jones Lang Lasalle — Legal Gambits With Imperfect Information

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

As a competitive chess player in his college days, Alan Tse">Alan Tse gained an appreciation for having to make timely tactical decisions. Like competitors in the game of kings, lawyers must often make important judgment calls without all the facts at their disposal, even if that means tough lessons may follow.

Now the Global Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Jones Lang Lasalle">Jones Lang Lasalle, Alan leaned on his extensive experience to help his global team navigate a pandemic. And they did so while maintaining an award-winning ethical culture by committing to sustainable values.

Join us as we discuss:

- Lessons learned from early business startups (6:06)

- Recruiting general counsels from outside your industry (13:46)

- Operational focuses and gatekeeping reputation (25:41)

- Why remaining calm in crisis management is a skill (30:31)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Alan Tse">Alan Tse

- Jones Lang Lasalle">Jones Lang Lasalle

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Mike Haven: Intel — Optimizing Legal Ops Without Compromising Quality

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

It’s not uncommon for up-and-coming professionals to follow their parents into law. That was certainly the case for Mike Haven">Mike Haven, Associate GC and Head of Legal Ops at Intel">Intel. After watching his father give a deposition before the United States Supreme Court, young Mike knew he wanted to walk in his father’s footsteps.

Mike’s journey led him to the crossroad of business and law — legal operations. Today, he’s working with his team to bring legal issues of the mind together with matters of the heart.

Join us as we discuss:

- Trailblazing legal initiatives for outside firms (8:55)

- Identifying priorities in a new legal ops environment (19:44)

- Mythbusting legal ops misconceptions (33:12)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Mike Haven">Mike Haven

- Intel">Intel

- The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium">The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Phyllis Harris: American Red Cross — Empowering Your Nonprofit In-House Teams

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Nonprofit in-house legal teams are the Davids in a world full of Goliath corporate legal departments and private law firms. But their passion for leaving the world a better place than they found it continually drives out-of-the-box thinking and innovation.

That’s exactly what Phyllis Harris">Phyllis Harris, General Counsel and Chief Compliance, Ethics, and Government Relations Officer at the American Red Cross">American Red Cross, and her team are doing in the post-Covid era.

Phyllis shares how focusing on strategic partnerships with donors and pushing for in-house innovation have propelled the organization to achieve greater outcomes.

Join us as we discuss:

- Winning hearts and minds in the pursuit of in-house innovation (9:55)

- Advice for young attorneys seeking full-time nonprofit work (22:38)

- Doing more with less in a volunteer-driven environment (28:21)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Phyllis Harris">Phyllis Harris

- American Red Cross">American Red Cross

- Association of Corporate Counsel Award Winners (2021)">Association of Corporate Counsel Award Winners (2021)

- Financial Times — North America Innovative Lawyers Award Winners (2022)">Financial Times — North America Innovative Lawyers Award Winners (2022)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Michael Hoffman: NXP Semiconductors — Staying Relevant on Cross-Functional Teams

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The globalization of many in-house legal teams has become one of the greatest individual challenges for up-and-coming legal professionals. Yet, Michael Hoffman">Michael Hoffman, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Counsel at NXP Semiconductors">NXP Semiconductors, realized early in his international career that law is a universal language.

Michael shares his insights on recognizing cultural differences and how in-house leaders can be good business partners in a cross-functional environment.

Join us as we discuss:

- Appreciating hindsight when leaving your comfort zone (6:03)

- Cultural challenges in an overseas legal department (12:00)

- Leveraging data and technology on a cross-functional team (24:12)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Co-Elevation with Keith Ferrazzi">Co-Elevation with Keith Ferrazzi

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Demetrio Zema: Law Squared — A Legal Firm That Doesn't Track Billable Hours

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Like so many other young legal professionals, Demetrio Zema">Demetrio Zema was beaten down by the competitive pressures and disregard for client outcomes in fixed fee arrangements. So in 2015, the Melbourne native left traditional legal teams behind and founded Law Squared">Law Squared, a firm built around an alternative business model that rewards outcomes over billed hours.

As the Director of this forward-thinking global firm, Demetrio gives an exclusive look into the highs and lows of pioneering change in legal fee arrangements and conventional egoistic cultures.

Join us as we discuss:

- Building a corporate model focused on collaboration and digital innovation (7:19)

- Why legal teams are rewarding the wrong cultural behaviors (16:53)

- The firm’s recruitment pitch and unlearning process (25:11)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Demetrio Zema">Demetrio Zema

- Law Squared">Law Squared

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Ann Kappler: Prudential Financial — Advocating for the Underserved

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Ann Kappler">Ann Kappler found a passion for in-house people management while on her journey to becoming the EVP and General Counsel at Prudential Financial">Prudential Financial.

She takes pride in helping develop successful teams because, in her words, it’s seeing individuals come together and contribute that satisfies her the most in her work.

Ann gives us an exclusive look at how she pivoted her policy-making experience from Washington, D.C., into driving economic and DEI initiatives at a global insurance agency.

Join us as we discuss:

- Key differences in law firms and in-house legal teams (7:47)

- Investing in financial education for underserved communities (13:22)

- A legacy of mentoring successful in-house teams (22:39)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Ann Kappler">Ann Kappler

- Prudential Financial">Prudential Financial

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Rishi Varma: Hewlett Packard Enterprise — Innovation Powered by Technology

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

In-house legal teams are constantly tested by contemporary challenges, so it takes a special team to consistently drive in-house legal innovation alongside normal operations. Yet, that’s exactly what Rishi Varma">Rishi Varma, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Hewlett Packard Enterprise">Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and his team are doing.

As the Financial Times’ North America Innovative Lawyers Awards">North America Innovative Lawyers Awards winners for Most Innovative In-House Legal Team in 2022, Rishi’s team is developing exciting new solutions for legal professionals and it’s our pleasure to welcome him back to the show.

Join us as we discuss:

- Blending lawyers and technologists in innovative projects (5:58)

- The benefits of virtual reality in a globalized workforce (14:19)

- Data metrics and objectifying availability versus usage (19:55)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Rishi Varma">Rishi Varma

- Hewlett Packard Enterprise">Hewlett Packard Enterprise

- North America Innovative Lawyers Awards 2022">North America Innovative Lawyers Awards 2022

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Laura Spalding: PERSUIT — Scoping is a Muscle Every Lawyer Needs

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

As an eager young attorney at a large corporate firm, Laura Spalding">Laura Spalding quickly became disillusioned by unattainable billable hour quotas. But her experience in a space where nightmarish workloads drove promotions and bonuses inevitably sparked her burning passion for helping innovate the legal space.

Now the Director of the Legal Advisory Team at PERSUIT">PERSUIT, Laura talks about how she and other young legal professionals have been victimized by the billable hour.

Join us as we discuss

- How the billable hour promotes a false perception of work (00:24)

- Delighting clients by placing value over timecards (11:16)

- Why no matter is too complex for alternative fee arrangements (17:13)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Laura Spalding">Laura Spalding

- PERSUIT">PERSUIT

- Law Squared">Law Squared

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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I. Stephanie Boyce: JUSTICE — Everyone Deserves a Seat at the Table

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

In early 2021, I. Stephanie Boyce">I. Stephanie Boyce made history as the first woman of color to become President of The Law Society of England and Wales">The Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW) in its 200-plus year history. Although her tenure as acting President is over, her work to advance the DEI discussion by putting words into action is just beginning.

Join us as we discuss:

- Stephanie’s journey to becoming President of LSEW (2:09)

- Her contributions to DEI initiatives during her tenure (9:18)

- Being a steady voice in leadership during times of crises (17:10)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- I. Stephanie Boyce">I. Stephanie Boyce

- The Law Society of England and Wales">The Law Society of England and Wales

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Bjarne Tellmann: Haleon — Building an Outstanding Legal Team

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

From Oslo to New York to Japan, Bjanre Tellmann">Bjarne Tellmann has lived a life worthy of a Viking saga. Early in his legal journey, the General Counsel of Haleon">Haleon embraced a philosophy of serendipity, seeing every opportunity as a new adventure.

And that’s because nobody ever wrote about the man or woman who played it safe.

The author of Building an Outstanding Legal Team: Battle-Tested Strategies from a General Counsel">Building an Outstanding Legal Team: Battle-Tested Strategies from a General Counsel shares incredible stories from his expansive career and insights into the exponential changes in legal.

Join us as we discuss:

- How Bjarne’s love of storytelling led him to legal (8:13)

- The inspiration behind writing Building an Outstanding Legal Team (25:01)

- Why the human connection will supersede technology (39:47)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Bjanre Tellmann">Bjarne Tellmann

- Building an Outstanding Legal Team: Battle-Tested Strategies from a General Counsel">Building an Outstanding Legal Team: Battle-Tested Strategies from a General Counsel

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Lisa Mather: Mars Wrigley — Preparing for the Unknown in a Polycrisis World

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Lisa Mather">Lisa Mather had no intentions of becoming a lawyer when she started college. But her first academic love of science drew her to environmental law and, ultimately, a successful career in legal.

Lisa traversed the world with her two children while working at several international firms before taking her current position as Global General Counsel at Mars Wrigley">Mars Wrigley in 2022.

She shares her insights on being a career-driven mother, her passion for ESG efforts, and setting her team up for success in a polycrisis world.

Join us as we discuss:

- Why family shouldn’t be a roadblock to international opportunities (8:35)

- Immediate priorities in her new GC role and ESG commitments (19:21)

- Instilling the need for diversity in future generations (29:35)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Lisa Mather">Lisa Mather

- Mars Wrigley">Mars Wrigley

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Sneha Desai: Stryker — Getting Comfortable With Your In-House Instincts

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

As a younger legal counsel, the transition from law firm to in-house can certainly be a bumpy one. As the realization of daily expectations sets in, the workload volume can seem overwhelming.

When Sneha Desai">Sneha Desai, Chief Legal Counsel of Global Litigation & Employment at Stryker">Stryker, senses that anxiety in her juniors, she imparts the advice passed down to her: do what makes sense.

Sneha talks with us about her early struggles in-house, her commitment to pro bono work, and the importance of empathy in relationships.

Join us as we discuss:

- Empowering junior talent to take control of DEI initiatives (10:12)

- Why team awareness is an essential leadership trait (19:47)

- Advice for in-house leaders on alternative fee arrangements (28:36)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice">Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Dr. Elouise Epstein: Kearney — Revisiting The Changing Landscape of Legal and Procurement

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The pandemic forced the entire world to pivot on a moment’s notice, but perhaps no other industry felt the brunt of its impact like procurement.

Procurement and legal have always had a rocky partnership. But the pandemic reset expectations by driving innovation, both in technology and relationships.

Dr. Elouise Epstein">Dr. Elouise Epstein, Partner at Kearney">Kearney and author of Trade wars, pandemics, and chaos">Trade wars, pandemics, and chaos, shares how procurement was forced to fast-forward its digital transformation in a world turned upside down.

Join us as we discuss:

- How the pandemic accelerated procurement’s evolution (2:42)

- Bridging the legal-procurement gap through relationships (20:20)

- The impact of ESG initiatives on the future of procurement (32:55)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Dr. Elouise Epstein">Dr. Elouise Epstein

- Kearney">Kearney

- Trade wars, pandemics, and chaos: How digital procurement enables business success in a disordered world">Trade wars, pandemics, and chaos: How digital procurement enables business success in a disordered world

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Cynthia Lareine: PERSUIT — Bridging Client and Law Firm Values

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Cynthia Lareine">Cynthia Lareine, Director of Community Development at PERSUIT">PERSUIT, fanned a fire in her resolve from a young age. The daughter of proud Nigerian parents, Cynthia endured discrimination from students and teachers alike while attending boarding school. Later, she handled her share of well-meaning depreciation and racial assumptions as a junior associate.

Today, she’s applying the lessons she’s learned to help improve legal relationships and push the industry toward a brighter future.

Cynthia shares how her formative experiences pushed her to where she is today and her passion for bridging the gaps in legal-client services.

Join us as we discuss:

- How childhood discrimination influenced her career path (3:44)

- The pressures endured by junior associates at large firms (10:02)

- Her work with the African legal community and PERSUIT (23:00)

- Cynthia’s future as the podcast’s host (37:03)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Cynthia Lareine">Cynthia Lareine

- PERSUIT">PERSUIT

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Sabrina Nguyen: Danone UK & Ireland — Peeling Back Cultural Layers

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

For Sabrina Nguyen , General Counsel and CCO at Danone UK & Ireland , the odds were stacked against her on day one. Born in post-war Vietnam, she and her mother spent three years in refugee camps before finding a new life in America.

But after growing up among the farmlands of Missouri, she felt the pull back to her international roots.

Sabrina shares the experiences of her career journey across three continents and the impact her cultural immersion has had on her work and with her teams.

Join us as we discuss:

How Sabrina’s background influenced her career journey (5:14)
Peeling back cultural layers in international teams (14:07)
Weighing potential against experience when evaluating talent (26:18)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Doug Barnard: CF Industries — Overseeing an IPO That Grew Faster Than Google

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

When Doug Barnard , Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at CF Industries , joined the company in 2004, he was already fighting an uphill battle.

On the verge of bankruptcy, the owners of CF were determined to sell the company. But Doug saw an opportunity - why not take the company public? In 2005, Doug’s vision became a reality as CF Industries presented its IPO, turning CF’s fortunes around in the process.

In this episode, Doug shares his experience participating in his first successful IPO and what legacy he’d like to leave behind.

Join us as we discuss:

Drafting the CF Industries IPO prospectus (6:48)
A harrowing four-way takeover battle (14:05)
Recruitment and retention of in-house legal talent (23:56)
Leaving a proud legacy with your team (30:31)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Thomas Barothy: Former UBS — A COO’s Shared Strategic Vision in Legal Operations

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:25:20 +0000

Big legal departments have plenty of brainpower, but any team without direction is doomed to underachieve.

That’s why the powers that be at UBS asked Thomas Barothy to bring his financial management expertise to his current role with them as Chief Operating Officer of Legal.

By painting a clear vision and implementing a proper strategy for his legal department, Thomas helped his supportive team reach their true potential.

Join us as we discuss:

Pivoting a financial background into legal (5:01)
How to approach team members resistant to change (26:10)
Advice for those starting their journey in legal operations (42:11)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Jackie Rice: MillerKnoll — Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

In days past, in-house legal was traditionally seen as a “last resort” for up-and-coming lawyers.

While that mindset is fading, corporate in-house legal teams are constantly exposed to unique challenges, especially when it's a small team stretched to its limits.

Jackie Rice, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at MillerKnoll, tells us about her transition from a large team at General Motors to her smaller IP-focused team and setting them up for success.

Join us as we discuss:

Learning core competencies in a new industry (6:19)
Her priorities in transitioning to her new role as GC (18:54)
Alleviating her team’s duties with tech and automation (24:16)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Maurus Schreyvogel — Former Novartis: Operational Excellence in Legal

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Early on in his legal career at Novartis, Maurus Schreyvogel encountered a frustrating obstacle. The legal team had no tools, no technology, no access to knowledge, and consequently, they found themselves reinventing the wheel over and over.

It was so frustrating, in fact, that he was prepared to leave the company. Instead, he was presented with a mission that convinced him to stay: Establish transparency and bring about positive operational change within legal.

He has remained at Novartis ever since. In his current capacity of Chief Legal Innovation Officer, he is working to set the vision for how law can help society operate more equitably in the future.

We discuss:

- Auditing the legal function to bring about operational change

- Focusing on value rather than cost

- Legal’s role in the digital transformation journey

- Transforming into collaborators instead of counselors

- Increasing access to law for all

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Standard Bank Group: Rene Du Preez — Test Your Boundaries When Things Get Scary

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

As a child of young parents, Rene Du Preez always felt she had to jump right in and give her all with everything she did.

Rene started her career as the only female associate at her first South African law firm in the early 90s. Since then, the GC at Standard Bank Group has become an advocate and mentor for other African women breaking into the field.

Rene shares with us how her experiences in investment and retail banking helped shape her as a leader and a champion for change in the African legal space.

Join us as we discuss:

Takeaways from Rene’s experience with multiple South African firms (8:42)
Technology and workplace pivots post-pandemic (21:04)
Doing away with time sheets in favor of outcome-driven expenses (32:00)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Alex Su: Ironclad — The Sh*twork in Measuring Profitability

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

With nearly 100 thousand TikTok followers and over 5 million likes, Alex Su is one of several young professionals leading the charge for change in legal through social media.

The Head of Community Development at Ironclad and columnist for Above The Law also caused a stir when his article, Profitable Misery, went viral this summer.

In this episode, Alex shares his thoughts on technology, the hourly rate, and the “sh*twork" often attached to it.

Join us as we discuss:

The Profitable Misery article and the billable hour disconnect (4:23)
Younger generations forcing change in billing practices (14:53)
Shedding the self-imposed lawyer identity (26:29)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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American Family Insurance: Asya Alexandrovich — Be Faster than Change

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Asya Alexandrovich developed a deep appreciation for the American legal system after immigrating to the U.S. as a young teenager. Her Ukrainian upbringing instilled resilience and determination that helped push her through the ranks of the in-house legal field.

Today, as Chief Legal Officer for American Family Insurance in Madison, Wisconsin, she leads the charge in guiding her team to find solutions for their customers.

Join us as we discuss:

The Ukrainian-American dynamic in Asya’s career path (3:50)
Innovation hacks for risk management and problem-solving (15:48)
Why empathy is a critical leadership quality in tough times (31:44)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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David Falstein: PERSUIT — The Alternative Fee Arrangement Myth

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

The ambiguous nature of legal work can leave clients skeptical when it comes to alternative fee arrangements. But by overcoming their fear of overpaying for legal aid, clients can actually get the value they deserve.

David Falstein , VP of Customer Success and Strategy at PERSUIT , shares why he believes alternative fee arrangements will be the ultimate successor to the billable hour.

Join us as we discuss:

Debunking the uncertainty around alternative fee arrangements (13:34)
Challenges to transitioning to a fixed fee model in law firms (24:30)
The mental health connection to billable hours (30:49)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Jim Delkousis: PERSUIT — Curing the Billable Hour

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 16:54:26 +0000

The billable hour is infamous for its toll on mental health in the legal field. Rather than promote innovation and inclusion, billable hours create undue stress by influencing unrealistic quotas and meaningless labor.

By abolishing old behaviors, firms can attract talented and diverse associates who are eager to make a difference through out-come driven results.

Nathan Collier, Director of Content Marketing at PERSUIT, joins Jim Delkousis for a candid conversation about billable hours and their negative impact on the industry.

Join us as we discuss:

- Mental health statistics for the legal field (6:29)

- What an outcome-driven model looks like (32:21)

- Why the billable hour is the enemy of diversity (48:07)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Nathan Collier

- PERSUIT

Leslie D. Davis: NAMWOLF — Moving the Needle with Minority and Women-Owned Firms

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

For this episode, we hop in the Innovative Legal Leadership time machine to revisit our conversation with Leslie Davis, CEO of the National Association of Minority & Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).

Minority and women-led law firms fighting for equal opportunities is a continuing struggle. Raising awareness and presenting clear strategies to eliminate the discrimination are essential to creating change.

So, come along with us as we recap Leslie’s journey into law and how she’s moving the needle for these firms.

Join us as we discuss:

- Leslie’s call to action to general counsel (8:16)

- Initial steps to start hiring NAMWOLF firms (16:55)

- Positive influence from mentors and advice (21:44)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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LaTrece Johnson: Palo Alto Networks — A Tactical Look at Setting up A Legal Ops Function

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Legal ops goes a lot deeper than managing templates and a list of law firms. A big focus of the function is on tracking data and determining what bits are useful for process improvement.

In this episode, we chat with LaTrece Johnson, Head of Legal Operations at Palo Alto Networks, about the what, the why, and the how of setting up a legal ops function.

We discuss:

- The primary goals for setting up a legal function

- Why the legal ops function is important

- What success looks like for legal ops

- Understanding spend rather than controlling it

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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BT Group Plc: Jeff Langlands — Treating Legal Like a Business

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:15:00 +0000

It’s easy to overthink the little things. Sometimes, the corporate legal ladder can look like Mt. Everest, but something as simple as a positive attitude can help you reach the summit.

You just have to be willing to escape your comfort zone and go for it.

Jeff Langlands, General Counsel of Corporate, Digital, and Networks at BT Group Plc and Director of EE Limited, spoke with us about setting his stall out in becoming a GC.

Join us as we discuss:

Opportunities for “the next challenge” (15:55)
Traits Jeff looks for as a mentor (22:29)
Notable differences between in-house and external firms (25:37)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- BT Group Plc

- EE Limited

- DLA Piper

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Rabobank: Philip Kirkpatrick — A Deal Fanatic’s Reflections

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Many legal counsels find their early spark while mastering the art of the corporate deal.

Those formative years can be critical in learning to acknowledge priorities and narrow the scope of your clients’ needs.

Philip Kirkpatrick, Regional General Counsel - North America at Rabobank, tells us how his early days as a deal fanatic translated into his stance on authentic leadership as a GC.

Join us as we discuss:

Importance of transparency in your legal team (12:10)
Foreseen challenges in the legal field (22:41)
COVID’s impact on team engagement (26:19)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.

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Chaman Sidhu: Xero — Adopting Agility in an Innovative Mindset

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

We’ve had the privilege of talking to several standout legal professionals who defied family expectations to take a path less traveled.

Be it love for language or logic that launches these careers, pivotal moments often influence these pillars of the legal community to help bridge the gaps in their field.

Chaman Sidhu, Chief Legal Officer at Xero, joined us to how her experience in high-growth environments shaped her growth and narrowed her approach to risk.

Join us as we discuss:

- Innovating and questioning the status quo (10:47)

- Advice for GCs at a high-growth company (23:09)

- Technology’s role in the future of legal (31:44)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Chaman Sidhu

- Xero

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.

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Robinhood: Christina Lai — Intentionality in Communicating With Your Team

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Preparing a legal team for a fresh IPO launch is exciting, but it also comes with its share of challenges. Communication is key, and authentic leadership is needed so that different perspectives can freely join the conversation.

Christina Lai, Vice Presid ent, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Robinhood, tells us how her experience prepared her to lead her team into the future.

Join us as we discuss:

- Christina’s first-time experience helping launch an IPO (17:23)

- Her legal department’s values and long-term strategy (29:46)

- The importance of authenticity in leadership and growth (37:37)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Christina Lai

- Robinhood

- Breakthrough Silicon Valley

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here .

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.

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Melio: Jonathan Polk - Get the Alligators Closest to the Boat

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 15:15:00 +0000

General counsel shouldn’t be seen as an obstacle to the success of the company; and yet, they are often seen as the unnecessary evil when reminding the team about compliance.

In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Polk, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Melio, to learn about his mission to find balance in legal while generating consensus around the things that help a company grow.

Join us as we discuss:

Balancing compliance with culture
Building trust with the team and consumers
Walking the tightrope of compliance triage

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Nicole Kelsey: Amyris —Do Something You’re Afraid of Every Day

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 20:35:00 +0000

Nicole shares her provocative story of grit and growth in pursuing a GC role and empowering her team through innovative leadership.

Join us as we discuss:

- Early inspiration for a life of endless learning (6:36)

- Overcoming adversity in career advancement (16:03)

- Finding creativity in a gritty mindset (22:01)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Nicole Kelsey">Nicole Kelsey

- Amyris">Amyris

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Hopin: Irene Liu - The Use Case For Legal Technology

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Client facing interactions can become more effective by including your legal team in the sales enablement process. Establishing relationships between product managers and legal professionals creates an ecosystem where project approvals and closing business deals happen quickly and efficiently.

In this episode, we speak with Irene Liu, Chief Legal Officer of Hopin, about how her team enables business partners and the use cases for legal departments using legal technology platforms like PERSUIT.

Join us as we discuss:

Sales enablement processes
The use cases for legal technology
Representation & closing the gender gap

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McKesson Corporation: Lori Schechter - Finding Fulfillment by Stepping Out of Comfort Zones

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 07:00:00 +0000

By stepping out of our comfort zone, we encounter diverse outcomes and have the potential to discover aspects of ourselves we had never considered before.

That can look like striking up a conversation with someone new, attempting a recipe that seems above your skill level, volunteering to take on a project at work you’ve never done before, or even changing career paths.

In this episode, we speak with Lori Schechter, EVP, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel at McKesson Corporation, about what it takes to step out of your comfort zone, how she navigated her chapter two, and the wisdom she’s gained.

We discuss:

Stepping out of your comfort zone
Navigating company initiatives
What makes a quality law firm partner

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Jim Moffat - JSM Advisors, Inc.: Finding Your Idea of Success

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

They say there’s an outlier in every family, someone who makes different choices and treads a new path—like a business student in a family of doctors.

Whichever career path we choose, we all grapple with similar questions; fighting the myth of work-life balance, identifying what it takes to lead, figuring out what success means to us, etc.

In this episode, we speak with Jim Moffat, President, at JSM Advisors, Inc. and former CEO of Deloitte Consulting, about being his family's outlier, lessons he’s learned across his career as a consultant, and the one thing it comes down to at the end of the day.

We discuss:

Parenting strategies for type A parents
The illusion of work life balance
A key quality for leadership
Creating healthy company cultures

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Ron Gill - NetSuite: A CFO’s Relationship With General Counsels

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CFOs and General Counsels can’t just rely on a strong relationship to predict spending, you have to have a system in place that takes the guesswork out of managing your organizations legal spend.

In this episode, we’re joined by Ron Gill, Former CFO of NetSuite and current Operating Partner and Board Member at Lead Edge Capital. We speak to Ron about becoming a globally recognized CFO, relationships between a General Counsels and CFOs, and why he sees PERSUIT as a solution to legal spend predictability.

Join us as we discuss:

High Growth Companies At Different Economic Cycles
Becoming a Globally Recognized CFO
Visibility Into Legal Spending

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Dr. Elouise Epstein - Kearney: The Changing Landscape of Legal and Procurement

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 11:12:24 +0000

The repercussions from the beginning of COVID-19 will continue to be felt for years to come. While there have been and will continue to be many negatives from the pandemic, for some professions, it pushed their work into the forefront and emphasized how important their roles are in everyday business and legal functions.

In this episode, we’re shifting gears away from speaking with General Counsel and legal teams to take a deep dive into procurement with Dr. Elouise Epstein, Partner at Kearney.

We discuss:

How COVID-19 has impacted procurement
Why digital is an evolving factor in the business
Collaborating with legal teams

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Marc Barbeau - Air Canada: Meaningful Careers & the Relationships that Make Them

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

We all want meaningful work and to know at the end of the day, our work mattered.

Impacting the next generation by engaging with them and passing the baton to them, while simultaneously figuring out how to evolve to the next step in our careers.

In this episode, we speak with Marc Barbeau, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Air Canada, about lessons he’s learned in 30 plus years of law and why he’s thrilled for this next step at Air Canada.

We discuss:

How to look back and learn from challenges in your past
The benefits of sponsoring and the difference from mentoring
Why personal growth and relationships are important
What advice Marc has for up and coming law professionals

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Andrew Brereton - ServiceNow: A Tactical Look at Driving Transformation from Legal Ops

Thu, 26 May 2022 07:15:00 +0000

For most organizations, the legal function is long overdue for transformation—and legal ops is best placed to drive that transformation.

In this episode, we speak with Andrew Brereton, Vice President of Legal Operations at ServiceNow, about the what, the why, and the how of driving value and transformation for the legal organization from legal ops.

We discuss:

Why legal ops is vital to driving value and transformation
Early initiatives that build a foundation to deliver on transformation
The high-level process around transforming legal workflows
Best practices for gaining buy-in and managing change

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Ivan Fong - Medtronic: Leadership & Clarity in Crisis

Thu, 19 May 2022 10:49:21 +0000

Ivan Fong holds pu blic service in high regard. The son of immigrants (his parents fled China during the communist revolution), Ivan experienced the advantages and opportunities of living in the United States firsthand. Public service is his way of giving back to the country that gave his family so much.

His time at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and as a clerk to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor also provided an incredible grounding in law and government relations, that led him to becoming the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Medtronic.

We discuss:

Gaining experience through public and community service
Setting clear priorities in times of crisis
Creating psychological safety in the workplace
Increasing expectations for corporate responsibility

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Katina Thornock - Providence: How to Grab a Seat at the Table

Thu, 12 May 2022 07:15:00 +0000

When Katina Thornock was a young associate, she was fortunate to have the mentorship of strong female shareholders. When nerves would creep in before a civil deposition, one, in particular, would say, “Don’t let those old guys walk all over you. You know the material and you know the craft. Now, go do it.”

Empowerment—that’s what strong mentorship and honest feedback cultivates. It’s the sacred charge of legal leaders around the world—to empower those who are less experienced and provide a support system that enables personal development.

Katina takes that mission seriously as Vice President and Senior Litigation Counsel at Providence. It manifests in the stories she imparts to young attorneys, in the programs she implements that create safe spaces for young lawyers to fail and to learn, and in the work she puts into D&I initiatives.

We discuss:

How real honest feedback can enhance personal development
How to expand the legal function in a high-growth company
Seizing a seat at the business table
Doing the work in DNI

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Lindsey Haswell - Blockchain.com: Choosing Risk Over Job Security

Thu, 05 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Lindsey Haswell was determined to be either a broadcast journalist or a lawyer. Because it’s at the epicenter of policy and economics, she chose law.

She started out as a litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher before making the leap to a small (at the time) startup called Uber. She viewed it as an investment in her future, an opportunity to learn how to build and run a business and how legal furthers the mission of the business.

She passes these lessons along to her team in her current role as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legal Officer at Blockchain.com, where they are shaping the future of financial services on the internet.

We discuss:

Taking the risk of joining Uber
The mindset shift required for going in-house
Shaping predictable regulatory frameworks in crypto
Bringing more women and non-binaries into crypto with MyBFF

More information about Lindsey Haswell and today’s topics:

LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/lindsey-haswell-5190378
Company Website: blockchain.com
MyBFF on Twitter: twitter.com/MyBFF
MyBFF on Discord: discord.com/invite/mybff
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz: https://a16z.com/book/the-hard-thing-about-hard-things/

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Rankin Gasaway - 7-Eleven: The World's Best Legal Department

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 07:15:00 +0000

Creating a legal department your CEO would brag about doesn't happen by accident. It takes intention and care to hire the best lawyers and create an environment that stimulates growth.

Rankin Gasaway, the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at 7-Eleven, has created an environment where lawyers are encouraged to be courageous and trust their intuition.

We discuss:

The anxiety Gasaway felt early on in his career.
The right way to build relationships.
How to empower your legal team.
Creating a diverse legal department.

More information about Rankin Gasaway and today’s topics:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rankin-gasaway-853b501
Company Website: https://www.7-eleven.com

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Richard Crabb - HSBC: The Legal Industry Is Changing

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 07:15:00 +0000

Richard Crabb was listed in the Legal 500 as an expert in Sports Law in 2011 and as an expert in Charity Law in 2012. But he didn’t always have a desire to work in the Legal industry.

Richard’s route into law came from a career in marketing where he had to have a comprehensive understanding of the way the law operated in order to be great at his Brand Manager role in the retail industry.

His early career in marketing and would raise a few eyebrows but his knowledge of psychology has helped him grow in his career from marketing professional to becoming the Head of Commercial, Tech & Innovation, Global Legal at HSBC

We discuss:

Untapped Growth Opportunities For Law Firms.
Solutions that Lawyers are looking for.
Revenue Streams For Law Firms.

More information about Richard Crabb and today’s topics:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-crabb-6b75a311
Company Website: https://www.hsbc.com

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Christoph Feddersen - Collins Aerospace: Retaining Talent Through Culture

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000

German-born Christoph Feddersen would not be where he is today, the Vice President & General Counsel at Collins Aerospace in Charlotte, North Carolina, were it not for the tremendous opportunities he was given to stretch himself.

Early opportunities came at international law firms Cleary Gottlieb and Morgan Lewis, and they continued to pop up in later roles as executive assistant to the chairman and CEO at United Technologies and vice president and general counsel for UTC Aerospace.

In his current role, he looks to pay it forward by empowering a global network of legal, trade, and contracts professionals, and providing opportunities for them to prove their mettle and grow.

It’s all part of the culture he has fostered, one built on a steady foundation of support and improvement.

We discuss:

Integrating legal departments and balancing subject matter expertise across the organization
Why culture is a key tool in talent retention
How in-house departments and outside counsel can collaborate on DEI
The value of employee resource groups

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Jay Rosenblum - Assurant: A Career in 3 Acts

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The career of Jay Rosenblum, much like a stage play, has three acts.

Act 1: Government Service, first as a clerk for an appellate judge, followed by a role in the Clinton Administration.

Act 2: In-house government affairs roles at highly regulated financial institutions during a time of historic regulatory change.

Act 3: Senior roles in corporate leadership, first as Chief HR Officer with Guardian Life, and today, as the EVP & Chief Legal Officer at Assurant.

Take that as evidence that Jay believes in trying new things and taking risks. He talks about his wide-ranging career, the lessons he learned along the way, and the challenges that GCs face today.

We discuss:

Lessons from his time at the White House
Structuring the legal department to best serve business priorities
A purposeful approach to talent retention
Assurant’s DEI initiatives

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Tammy Moss Finley - Advance Auto Parts: Growing, Engaging & Rewarding Talent

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Tammy Moss Finley is a people person.

Early in her career, as a labor and employment attorney, she found herself drawn to the HR world. When the opportunity arrived to join Advance Auto Parts in the HR department, she jumped at the chance. She would have the opportunity to put in place programs that would prevent the very labor issues she was being called in to handle as a lawyer.

Since that moment, she has spent 18 years in roles that have straddled the worlds of law and HR.

Today, as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, her focus is on people—her team members and the law firms they work with—and putting practices in place that enable growth, engagement, and fulfillment.

We discuss:

Growing a legal team and allocating resources to best support the business
Managing cybersecurity and privacy risks for the enterprise
Developing relationships with law firms
Investing resources into DEI

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Jim Delkousis - PERSUIT: Bringing Digital Innovation to the Legal Community

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +0000

The tables have turned, and the normal host of the show, Jim Delkousis, is the guest on this episode.

After having spent most of his career with law firms, including most recently as a partner with DLA Piper, Jim had reached a crossroads. Approaching 50, he began to wonder, would the lessons of this upcoming decade be any different—or more of the same?

At the same time, Jim was seeing digital innovation come to the fore in a panoply of industries, and he was beginning to dream up a vision for what that might look like in the legal world.

So, he took a chance and founded PERSUIT, a software platform that helps in-house legal teams choose the right outside counsel for a particular scope of work.

Special guest host Cynthia Lareine, Director of Community Development at PERSUIT, chats with Jim about the journey.

They discuss:

Transitioning from partner in a law firm to founder of a legal tech company
Lessons from talking with the in-house community on this show
His personal innovation heroes
Why it’s valuable to learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable

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Kristin Sverchek - Lyft: Battling for the Survival of the Company

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 07:15:00 +0000

As her parents tell it, Kristin Sverchek, President of Business Affairs at Lyft, was a natural born advocate. As a child, she had a knack for clearly arguing her case.

That ability to effectively advocate on behalf of herself and others has come in handy in her career which has included stints at Gunderson Dettmer, Silicon Legal Strategy, and Zimride, the company that launched Lyft.

At Lyft, in particular, Kristin was instrumental in the early battles for survival and the establishment of a legal foundation for ride sharing that has enabled the company to grow to the transportation powerhouse it is today.

We discuss:

- The decision to become the first legal hire at Lyft

- Early transportation regulatory battles

- The “Super Bowl for General Counsels”—preparing to take the company public

- Taking on broader responsibilities as President of Business Affairs

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Brandon Pace - LendingClub: Rebuilding Integrity & Public Trust

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Recently, Brandon Pace rediscovered a journal he penned when he was 5 or 6 years old. In it, he had written that he wanted to become either a doctor or a lawyer.

When you come from a family of doctors and lawyers, those may seem like obvious choices. However, there was a deliberate intention behind it—a desire to focus on service and helping others.

Brandon was also fascinated by technology. That’s what led him to pursue a position at one of the top tech firms in Silicon Valley out of law school. That same passion led him to eBay, and finally to LendingClub, where he serves as Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary today.

We discuss:

- His deliberate choice to work for technology-focused law firms and companies

- The process of stabilizing an embattled company and rebuilding public trust

- The challenge of finding key partners in outside law firms

- How better outcomes can be achieved with a breadth of perspectives

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Anneliese Reinhold - du: Working in Unfamiliar Cultural Environments

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Challenges faced when we’re young inform our ability to handle pressure as adults.

That was certainly the case for Anneliese Reinhold. When she was 13, her mother passed away from bowel cancer, and that tragedy kicked off a span of ten years that were rife with family turmoil.

Yet, Anneliese believes that dealing with existential struggles at a young age is exactly what enabled her to succeed in challenging environments that crossed cultural boundaries throughout her career.

The challenges she overcame gave her grit. They imbued her with determination and emotional resilience. Those qualities have enabled her to climb to where she is today: General Counsel & Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs at du located in the United Arab Emirates.

We discuss:

- How family turmoil lended her the fortitude to tough out challenging situations

- Why learning the intricacies of new cultures is key to understanding how to work within them

- The value of developing strong relationships with law firms

- The ethics of combining the GC role with business functions

Mentioned during the podcast:

- Dubai Angel Investors Association of Corporate Counsel

- The Institute of Directors

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David Keim - SAS: Commercial Contracts & Entertainment Law

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Our guest today made a lot of big life decisions at a young age—a very young age.

David Keim, SVP & General Counsel of Global Corporate Legal Affairs at SAS, decided to become a lawyer in the 4th grade after reading about Patrick Henry.

Not only that, he met his future wife in Kindergarten (although he admits it took until the 10th grade before he realized she was the one).

David knows a lot about contractual agreements—both marital and otherwise.

His time at International Family Entertainment included involvement in drafting contracts for a veritable assembly line of acquisitions and divestitures. Today, he passes on that knowledge to the next generation of lawyers as an adjunct professor teaching the mechanics of drafting contracts.

We discuss:

- How an early fascination with Patrick Henry launched his journey into law

- His path from entertainment law to general counsel at SAS

- Strategies for attracting and retaining talent

- The mechanics of contracts

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Benoit Balmary - Michelin: Achieving Progress in a 130-Year-Old Company

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Benoit Balmary comes from a long line of lawyers dating back 200 years. So, you could argue that he was simply making the safe choice by going into law. He jokingly says as much.

But there was a deeper pull as well: a basic belief in the nobility of law and the idea that it single-handedly separates us from chaos.

Of course, as Group General Counsel at Michelin, Benoit is dealing with a far different environment than his ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Given the rapid rate of change, the challenge for today’s in-house legal teams is not to maintain the status quo, but to adapt to the rapid evolution of the legal environment.

We discuss:

- Transforming a siloed legal organization into a hyper collaborative global team

- Creating an ambassador between the legal team and the business

- Michelin’s framework for managing law firm relationships

- Change management within a 130-year-old company

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Terry Theologides - Fannie Mae: Legal’s Role in Financial Services

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Terry Theologides, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Fannie Mae, attributes much of his success to his youthful impatience.

It was youthful impatience that led him to move in-house as a fourth year at Wynn International.

It was also youthful impatience that gave him the confidence to go after his first GC role at New Century Financial Corporation after only two years on the job.

Were there some gaps in knowledge and expertise early on? In retrospect, yes. But what he did have was a healthy respect for adhering to a good process and an uncanny ability to soak up new knowledge like a sponge.

Today, this focus is on promoting affordable, equitable homeownership for Americans in areas that have been traditionally underserved and modernizing the legal function.

We discuss:

- The appeal and indispensable quality of in-house work

- Strategies for leading a team through challenging periods

- Bringing discipline to an organization without disrupting the existing quality of work

- The exciting upcoming transformation in the way law is done

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Meredith Fuchs - Plaid: The Importance of Mission & People

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:00:00 +0000

At an early age, Meredith Fuchs realized that if you understood the law, you could make a positive impact on society

The roots of this view can be traced back to an enduring love for the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s why she places so much emphasis on mission and people in her career.

That drive to make a difference led her to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where she was a part of the startup team, it led her to CapitalOne where she set out to change banking for good, and it’s what led her to her current position, as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Plaid, a company that aims to unlock financial freedom for everyone.

We discuss:

- The process of building a legal team at the CFPB

- How to determine priorities at a new company

- The benefit of embedding lawyers in product groups

- Important attributes in new legal hires

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Karyn Polak - Transamerica: Owning the Advice You Give

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Karyn Polak views her career as a series of ever expanding circles.

After starting out in corporate finance and capital markets, she progressively expanded her circle into other skill sets, other types of companies, and other challenges.

This devotion to constant growth stems from a personal belief: Once you’ve been in a seat for a little while, that’s when it’s time to go outside your comfort zone.

It’s that growth mindset that has enabled her to flourish as SVP, General Counsel and Secretary at Transamerica, and it’s the reason why she gives her team ongoing opportunities to expand beyond their circles as well.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The importance of stepping outside your comfort zone

- Overcoming the challenges of a distributed workforce

- Three ingredients for a collaborative, high-performing team

- How diverse perspectives lead to deeper context

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Paul Krause - Harley Davidson: Delivering Efficient Results for the Business

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

What drew Paul Krause to the legal profession?

Logic games and puzzles.

It makes complete sense for someone who, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t view legal work as adversarial. A lawyer's job, according to Paul, is all about understanding legal concepts, understanding your audience, and putting those disparate puzzle pieces together in a way that makes efficient decision-making possible for the business.

That’s what his in-house career has been all about, starting as a Senior Counsel at ArcelorMittal, and presently, as Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer at Harley-Davidson.

We discuss:

- His meteoric rise within Harley Davidson

- Prizing legal efficiency from outside counsels

- The biggest challenges facing in-house legal departments moving forward

- Why it’s important to make legal accessible

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Karen Gally - Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Award-Winning Diversity Accelerator Program

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Between undergrad and law school, Karen Gally, Vice President and General Counsel of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies, wanted to be absolutely sure a legal career was right for her. So, for a time, she pursued another profession.

That brief spell in corporate communications and public policy introduced her to the world of healthcare—and that ultimately led to a lifelong passion for health law.

During her tenure as GC, she has taken an active role in diversity and inclusion initiatives. She firmly believes that diversity is key to providing incomparable legal services, and with how complicated the industry is, diverse talent, diverse experiences, and diverse opinions are the only way to keep up with a changing world.

We discuss:

- The challenges of navigating legal matters with an alliance company

- Otsuka’s award-winning Diversity Accelerator Program

- The benefits of legal design thinking

- Volunteering on the Board of the Alliance of Aging Research

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Brandon Smith - CHS: Overcoming Age-Based Perceptions

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

After only 6 months at Tenneco, and at the tender age of 28, Brandon Smith found himself advising the CEO on how to navigate the company through bankruptcy.

For Brandon, that was nothing new. In fact, he’s made a career out of capitalizing on opportunities to take on responsibilities beyond what is typically given to someone of his age and experience level.

That trajectory of accelerated growth started when he was at Kirkland & Ellis and has continued through to his current position as Executive Vice President & General Counsel at CHS.

His is a story about the stars aligning—that is true. But it’s also a story about leaning in during a time of crisis and stepping forward while others back away.

In this episode, we discuss:

- An early career opportunity concerning bankruptcy law

- Two attributes aspiring GCs should focus on

- How a promise of making a difference in rural America drew him to CHS

- How he approaches talent development and diversity and inclusion

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Regina Jones - Baker Hughes: Technological Acumen in Law

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Regina Jones, Chief Legal Officer at Baker Hughes, witnessed, firsthand, the value of integrity early on in her career. With a front-row seat to the Enron scandal, she learned that good intentions mean little if you leave your moral compass at the door.

Since then, integrity and transparency have become hallmarks of her leadership style, along with an unwavering commitment to community and collaboration, and a willingness to embrace new technology and new ways of doing things.

According to Regina, that’s the obligation of the general counsel: to be the moral compass of the company. In the modern world, it is the GC’s responsibility to lead from the front.

We discuss:

- Why technological acumen is a major differentiator in law

- The promising potential of legal technology and how to drive adoption

- How the Enron debacle taught Regina the importance of integrity

- How the GC role will evolve

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Jennifer Wuamett - NXP Semiconductors: Unifying the Legal Dept in a Merger

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

Today’s guest, Jennifer Wuamett, takes that popular quote one step further: You also need to try out different selections before you recognize which one you like best.

Indeed, her life bears that out.

As a child, she aspired to be a librarian. In college, it was a biomedical illustrator. After starting down the path of a Ph.D. program in biochemistry, she eventually switched over to law, where she discovered a passion for dealmaking and negotiation—and that’s how the scientist and artist turned lawyer.

Today, the self-described “deal junkie” is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary for NXP Semiconductors.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Lessons from unifying two legal departments in a merger

- How the scope of work for GCs has grown

- Important areas to focus on for aspiring GCs

- Providing the team with lateral opportunities to promote engagement

- Hiring using a value-based framework

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Katie Barrett - Anheuser-Busch InBev: Championing Female Leadership

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

It was clear to Katie Barrett from an early age that she was destined for a career in law. Indeed, early — and frequent — arguments with her parents clearly proved she had a knack for the art of persuasion.

Her early practice was focused on litigation — both in private practice, and subsequently, in-house with Anheuser-Busch InBev — and she credits that focus with creating valuable connections across the organization and providing a master class on how a business is run.

Today, as Global General Counsel, she cultivates a culture of diversity and support so that those with an aptitude for collaboration can advance and thrive within the organization.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Why early experience with litigation is great in a legal career

- How to develop a global team of experts

- Why collaboration is such an important leadership skill

- Fostering a culture of female leadership

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Tom Moriarty - CVS Health: A Key Role in the Fight Against COVID-19

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Step out of your comfort zone and you will be able to handle a remarkable range of issues.

The career of Tom Moriarty is a testament to that.

Early on, he accepted the risk of leaving a big law firm to join a smaller one. His goal was to develop professional skills that would pay dividends later on.

At Merck, Mako Health, and CVS Health, where he’s currently the Executive Vice President, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer and General Counsel, he continuously took on diverse roles, often without much previous experience.

What he did have was a growth mindset, and the courage to venture outside of his wheelhouse.

The result: A long and distinguished professional life that has revolved around the intersection between law, policy and regulation.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Navigating the interplay between law, policy and regulation

- Strategies for brand reputation management

- Playing a central role in COVID-19 testing and the vaccine rollout

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Thankful for DEI: 13 Quotes for Thanksgiving

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

In a special Thanksgiving episode, host Jim Delkousis shares a compilation of insightful thoughts our guests have had on the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Our guests talk about the importance of inclusion, of bias awareness, of leveraging data to enhance DEI efforts, and of diversity of thought.

So, this Thanksgiving, sit back and listen in to what diversity, equity and inclusion means to our guests and their organizations, and what we can do as an industry to continue moving forward towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive future.

Featuring quotes from:

- Harvey Anderson - Chief Legal Officer at HP

- Sabine Chalmers - Group General Counsel at BT

- Ann Kappler - Executive Vice President & General Counsel at Prudential Financial

- Phyllis Harris - Chief General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at American Red Cross

- Rishi Varma - General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at HPE

- Darren Zeidel - Executive Vice President & General Counsel at Aon

- Vanessa Sutherland - Chief Legal Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation

- Vanessa Watson - Senior Vice President & Assistant General Counsel at Mastercard

- Akshay Verma - Director & Head of Legal Ops at Meta

- Leslie D. Davis - CEO of NAMWOLF

- Bruce Byrd - Executive Vice President & General Counsel at Palo Alto Networks

- Tom O’Neill - Partner at Jenner & Block and previously Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Exelon

- Louise Pentland - Executive Vice President & Chief Business Affairs and Legal Officer at PayPal

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Bindu Cudjoe - Canadian Western Bank: Aiming for Incremental Innovation

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Bindu Cudjoe has spun a passion for transactions and deal-making into a rewarding career in the banking industry.

Starting out in private practice negotiating deals for banks, she later transitioned in house joining BMO Bank in a variety of roles. Today, she is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Canadian Western Bank.

Tapped as a finalist for Female Trailblazer of the Year by Canadian Lawyer Magazine and named a Leading Lawyer Under 40 by Lexpert, she is known for a curiosity and optimism she brings to the legal function.

It’s a dynamic combination that energizes those who work with her and imbues collaborative efforts with an unbridled sense of creativity.

We discuss:

- Why legal should aim for incremental innovation rather than invention

- Embracing curiosity and optimism

- How to foster the right attitude toward risk taking

- Building an educational program for female lawyers looking to advance their careers

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Caroline Tsai - Western Union: Fintech Innovation & Paying It Forward

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

The story of Caroline Tsai begins on a chicken farm 40 miles outside of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

When she turned 5, her family traded in a life devoted to 20,000 chickens for a life in the big apple. Now Asian-American, her parents had but one expectation for her: become a doctor.

It turned out that fate had other plans. Upon taking her first political science class, Caroline became enamored with the idea of going into law.

Following tenures at both Bank of America and BMO Financial Group, she became the Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary at Western Union, where she is committed to fostering innovation in the fintech industry and mentoring the next generation of Asian-American lawyers.

We discuss:

- What law schools can learn from business schools

- The importance of stretching yourself

- How the legal function helps drive innovation, especially in Fintech

- Paying it forward through DEI initiatives and mentoring the next generation

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Shanti Ariker - Zendesk: A Personal Board of Directors

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Shanti Ariker knows tech. The majority of her career has been spent working in the tech sector for companies like Twilio , Autodesk , and Salesforce , selling everything from hardware to software, and from licensing to subscriptions.

She now works at Zendesk as the SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

This wasn’t the roadmap she had in mind at the start, but all the stops along her career path have led to where she is today.

Her advice to others: Don’t stay on your path just because you think you’re supposed to. Pay attention to unexpected opportunities when they crop up; they might just lead you to where you’re meant to be.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Tips for transparently managing others

- Finding a “Personal Board of Directors” to help guide your career

- The importance of understanding the budgeting and planning process

- Strategies for scaling a global team

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Maurus Schreyvogel - Novartis: Operational Excellence in Legal

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Early on in his legal career at Novartis , Maurus Schreyvogel encountered a frustrating obstacle. The legal team had no tools, no technology, no access to knowledge, and consequently, they found themselves reinventing the wheel over and over.

He has remained at Novartis ever since. In his current capacity of Chief Legal Innovation Officer, he is working to set the vision for how law can help society operate more equitably in the future.

We discuss:

- Auditing the legal function to bring about operational change

- Focusing on value rather than cost

- Legal’s role in the digital transformation journey

- Transforming into collaborators instead of counselors

- Increasing access to law for all

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Jennifer Hightower - Cox Communications: Mentorship & Telecom Law

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:00:00 +0000

For Jennifer Hightower , there’s nothing more essential than mentorship. In fact, she credits her ascent to the role of SVP and GC at Cox Communications to the amazing mentors and diverse relationships she cultivated along the way.

From her time as an insurance defense attorney to her time working at BellSouth and Cox Communications in the early days of telecom law, these mentors provided her with experience, guidance, and the motivation to keep growing.

Today, she prioritizes this tradition of mentorship with the next generation.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Getting in on the ground floor of telecom law

- Taking over the GC role in a pandemic

- Initiatives that increase collaboration and trust across the legal team

- The transfer of knowledge in a mentor/mentee relationship

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Daniel Goldstein - Pitney Bowes: Risk in a 100+ Year Old Company

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 05:00:00 +0000

There’s a benefit to seeing the law from multiple different perspectives: it gives you an uncanny ability to understand how other people view an issue and what their definition of winning is.

Daniel Goldstein credits his suc cess as a lawyer and as a businessperson to his exposure to diverse perspectives. He has seen the world from the perspective of a federal judge as a clerk, from the perspective of a private party hiring a lawyer, from the perspective of the government with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and from the perspective of an in-house lawyer.

Currently, he is the EVP and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Pitney Bowes , where he leverages the hard-earned wisdom from those different perspectives to advise the business.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The immense benefit of having multiple perspectives on the law

- Managing risk for a 100+ year old company

- Partnering effectively with law firms

- How the GC role will change over the next 10 years

- Learning how to fail

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Debra Counsell - BlueScope Steel: No Issue Too Small to be Investigated

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Debra Counsell followed an unusual career path to her current role as Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary at BlueScope Steel .

Her time with DLA Piper and Clifford Chance took her from the crumbling sidewalks of Hanoi, Vietnam, to Africa, the Middle East, and Paris, France. The broad range of thorny legal issues she encountered during this period were great preparation for her transition in-house to a GC role.

In this episode, she shares the challenges, the wins, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Topics covered:

- How an unusual career path prepared her for in-house work

- Lessons from transitioning to in-house and leadership roles

- Empowering her team to be enablers and owners in the business

- How hybrid work may affect the development of junior lawyers

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Samantha Wellington - TriNet: Managing Enterprise Risk & ESG Initiatives

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Samantha Wellington entered into inter national corporate law because it was a fascinating way to witness how law forms culture and culture informs the law.

During 12 years at Oracle, she had the opportunity to become a member of the board of directors in Tokyo and Mumbai, where she gained insight into the impact of leadership and sponsorship.

In her current role as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at TriNet, she is passionate about fostering a culture of compliance and analyzing the role that workplace culture has in helping a great company to thrive.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The appeal of international corporate law

- Avenues for learning the business side

- The opportunity to organize ESG initiatives

- Strategies to manage enterprise risk

- The employer’s role in the shared economy

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Olga V. Mack - Parley Pro: Courting Opportunities Through Risk

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Olga V. Mack grew up in Siberia. It's rare for someone to become a world-class lawyer where she's from. Yet, here she is.

Olga began her legal career with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati where she studied IP, security, and privacy “before those things were cool.” From there, she moved in-house where she provided legal advice for companies like Visa , Zoosk, and Clearslide .

After 15 years of practice, she received an offer out of the blue to become the CEO of Parley Pro , a contract lifecycle management platform. Today, she is molding the future of law from this position and bringing legal innovation to the masses.

Topics covered:

- Flirting with risk to unlock new opportunities

- Asking CEOs directly where you can make the biggest impact

- The value of industry knowledge

- Why law needs to be held to a higher standard of service

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Alec Guettel - Knowable: 20 Years of Bringing Innovation to Legal

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Contracts are deliberately ambiguous and resistant to automation. For the most part, companies have difficulties extracting any perceivable value from them.

It’s a problem all too familiar to legal departments across the business landscape.

With Knowable, CFO Alec Guettel tackles this problem by transforming what has often been a liability for GCs into an incredible advantage.

This isn’t Alec’s first rodeo when it comes to solving a problem shared by legal departments. Some 20 years ago, he co-founded Axiom alongside Mark Harris. That company revolutionized the way legal talent and technology was provided to corporations.

With Knowable, he’s back at it again.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The early years at Axiom

- How Knowable helps legal teams extract value from their contracts

- Alec’s passion for the clean energy industry

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Mary O'Carroll: From Investment Banking to Legal Ops at Google

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Mary O’Carroll began her career in investment banking and management consulting, but before long, she was pulled into the nascent world of legal operations.

In her 13 years as the Director of Legal Ops at Google, Mary was instrumental in defining the scope of this newly created position. As the President of CLOC, she built a community focused on the mission of increasing awareness around the legal ops function and advancing the profession.

Today, she continues to dedicate her time to forging connections as the Chief Community Officer for Ironclad.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Defining the parameters of the legal ops role at Google

- Building a legal ops community at CLOC

- Providing digital solutions around contracting

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James Kelleher - Liberty Mutual Insurance: Normalizing Legal Technology

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 05:00:00 +0000

To be a successful lawyer, you need to be a critical thinker and an expert communicator. But according to James Kelleher, Chief Legal Officer at Liberty Mutual Insurance, the key to success lies in being two other things as well — liked and trusted.

James knows a thing or two about building a successful law career. During 39 years at Liberty Mutual Insurance, he rose through the ranks of the legal department, starting out in coverage opinions, moving into litigation, and finally into management. Success happened because he took the risk of learning something new.

We discuss:

- Being open to taking risks

- Why he remained at Liberty Mutual Insurance for 39 years

- How the role of GC has changed over the years and will change in the future

- How technology has changed the delivery of legal services

- Pro bono initiatives

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Tom O’Neill - Exelon - Pivoting From Private Practice to GC and Back

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Attorney, news junkie, and tireless pro bono advocate Tom O’Neill has been on both sides of the corporate law fence.

After law school at Notre Dame, Tom joined Jenner & Block of Chicago — a diverse, 100-year-old firm committed to social justice and serving the community. Content, Tom thought he’d never leave — until he received a fascinating offer from Exelon, a major supplier of the country’s nuclear power.

From assistant associate counsel to SVP and General Counsel, this valuable experience gave Tom a unique insight into the C-suite, the energy industry, and how to lead with integrity.

Now back in private practice at J & B, Tom is leveraging what he learned in the business world to drive the growth of his firm and further his passions of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Topics covered:

- Taking risks and not being afraid to fail spectacularly.

- Diving head first into an industry he knew less than nothing about.

- Pivoting away from private practice and back again.

“Trust yourself, and I think you'll find that there's real growth when you put yourself in a position where you have to grow — and you will.” — Tom O’Neill

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Resources from today’s episode:

- Tom O’Neill

- Exelon

Host Jim Delkousis

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Mike Haven - Intel - Data, Optimization, & Communication in Legal Operations

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

In what role could a family legacy of law and an interest in business intersect? In legal operations, of course.

In this episode, I interview Mike Haven, Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, Head of Legal Operations at Intel, about his fascinating career path and its origins.

What we talked about:

- The evolution of Mike’s career, beginning in eighth grade

- His learnings at his different companies and roles

- The first 6 months at his current role

- Strategic priorities he has implemented for Intel

- All things CLOC

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Anat Hakim - Eli Lilly - Breaking Down Silos for Better Cultural Alignment

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Leading cultural change within a legal department requires consistency and innovation in response to situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and telecommunication.

Anat Hakim, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Eli Lilly and Company, joins the show to discuss her humble beginnings, building resiliency and recognizing it in others, and strategies for cultural initiatives.

What we talked about:

- Overview of Anat’s Career & the Transition from Law Firm to In-House

- Unpacking the Formative Years of Anat’s Life

- How Anat Came to Work for Eli Lilly and Company

- Steps to Winning the American Lawyers General Counsel of the Year Award

- Aligning Cultural Initiatives w/ Organizational Resiliency

- Early Priorities & Initiatives for the Entire Legal Department

- Dispelling Myths about the GC Position & Self-Reflections on the Past

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Louise Pentland - PayPal: Directing Culture w/ an Eye for Legacy

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

If Louise Pentland could give her 25-year-old self a piece of advice, it would be this: be willing to fail. The EVP, Chief Business Affairs and Legal Officer at PayPal said that failure has been her most valuable career experience. That’s why she hires teams with an eye for innovation and resilience.

Recently on Innovative Legal Leadership, Louise talked with us about:- The trajectory of her stunning legal career

-Lessons from her mentors and sponsors

- Building teams founded in a culture of innovation

- Understanding financials, HR, and the legal functions-

- D&I and Louise’s hope for her cultural legacy

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Vanessa Watson- Master Card: Disrupting the Hiring Process & Professional Resilience

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Having mentors and a strong sense of resilience can make all the difference when finding your footing within corporations and law firms as a minority or woman. Hiring groups need to spend time not only on hiring with diversity in mind, but also on retaining the diverse employees.

Vanessa Watson, Vice President, Senior Managing Counsel at Mastercard International, describes her incredible journey into law, how she’s come into her success, and strategies for corporations & law firms.

What we talked about:

- Vanessa’s Shift from Theatrical Beginnings To Law

- Journey into Law and the Transition to Mastercard

- Vanessa’s Time at Mastercard

- Disrupting the Hiring of Women and Minorities

- Personal Successes and Advice for Her Children

Check out the resources below for more information:

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-kaye-watson-0b980815/

- https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-association-of-minority-&-women-owned-law-firms/

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Vanessa Sutherland - Norfolk Southern: Installing a Legal Ops Team

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Vanessa Sutherland pursued a law degree and an MBA so she could combine her passion for analysis with a love for finances and taxes. She worked in the telecom and tobacco industries gradually advancing through in-house roles with increasing responsibility.

In 2011, she received an incredible opportunity to become the GC of a federal agency — the DOT. Currently, she is the Executive VP of Government Relations and CLO at Norfolk Southern

We discuss:

- Developing new skills and knowledge in a public service role

- Establishing a legal ops department

- Leveraging process mapping within the legal ops team

- Making personal and professional adjustments to COVID

- Supporting D&I initiatives with data

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Ann Kappler - Prudential Financial: Becoming the Voice of the Company

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Ann Kappler’s first passion was theatre. But while pursuing acting, a day job as a paralegal sparked a new interest: law.

At Jenner & Block, she worked with insurance agent trade association clients, which led to two Supreme Court arguments. After accepting a position as Deputy General Counsel at Fannie Mae, she discovered a love for the strategy and people management aspects of in-house work. Currently, she is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Prudential Financial.

We discussed:

- The advantages to working in-house versus a law firm

- Speaking for the company on external affairs and public policy

- Advocating for DEI and issues concerning financial stability

- Managing a hybrid workforce

- The importance of persuasion skills

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Sabine Chalmers - BT: Cultivating a Diversity of Perspective

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Sabine Chalmers started in private practice at Hogan & Lovells. While there, she had a great view into how different types of businesses were run. But she quickly realized she wanted to be part of a business. She started her in-house career with Guinness and later became GC North America of Diageo followed by CLO of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Currently, she is the Group GC at BT.

We discuss:

- The influence of having a global perspective growing up

- Offering valuable perspective as the sole woman on an executive team

- Building up a knowledge base after transferring to a new industry

- Strategies for driving DEI initiatives

- Getting awarded Transformative In-House Team of the Year at BT

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Rishi Varma - HPE: Demonstrating Value Through Talent Development

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

During his early years as an associate, Rishi Varma took up an interest in what it meant to grow a company and what he could bring to the table.

In his career, he followed that passion with roles as acting GC for Technology Holdings (India), followed by 5 years as the President and COO of Trico Marine Services, a company with $500 million in revenue. Currently, he is the GC and Corporate Secretary at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

We discuss:

- How leading a business taught him to be a better GC

- Demonstrating value in the talent you develop

- Strategies for developing cost-saving measures

- Using virtual reality to simulate face-to-face meetings

- Managing issues of inclusion and diversity with outside counsel

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Leslie D. Davis - NAMWOLF - A Fair Shake: Moving the Needle with Minority and Women-Owned Firms

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Minority- and women-led law firms fighting for equal opportunities is a continuing struggle. Raising awareness and presenting clear strategies to eliminate the discrimination are essential to creating change.

Leslie Davis, CEO of the National Association of Minority & Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), joins us to discuss her journey into law and how she’s moving the needle for these firms.

What we talked about:

- How Leslie became a lawyer

- Leslie’s call to action to general counsel

- Initial steps to start hiring NAMWOLF firms

- Positive influence from mentors and advice
To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to the Innovative Legal Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.

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Akshay Verma - Facebook: Managing Legal Ops with Exponential Growth

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 05:00:00 +0000

After a middle school field trip to Yosemite National Park, Akshay Verma was inspired to pursue environmental law. After a stint as a paralegal for Latham & Watkins, he went on to practice environmental law at Farella Braun & Martel. He then transitioned to legal consulting and business development at Axiom.

Today, he’s Director, Head of Legal Ops at Facebook where he helps their legal department “run lean, mean… while spending less green.”

What we talked about:

- Learning what it takes to run a legal department while at Axiom

- Balancing spend on outside counsel with pressures to keep costs low

- Pressuring outside counsel to diversify partnership ranks

- Getting wins early on in your legal ops career

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Alan Tse: Jones Lang Lasalle — Legal Gambits With Imperfect Information

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 17:14:00 +0000

Join us as we discuss:

- Lessons learned from early business startups (6:06)

- Recruiting general counsels from outside your industry (13:46)

- Operational focuses and gatekeeping reputation (25:41)

- Why remaining calm in crisis management is a skill (30:31)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Alan Tse">Alan Tse

- Jones Lang Lasalle">Jones Lang Lasalle

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Darren Zeidel - Aon: Being a Pathway to the Solution

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Darren Zeidel began his career at Skadden before the siren call of working in a business environment brought him to Honeywell as the VP and GC of Business and General Aviation. After close to 10 years at Honeywell, he jumped over to Aon where he is now the EVP, GC, and Company Secretary.

Topics covered:

- Learning how to leverage intangible assets

- Compensating for vulnerabilities caused by the pandemic

- Finding value in building out your network

- Looking for attitude, agility, and curiosity while building a team

- Acting as a pathway to the solution rather than thinking you should have all the answers

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Mark Chandler - Cisco: A Business-Minded Approach to Solving Problems

Thu, 27 May 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Mark Chandler learned early on that he didn’t love practicing law in a law firm. Instead, he discovered a love for being inside a company, serving consumers and building products. His first GC role was for the disk drive company Maxtor in 1988, followed by a position as the top lawyer at StrataCom. From there, he spent the next 25 years working at Cisco, 20 of those as GC.

Topics covered:

- Bringing a business-minded approach to the legal team

- 2 principles critical to an effective culture

- The impact of technology on legal departments over the years

- How being a part of the growth story of a company is key to the GC role today

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Harvey Anderson - HP: Diversity can be Wasted Without Belonging and Inclusion

Thu, 20 May 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Unlike at a traditional law firm where there’s a structure to your career progression, Harvey Anderson discovered a democratization of opportunities within web companies.

He has worked as an Associate GC at Netscape, a COO at Medscape and Flywheel Communications, an SVP of Corporate Affairs and GC at Seven Networks, an SVP of Business and Legal Affairs at Mozilla, and a CLO at AVG Technologies. Currently he is GC at HP.

What we talked about:

- How persistence breaks down career barriers

- The democratization of opportunity in the web space

- Building a culture predicated on diversity without neglecting inclusion

- The need for digital platforms

- Having views on organizational aspects that go beyond legal

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Bruce Byrd - Palo Alto Networks: Seeking Out Feedback to Advance

Thu, 13 May 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Bruce Byrd started his career in private practice working his way up to partner at Dickinson Wright before making the transition to corporate law. He worked at AT&T for 20 years spending the last few as Chief Legal Officer. Currently, he is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Palo Alto Networks.

What we talked about:

- Seeking out honest feedback in pursuit of growth

- Highlights and challenges from 20 years at AT&T

- Ensuring the legal department at Palo Alto Networks has the scale and resources to meet the ambitions of the company

- Being uniquely qualified to invest time in local communities

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Thomas Barothy - UBS: A Global COO’s Perspective on the Business of Legal

Thu, 06 May 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Thomas Barothy has journeyed from a finance background into legal, spending some time as a CFO and Head of Risk Control before jumping into his present role as Group Legal COO at UBS. He shared with me some of his greatest surprises and insights from his first couple of years optimising the legal department and creating a legal business plan.

What we talked about:

- Transitioning from finance to legal

-War stories about dealings with in-house lawyers

- Why lawyers need to learn about and acquire managerial business skills

-Setting the vision, the mission, the strategic priorities, and more

-Where to start to be an effective legal COO

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Chris Fowler - BT: Seeing Across the Legal Function as COO

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Chris Fowler started his career as an in-house counsel for Volkswagen and Experian. He then made his way to BT, where he has been the Head of Major products, COO of the legal function, and, currently, General Counsel BT Technology and Transformation.

What we talked about:

- Getting up to speed on the operational side of running a legal department

- Automating basic tasks to free people up for big strategic initiatives

- Getting the most out of people and making sure they feel part of something that matters

- Advice for taking on the first 90 days as a new COO

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Rob Fletcher - Stryker: Why Good Business IQ Is Critical

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

After starting his career at a law firm doing work he didn’t like, Rob Fletcher found the perfect fit as a business lawyer at GE. He spent 15 years at Johnson & Johnson working his way up to Worldwide VP of Litigation, and now, he is Chief Legal Officer at Stryker. His advice: develop your business IQ.

We discussed:

- Expanding business IQ to build knowledge and grow your personal brand

- Proving the legal department’s value to the business and using data and analytics to forecast future concerns

- Why transparency, approachability, and authenticity have become part of the general counsel role

- What qualities he looks for when building a high-powered team

- Having the confidence to offer advice outside of legal and compliance issues

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Phyllis Harris: American Red Cross - Sustainability, Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity Champion

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Phyllis Harris’s career has had many phases. She worked for the EPA for 20 years before moving out of the public sector — first at Walmart as SVP of Corporate Functions and Legal Operations and now as General Counsel, Chief Compliance, Ethics and Government Relations Officer at the American Red Cross. Throughout, she has advocated for environmental sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and equity.

We discussed:

- How the role of general counsel has become more proactive with a focus on showing your value as a strategic partner

- Tackling issues of environmental sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and equity

- How running the legal department like a business engenders more credibility

- Empowering teams to do extraordinary things

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Cam Findlay: From Government to General Counsel

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Cameron Findlay aspired to have a career that began in government and then evolved to the private sector.

Remarkably, he accomplished that. In his illustrious career, he has been a Sidley Austin partner, the Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Labor, and general counsel at three Fortune 500 companies — Aon, Medtronic, and currently, he’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Archer Daniels Midland.

In this episode, we talk about:

- How the role of a general counsel has changed over the years

- His roles in government including as Deputy Secretary of Labor

- The business of running a legal department

- Attracting top legal talent

- Advice for aspiring general counsels

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What to Expect from Innovative Legal Leadership

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 20:54:55 +0000

In the introductory episode of Innovative Legal Leadership, you'll hear from your host, Jim Delkousis, on what you, the listener, can expect from this podcast.

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