Lessons I Learned in Law: Recent Episodes
Heriot Brown
Scott Brown is a 'recovering lawyer'
Following years working in international law firms, Scott now runs Heriot Brown - a Legal Recruitment business. His extensive discussions with people across the legal profession have given him insight into what makes lawyers tick. Now, Scott shares those insights with you - to help you in your career.
Each week Scott invites guests to leave their egos at their door, share their professional successes and challenges, as well as the lessons they've learned in law.
Umar Aziz, Partner, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at DG Partners, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from a career that nearly took him into shipping brokerage before a major life event brought him back to law.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Umar reflects on how personal circumstances shaped the start of his legal career, including his decision to return to Clifford Chance after initially turning down his training contract. His first lesson is that there is more to life than work. Drawing on his own experiences of loss, family responsibility and high-pressure legal environments, he discusses the importance of building a full life outside the job — and why excellence matters across work, family, friendships and personal pursuits.
His second lesson comes from advice he received early in his career: learn from the best bits of the lawyers around you. Umar explains why every lawyer you work with has something worth copying — and something worth leaving behind.
His final lesson challenges the idea that lawyers should always try to “win” every point. Whether negotiating with clients, managing internal teams or building long-term business relationships, Umar argues that sustainable success comes from fairness, trust and mutual respect — not squeezing every last drop out of the other side.
Along the way, Umar discusses moving from litigation into funds, the transition from private practice into DG Partners, his COO and GC role, and why full-contact karate helps him stay disciplined, present and switched off from work.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Guest Recommendations
- Sport: Full-contact karate
- Sauce of choice: Buffalo or curry sauce
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
- Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/
- Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/
- Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject
Listen to the Podcast
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro – Umar Aziz & DG Partners
03:40 Turning down Clifford Chance twice
09:28 From private practice to GC & COO
16:12 Lesson 1 – There’s more to life than work
24:03 Karate, resilience & switching off
30:08 Lesson 2 – Learn from great lawyers
34:22 Lesson 3 – Winning isn’t everything
39:55 Building long-term relationships
44:31 GC, COO & wearing multiple hats
56:42 Hot or Not, AI & closing thoughts
Selene Brett, Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer at PPRO, joins Scott Brown to share thoughtful lessons on legal leadership, humility, and how lawyers can add real value without hiding behind the mystique of the profession.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Selene reflects on her role at PPRO, a payments platform helping merchants and payment service providers connect to local payment methods around the world. With a broad remit spanning legal, risk, compliance, outsourcing and internal audit, she discusses what drew her to a business where those functions are seen as strategic enablers rather than the “business prevention unit”.
Her first lesson is that lawyers are special, but not that special. Selene challenges the idea that legal teams should sit above the business as guardians of all good judgement. Instead, she argues lawyers earn their seat at the table by being approachable, constructive and genuinely useful.
Her second lesson is to make it count. Senior legal roles come with influence, access and privilege — and Selene believes that creates a responsibility to use that position well, whether through difficult conversations, mentoring, or helping others find routes into the profession.
Finally, she talks about gathering the nuggets: taking something meaningful from every role, every relationship and every experience, even the difficult ones. From rural Norfolk to Harvard, New York and senior in-house leadership, Selene’s story is a reminder that careers rarely move in straight lines — and that empathy, trust and agency matter just as much as technical skill.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Guest Recommendations
- Sauce of choice for chicken nuggets: Blue cheese
- Event recommendation: Heriot Brown’s Charity Burns Night
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
- Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/
- Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/
- Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject
Listen to the Podcast
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.
Jim Shaughnessy, Chief Legal Officer at DocuSign, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from more than 20 years operating at the top of global legal teams.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Jim reflects on his role leading legal at DocuSign, a business best known for e-signature and now expanding into intelligent agreement management. He explains how DocuSign is helping businesses move beyond signing documents into managing agreements more intelligently, using AI, automation and better contract visibility.
Jim’s first lesson is that an in-house legal career is not always about the law. For senior lawyers, influence is everything: being in the room when important decisions are made, being sought out when the issue is broader than pure legal advice, and helping the business get important things done.
His second lesson is a reminder that influence only works if it is underpinned by technical excellence. Lawyers may contribute to strategy, policy and commercial decision-making, but when the issue is legal, they need to be precise, trusted and properly prepared.
Finally, Jim discusses the importance of professional identity. At every stage of a legal career, lawyers need to understand what success looks like in their role, which relationships matter most, and how to build credibility for the next step. He also shares his perspective on AI, why legal teams should embrace change, and how junior lawyers can create real impact by experimenting with new tools.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Guest Recommendations
- Song: Talk of the Town – The Pretenders
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
- Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/
- Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/
- Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject
Listen to the Podcast
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro – Jim Shaughnessy & DocuSign
03:12 Beyond e-signature – DocuSign IAM
10:52 Lesson 1 – Influence matters most
18:06 Building influence as a junior lawyer
24:38 AI leadership & visibility in legal teams
29:28 Using influence at the right time
36:58 Lesson 2 – Be an excellent lawyer first
44:54 One-way vs two-way door decisions
48:43 Lesson 3 – Professional identity matters
01:01:44 Hot or Not, AI & closing thoughts
James Ryan, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Business Officer at BioNTech, joins Scott Brown to discuss the lessons he’s learned leading through one of the most transformative periods in the biotech industry.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, James reflects on his journey from scientist to lawyer, before eventually stepping into one of the most influential legal leadership roles in biotech. Joining BioNTech before it became globally recognised, he shares what it was like helping scale a fast-growing research-focused company into a world-leading biotechnology business, while navigating the intensity and pressure that came with rapid global growth and strategic partnerships, including BioNTech’s landmark collaboration with Pfizer.
James’ first lesson focuses on the importance of curiosity. From scientific research to complex legal negotiations, he explains why asking better questions, understanding the client’s objectives, and genuinely engaging with the business leads to stronger advice and deeper trust.
His second lesson is about objectivity. James discusses the challenge lawyers face when businesses want a particular answer — and why legal leaders must remain calm, analytical, and willing to give the advice that needs to be heard, not simply the advice others want.
Finally, he talks about remembering that everyone is human. Reflecting on periods of extreme pressure and workload, James explains why approachable legal teams build stronger businesses, why mistakes need to be surfaced early rather than hidden, and why lawyers need downtime and perspective to perform at their best.
Along the way, James also shares insights into:
- Transitioning from Chief Legal Officer into a broader Chief Business Officer role
- How legal teams earn influence inside high-growth businesses
- Why biotech companies think differently about risk
- The importance of relationships, curiosity, and trust in leadership
- How climbing helps him switch off and solve problems more effectively
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Guest Recommendations
- Film: Free Solo
- Hobby: Climbing
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
- ECA: https://www.cpduk.co.uk/courses/heriot-brown-executive-counsel-accelerator-eca-course
- Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/
Listen to the Podcast
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro – James Ryan & BioNTech
03:22 CLO to Chief Business Officer
05:42 BioNTech before COVID
07:21 From s
Lucy Tyrrell, General Counsel at Wordsmith AI, joins Scott Brown to explore how in-house lawyers can evolve by combining legal expertise with technology, process design, and commercial thinking.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Lucy shares her journey from private practice into high-growth tech environments, culminating in her role at a fast-scaling legal AI startup backed by Index Ventures and General Catalyst. Sitting at the intersection of law and product, she offers a unique perspective on what it means to be an “AI-native” legal function—where lawyers don’t just advise the business, but actively shape how legal work is delivered.
Her first lesson centres on thinking like the business. Lucy explains why legal advice cannot exist in isolation and how understanding commercial drivers—often expressed through metrics—allows lawyers to prioritise effectively and deliver more impactful guidance.
Her second lesson highlights the power of networks, both internally and externally. Whether navigating uncertainty, making career decisions, or solving unfamiliar problems, she emphasises the importance of knowing who to turn to and building relationships before you need them.
Finally, she focuses on curiosity—encouraging lawyers to embrace new technology, experiment with AI tools, and develop “legal engineering” skills. Rather than waiting for perfection, she advocates for a mindset of testing, learning, and iterating—mirroring how modern tech teams operate.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Guest Recommendations
- Song: The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
- Legal Engineering Project (Slack Community for in-house lawyers): [APPLICATION FORM LINK]
- Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/
Listen to the Podcast
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.
Chapters:
00:00 Opening insight – Metrics, AI & modern legal roles
00:48 Scott introduces Lucy Tyrrell, GC at Wordsmith AI
03:39 Inside a legal tech business & AI-native legal teams
09:23 Lesson 1 – Think like the business
16:06 From private practice to in-house & startup life
20:48 Lesson 2 – Your network is everything
29:50 Career opportunities driven by relationships
31:31 Lesson 3 – Stay curious & embrace change
40:53 Hot or Not – KPIs, AI & legal team performance
47:21 Walk-on song, legal engineering & closing reflections
Jonathan Wiseman, General Counsel and Chief People Officer at Ocado Retail, joins Scott Brown to share practical lessons on influence, adaptability, and building a truly commercial legal career.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Jonathan reflects on his dual role leading both legal and people functions within a fast-growing retail joint venture between Ocado and Marks & Spencer. He shares why the most effective in-house lawyers don’t stay confined to their “legal lane,” but instead operate confidently in the grey areas between legal risk, commercial decision-making, and broader business strategy.
Jonathan’s second lesson centres on career progression—encouraging lawyers to take opportunities when they arise, even when they don’t perfectly align with a pre-defined plan. He candidly discusses his initial hesitation in stepping into a Chief People Officer role and how that decision ultimately expanded his leadership capability and perspective.
His final insight focuses on commercial judgement. Rather than trying to “win” every legal point, he explains why the best long-term outcomes come from building sustainable relationships and balancing legal precision with business reality. It’s a reminder that success in-house is as much about collaboration and trust as it is about technical expertise.
Listeners also get a glimpse into Jonathan’s personal side, from navigating music choices on family car journeys to his reflections on how AI is already reshaping both legal and HR functions.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Wordsmith Legal AI
Guest Recommendations
- Song: Waterloo Sunset – The Kinks
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
Listen to the Podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.
Chapters
00:00 Opening insight – AI, judgment & modern legal roles
00:56 Scott introduces Jonathan Wiseman, GC & CPO Ocado Retail
03:13 The dual role – Legal, HR & executive leadership
07:04 Lesson 1 – Don’t stay in your swim lane
12:57 Developing commercial thinking in lawyers
19:09 Lesson 2 – Take opportunities (even if they don’t fit the plan)
24:22 Leading people, culture & HR at exec level
34:54 Lesson 3 – The best deal isn’t always the right deal
40:32 Hot or Not – AI, legal value & the role of GC
47:24 Walk-on song, music & closing reflections
Episode 100: Perspective, Candour, and Strategic Leadership — Rachel Canham, Rentokil Initial
In the 100th episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Rachel Canham, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at Rentokil Initial, reflects on what it actually takes to operate as a strategic leader at executive level — across a legal function of around 70 lawyers spanning 90 countries.
Rachel stepped into her first "top seat" role after a career that took her from private practice through senior in-house roles, and the shift required more than technical excellence. It required a change in mindset and responsibility that she's still refining.
Three lessons shape the conversation:
Perspective. Shaped by personal adversity, Rachel explains why the best lawyers in a crisis aren't the ones who panic, but the ones who can zoom out and make balanced decisions when the stakes are highest. Calm, objective, clear-headed — and aware that most things are less catastrophic than they first appear.
Candour. Rachel makes the case that candour is one of the most underrated qualities at senior leadership level — but only works if you've done the groundwork. Building trust, credibility, and human connection first is what earns you the right to be honest later, even when the message isn't well received.
Strategic leadership. Rachel pushes back on the familiar "business partner" framing for in-house lawyers. Her view: lawyers shouldn't be partnering from the sidelines. They should be embedded in decision-making, contributing beyond legal advice, and taking an active role in delivering strategy.
Rachel was recorded the same day she addressed the haggis at our Charity General Counsel Burns Supper — in a style I'm unlikely to forget. Genuinely grateful she agreed to be the 100th guest.
About the guest Rachel Canham is Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at Rentokil Initial, the FTSE-listed pest control and hygiene services business. She leads a global legal function of around 70 lawyers across 90 countries and sits on the company's executive team.
Guest recommendation Song: Belter — Gerry Cinnamon
Resources mentioned Register your interest in The Lodge, Heriot Brown's in-house legal community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
Give us a Follow!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
About the show Lessons I Learned in Law is the podcast from Heriot Brown, the specialist in-house legal recruitment firm. Host Scott Brown sits down with senior in-house lawyers to hear how they got where they are, what they wish they'd known, and what they're still trying to figure out.
This episode is produced in partnership with Wordsmith — the legal AI platform built for in-house teams.
Find more at heriotbrown.com.
00:00 Opening insight – The courage to be candid
01:13 Scott introduces Rachel Canham, GC Rentokil Initial
04:48 Stepping into the GC role & executive leadership
10:06 Lesson 1 – Perspective shapes better judgment
17:07 Lesson 2 – The power of candour in leadership
24:50 Lesson 3 – From business partner to strategic leader
30:18 Building commercial thinking & executive presence
33:38 Hot or Not – AI, legal leadership & career positioning
43:36 Personal brand, visibility & standing out as a lawyer
44:54 Walk-on so
Dean Nash, Global Chief Operating Officer for Legal at Banco Santander, joins Scott Brown to share practical leadership lessons from operating at scale within one of the world’s largest legal functions.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Dean reflects on his move away from the traditional General Counsel path into a newly created global operations role focused on transforming a 1,700-lawyer legal organisation. His first lesson centres on identifying and leaning into your unique strengths. Rather than obsessing over weaknesses, he explains how recognising what genuinely gives you energy can unlock unexpected career opportunities and shape more fulfilling leadership paths.
Dean’s second lesson is grounded in execution: learning to create momentum and “get things done” in environments that often reward over-analysis. Drawing on experiences in early-stage fintech and global banking, he explores how in-house lawyers can think more commercially by treating legal support as a product that helps businesses grow while managing risk.
His final reflection highlights the importance of maintaining interests beyond the day job. By building perspective and protecting personal identity from becoming too tied to professional roles, he argues that lawyers can remain clearer-headed advisers and more resilient leaders.
Guest Recommendations:
- Book: Good to Great by Jim Collins
- Podcast: The Tim Ferriss Show
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Executive Counsel Accelerator (ECA): https://www.cpduk.co.uk/courses/heriot-brown-executive-counsel-accelerator-eca-course
- The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://forms.office.com/e/Pq7Uyv8xnS
- The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
Give us a follow
· Spotify: https://lnkd.in/er928hqJ
· Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/ea6Y4JYy
· YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eAeMvrgz
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with colleagues growing their careers in legal leadership.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Opening insight – Creating momentum in business
00:56 Scott introduces Dean Nash, COO Legal at Santander
03:00 Global legal operations role & transformation remit
08:37 Lesson 1 – Lean into your unique selling point
18:14 Lesson 2 – Get shit done & create commercial momentum
21:03 Helping the business make money faster – in-house mindset
25:52 Lesson 3 – Don’t let your identity become your job title
30:18 Did I Say This? – leadership quotes & light-hearted debate
32:29 AI governance, advisory roles & future of legal leadership
35:52 Book, podcast & walk-on song reflections
Justine Campbell, Chief Legal Officer at National Grid, joins Scott Brown to share grounded leadership insights from operating at the centre of a complex, global energy business.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Justine reflects on what it truly means to influence at senior level in-house. She explains why the most effective lawyers focus on delivering insight rather than just information, understanding business context, stakeholder priorities and the pace at which decisions need to be made.
She also explores how strong legal leadership is built through assembling diverse, high-performing teams. From creating space for constructive challenge to investing in trusted peer networks outside the organisation, Justine shares candid reflections on how perspective shapes better judgement.
Her final lesson centres on recognising the responsibility that comes with senior legal roles. Whether advising boards, managing crises or shaping organisational integrity, she highlights why lawyers must balance technical excellence with emotional intelligence and resilience. Listeners also hear personal insights, including her early ambitions outside law and the importance she places on maintaining curiosity throughout her career.
Guest Recommendations:
- Podcast: The Rest is History
- Podcast: RUNA
- Book: Persuasion by Jane Austen
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Executive Counsel Accelerator (ECA): https://www.cpduk.co.uk/courses/heriot-brown-executive-counsel-accelerator-eca-course
- The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://forms.office.com/e/Pq7Uyv8xnS
- The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
Connect with Heriot Brown
- https://heriotbrown.com/
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with colleagues building their careers in legal leadership.
Chapters:
00:00 Opening reflection – Insight over information
00:48 Scott introduces Justine Campbell, CLO National Grid
02:35 Justine’s career journey & leadership scope
06:52 Lesson 1 – Insight matters more than technical brilliance
14:10 Building trust with stakeholders & commercial judgement
20:42 Lesson 2 – Leading teams through challenge and change
29:18 Developing future legal leaders & succession mindset
36:05 Lesson 3 – Owning your voice and influence
44:12 GC Hot or Not – Leadership visibility & career signals
49:30 Walk-on song, personal reflections & closing
Season 9 of Lessons I Learned in Law opens with a candid and wide-ranging conversation with Kevin Massie, Chief Legal, Risk, Governance and Compliance Officer at Imperial Brands PLC, a FTSE 30 business with 25,000+ employees globally.
Just over a year into the role, Kevin reflects on stepping into one of the UK’s most senior in-house legal positions and why the title alone doesn’t guarantee influence.
Kevin’s first lesson centres on work-life balance, but not in the traditional sense. From late-night IPO drafting as a trainee in Canada to navigating a demanding first year as GC alongside personal challenges at home, he shares why balance isn’t about rigid boundaries, it’s about building structures that allow you to flex when life demands it.
His second lesson is a pivotal leadership moment: realising that if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Kevin explains how a near-miss on a major internal project reshaped his view of leadership, from proving individual brilliance to assembling and empowering people who think differently and better than you.
The third lesson focuses on networking without agenda. Kevin recounts how a long-standing mentor invested in a relationship with no commercial expectation, a powerful reminder that authentic connection, not transactional networking, builds a durable career.
Along the way, Kevin shares insights on succession planning, international mobility, building diverse leadership teams, and why lawyers must earn their seat at the table, it isn’t automatically granted.
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network.
00:00 Genuine connection & networking mindset
00:52 Introduction – Kevin Massie, GC Imperial Brands
02:09 Scope of the GC role & global team structure
05:46 Icebreaker – Farming dreams & life in the Peak District
07:20 Lesson 1 – Work-life balance isn’t binary
10:19 Setting boundaries & supporting junior lawyers
12:05 International career moves – Canada to Dubai to Cape Town
15:34 Lesson 2 – If you’re the smartest in the room, leave
18:24 Leadership growth & building stronger teams
21:45 Succession planning & developing future GCs
26:43 Expanding remit – Risk, governance & board exposure
29:30 Earning a seat at the executive table
31:28 Lesson 3 – Networking authentically & giving back
35:04 Spotting real relationships vs transactional networking
37:29 GC Hot or Not – Legal conferences & business partnering
39:55 International mobility for in-house lawyers
41:05 US firms vs Magic Circle debate
43:01 Walk-on song & episode wrap-up
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues!
This week, Scott is joined by Jim Reid, Chief Legal Officer at Fortis, the $35bn North American utilities group headquartered in Newfoundland, Canada. Jim’s career shift is one many lawyers dream about but rarely execute—moving directly from partnership at leading Canadian firm Davies into his first-ever in-house role as a general counsel.
In this episode, Jim reflects on the lessons forged during nearly twenty years in private practice and the mindset required to thrive once inside the C-suite. His first lesson centres on resilience—not the glossy version, but the kind earned through long hours, unpredictable workflows, cancelled holidays, and early-career mistakes. Jim explains why resilience, more than intelligence or technical talent, is what determines who survives and progresses in the high-intensity world of transactional law.
His second lesson explores the real engine of a legal career: people. From dealing with difficult partners and stressed clients to mentoring junior lawyers, Jim explains why being respected, curious and reliable matters far more than chasing perfection. It’s people—not deal sheets—that shape the most meaningful parts of a legal career.
Jim’s final lesson is a powerful one for any lawyer eyeing the GC seat: get comfortable being uncomfortable. He recounts how stepping into an executive role required him to stop hiding behind subject-matter expertise and instead contribute to broad business decisions, even when surrounded by industry veterans. As CLO, his job is no longer to simply advise—but to decide.
Jim also discusses leading a decentralised legal structure across ten utilities, the importance of local presence in regulated markets, building credibility as a business leader, and why live music—from Canadian icons The Tragically Hip to The Lumineers—remains his favourite way to reconnect with people.
Guest Recommendations
🎧 Walk-on Song: The Tragically Hip – Canada’s most iconic band, known for storytelling, hockey references and emotional connection.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by Stephanie Lopes, Chief Legal Officer at Volt.io, the UK-based fintech scale-up powering global instant payments through open banking. Stephanie joined Volt after a decade in the tech transactions team at Bird & Bird, where she worked closely with the founders from their earliest days and even drafted Volt’s first client contract.
In this conversation—recorded just weeks before she goes on maternity leave—Stephanie reflects on her four years helping Volt grow from around 40 employees to more than 150. She shares how secondments across organisations like the Bank of England, Nestlé, and ABB shaped her understanding of what good (and not-so-good) in-house looks like, and how that experience gave her the confidence to join the business post-Series A.
Her lessons shine a light on modern, commercial in-house practice:
the importance of clear communication, especially when working cross-functionally;
the courage to hold your values, particularly when ethical questions arise at executive level; and
embracing your role as a business leader, not just a lawyer—balancing legal judgment with product, people, and operational understanding.
Stephanie also discusses preparing her team for her upcoming leave, implementing tools like Ironclad, using AI thoughtfully (including for tone in emails), and the unexpected joy of running an Instagram-famous household of guinea pigs.
Guest Recommendations
🎧 Walk-on Song: “Sweetness” by Jimmy Eat World – Stephanie’s “absolute banger” for any victory lap.
🎧 Runner-up: “Blitzkrieg Bop” by Ramones.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by Katja Fenton, General Counsel and Executive Team Member at Fugro, the global geo-data company supporting safer infrastructure, offshore wind development, cleaner energy, and sustainable cities. Remarkably, Katja joined the conversation during her first 90 days—a pivotal moment when lessons feel sharpest, transitions feel largest, and instincts matter most.
Katja reflects on the early months of stepping into C-suite leadership while taking on responsibility for a global legal & compliance function of around 60 professionals across four regions. Her first lesson—integrity is trusting your gut, even when it’s uncomfortable—comes from a defining moment early in her career, when she turned down a high-profile international assignment because the work didn’t align with her values. She shares how that instinct has shaped her approach to ethics, leadership, and decision-making ever since.
Her second lesson explores the quiet but transformative power of allyship and sponsorship: the people who open doors for you when you’re not in the room. Katja discusses the individuals who have championed her career—from a sixth-form teacher who changed her university path, to leaders who offered opportunities at critical moments—and why she now feels a responsibility to pay it forward.
Her final lesson reframes imposter syndrome as evidence of growth. From Dubai’s major construction projects to stepping into the executive team at Fugro, Katja describes how feeling out of depth has consistently signalled the start of her biggest periods of development.
Katja also speaks candidly about global mobility, returning to Europe after years in Asia, building diverse teams, raising three young children in the Netherlands, and the importance of curiosity as a core legal skill.
Guest Recommendations
📚 The First 90 Days – A practical guide for transitions into new roles.
📚 The Culture Map – Essential reading for navigating multicultural teams.
🎧 The Moth – True storytelling, live and unscripted.
🎧 Lessons I Learned in Law – Katja’s go-to podcast on her commute.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai/
to learn more.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by Andy Cooke, Chief Legal Officer at Perk, the global business travel and expenses platform. Andy shares a grounded, refreshingly practical look at what it means to build and lead an in-house legal team inside a high-growth tech company.
Drawing on his experience at Perk and his earlier career in private practice and in-house, Andy unpacks three lessons centred on product thinking, influence and culture. He explains why lawyers should view their work as a product used by internal customers and why simplicity, clarity and usability matter more than long memos. Andy also reflects on the real source of influence inside a business: not job titles or hierarchy, but delivering outcomes that genuinely move the needle.
His final lesson focuses on culture as a strategic asset. From hiring curious, low-ego team members to designing processes that scale, Andy shows how the right cultural foundations help legal teams operate as enablers—not gatekeepers—in fast-moving organisations.
Away from work, Andy talks about the joy of being back home in Yorkshire after time abroad, and how grounding himself in family, community and routine keeps him balanced.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai
to learn more.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by Carolyn Herzog, Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary at Elastic, the Dutch-headquartered, NYSE-listed global search and AI company. With a career spanning senior legal roles at Symantec, Arm, and now Elastic, Carolyn has led through major transformations in cybersecurity, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.
In this episode, Carolyn shares three lessons that have shaped her approach to leadership and modern legal practice. Her first, Perception is Reality, explores the importance of feedback and empathy—how understanding others’ viewpoints, not proving you’re right, is the key to influence. Her second lesson, Thriving in the Grey Zone, challenges the traditional black-and-white view of legal advice, focusing instead on partnership, pragmatism, and helping the business navigate complexity. And her third lesson, Make It Actionable, calls on in-house lawyers to move beyond advice into operational execution—turning words into outcomes.
Carolyn also discusses Elastic’s fully distributed work model, the rise of legal operations, and the responsible use of AI. She offers an optimistic take on how technology will reshape, not replace, the legal profession—urging lawyers to stay curious and proactive to future-proof their careers.
Guest Recommendations
🎧 Respect by Aretha Franklin – Her ultimate walk-on song and tribute to the Queen of Soul.
📚 Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – Exploring how small shifts create transformative change.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai
to learn more.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by Emily Barker, Global General Counsel and Executive Committee member at Arcadis, the Dutch-headquartered, Euronext-listed design, engineering, and sustainability consultancy employing more than 32,000 people worldwide.
Emily reflects on stepping into her first executive leadership role, moving beyond legal advice to help shape global business strategy. She shares how courage and optimism, two qualities not traditionally associated with lawyers, can transform teams and drive real-world change. Her first lesson explores the power of a forward-looking mindset in tackling challenges like climate transition and sustainability.
Emily’s second lesson, global vision, local wisdom, highlights the importance of understanding local culture and nuance in a global business. As an Australian lawyer fluent in Dutch and embedded in the Netherlands, she’s a rare hybrid leader who bridges global strategy with local insight.
Her final lesson focuses on human-centred leadership, why empathy, collaboration, and connection now matter more than technical precision. From managing a 130-person legal team to navigating cultural complexity, Emily’s story is a masterclass in modern in-house leadership.
Guest Recommendation
🎧 Iggy Pop Confidential – A BBC Radio 6 show blending indie classics, eclectic sounds, and the raw voice of a rock legend.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai
to learn more.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by James Sullivan, an experienced General Counsel and business leader who most recently served as Group General Counsel at Bitstamp, one of the world’s longest-standing cryptocurrency exchanges.
James shares an inside look at what it’s like leading legal in the fast-moving world of digital assets — an industry that blends rapid innovation with complex regulation. With a background spanning GC, Chief Risk Officer, COO, and compliance leadership roles, he reflects on how stepping beyond pure legal work has shaped his perspective on what makes an effective in-house function.
His lessons are refreshingly practical. He explains why every GC should define their own role and make legal’s work matter to the business, how to know your own value and bring the right version of yourself to each organisation, and why it’s vital to own your career path — being brave enough to change direction when it no longer fits.
From negotiating a global remit to completing an executive MBA, James’s story blends commercial thinking with curiosity, adaptability, and a deep sense of purpose.
Guest Recommendations
📘 What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith – A must-read for senior lawyers transitioning into leadership roles.
🎧 Political Currency with Ed Balls and George Osborne – Smart, balanced political debate across perspectives.
🎧 The Rest is Politics and The Rest is Politics: US – Insightful and entertaining political commentary.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai
to learn more.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by Jonathan Cope, Managing Director of the Specialty Lines business at RSA Group Insurance. After a decade as General Counsel and executive-team member, Jonathan made the rare move from legal leadership into a commercial managing-director role. He reflects on what it’s been like to step out of law after nearly twenty years and into a market-facing position in an industry built on relationships.
Jonathan shares three grounded lessons. First, the power of responsiveness, why speed, clarity, and reliability still define trusted relationships, whether with clients, colleagues, or brokers. Second, how to handle mistakes: why openness and calm are the marks of true professionals, and how his own early misstep reshaped his career for the better. And third, the value of positive mental imagery, using focus, breathing, and mindset to overcome nerves and lead confidently in new environments.
His story is an honest and encouraging reflection for any lawyer considering a career pivot, showing how adaptability and curiosity can open doors far beyond traditional legal paths.
Guest Recommendations
- 📚 The Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving – A brilliantly written story with an unforgettable ending.
- 🎧 Desert Island Discs – Timeless conversations on life and music.
- 🎧 The Rest is History / The Rest is Politics – Smart, accessible takes on world events.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai
to learn more.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott is joined by Portia Thornhill, General Counsel and Partner at Elixirr, the challenger consultancy competing with the Big Four. Portia shares her journey from nearly a decade at Allen & Overy to building a thriving in-house career that ultimately led to partnership an exceptional recognition for an in-house lawyer.
Her lessons are grounded in resilience and reinvention. She reflects on stepping away from private practice to focus on family, rebuilding confidence after five years out of work, and rediscovering her professional voice through roles at Johnson Matthey, Kambi, and now Elixirr. Portia also shares how mentorship, trust, and belief, both given and received, were key to her transition into leadership.
In her second lesson, she dives into how Elixirr integrates AI across legal and consulting functions, offering a pragmatic take on how lawyers can use technology to amplify, not replace, human insight. Finally, she explores the power of communication, self-awareness, and integrity in leadership skills honed through coaching, self-reflection, and a commitment to personal growth.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai
to learn more.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal AI platform built for in-house teams.
This week, Scott Brown is joined by Frankie Williams, Chief Legal Officer at DeepL, an AI-powered language platform transforming how people and businesses communicate across borders. Frankie shares insights from leading a global legal team through rapid growth, reflecting on lessons learned from an in-house career that’s taken her through IPOs, acquisitions, and advisory roles across the London tech scene.
Her three Lessons in Law are simple but powerful: no one knows all the answers, your network is everything, and be bold enough to back yourself. Frankie talks about the importance of honesty and humility in leadership, how to build genuine professional relationships without feeling “salesy,” and why every opportunity she’s had has come through her network.
She also shares personal reflections on motherhood, travel, and how seeing the world through her daughter’s eyes keeps her grounded even as she leads legal at one of Europe’s fastest-growing AI companies.
Guest Recommendation
🎧 When It Hits the Fan – A podcast dissecting real-world crisis communications and leadership lessons from those in the room.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with your network.
Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law kicks off in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal AI platform built for in-house teams.
Emilie Mathieu, General Counsel at Checkout.com, joins Scott Brown to share her journey from Amazon and eBay into the fast-paced world of fintech, where she now leads legal, compliance, and enterprise risk across a global team of 110.
In this conversation, Emilie reflects on stepping up from managing 14 people to an executive role in one of the world’s most dynamic payments companies. She shares candid lessons about people leadership, decision-making under pressure, and why strong opinions—weakly held—are vital in today’s in-house environment.
Her three Lessons in Law are both practical and thought-provoking. From embracing the idea that multiple truths can coexist, to the discipline of bottom-line-up-front communication with executives, Emilie highlights the skills that differentiate effective legal leaders. Along the way, she talks about building trust, sending the elevator back down for the next generation, and why internal networks are often the most powerful career accelerators.
This episode is packed with insights for anyone considering how to make the leap into senior leadership or simply wanting to become a more impactful in-house lawyer.
Guest Recommendations
- Aftermath by Harald Jähner – A gripping account of Germany’s transformation in the decade after 1945.
- 50 States – A French-language exploration of each US state’s unique culture.
- Wild Things – The rise and fall of Siegfried and Roy.
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.
Doug McClure, Senior Counsel at Northrop Grumman, shares lessons learned from more than two decades of in-house practice across heavy industry, infrastructure, and now one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence contractors.
Doug reflects on his eight years supporting Northrop Grumman’s European operations—navigating a highly regulated, high-stakes sector that demands clarity, trust, and creativity. He begins with the cornerstone of his approach: communication. Doug explains why over-communicating, building personal credibility, and managing expectations are non-negotiable for in-house lawyers, particularly when working across global teams and cultural contexts.
His second lesson is all about solutions. Saying “no” is sometimes necessary, but more often than not, Doug argues, the real skill is finding a way forward—even if it means finding a “third way” that balances business ambition with risk.
Finally, Doug talks about the importance of managing expectations: balancing competing priorities, under-promising and over-delivering, and ensuring stakeholders feel heard—especially in the high-pressure, fast-changing world of defence procurement.
Guest Recommendations:
• Podcast: The Rest is History – Doug particularly enjoyed the episode on Hannibal and the Battle of Cannae
• Book: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – An engrossing exploration of how humans have adapted and shaped the world
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone curious about building an in-house career in a complex, regulated industry.
Nick Havers, General Counsel for Europe and now also Managing Principal at Lockton, the world’s largest privately owned insurance brokers, shares three sharp, experience-driven lessons shaped across more than a decade in the insurance broking sector.
Nick’s recent promotion to Managing Principal, an honour usually reserved for client-facing, revenue-generating leaders, is a milestone not just for him, but for how lawyers are recognised as true business partners at Lockton. His elevation sends a powerful message: in-house legal leaders can and should have a seat at the table, valued alongside commercial leadership.
Now sitting on the European Executive Committee of Lockton, Nick reflects on what it means to be a lawyer trusted by the business. He shares how his first in-house GC taught him the power of “making your boss look good”, a mindset rooted in empathy, clarity, and teamwork that has stayed with him ever since.
Nick also unpacks the value of curiosity: why asking more questions than you answer leads to better outcomes, how to build relationships across a complex organisation, and how his team uses internal branding and training to market legal’s value across the business.
In a standout final lesson, Nick reminds us that not everything valuable is visible. Some of legal’s best work is in the crises that never materialise. His advice on combining hard work with strategic messaging, and showing how your team contributes to long-term growth, is a masterclass in modern in-house leadership.
Guest Recommendation:
• Book: Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman – A toolkit for optimism, self-awareness, and signature strengths
About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone growing their legal career in a complex, fast-moving business.
Pola Karolczyk, General Counsel and Chief People Officer at Cowboy, joins Scott to share her dynamic legal journey: from competition law in Poland and US law firms, to regulatory work at Apple, and now building the legal and people functions at a fast-moving e-bike scaleup.
Pola reflects on three powerful lessons, beginning with the need to ditch legal jargon and speak human. She learned early on that most people, especially in business, aren’t interested in the mechanics of the law, just the outcome. This mindset has shaped her ability to communicate clearly, deliver pragmatic advice, and influence senior stakeholders across borders.
She also highlights the importance of developing leadership and commercial skills outside the comfort zone of technical legal work, drawing on her experiences in Big Law, Apple, and now Cowboy. Pola’s final lesson is one for ambitious lawyers: if you want to lead, don’t wait for calm conditions. Join a scaleup, stretch yourself, and learn on the edge.
Now wearing dual hats in legal and HR, Pola offers rare insight into what it means to shape culture and governance in parallel, and why reporting directly to the CEO matters.
Guest Recommendation:
• Podcast: Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu - Practical strategies for personal and professional growth
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone navigating the leap into leadership.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone navigating the leap into leadership.
Tara Haig, General Counsel at Multiverse, joins Scott to reflect on a legal career driven by curiosity, courage, and instinct. From saying yes to opening a New York office two years post-qualification to leading legal, privacy, and governance for one of the UK’s most prominent edtech scale-ups, Tara’s story is all about leaning into discomfort, and figuring it out along the way.
Now part of the exec team at Multiverse, a $1.7B AI-powered apprenticeship platform, Tara shares her take on three big lessons: embracing stretch opportunities (even when terrifying), understanding the commercial engine behind your business, and showing up with authenticity. Whether it’s tackling GDPR in lockdown, raising a SPAC, or managing legal complexity across Series A to D growth, she’s built a legal career that’s anything but linear.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating scale-up chaos, growing their team, or trying to stay grounded while building something big. Tara also shares candid reflections on working from Kenya, raising twins, and why perspective, and permission to say no, is as important as saying yes.
Guest Recommendations:
• Book: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
• Podcast: Pivot with Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway
• Podcast: The Rest is Politics
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, or share it with a lawyer navigating the scale-up world.
Shelley McKinley, Chief Legal Officer at GitHub and Vice President at Microsoft, joins Scott to share career-defining lessons from two decades at the sharp edge of tech, innovation, and regulation.
Now leading GitHub’s global legal, policy, and trust teams, Shelley offers a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of GitHub Copilot, launched before ChatGPT put generative AI on the map, and shares what it really means to advise on emerging technology when the law hasn’t caught up yet. She talks candidly about navigating ambiguity, making smart bets in fast-moving industries, and how the best legal advice can’t be given in a vacuum.
Shelley’s lessons cover how to lead in-house teams with the right mix of legal and non-legal expertise, how to focus on high-impact work in a sea of meetings, and why building strong internal networks is a non-negotiable skill for modern legal leaders. Her reflections are sharp, grounded, and refreshingly honest, touching on everything from grunge music to paralegal strategy, Microsoft’s legal transformation, and the FUD-to-FOMO evolution of AI.
Guest Recommendations:
• Podcast: Acquired — Particularly the Spotify and Microsoft episodes
• Book: The Meditating Mother by Laura Kopchick — A quirky short story collection written by Shelley’s college friend (https://www.amazon.com/Meditating-Mother-Laura-Kopchick/dp/1962148157)
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone curious about leading in tech, AI, or global legal teams.
Sam Plant, Chief Legal Officer at Müller UK & Ireland, brings a refreshing mix of humility, insight and honesty to this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law. From risk-taking in legal advice to speaking up about gender inequality, Sam shares three candid lessons that challenge the status quo.
Leading the legal and compliance function across one of the UK’s best-known consumer brands—yoghurts, milk, desserts, and a vast B2B logistics network—Sam reflects on a career shaped as much by mistakes as by milestones. He explains why embracing the right kind of mistake can sharpen commercial judgement, and why lawyers who never get it wrong may be playing it too safe.
Sam also offers a counterpoint to the classic “say yes to everything” career advice. In his view, learning to say no—to roles, responsibilities, and scope creep—is essential for long-term success and team wellbeing.
In a standout third lesson, Sam shares how he became more aware of his own privilege and began advocating for gender equity in law and beyond. His honest reflections on male allyship, everyday bias, and building trust with women in the profession are as powerful as they are practical.
Guest Recommendations:
• Book: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
• Podcast: Origin Story by Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with a colleague—especially those who want to lead with empathy, courage, and clarity.
David Flavell, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at PepsiCo, shares practical, hard-earned insights from a legal career that has spanned the globe—from Melbourne to Shanghai, Dubai to New York—culminating in one of the most senior legal roles in the Fortune 50.
Now leading a global legal function of 500+ professionals, David speaks candidly about how in-house lawyers can step into a more strategic mindset. He explains why legal leaders must go beyond technical skill and embrace being seen as commercial operators—riding potato trucks (literally), working side-by-side with business teams, and asking the questions no one expects lawyers to ask: “How’s the business doing?”
David unpacks what it really means to be a strategic partner, how to balance legal risk with business ambition, and why “being liquid and filling the gaps” is one of the most valuable habits a legal leader can develop. From navigating cultural differences to crisis management and AI readiness, this episode is packed with practical guidance for lawyers who want to lead, not just advise.
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, or share it with someone navigating global legal leadership.
Jorrit de Haan, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Mollie, joins Scott to share the honest highs and hidden challenges of building an in-house legal function from the ground up.
Jorrit stepped into his first GC role at Mollie in 2021, tasked with transforming a handful of lawyers working reactively into a fully-fledged legal team. In this conversation, he shares the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way—starting with the golden rule that you can’t spend too much time on hiring. From trusting your gut when bringing people in, to protecting team culture and avoiding the “department of no” trap, Jorrit lays out what it really takes to build a trusted, high-performing legal function in a fast-paced fintech.
He also opens up about his own career path—from private practice to interim roles—and why it took trying a few things before landing in the GC seat, the role that fits him best. Along the way, you’ll hear why Harlan’s Razor (“never attribute to malice what you can attribute to incompetence”) has become one of his guiding leadership principles.
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with a colleague navigating their own in-house leadership journey.
Roel Staes, until recently General Counsel International at FedEx, joins Scott to reflect on a 22-year in-house legal career that scaled from Benelux counsel to overseeing a 500-strong international legal, regulatory, security, and government affairs team.
In this wide-ranging episode, Roel shares candid lessons from the top—on everything from managing complexity in global organisations to learning how to communicate with clarity, brevity, and precision. A strong believer in over-communication and having your “memory card” ready, Roel explains why lawyers need to proactively articulate their value, insert themselves into business conversations, and take ownership beyond the job description.
He also makes a compelling case for win-win lawyering, drawing from hard-earned lessons negotiating contracts and managing sensitive relationships. Plus, Roel introduces us to the concept of healthy laziness—why challenging processes, improving systems, and questioning the status quo is a key trait of high-performing in-house lawyers.
Whether you're aiming for GC, growing a legal team, or just trying to become a sharper operator in-house, this episode is packed with sharp, actionable takeaways from someone who’s walked the walk across global legal leadership.
Guest Recommendations:
- Emotional Intelligence Habits by Dr. Travis Bradberry
- What Every BODY Is Saying by Joe Navarro (FBI body language specialist)
- La Voix du RAID by Laurent Combalbert (on hostage negotiation and business decision-making)
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, or share it with someone thinking about long-term growth in-house.
Emma Moloney, experienced General Counsel and in-house leader across media and tech, joins Scott to reflect on a career that has spanned continents, contracts, and crises. From early GC roles at National Geographic Channel and News UK, to launching crisis management workshops and mentoring lawyers, Emma’s journey blends legal leadership with creative problem-solving.
In this episode, Emma unpacks the lessons that have shaped her approach. She shares why mastering difficult conversations is a non-negotiable skill for leadership, why least-worst decisions are sometimes the hallmark of senior roles, and how embracing no jobs for life can foster resilience and career longevity. Along the way, she discusses the value of contracting roles to build diverse experiences, her work in crisis preparedness (with a few juicy anecdotes), and why getting comfortable in the grey areas is key to thriving in-house.
This one’s packed with practical advice and candid reflections for any lawyer navigating leadership, transitions, or the uncertainties of modern work.
Guest Recommendations:
- Brené Brown on leadership and vulnerability (particularly her work on clear communication)
- The Rest is History podcast — for a fresh, engaging take on historical narratives
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Found this episode valuable? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, or share it with a colleague who’s plotting their next career move.
Jane Hyde, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at RWS Group PLC, shares a refreshingly non-linear legal career that took her from City law to investment banking, via a sabbatical in wine tasting — all the way to the executive team of a global AI-enabled language services business.
In this unfiltered episode, Jane reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership journey. From leaving Freshfields for the trading floor at JP Morgan, to taking a career break and topping the global wine diploma charts, Jane’s path is anything but typical. Her lessons emphasise the value of learning outside law, the importance of clear, human communication (especially in a tech-heavy world), and why ownership and accountability matter more than ever for in-house lawyers.
Listeners will take away practical insight on integrating legal with the wider business, contributing meaningfully to executive discussions, and building credibility through sound judgement—not just technical skill. Jane also shares how side roads, like compliance and PSL roles, helped refine her leadership approach, and why your next move doesn’t always need to be part of a five-year plan.
Guest Recommendations:
- The Rest is History — A wide-ranging, witty take on historical moments with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook
- The Rest is Entertainment — A pop culture spin by Marina Hyde and Richard Osman
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
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Daniel Winterfeldt, General Counsel for EMEA and Asia at Jefferies, shares his powerful journey from Wall Street to London and from capital markets partner to in-house legal leader and diversity champion.
In this candid conversation, Daniel opens up about his early experiences as an openly gay lawyer navigating the stark culture shock of moving from New York to London in the early 2000s — a time when being out in the legal profession was far from the norm. This culture gap eventually led him to found the Interlaw Diversity Forum, a not-for-profit organisation driving inclusion, equity, and culture change in the legal sector for the past 17 years.
Daniel’s lessons are deeply human and widely applicable: the importance of putting people first in any legal function; how knowing what you don’t know is just as important as what you do; and why every problem has a solution — even if it’s not the one you expected.
This episode is packed with insight for anyone navigating leadership, career growth, or the structural challenges of the legal industry. Daniel also shares details of Interlaw’s Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit — a free, open-source guide every hiring manager should read — and some great podcast recommendations to expand your thinking.
Guest Recommendations:
- The Rest is Politics: US — Behind-the-scenes takes on US politics with Anthony Scaramucci & Katty Kay
- Blow Up — A behind-the-scenes deep dive into 90s fashion magazine culture
- Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell — Thought-provoking takes on overlooked stories and misunderstood moments
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law on your favourite podcast platform, leave us a review, or share it with a colleague.
Lessons I Learned in Law with Amos Carrington, General Counsel & Company Secretary at Low Carbon
Amos Carrington, General Counsel at Low Carbon, talks to Scott Brown about making the leap from private practice to leading a mission-driven renewable energy legal team.
In this episode, Scott catches up with Amos Carrington, General Counsel at Low Carbon, a fast-growing renewable energy company. Amos shares practical, candid lessons about trusting your instincts, prioritising workplace culture, and seeing feedback as a gift.
He reflects openly on his transition from Herbert Smith Freehills—including his pivotal secondment in Tokyo—to leading an expanding in-house legal team through Low Carbon’s scale-up journey. Amos highlights why culture and mission alignment have been essential to his career fulfilment and shares personal insights from his time abroad and his passion for music.
A great listen for anyone at a career crossroads looking for genuine insights into in-house leadership.
Amos’s Recommendations:
- Podcast: The Age of Longevity – Music industry insights from artists who've stood the test of time.
- Book: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss – An entertaining, timeless cautionary tale on environmental responsibility.
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Mike Sosso, EVP for Legal at BP, joins Scott Brown to discuss his transition from specialist competition lawyer to strategic global leader of a 400-strong legal team.
In this episode, Scott welcomes Mike Sosso, Executive Vice President for Legal (Group GC) at BP, overseeing a global legal team of over 400 professionals. Mike shares candid insights into his journey from an antitrust specialist to one of the most senior legal roles at BP, highlighting how curiosity, allyship, and commercial thinking shaped his leadership style.
Mike’s three powerful lessons focus on embracing curiosity over certainty, becoming genuinely commercial in approach, and proactively owning your career path. He openly discusses how stepping outside his comfort zone and seeking opportunities beyond his specialist background transformed his career trajectory, moving from deep subject expertise to strategic leadership roles across multiple business areas within BP.
Highlights from the conversation include Mike's reflections on the realities of leading a global team, the practical steps he recommends for lawyers aiming to become more commercially minded, and how a pivotal mentorship conversation changed his perspective on career growth. Mike also addresses the importance of allyship and diversity, sharing his personal experience as one of the few openly gay General Counsels at a global corporation, and how active allyship across different communities has influenced his leadership approach.
Mike closes the conversation with insightful recommendations:
Mike’s Recommendations:
- Book: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown – an inspiring story offering powerful lessons on teamwork, leadership, and overcoming perceived limitations.
- Podcasts:
- Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! (NPR) – A humorous and informative take on current events.
- Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris – Practical mindfulness strategies for professionals seeking greater clarity and balance.
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
In the final episode of Season 6, Scott Brown is joined by Katja Roth Pellanda, Group General Counsel at Zurich Insurance. Katja shares her journey from a corporate law associate to managing a global legal function of 500+ lawyers.
Her story is a masterclass in career growth, highlighting how being visible, strategic, and vocal can elevate your career.
Key Lessons from Katja:
- Visibility Matters:
Early in her career, Katja focused solely on delivering exceptional legal work, believing it would be enough for recognition. However, she realised that visibility and storytelling were equally important for career advancement. - Learn to Market Yourself:
Katja speaks about shifting her mindset to actively communicate her value—not just in the quality of her legal advice, but in demonstrating leadership, innovation, and strategic thinking. - Transforming Leadership:
Katja’s focus on visibility, paired with her curiosity and willingness to tackle challenges, has propelled her into a leadership role, managing a global legal function that spans continents and cultures.
Standout Moments:
- How Katja balances being a strategic leader while fostering a collaborative team culture.
- The innovative initiatives her legal team is implementing, from secondments with UBS to internal leadership programmes.
- Her advice for legal professionals: Be more than a “working bee”—showcase your strategic value.
Katja’s Recommendations:
- Book: Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire by Rebecca Henderson – Insights into integrating sustainability with profitability.
- Podcast: Rethinking by Adam Grant – Thought-provoking conversations on leadership and innovation.
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, we welcome Aki Hussein, a seasoned legal professional turned founder / entrepreneur. As Chief Legal Officer and Co-Founder of TerraPay, Aki shares his unique journey from Big Law to the bustling streets of Nairobi and eventually to founding an international payments company.
His career exemplifies the intersection of law and entrepreneurship, showcasing how legal expertise can drive impactful innovation.
We delve into how lawyers can harness their training to succeed beyond traditional roles, with actionable insights for legal professionals considering a shift in their career paths.
Key Lessons from Aki:
Focus on the Fruit Flies:
Aki shares how small, seemingly insignificant experiments in life can teach profound lessons.
Bet on Yourself:
Aki encourages legal professionals to trust their instincts and take calculated risks. Drawing from his decision to co-found TerraPay, he highlights how betting on oneself opens doors to creativity and professional growth.
Love vs. Fear:
Aki reflects on how decisions are often rooted in either love or fear. He challenges lawyers to overcome fear-driven mindsets and embrace opportunities for growth and connection.
This is real practical advice for lawyers considering non-traditional career paths, including the importance of incremental steps and self-reflection.
Book and Podcast Recommendations from Aki:
Book: High Output Management by Andy Grove – A tactical guide to systems thinking and team optimisation.
Podcast: The Professor G Podcast by Scott Galloway – An engaging resource for understanding complex topics like AI and market trends, with a dose of humour and practical insights.
About Heriot Brown:
Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Heriot Brown, the in-house legal recruitment specialists dedicated to helping lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Our mission extends beyond job placements, fostering a vibrant community that connects legal professionals with valuable insights and opportunities.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown is joined by Nick Raymond, General Counsel for Corporate and Group Functions at Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurers. Nick shares his unique career journey from private practice at Clifford Chance to leading a global team at Swiss Re, spanning legal functions like M&A, ESG, asset management, and more.
Nick’s reflections on embracing opportunities, lifelong learning, and prioritising team dynamics offer valuable insights for lawyers navigating career growth and leadership challenges.
Listen in as Nick discusses:
- The Role of Luck and Opportunity: Why recognising and seizing opportunities, even when they’re risky, can lead to career breakthroughs.
- Learning from Setbacks: How challenges and failures have helped him grow professionally, and why every experience is a learning opportunity.
- The Power of Teamwork and Fun: Why enjoying your work and fostering a positive team environment is key to long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
- Ride Your Luck: Nick shares how taking risks and being flexible have opened doors in his career, from private practice to managing a global team at Swiss Re.
- Continuous Learning: Adopting a mindset of curiosity and growth has helped Nick adapt and thrive in a complex, ever-changing legal environment.
- Have Fun Along the Way: Nick reflects on the importance of maintaining perspective, building strong team relationships, and not taking yourself too seriously in a demanding profession.
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Podcast Recommendation: The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
- Book Recommendations:
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Amazon link
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Amazon link
Whether you’re curious about what it takes to lead a large in-house legal function or seeking career advice on stepping outside your comfort zone, Nick’s journey provides practical and inspiring insights for legal professionals at all stages of their careers.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown is joined by Anoop Joshi, Chief Trust Officer at Trustpilot. Anoop's unique career journey from private practice to leading trust, transparency, and legal operations for one of the world’s leading review platforms offers insights for any lawyer looking to break new ground. With a background that blends law, tech, and business, Anoop shares the key lessons that have shaped his approach to legal practice, leadership, and career growth.
Listen in as Anoop discusses:
- Why project management is a powerful skill for any in-house lawyer, and his approach to making complex projects succeed.
- The importance of broadening one’s perspective and looking beyond traditional legal disciplines.
- The value of defining and sticking to personal principles, even when navigating the complex intersection of law and ethics in tech.
Whether you're curious about the evolving role of legal leadership in the digital age or seeking practical advice on career management, Anoop's journey is filled with valuable takeaways for any legal professional.
Key Takeaways:
- Project Management as a Career Supercharger: Anoop shares how developing project management skills can set lawyers apart in in-house roles and why empathy and understanding stakeholder needs are vital.
- Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon: The impact of exposure to various disciplines is a recurring theme, as Anoop reflects on how his non-traditional career path has shaped his approach to law.
- Stick to Your Principles: Learn why Anoop believes defining and adhering to personal values and professional "red lines" is essential, particularly in high-stakes roles that blend legal and ethical considerations.
- Bringing Tech to Law: From his days in software engineering to leading Trustpilot’s legal operations, Anoop discusses the benefit of blending tech with legal for greater impact.
- The Chief Trust Officer Role: Dive into what it means to head up trust and transparency for a platform like Trustpilot, managing everything from content integrity to compliance.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Connect with Anoop Joshi on LinkedIn
- The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
- Lex Fridman Podcast
This week on Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown sat down with Sandrine Auffret, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Counsel, and Company Secretary at ASML. Sandrine invited Scott to ASML’s podcast studio on their impressive Eindhoven campus—a city with a rich legacy in tech and innovation.
Sandrine’s journey from healthcare law to tech is packed with insights. She’s been leading ASML’s legal team as it grew from 37 to over 100, all while adapting to one of the most rapidly evolving industries in the world. They dive into what it takes to lead legal in such a high-stakes environment, her approach to balancing growth and well-being, and why staying curious has been her superpower.
Key Takeaways:
- Adapting to New Challenges: Sandrine moved from healthcare to high-tech and learned the value of adapting and growing with each role.
- Building a Strong, Strategic Legal Team: From 37 to 100+—Sandrine shares what it took to transform ASML’s legal function into a proactive partner in the business.
- Authenticity in Leadership: Leading with integrity is non-negotiable for Sandrine, and she talks about the importance of keeping her team motivated and supported.
- Navigating Cultural Shifts: Moving to a new country and industry brought challenges, but it’s shaped her unique approach to leadership.
- Preparation and Resilience: Sandrine is big on preparation and resilience, encouraging her team to think ahead and tackle challenges together.
In this episode of 'Lessons I Learned in Law', Scott Brown interviews Kelly Young, General Counsel and Executive Director at Marie Curie, one of the UK's biggest charities.
Kelly shares her journey from private practice to in-house counsel, emphasising the importance of authenticity, curiosity, and understanding risk and governance in the legal profession. She discusses her role in building teams and navigating challenges in getting to that position, while also providing practical advice on personal development and setting oneself up for success in a demanding career.
If you're considering a transition from private practice to in-house, you won't want to miss this episode!
On this week’s show, Scott Brown is joined by David Lancelot, Chief Legal Officer and EVP for Advocacy at LawVu.
With over 20 years of experience building and optimising international in-house legal teams, David is a real leader in legal innovation. In this episode, they explore his career journey—from traditional legal roles to his work at LawVu, a company transforming legal operations through technology.
David shares insights on the evolving landscape of in-house legal functions, highlighting the need for modernisation and a shift in mindset. They discuss how legal teams are moving from risk management to becoming key business partners, and the importance of aligning your career with what really motivates you.
They also cover leadership, managing teams, and how legal operations can help scale efficiency. David’s advice on networking, self-reflection, and embracing non-traditional career paths—such as privacy or legal operations—are just some of the key takeaways from this engaging conversation.
If you’re interested in the future of in-house law and want to hear from someone shaping the industry, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
On this week's show, I am joined by Chantelle Zemba, Group General Counsel at Deliveroo.
Chantelle falls into the category of someone who was a relectant in-house lawyer. She was seconded to Deliveroo to help out with some fundraising and corporate matters whilst she worked at Norton Rose Fulbright. At that time she was a self confessed deal junkie Corporate Lawyer!
She joined them full time in the Corporate team shortly after and admits she has never looked back...nor had the time to do so!!
The amount she has covered in her 10 years working with and advising Deliveroo is quite incredible.
In our conversation, Chantelle talks about leading Deliveroo’s legal team through its $2 billion IPO, and what she’s learned along the way. Her three key lessons?
- Be the person who gets things done—being action-oriented will always get you noticed.
- Simplify complexity—make sure you can communicate effectively; if you can explain it simply, people will listen.
- Step into others’ shoes—understanding different perspectives is critical for effective negotiation and leadership.
Chantelle also reflects on the challenges of moving from private practice to in-house, the value of mentorship, and what it takes to thrive in the ever-changing world of tech.
If you’re interested in leadership, creativity in law, and making things happen, don’t miss this episode!
In this episode, Scott interviews Kate Southwell, the General Counsel for Corporate and Commercial at Anglo American PLC.
Kate relocated to the UK for this huge role with Anglo after 12 years in Switzerland. She shares how she intentionally pursued an international and non-linear career path and we explore some of the benefits of diverse experiences in the legal profession.
As covered in the press, Anglo was subject to an unsolicited takeover bid by a competitor, BHP, in 2024. It was great to speak about this and hear about the role legal plays in such an event - some intense legal, regulatory, and strategic efforts involved!
Advice - keep calm and organised during crises and the value of a supportive, experienced team.
Kate also touches on the critical role of networking in career development, noting how it serves as a vital tool for personal and professional growth.
Enjoy!
On this week's show our host, Scott Brown, was delighted to welcome Mary Pothos, one of the leading voices in the Privacy space. Mary has held Chief Privacy Officer roles in some of the largest tech companies.
Mary shares her career trajectory, starting from her days in-house in the financial services sector at Visa, and they discuss how she accidently pivoted into privacy!
The Privacy Legal landscape has shifted significantly over the last two decades, so they dive into some of these changes and consider what the next 10 years might look like, as well as how top companies are currently navigating the risk.
Mary walks us through her 3 lessons—the 'three Cs': Calmness, Curiosity, and Courage.
If you like understanding what it's like working in a fast paced constantly changing legal landscape, don't miss this one!
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott invited Volker Weishar, the EMEA General Counsel for Sonos. They explore Volker's remarkable journey from studying economics and law in Germany, experiencing a brief stint in journalism, to his pivotal role at Sonos over the past 11 years.
Volker shares three critical lessons he's learned throughout his career: the importance of a broad understanding of the business, the necessity of close collaboration within the legal function, and the value of staying curious and engaged beyond the traditional scope of legal work. They also discuss the challenges and strategies for leading a lean legal team in a dynamic industry, the benefits of being integrated into company leadership, and the significance of communication skills.
Volker offers advice for aspiring lawyers, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and understanding modern business metrics and operations. This episode is a rich resource for in-house legal professionals aiming to navigate and succeed in their careers.
We return for another episode of Lessons I Learned in Law this week when Scott is joined by Leslie O'Callaghan, the Global Head of Legal at Adyen. Adyen was founded in Amsterdam in 2006 by a group of payments entrepreneurs. With Adyen they built a modern solution to displace the patchwork legacy systems that merchants were being forced to use through larger institutions!
Adyen is without a doubt one of the most exciting Fintechs on the planet and one of the top international successes from the Netherlands in the last decade. Leslie recently relocated to Amsterdam from New York with Adyen to take on a Global Head of Legal role in their Headquarters. She joined Adyen in San Francisco in 2019 and has risen through the team to her current role. It's interesting to hear about how her background in a large Institutional Bank at Wells Fargo has translated to the fast-paced world of tech.
The discussion delves into Leslie’s extensive career journey, highlighting her transition from a large banking institution to a leading fintech company, Adyen. Leslie shared her experiences navigating international moves from San Francisco to Amsterdam and working in different legal environments.
Key lessons discussed include the importance of having flexible goals, the value of delivering 'done' work over perfect work and recognizing shared experiences across different professions. Leslie also provided practical advice for future-proofing one's legal career and emphasized the significance of work-life balance. This episode offers valuable insights and advice for in-house lawyers and legal professionals aiming for success in their careers.
Not one to be missed!!
In this episode of 'Lessons I Learned in Law,' host Scott Brown talks with James Stebbing, who has held one of the coolest roles I can think of in law: General Counsel of Six Nations Rugby and the British and Irish Lions!
They discuss James' career journey and how he made plans to land his dream role in Sports Law.
They also discuss his early career shift from potential military service to law, which was spurred by personal circumstances.
His career journey includes roles at prestigious firms and corporations like Harbottle & Lewis, Vodafone, Barclays, and eventually dream roles with the RFU and Six Nations Rugby. There are some fantastic learnings on transitioning between different sectors, such as financial services to sports, and the importance of leveraging your background and enthusiasm in making such moves.
James shares some fantastic lessons on importance of setting goals, continuously developing new skills and practically.... maintaining accurate records as a Lawyer!!
Not one to be missed!!
On the show this week, Scott Brown is joined by Lucie Grant, Vice President and Global General Counsel at Dura-Line which is part of the Orbia Group.
The story of Lucie is incredibly inspiring: from an intellectual property litigator to pivotal roles within giants like Thermo Fisher Scientific and BAE Systems.
As Dura-Line's first female VP and General Counsel, Lucie significantly contributed to the diversification of the company, having increased the number of women in the organisation from 13% to an impressive 30%.
Lucie talks about the challenges and opportunities associated with remote working, especially in a global organisation like Dura-Line.
We cover the importance of mentoring and taking advice from all spheres in a business to diversify your experience.
Lucie is also a believer in putting family first and taking care of yourself before any professional commitment.
Whether you're an in-house counsel now or a law student headed that way, Lucie's stories and advice may prove invaluable.
Listen now and realign your view on legal leadership and career development.
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Buckle up for another episode of Lessons I Learned in Law!
This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Alison Malin Zoellner, the Group General Counsel over at Dentsu Group, on of the largest global advertising firms.
Alison's career path is nothing short of impressive.
She started out at Sullivan & Cromwell, then transitioned to in-house roles at The New York Times and Honeywell. It's a testament to the kind of adaptability and reinvention that's key to thriving in today's legal landscape. Throughout the episode, she shares some seriously valuable lessons and the importance of staying connected within the legal field, the responsibility of being a company's ethical compass.
We also spend some time discussing how young lawyers can leverage emerging technologies like AI to future-proof their careers.
Alison also opens up about her personal journey, how she balances those professional ambitions with family life and encourages her team to do the same.
Plus, we explore that crucial partnership between the General Counsels and CEOs – to foster ethical business growth.
So, whether you're interested in the law, business, technology, or just getting some practical advice from someone who's been there and done that, this episode is for you.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, we mix things up a little and uncover the dark arts of Law Firm Recruitment as our host, Scott Brown, welcomes Tom Coode-Bate, the founder and director of Rock Legal, a specialist in private practice legal recruitment.
Working as an In-House Lawyer is a different career to that of a Lawyer in a Law Firm.
When Scott founded Heriot Brown, he consciously wanted to create a brand specialised and dedicated to the In-House legal profession.
In this episode, Tom shares his journey from reluctant lawyer and eventually transitioning into recruitment. The discussion highlights Tom's current focus on the high-end London legal market, particularly U.S. firms and boutique work-life balance firms.
They discuss the different approaches needed when recruiting lawyers in-house or into Law Firms and try to dispel some of the myths and stereotypes! Scott was actually surprised with the amount of common ground they found as our markets are very different.
They discuss the need for building strong relationships and the significance of maintaining professionalism and creating positive experiences within the industry.
Tom and Scott also shared insights into traits that drive long-term success for lawyers and the nuances of navigating candidate relationships in a competitive recruitment landscape.
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In this episode, our host, Scott Brown, sits down with Nicholas Cranfield, the Chief Legal Officer at Therme Group.
Nick joined the business (a health and wellbeing company) at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic - we discuss the unique recruitment process and adjusting to a new role in such uncertain times.
Nick also reflects on his previous roles at Dyson and Johnson Matthey and they discuss the importance of being open to unplanned opportunities as it’s led to exciting opportunities for him - including working in Asia with Johnson Matthey.
Nick firmly believes in the value of curiosity and perspective in professional development and we discuss how he does this.
Not to be missed!
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How does a Legal career in the Seychelles or Mauritius sound? Awesome....
On this week's show, I am joined by Phil Norah - General Counsel for the UK business of the Holcim Group, which is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions and products.
On top of delivering an ambitious M&A agenda, one of the key challenges for the Holcim Group is the decarbonisation of the cement industry, which is an existential threat. The Legal function is playing a pivotal role in that.
Phil manages a multi-disciplinary team across legal, compliance, insurance and real estate and is a member of the Holcim European legal leadership team.
Phil's career started out in the City with Freshfields but took him to the idyllic paradise of Mauritius, where he was Regional Head of Legal for Barclays. Hear Phil's approach and discussing global opportunities, the effort required to seize them, and the professional challenges that arise.
It was great to hear these insights and this is a must listen to anyone who might hesitate on seizing the day and saying yes to opportunities.
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On this week's show, our host, Scott Brown, sits down with Alex O'Connell, General Counsel and Company Secretary at Fever-Tree. the global mixers and soft drinks business. What an apt guest / company for the wonderful British summertime!
They discuss the pivotal years in Alex's career, which started as a corporate M&A lawyer at Freshfields in London and Singapore, before taking his first in-house role at AB InBev, the leading global brewer. He joined Fever-Tree in 2021 and discusses how he has applied some of the best practice learned at AB InBev into a smaller organisation.
Alex shares valuable insights on management styles, the importance of caring for team members and being open to new ideas.
We also hear of Alex's incredible time as an Olympian Fencer where he competed for Team GB at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing - what an experience!
His favourite drink is a gin & Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic water, served with pink grapefruit - the Drink of Champions / Olympians!Follow Heriot Brown:
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On this weeks show, I am joined by Robin Carvell-Spedding, General Counsel at Protium, a company at the forefront of the energy transition, focusing on producing green hydrogen. Robin's career has spanned over a decade in various in-house roles within the oil and gas sector, working on international projects across South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
From carrying a massive flat-screen TV down five flights of stairs with his landlord, Michael Laudrup, in Copenhagen, to navigating complex legal landscapes in numerous countries, Robin's international experiences are both unique and insightful.
In the episode, Robin stresses the importance of thoroughly understanding any role or company before committing, sharing personal stories about the consequences of not doing enough upfront research.
Emphasising the value of seizing opportunities, Robin discusses how taking calculated risks has significantly benefited his career, especially in his international moves.
Hope you enjoy!!
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In this episode of 'Lessons I Learned in Law', host Scott Brown speaks with Francisca Comiche, General Counsel at Rabobank.
In her current role at Rabobank (the 2nd largest Bank in the Netherlands), Francisca is responsible for a global legal function of over 400 people.
This is a far cry from her beginnings with the group. Francisca shares her journey of joining DLL (a Subsidiary of Rabobank) over 26 years ago as only the 2nd lawyer in the team.
During her 26 years, she has witnessed and driven significant change across the function. Her role has been constantly varied and where she has started to get itchy feet, she has sought out discomfort to keep herself challenged...this has been the key success to the lasting career at Rabobank.
We also discuss the importance of working internationally and hear how she has built the ability to connect the dots across jurisdictions.
This is a really interesting conversation with a top European General Counsel...don't miss out!
In this episode of Lessons I Learned In Law, I am joined by Felicitas Stern, General Counsel EMEA at Omni Bridgeway, a leading litigation funder.
Felicitas made the switch to Omni Bridgeway when she was on the brink of Partnership in a top law firm in Amsterdam, where she practiced Real Estate and Construction.
She wanted more variety in her role and worked with a coach before deciding a move in-house was the next step.
Felicitas shares her motivations for moving in-house, the differences between working in a law firm and in-house, and the various lessons she learned throughout her career.
We delve into how she made the career switch and some of the challenges she has faced in making that transition. We also cover some of the cultural differences across countries in legal practices, and Felicitas' personal journey from her native Germany to the Netherlands - so not one to be missed!
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott meets with Maria Barros, Chief Legal and Public Affairs Officer at Booking.com.
Maria is a true Citizen of the World. Born in London, from a Brazilian family, Maria loves travelling (passion and profession have collided at Booking.com) and has lived in the UK, US, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium and is now based in the Netherlands, where, in addition to her role as Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, she is a member of the Management Board of Booking.com and Board member of ACC Europe, the largest global association of in-house counsel. Before that, Maria was General Counsel Europe and Middle East of AB-InBev, the global brewer.
Maria shares her insights on how she has built a best in class integrated legal and public affairs function at Booking.com with a strong focus on developing talent.
We also discuss the importance of developing a strong reliable network and hear how the ACC has been a "home away from home" and a fantastic support network for in-house lawyers.
A really interesting story with a unique International legal career at some huge global brands!
To find out more information on the ACC and how to get involved see the links below:
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How to learn more about the ACC – More information on the ACCE website: Europe | Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
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How to become an ACC member - individual and group – see this link: Membership | Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
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How to register for the May conference – see this link: Registration - ACC (acceurope.com)
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Kenny Roberston, Head of Outsourcing, Technology & IP legal team at NatWest Group. In his role, he leads up a team which supports some of the largest outsourcing transactions in the UK and which continually pushes to be innovative and progressive and provide great customer experience for stakeholders. He is also Chair of the Law Society of Scotland’s Wellbeing Steering Group.
Kenny shares some of the lessons he’s learned in law including:
· Be Yourself! Giving legal advice is a relationships game, and its hard to build relationships without being authentic.
· Play with your head up (to use a sporting analogy). Be aware, be able to identify opportunities, adapt to change and be ready for whatever might be around the corner.
· Create and nurture a positive culture within your team.
Kenny admits that early on in his career he tried to live up to his pre-conceived ideas of what a lawyer should be, and how damaging this can be for lawyers’ wellbeing. He explores where these ideas might stem from, how the legal profession is changing and how developments such as AI may even alter the skillset required to be a lawyer in the future.
Kenny shares details of his pioneering initiative in collaboration with the Scottish Ethnic Minorities Law Association. Kenny also reveals how he’s worked to cultivate a transparent and psychologically safe organisational culture within his team at NatWest. He elaborates on the three pillars that form the bedrock of his team's ethos: High Performance, Progressive Mindset, and Teamship, and how they factor into the bank's ESG agenda and climate goals.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Chris Fowler, Chief Operating Officer for Legal, Governance and Compliance at mining business Rio Tinto. Prior to that Chris spent 24 years at BT Group including as General Counsel for BT’s Technology division which builds and operates BT’s networks, its IT infrastructure and its research and development unit.
After a long career in telecoms, Chris explains his motivation for switching sector and how he’s finding his first few months with Rio Tinto. “Fundamentally I wanted to work in an organisation that's got some pretty big challenges, but also is somewhere that I found personally really exciting” Chris says. Chris also discusses the potential professional benefits that can arise from switching sectors, as well as the things you should watch out for.
Chris shares some of the lessons he’s learned in law including:
· If it doesn’t feel comfortable, you’re learning. Be prepared to test yourself!
· As a lawyer you can have a huge impact on the people around you and their lives. Invest in people and value relationships.
· Say ‘yes’ when you don’t necessarily have all the facts. Take the leap!
Chris also shares how he made the most of his ‘break’ in-between roles, something he would advise everyone to do and to make the most of if you get the opportunity.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
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Welcome to the latest instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Chloe Rowan. Chloe is our team’s Personal Assistant at Heriot Brown, responsible for assisting with the day to day operations of the business. With 15 years’ worth of administrative experience, 9 of which as a virtual PA, Chloe brings a wealth of expertise to the Heriot Brown team.
Chloe shares:
- How working from home has changed over a decade.
- Why user experience is so important.
- How Heriot Brown differs from other recruiters.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Matt Wilson, General Counsel at TV Production company Fremantle. Fremantle produces over 12,000 hours of original programming every year across drama, entertainment, documentaries and film.Matt started his career with four years at Baker & McKenzie and has also worked at Arsenal Football Club (he is a huge Arsenal fan), as well as Telefónica and Uber.
Matt shares some of the lessons he’s learned in law including:
· If you’re giving advice that you want to rely on or evidence in the future, make sure you write it down!
· Never assume and always be curious. This applies when offering advice in a professional capacity but also in understanding people, maintaining relationships and managing teams.
· This, too, shall pass! A positive mindset is required when it comes to crisis management and response, and remind yourself that everything works out in the end.
Matt explains the power of Personality Insights when it comes to understanding people and getting the most from your team. When recruiting, Matt looks for people who are good at the things that he’s not so good at, to ensure diverse perspectives and a comprehensive skillset across the team.
Matt is well travelled and explains how a legal career can offer fantastic opportunities for travel, if that’s something you wish to do. Drawing on his own intriguing experiences living abroad, Matt showcases the monumental value of diversity and its role in enriching our teams.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
Welcome to the latest instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Stephanie Jones. Stephanie specialises in placing lawyers in-house within the financial service industry, working with a range of clients such as retail and consumer banks, global investment banks, private equity funds, asset managers and insurance companies.
Stephanie shares:
- What Rec to Rec means in the world of recruitment.
- Why the small details are so important to lawyers.
- Why a good client relationship is key.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to wellbeing advocate Emilie Berge. After an 18 year career in-house in the Tech and Defence sectors Emilie is now on a mission to empower high achievers to reach their career goals without burning out. She provides corporate training to companies who want to improve their staff wellbeing and host a retreat abroad once a year.
Emilie shares the lessons she learned during her career in law, including:
· Look after yourself, so that you can perform better.
· It’s OK to be wrong. Particularly in-house, you need to be able to negotiate and compromise to unblock a conflict. Don’t allow your ego to get in the way.
· Stay humble.
Emilie began her mental health and wellness blog in 2017; she talks through her own struggles with mental health, how that inspired her to research and begin the blog, and how it has developed since. Check out the blog here: How To Be Happier At Work - Me My Health And I
This episode is particularly appropriate as World Mental Health Day is coming up on October 10.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
Welcome to the latest instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Martin Evensen. Martin specialises in placing legal and compliance professionals into construction/infrastructure/transport/retail businesses on a permanent basis.
Martin shares:
- His standout placement.
- How he moved from retail to recruitment.
- Why finding the right candidate is more important than a quick win.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Ailsa Zoya Longmuir, General Counsel for Centrica Energy Marketing & Trading and Centrica Business Solutions. Ailsa has been with Centica for 12 years and is responsible for all Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs matters for these business units globally. She is a leading Executive Sponsor for Diversity & Inclusion and Charitable Initiatives and is also chairwoman of Centrica Energy Trading A/S’ board.
Ailsa shares the three lessons she’s learned in law including:
· Isolate the issue. Try to advise the business on what they need to know, rather than overdelivering with unnecessary information.
· Ask why! You need to fully understand the business and its goals in order to effectively advise.
· Trust your instincts. If you have a gut feeling about something, it is quite often correct!
Ailsa explains the structure of the legal team at Centrica, and why she thinks legal teams are integral to the success of the business they’re advising. Including the legal team in decision making will ‘improve their commerciality in the long run, and give them the ability to come up with more creative legal solutions to make what the business wants to happen, happen’.
Ailsa also reveals the impact that the Russia-Ukraine war has had on Centrica as a business and the energy market more broadly.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
Welcome to the latest instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Michi Nishikawa who recruits at all levels. From paralegals to General Counsels, placing emphasis on cultural fit and transferable skills above sector specialism to cater to the adaptive nature of the regional market.
Michi shares:
- Her route into recruitment.
- The benefits she's felt moving out of London.
- Why personality is key when it comes to smaller businesses.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Francesca Porter, General Counsel and executive team member at Onfido, an AI company who digitally prove people’s real identities using a photo ID and facial biometrics.
Francesca shares the lessons that she’s learned in law, including:
· Smart people simplify. The power of lawyers is not only to understand and articulate the legal position, but also to convey a message to key business stakeholders and to drive influence on key risk areas.
· To be effective as lawyers we need to be more of an airbag than a seatbelt, helping businesses to grow and scale responsibly in an enduring way.
· The power of the network is huge - particularly when trying to solve challenging problems at pace, it can save re-inventing the wheel.
Francesca explains what it’s like to work at Onfido, an agile, relatively new tech firm compared to Hewlett Packard where she worked as LegalCounsel. She details how she endeavoured to incorporate best practice from HP at Onfido, without slowing their rapid rate of growth.
Outside of work Francesca loves to write. She details some of her literary works and the courses she undertook to help write her novels. She also explains how writing outside of work improved her ability as a lawyer, enabling her to be more energised and approach problems in a more creative way.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
Welcome to the latest instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Kevin Hunt who has 20 years recruitment experience in executive search, domestic and international. He has a strong track record in delivering projects in the Energy, Heavy industry and across several technical based campaigns.
Kevin shares:
- His thoughts on the rise of LinkedIn.
- His expertise on the changing energy market.
- The biggest challenges in recruitment right now.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Maryam Ziarati McLoughlin, General Counsel at Paddle. She joined the team in 2019 and since then has led the business through two funding rounds, grown the legal team, put in place a training contract scheme and lead the people and talent function & DE&I.
Maryam shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
· Lead with empathy and assume nothing.
· Value personal relationships and enjoy getting to know people on a personal level.
· Fortune favours the bold. Be prepared to take risks.
Maryam reveals that through law school she hadn’t wanted to be a lawyer as she hadn’t seen a side of law that appealed to her. That was until she was doing work experience and discovered the creativity inherent to problem solving and the potential flexibility of the legal system.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
Welcome to the latest instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Mark Bailey who specialises for Heriot Brown in providing interim solutions for clients and consultants, ranging from fixed term contracts, maternity covers, short term assignments, to ad-hoc consultancy projects.
Mark shares:
- His insight into the changing attitudes around the interim market.
- Thoughts on generational differences.
- The advantages and disadvantages of changing work practices.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to James Morgan, Managing Director and the Co-General Counsel for EMEA at Japan’s largest bank MUFG. James is responsible for overseeing all legal issues of MUFG Bank, including litigation and enforcement matters, corporate structure and acquisitions as well as regional corporate governance.
James shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
· Be adaptable. When changes happen try and embrace them.
· Don’t be siloed. Try and be generalist in your approach to your career and any opportunities that may arise along the way.
· Be patient. A legal career can be a bit like climbing a mountain. You may need to sidestep, or even move down in order to move up. Don’t feel you need to achieve giant strides in a short space of time.
James explains how his Co-general Counsel role came about, and how MUFG have subsequently adopted co-head roles in other departments as a result of the proven gains in flexibility and performance. ‘One plus one equals three’, James says.
James also reveals he’s a dab-hand at Karaoke – something that’s been surprisingly useful recently in his career!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
The O List is an awards with a difference. It will showcase those in our industry who are making ‘people first’ a reality. To find out more and to nominate someone you know for the inaugural O List head to https://oshaped.com/new-contact-us-2
The OList is brought to you by our friends over at OShaped, making the legal industry better for those in it, those who use it and those entering it.
Welcome to the latest instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Olivia Sacco a Senior Consultant who's experience is in-house focused specialising across the Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Life Sciences, FMCG, and Restaurant sectors.
Olivia shares:
- Her career path into her role at Heriot Brown.
- The importance of good research.
- The common misconceptions about legal recruiters.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Adam Woodhall, founder and CEO of Lawyers for Net Zero - a non-profit that supports GCs and their teams to utilise their position as a corporate leader to enable effective engagement with climate and ESG issues.
Adam shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
· General Counsel are the most influential individuals in the legal sector. They interface with many colleagues in different roles across the organisation, and choose which law firms to work with.
· General Counsels have gone way beyond the ‘Department of No’!
· This is not theoretical - GCs are working on ESG and advocating for change in their organisations right now! If you, as a GC, are thinking of working in this field then know there are many others similar to you who are already making it happen.
Adam reveals how many GCs are using ESG initiatives as a way of exercising their leadership. GCs often sit on the board of organisations or advise very senior management and are doing so with regards to issues on sustainability.
Adam has worked with over 100 in-house lawyers via Lawyers for Net Zero's ‘Leaders Programme’, including the global GCs from Rolls Royce, WPP, BUPA, Centrica, National Grid and Specsavers. Hear all about the programme which focusses on supporting GCs to generate action via their role through peer-to-peer networking and training. You can find out more about the programme here.
Fancy a giggle? Check out Adam’s sustainable stand up on YouTube where he purports to be Head of Sustainability for the Death Star! Watch it here.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
The O List is an awards with a difference. It will showcase those in our industry who are making ‘people first’ a reality. To find out more and to nominate someone you know for the inaugural O List head to https://oshaped.com/new-contact-us-2
The OList is brought to you by our friends over at OShaped, making the legal industry better for those in it, those who use it and those entering it.
Welcome to the third instalment in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers. On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Emma Bower who is Head of Community with a proven track record of bringing together in-house counsel and fostering a strong sense of community, both at The Lawyer and now at Heriot Brown.
Emma shares:
- Her career path into her role at Heriot Brown.
- Her techniques for overcoming shyness when networking.
- The key skillset she thinks a recruiter should have.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Dina White. Dina is General Counsel at Zodia Markets, where she leads the Legal function, including providing guidance and direction on strategic, governance and risk issues. Prior to her current role, Dina spent much of her career at Bank of New York Mellon and U.S. Bancorp, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, corporate trustee work and complex financial products.
Dina shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
· Lawyers have a privilege and its our duty to give back to society.
· Do the work you love, but don’t ignore the boring parts of the job!
· Communication and connection are key to our work and our wellbeing.
Dina discusses the powerful impact that lawyers can have on society, supporting people in need and providing access to the law to those who need it most. To this end, she describes how rewarding she found some of the pro-bono work that she’s carried out throughout her career.
Dina writes regularly on LinkedIn about developments in the world of digital assets, and was named one of Financial News’ Twenty Most Influential Women in Crypto. If that’s a subject you’re interested in, definitely give her a follow on LinkedIn.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
The O List is an awards with a difference. It will showcase those in our industry who are making ‘people first’ a reality. To find out more and to nominate someone you know for the inaugural O List head to https://oshaped.com/new-contact-us-2
The OList is brought to you by our friends over at OShaped, making the legal industry better for those in it, those who use it and those entering it.
Welcome to the second episode in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers.
On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
This week we're chatting to Zoe Dales who is a Consultant specialising in the recruitment of in-house legal professionals across the Telecommunications, Betting, Gambling and Sport sectors.
Zoe shares:
- Her career path into her role at Heriot Brown
- Her advice for those considering a career change.
- Her passions outside of work.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
Follow Heriot Brown:
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This episode of Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Beamery.
Beamery is an AI-powered talent platform, designed to hire candidates faster, develop the skills of your workforce, and increase employee retention.
Find out more at Beamery.com
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Lara Oyesanya, Chief legal Officer, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at Zepz which is a leading provider of cross-border payments and remittance services through its two brands, WorldRemit and Sendwave.
Lara shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
· Don’t be intimidated by the status of others or allow yourself to be overwhelmed by anything they try to say to you. Remain calm and fully focussed on your brief.
· Be curious. You are always learning and your career will provide you with many opportunities to try something new.
· Seize all opportunities – you never know where they may lead!
Lara discusses her work on the privatisation of British Rail; a project which saw the privatisation of 93 separate businesses and the formation of Train Operating companies. She explains how her curiosity exposed her to a range of legal concepts and different ways of doing things.
Lara also reveals how she became an independent non-executive director, and what the role involves.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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Inside the Agency: Lucy Taylor
Welcome to the first episode in our mini-series, Lessons I Learned in Law X Inside the Agency, where we aim to lift the lid on Heriot Brown In-House Legal Recruitment to give you a better idea of what we do.
We are flipping the script on our usual format and putting our Consultants and team members in the spotlight to share more about the people who make us tick and help us provide fulfilling careers for lawyers.
On each episode of Inside the Agency you will get to know more about how recruitment works and we hope we can dispel some of the myths!!
We begin with Principal Consultant, Lucy Taylor, who specialises in placing lawyers in-house into the Media, E-Commerce and Luxury Goods sectors.
- Lucy trained as a lawyer and qualified into litigation
- Learn how and why she decided to step away from practice
- How Lucy believes having a legal background can make you a better legal recruiter
Lucy spills the beans on what has made her such a success at Heriot Brown and why she feels there is an in-house legal career which could suit everyone!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Xavier Langlois, Chief Legal and Impact Officer at Beamery. Beamery is a HR SaaS tech company that provides a Talent Lifecycle Management platform which allows enterprises to create talent centric, human centric experiences for all talent
Xavier, or X, trained at Field Fisher and since 2013 has worked in-house for tech firms and in venture capital. Xavier has held numerous senior roles across various industries, including legal tech, private equity and tech more broadly. He has led numerous funding rounds, M&A, and advises management/founders on a wide range of legal and business issues and company strategy and growth.
X shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
· There’s no one way to have a legal career. X reveals how his secondments into industry firms opened his eyes to the possibilities of an in-house career; something that he wasn’t aware of when entering into the legal profession.
· When you come to work, bring your whole self to work. Be unapologetically you!
· Don’t just be the lawyer. Get into a position where you fully understand how the business works and how you can help with strategy and growth. Nurture internal and external relationships and apply your unique perspective to help teams across the business, regardless of what they might be working on. Bring solutions, not problems.
X talks about his experiences of sharing his whole self with his colleagues, specifically his sexuality as a gay man. Whilst he says he doesn’t like the term ‘coming out’, he instead tried normalise his experiences through honesty with his team. He also reflects on lockdown and how that often created deeper more meaningful conversations and relationships with colleagues, despite being remote.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Helen Lowe, Head of Operations for the General Counsel’s office at easyJet. Helen is an operational change and transformation specialist with experience both as a consultant with KPMG and in industry with Sellafield Ltd and the Co-op.
In this episode Helen reveals what legal ops is, what her role can involve and how legal ops can shape and enhance a business.
Helen also shares some of the lessons she learned in law including:
· Think harder! You need to be able to explain yourself clearly, think through any proposal and consider that there’s always something new to be learned.
· The relationships with law firms can be fractious, but they can also be really fun! Learn to know how, and when, to respectfully push boundaries.
· Be patient! Legal teams can be very busy so make sure you allow projects sufficient time to develop and progress.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Anna Butler, Group General Counsel at Long Harbour Ltd, an investment and asset management firm with £3.6 billion assets under management.
Anna trained at US law firm Mayer Brown and after six years there, moved to city law firm RPC. She moved in house to head up the capital redevelopment program at UCL and since then has had a number of leadership roles in different sectors.
Anna shares some of the lessons she learned in law including:
· Law is a people business. It is crucial to build relationships both inside and outside your law firm or business.
· Be open to opportunities. There is no set career path to General Counsel.
· Work in a business that you believe in and are passionate about. The more invested you are, the better you can deliver.
Anna also reveals how tv show LA Law was the inspiration for her career in the legal profession!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Alex Wilson, EMEA Legal Director at CBRE. Alex trained at Osborne Clarke in Bristol, before working at Carey Olsen in Guernsey and Foot Anstey in London. She also worked as an in-house lawyer at News UK. She is also the Solicitors with Disabilities representative on The Law Society Council.
Alex shares some of the lessons she learned in law including:
· Focus on a life-work balance, not a work-life balance; life very much coming first!
· Networking isn’t just wine and nibbles. It’s actually really crucial to build real and authentic working relationships.
· A diverse and inclusive workforce is not a tick-box exercise. It’s actually the most important and powerful tool the legal team or business can have.
Alex also reveals her passion for rowing. She even gets up very early every weekend to row at the docks in South East London, no-matter the weather! Alex also reflects on her diagnosis with MS and what businesses and legal teams can do to be more inclusive.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Richard Flint, founder and Deputy CEO at broadband provider Swish Fibre.
Richard’s career began in private practice where he specialised in oil and gas and energy from waste. In 2017 Richard moved to an in-house role as Head of Legal at Ingenious. Here Richard focussed primarily on renewable energy, but remained at the forefront of deals; working closely with the commercial team and, where necessary, external lawyers.
Richard shares some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· The transferrable skills you have as a lawyer are super valuable – more valuable even than you realise!
· To deliver value for the client, try to remove the noise. Keep it simple. Remove any low-level decisions so your client can focus on the big questions that matter.
· Be in the moment. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by workloads, but giving people time and not being distracted in meetings is so important.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Scott Yelle, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at KingMakers where he has also been Interim CEO. After leaving corporate private practice at Olswang in 2009 Scott moved in-house holding senior positions at WorldPay and Sky Sports before becoming General Counsel and building the Legal and Compliance function at Sky Betting and Gaming for over 5 years.
Scott shares some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· The more your career in law advances, the less it becomes about the law.
· Progress your career by seeking out different types of work in-house. Stretch yourself into different areas, beyond your comfort zone.
· Try and offer concise, proactive, simple advice where you can. Make your voice heard to help the business or organisation forwards.
Scott also explains how he made the transition from lawyer to company interim-CEO, and how he felt when stepping up to take on that role.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Laura Frederick, Founder and CEO of How to Contract, a global leader in practical contract training for lawyers and professionals. She is also Managing Attorney at Laura Frederick Law, PLLC as well as a best-selling legal author and a LinkedIn influencer.
Laura shares some of the lessons she learned in law including:
· Make sure you always know the context, whenever you’re doing anything for your clients.
· No job is worth destroying your relationships or your mental health.
· Therapy is by far the best investment you can make to achieve career success and happiness.
Laura also fondly looks back on her time working as in-house counsel at Tesla. She reflects on how their very flat corporate structure worked to reduce bureaucracy and made it an enjoyable and efficient place to work.
Laura shares details of her book which offers valuable advice and tips for anyone who is having to draft a contact. The book is called How to Contract: Learn How to Draft and Negotiate from a Former Big Law and Tesla Commercial Contracts Lawyer.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown talks to Founder and CEO of Beam, Alex Stephany. Launched in 2017, Beam is an innovative tech platform supporting homeless people and refugees into stable jobs and homes. Before launching Beam, Alex was CEO of JustPark where he led the largest ever crowdfunding round for a tech startup at the time.
Alex explains the mission behind Beam and what motivated him to start it. He also shares some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· If you can, give back.
· Don’t underestimate the importance of attention to detail.
· Impress everyone. This is a small, interconnected world so try and do right by everyone you come across.
An expert on the sharing economy, Alex is the author of The Business of Sharing.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Jonny Parker, Legal Counsel at what3words. Jonny trained at international law firm Taylor Wessing and is also the co-founder of a challenger beer brand - YABBA which launched in May 2021.
Jonny shares some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· The ‘right time’ might not be the right time for you. You can deviate from the traditional routes through legal training to explore different options and find what works best for you.
· Appreciate the value of your passions and outside interests, in terms of how they can make you a better person and a better lawyer.
· Don’t get bogged down in the finishing touches. Sometimes that extra time to make a project ‘perfect’ can be too costly and inefficient.
Jonny also reveals that his favourite pastime is surfing, and explains how he finds time for that in and around a demanding career in law. He also talks through the work that went into launching his beer brand.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Rob Chesnut. Rob retired last year after spending more than 5 years as General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at AirBnB. During that time he grew the legal team from 30 to over 150 legal professionals in 20 offices around the world.
Rob is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia, and previously worked at the US Justice Department where he prosecuted bank robberies, kidnappings, murder, and espionage cases. He also led eBay’s North America legal team and is the author of Intentional Integrity: How Smart Companies Can Lead an Ethical Revolution.
Rob reveals some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· Integrity matters in business. There’s an expectation now that businesses do good, not solely exist make money.
· There can be ‘creative’ solutions to ethical problems, which means integrity can actually be subtle and isn’t always an absolute.
· Diverse organisations actually perform better than homogenous ones. The best person for the job, is the person who brings a different perspective to the team.
Rob also shares some fascinating social experiments on the subject of integrity. How honest and trustworthy, are people in everyday life? You might be surprised by the findings!!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Rob Chesnut. Rob retired last year after spending more than 5 years as General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at AirBnB. During that time he grew the legal team from 30 to over 150 legal professionals in 20 offices around the world.
Rob is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia, and previously worked at the US Justice Department where he prosecuted bank robberies, kidnappings, murder, and espionage cases. He also led eBay’s North America legal team and is the author of Intentional Integrity: How Smart Companies Can Lead an Ethical Revolution.
Rob reveals some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· Integrity matters in business. There’s an expectation now that businesses do good, not solely exist make money.
· There can be ‘creative’ solutions to ethical problems, which means integrity can actually be subtle and isn’t always an absolute.
· Diverse organisations actually perform better than homogenous ones. The best person for the job, is the person who brings a different perspective to the team.
Rob also shares some fascinating social experiments on the subject of integrity. How honest and trustworthy, are people in everyday life? You might be surprised by the findings!!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Rob Chesnut. Rob retired last year after spending more than 5 years as General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at AirBnB. During that time he grew the legal team from 30 to over 150 legal professionals in 20 offices around the world.
Rob is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia, and previously worked at the US Justice Department where he prosecuted bank robberies, kidnappings, murder, and espionage cases. He also led eBay’s North America legal team and is the author of Intentional Integrity: How Smart Companies Can Lead an Ethical Revolution.
Rob reveals some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· Integrity matters in business. There’s an expectation now that businesses do good, not solely exist make money.
· There can be ‘creative’ solutions to ethical problems, which means integrity can actually be subtle and isn’t always an absolute.
· Diverse organisations actually perform better than homogenous ones. The best person for the job, is the person who brings a different perspective to the team.
Rob also shares some fascinating social experiments on the subject of integrity. How honest and trustworthy, are people in everyday life? You might be surprised by the findings!!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks Martin Nolan. As General Counsel at Skyscanner, Martin is responsible for Skyscanner’s Legal and Public & Regulatory Affairs teams and also acts as Company Secretary to Skyscanner’s group companies. Prior to moving in-house, Martin spent ten years working as a corporate lawyer in private practice, specialising in corporate finance, M&A and Private Equity.
Martin reveals some of the lessons he learned in law including:
· Be your authentic self. Trying to be someone else at work will be exhausting!
· Take your blinkers off. Your legal skills are extremely transferrable so don’t look exclusively at what you’re doing now to inform your next career choices.
· Fail fast, fail forward. If you don’t ever make mistakes, you’re playing it too safe!
Martin is two years in to a mammoth home renovation project. Hear how that’s progressing!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Mollie Stoker, who leads the legal team at Ocado Group as their Deputy Group General Counsel. She’s also held general counsel and other in house roles at DWF Group and Suntory Beverage and Food. Prior to moving in house, Mollie started her legal career at Slaughter and May and spent over 12 years working as a corporate/M&A and capital markets lawyer in UK and US law firms.
Mollie shares the lessons he learned in law including:
· Be yourself, because everyone else is taken!
· Be the best leader, or boss, that you can be.
· Bring solutions, not problems.
Mollie shares her obsession for buying business books (but admits to not always reading them)! A particular favourite read is Jim Collins’ Good to Great.
Mollie is also a trustee for Only a Pavement Away, a charity that helps the homeless gain employment in the hospitality sector.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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Scott reveals the result of your vote at the end of season 3 - which element of life in law have you chosen to confine to Room 101?
Plus - A brand new series of Lessons I Learned in Law launches very soon.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Jamie Pearson who is General Counsel at Genomics PLC and Sarah Marshall, VP & Head of Legal International & Japan, Alexion (AZ Rare Disease).
Jamie and Sarah met whilst working for a company that meant they shared a considerable commute! Now, together they run the High Five Project to support lawyers entering the life sciences sector, as well as in-house lawyers more broadly.
Sarah and Jamie share the lessons they’ve learned in law including:
- You should have ownership and agency over your career path.
- A change of role or environment can re-energise you – find an organisation with a culture in which you can thrive.
Sarah, Jamie and Scott share their perspectives on the differences between in-house roles compared to working for law firms, and how you can potentially make the transition between the two or between different sectors.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Kaleem Khan. Kaleem is a Tax Associate at Travers Smith who advises on all tax aspects of private equity, M&A, corporate finance and banking transactions.
Kaleem has been registered as blind since childhood, and in this episode he discusses his experiences of being a disabled person working in law – from the firms that helped and supported him, to the roles where the accessibility adjustments made for him were somewhat inadequate.
Kaleem also shares the lessons he learned in law including:
- Don’t compare yourself to people who might have more experience or credentials than you – everyone has to start somewhere!
- Don’t underestimate the importance of mentors.
- Be aware and have an understanding of those you work with who have a disability. Bear in mind that accessibility adjustments in the workplace don’t eradicate the challenges being disabled causes in doing a job. Putting adjustments in place for a disabled colleague is not a magic trick through which a disabled person can suddenly be treated as though they have no disability – everyday brings challenges to day to day work regardless of how effective adjustments are.
Kaleem is launching a blog which will be available very soon, called The Legally Blind Guy.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Jayne Bowie, General Counsel and Company Secretary at Amey PLC. Jayne leads the Legal and Corporate Services team, advising the business on all legal and corporate governance matters. Jayne has led the team on complex litigation and key M&A opportunities. She has also facilitated a closer relationship between the commercial, risk and legal functions.
Jayne shares the lessons she learned in law including:
- Surround yourself with a great team - you’re only as strong as your collective team.
- Your legal skills are extremely transferrable – not just across the different areas of legal specialism but also across different disciplines within a business.
- It’s important to be flexible, and willing to adapt to change.
Jayne also reveals her fascinating ancestral connection to Japanese Samurais, and details her hobbies and passions outside of work.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Elizabeth Rimmer. Elizabeth has been managing and developing charities in the mental health sector for over 20 years. She joined LawCare in 2014 following time spent with the Institute of Group Analysis and Alzheimer’s Disease International. Elizabeth started her working life as a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence, practicing at Leigh Day. Elizabeth shares the lessons she learned in law including: * Sometimes the law doesn't always deliver what clients are looking for. As a lawyer, try and identify a clients’ wider needs beyond simply the solution to a legal problem. * Be honest about your mistakes. The earlier you try to rectify them, the better. Learn from them and move forward. * Have the courage to move on. Be honest with yourself if your current role doesn’t feel right for you, and be open to opportunities to seek out a better fit.
Elizabeth also reveals how the support that people sought through LawCare was affected by the pandemic, and how workplaces are changing to better support and retain people.
LawCare is an independent charity offering emotional support, information and training to the legal community in the UK.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Fraser Simpson. Fraser is Associate General Counsel for Wellcome Trust, a charitable foundation focused on global public health, where he heads up the Ethics, Governance & Compliance Team. Fraser qualified at Magic Circle firm, Linklaters, but pursued a career in-house where he has worked across a range of impactful organisations. He has experience in designing and building teams.
Fraser shares the lessons he learned in law including:
- Try new things, and do not be afraid to take a chance.
- Kindness repays. Invest in nurturing relationships.
- Don't be constrained by precedents and templates. Be creative and focus on user experience.
Fraser also reflects on how valuable he found the shared parental leave that he was able to take around the birth of his children. Meanwhile his hatred of ties sees workplace dress codes confined to Room 101.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Katy Beilin speaks to Janine Esbrand. Janine is Founder of Career Change Makers, where she coaches and teaches high-performing female professionals in Law and Finance how to take control of their careers and leverage their strengths to transition into more fulfilling roles, with confidence. Janine has a background as a lawyer, having practiced both in Law Firms and In-House, so is very well placed to advise Lawyers on these issues!
Guest host Katy is a Consultant at Heriot Brown and loves a chat! As someone keen to get involved in blogging and podcasting, we thought it made sense for her make her podcast debut in a discussion with Janine whose Coaching business supports strong working females. Katy and Janine sat down to have their conversation on International Women’s Day, which was very apt.
Janine shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- As a lawyer, you don’t need to know all the answers. Lean in to your ability to find out the answers!
- The power and importance of networking to build relationships.
- In your career, your destination becomes your starting line. Reassess your goals and ambitions regularly.
Janine also shares the advice that she would give her children, should they ever decide to embark on a career in the law.
Presented by Katy Beilin of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Abigail Dean. Abigail is legal counsel at Google as well as author of Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling novel Girl A, which was published in January 2021. Abigail has always loved reading and writing and discusses how her law career has helped shape her career as a successful author. She also shares three lessons she learned in law including:
- Consider the importance of words, and the impact that your choice of words and pronunciation can have on your writing.
- You will require a tolerance to boredom, as many jobs will include elements that you mind find uninteresting. All you can do is work on the ratio.
- Law is good for teaching you that you can do hard and difficult things, and they will rarely be as frightening as you imagine.
Abigail’s choice for Room 101 is the legal profession’s tendency to aggrandize certain members of staff; something she finds very unhelpful.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Karen Shafrir-Vladeck. Karen was an Employment Lawyer in the US and has recently pivoted into a role in legal recruitment with Whistler Parters. Karen is the perfect modern-day example of a legal recruiter, with industry experience and a passion for building community. You may also recognise Karen from her TikTok skits with one of our previous podcast guests, Alex Su!
Karen shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- Cast the widest net that you possibly can and see what comes back to you.
- Always be open to new opportunities, and not necessarily in jobs.
- Social media can be a really great connector for your working life.
Karen’s pet hate in the legal profession is imposter syndrome and she explains why she would banish it to Room 101.
Have a listen to Karen’s podcast called In Loco Parent(i)s where she and her law professor husband Steve, "discuss parenting and lawyering - in that order".
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Alice England. Alice is General Counsel for a London and Toronto listed natural resources royalty and streaming company, Anglo Pacific Group PLC, where she heads up the legal team and also takes a lead role on the business' environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) agenda. Alice is also a Non-Executive Director at Be Confident Group, comprising of Cycle Confident and BikeRight. Alice shares the three lessons she has learned in law including: * Build a strong support network of like-minded people that can help and support you along the path of your career. * As a lawyer, always try to be a facilitator rather than a blocker. * Demonstrate your worth, show that you are a valuable asset to the company and make sure other people understand the value you bring.
Alice also reveals why she thinks time measuring stop clocks are counter productive in the legal profession and should be confined to Room 101.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Richard Mabey, Co-Founder and CEO of Juro. Juro is an all-in-one contract automation platform that helps legal counsel and their teams agree to manage contracts in one unified workspace. Richard shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- Keep it simple and really understand the problem you are trying to solve.
- Love the details. Increasing the level of attention and craft put into a project will generate greater returns.
- Trust and deliver. Focus on results, but be flexible in how they are achieved.
Richard also reveals why he thinks Microsoft Word is hugely unhelpful in the legal profession and should be confined to the depths of Room 101.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Charlotte Pham, Lead Commercial Counsel for the EMEA team at TikTok.
Charlotte is an experienced lawyer working in global technology and content businesses. Charlotte has built and led teams inside hypergrowth businesses working with China and the US.
She is also Founder of the Mary Keller Network for Women in Technology, Tech London Advocate and previously a legal mentor at Rise London.
Charlotte shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- Keep going ‘til you find the right environment for you!
- Look for the opportunity in everything, and make the most of every situation.
- Build relationships above all else. The time you invest in people will pay dividends.
Charlotte also describes what it was like working for Tik Tok during its explosion into the mainstream.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks with TikTok sensation Alex Su.
Alex is a former lawyer who now works at the cutting edge of legal technology. He is currently Head of Community Development at Ironclad, a contracts technology company backed by Accel, Sequoia, and other leading investors.
He is also @legaltechbro on Tik Tok, where he makes hilarious videos observing and poking fun at the legal industry. A must follow for in-house lawyers! He started his career as an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell and clerked for a federal judge.
Alex shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- Know your strengths and weaknesses, and find yourself a role that best compliments them.
- Keep your eyes open for opportunities.
- Be aware of what the world is telling you in terms of feedback. Follow what works for you!
Alex also talks about his jump from BigLaw into the world of legaltech and sales!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law Scott Brown speaks to Sterling Miller, author of the award-winning legal blog “Ten Things You Need to Know as In-House Counsel”. The blog could be a "how to" guide for In-House lawyers everywhere.
He is a three-time general counsel having served in that role at Silicon Valley-based Marketo Inc, including involvement in its sale to Adobe in 2019, and at Texas-based travel industry giants Sabre Corporation and Travelocity.com.
He is also the author of five books published by the American Bar Association and based on the blog.
Sterling shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- No-one is indispensable, so never get too comfortable and always keep grinding!
- Edit, be practical and ensure your written content is concise and easy to understand.
- Legal doesn’t run the business; the department exists to support the operation.
Follow Sterling Miller on LinkedIn or Twitter
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Peter King.
Peter King is the Legal Director at HM Treasury. He leads a team of some 90 lawyers which provides in-house legal advice to Treasury ministers and civil servants. Previously he worked as a corporate and M&A partner at Linklaters. He is also a trustee of several charities, including the Salvation Army and Riot Ensemble, a contemporary music group.
Peter shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- The power of networking for developing your career and client list.
- Learn to say ‘No’!
- The importance of being able to recognise the signs of stress in other people.
Peter also talks openly about his faith and how he views the legal profession as his vocation.
If you’re interested in exploring a career with the Government’s Legal Department, click Here.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Jules O'Riordan, aka Judge Jules. Jules is Partner at Music and Entertainment specialists, Sound Advice LLP.
Alongside the likes of Carl Cox, Paul Van Dyk and Paul Oakenfold, Judge Jules was one of the early superstar DJs in the 1990s. His music career has included top 40 records, music promotion, a show for 15 years on BBC Radio 1 which was a staple for kickstarting a Saturday nights for a generation, and being flown all over the world to play music at huge dance festivals.
He is also one of our own! In his 40s, he decided to upskill and qualified as a lawyer. He is currently Partner at Sound Advice where he specializes in Music and Entertainment and still manages to balance this with being at the top of his game as an International DJ at the weekend! Jules shares his passions for both music and law and how he transitions between the two seemingly polar opposite worlds!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Troy Atkin, aka @The_weightlifting_lawyer.
Troy Atkin is a trainee in his first seat with Portsmouth based firm, Biscoes.
Troy shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- Use rejection as fuel!
- Be yourself, know your values and understand your worth.
- Be limitless with your goals, and in your pursuit of them.
Troy also discusses his 3 passions in life: ensuring good legal advice is accessible for all, smashing the stigma of mental health (especially in legal professionals) and lifting heavy weights.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Amy Wallace.
Amy is Chief Legal Officer at Yoto, a tech company that creates a screen-free audio player for children, providing a world of stories, music, activities, podcasts, radio and other inspiring audio for kids.
Amy shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- There is something for everyone in Law!
- Being sued gives you bruises, but will build your experience and help you focus on what’s important.
- If a deal doesn’t seem to make sense to you, it’s probably because it doesn’t make sense!
Amy also talks about her experience on-boarding at Yoto during the pandemic, and reveals why her family at home speak ‘Greek-lish’.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Daniel Glazer.
Daniel is an American technology lawyer, strategic business advisor, and the Managing Partner of Wilson Sonsini's London office.
Dan advises high-growth UK/European technology and life sciences companies on raising capital in the US and UK/Europe, expanding their businesses into US markets, and connecting with investors, corporates, and advisors.
Daniel shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- Building a career in the law is like building a start-up.
- Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.
- Strive to find a career at the intersection of what you are good at, what you enjoy doing, what allows you to earn sufficient compensation and what creates value for society.
Dan was appointed as a GlobalScot trade advisor by the Scottish Government. Scott and Dan have a bit of fun discusising all things Scottish Football related!!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Adam Baldwin.
Adam's career has comprised a broad mixture of legal and business positions. He now works as Head of Functions and Business Engagement for the banking group BNP Paribas. Adam has launched, invested in and advised various start-ups across multiple sectors, including technology, sports, fashion and entertainment.
Outside of the office, he is passionate about youth education and sport, volunteering with various initiatives including acting as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee for the NET Academies Trust and volunteering with the Saracens Foundation.
Adam shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- Tailor your message to your audience.
- Compassion is key.
- Make your own luck. If you have a particular ambition or goal you want to work towards – let people know!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Frances Coats.
Frances began her career as a Corporate M&A Lawyer in private practice (in both London and UAE) with time spent in leading US law firms White & Case and Latham and Watkins before moving to the Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance. She now works as Group General Counsel at International Insurance company, Howden Group Holdings
Frances shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- Say ‘YES’ to opportunity!
- Look beyond the ‘sexy’ industries. Fascinating and fulfilling legal roles can exist in all areas of society.
- When recruiting hire people better than you, then look after them.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Steven Berry.
Steven is the Legal Director for the European Nuclear & Power and Aerospace, Defence, Security and Technology businesses of SNC-Lavalin. SNC-Lavalin is a Canadian headquartered company that provides engineering, procurement, and construction services across a variety of sectors. Steven qualified in private practice with Speechly Bircham (which is now part of Charles Russell Speechlys) before moving in-house to Atkins (now part of the SNC-Lavalin group).
Steven shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- Be bold enough to follow opportunities that align with your career interests.
- It’s important that lawyers are people too, so bring your personality and your whole self to work.
- Be prepared to take action, if you think there’s room for improvement in an organisation.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Rachael Carolan.
Rachael is currently General Counsel and Director of Policy at London Based technology company what3words. Rachael was the company's first lawyer and has been responsible for setting up and growing the legal function. She qualified at Herbert Smith Freehills and moved in-house on qualification to Accenture and also spent time at 2 of London’s hottest startups, GoCardless and Deliveroo.
Rachael shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- Create your own path, rather than trying to follow a traditional one.
- It’s possible to add value as an in-house legal counsel, beyond the traditional legal role.
- In a B2C company, try to make legal part of the brand identity.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Tonia Lovell.
Tonia spent 21 years working at Unilever, including as their Chief Legal Officer. She now has a portfolio career in non-executive roles and as an Executive Coach to lawyers and company secretaries.
Tonia shares the three lessons she has learned in law including:
- You do not have to be perfect. Being part of a team is often about helping to solve problems by seeking answers, rather than knowing the answer straight away.
- If you know what career role you want, speak up!
- Take some time to know what your personal values are, and always make sure your employer aligns with those values.
You can find out more about Tonia’s coaching at tlcuk.coach
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Randal Barker.
Randal is Group General Counsel of Lightsource bp, a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects.
Randal shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- You should focus on what you want to achieve in your career and how that fits into your life. Law can offer a variety of roles to suit your lifestyle and work for you!
- Taking ownership of issues as an in-house counsel
- Often as a General Counsel, you have to take role as Statesman, enforcing the Company’s values and ethics
Randal reflects on his education and upbringing, including at an outward bound school in Canada!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Rohan Paramesh.
Rohan is general counsel for Habito the UK’s leading mortgage company.
Rohan shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- How having the confidence to let your true personality shine through at work can be a huge boost to your career.
- Always be open minded and don’t be afraid to take risks.
- Always be an entrepreneur in everything you do. Think of yourself as a business builder first and a lawyer second.
Rohan also talks about becoming a dad, why he thinks he would do a great job as Arsenal Manger and how he came to sing on MTV!
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott Brown speaks to Sara Scott.
Sara is Senior Counsel, Regulatory Counselling and Litigation at British American Tobacco.
Sara shares the three lessons he has learned in law including:
- How to build a team and invest in people that can support you
- How you shouldn’t tolerate bad behaviour, and how best to challenge behaviour you’re not comfortable with
- You won’t know it all, and that is OK!
Sara also talks about her role in the Military Wives Choirs charity, and recognises the inspirational people in her life that have helped her in the course of her career.
Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment.
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Welcome to Lessons I Learned in Law.
Each week I, Scott Brown, sit down with someone from the legal profession to explore their professional successes as well as the challenges they've faced in their legal career. Hopefully the lessons they've learned in law can help you in your career.