Between the Legal Lines: Recent Episodes
Major, Lindsey & Africa
Between the Legal Lines is a series of conversations between Major, Lindsey & Africa partner Andrea Bricca and a variety of ambitious women who have excelled in the legal profession by embracing their unique abilities and rising to the challenges set in front of them.
Though Jessica Pfisterer started her career as a public interest lawyer, hoping to help people and make a difference in the world, she found another way to change people’s lives—through the People Operations role. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Jessica discusses her career with Andrea Bricca, telling her how being a trained lawyer has influenced her as an HR leader and why she believes that background has made her a better leader.
Allegiant Travel Company is flying high since it took root in Las Vegas, and GC Laura Overton is loving every minute of the fast-paced, ever-changing organization—and she has for the past seven years. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Laura chats with Andrea Bricca about the secrets to her success, which start with surrounding herself with the right people and accepting help where she needs it.
From litigation to ethics and compliance to leading legal in Asia Pacific, Jo Levy has taken all of the opportunities that have come her way at Intel to expand her expertise and reinvent herself a time or two. Now, as an expat living in Hong Kong, she shares with Andrea Bricca why this has been one of her riskiest career moves—and how it has paid off.
A former officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jennifer Painter has carried the lessons she learned there with her throughout her legal career. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Jen talks to Andrea Bricca about those lessons learned during her time in the military as well as how that experience and her experiences working in a variety of industries an in-house lawyer have shaped her and her career.
Andrea Bricca and Eliza Stoker continue their conversations about women in the workplace in 2021. In this episode of Between the Legal lines, they start by looking at office bonding, using golf as a primary example, and debating how women can approach these scenarios. They then move on to examining expected personality and behavioral traits that are acceptable—and unacceptable—and how these need to change.
Eliza Stoker took a chance and made a major career change within Major, Lindsey & Africa this year. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Eliza chats with Andrea Bricca about her reasons and thought process for making that career change. They then look at how women in the law can take charge of their careers and make a big career move—whether within their current organization or elsewhere.
Kasey Johnson shares her journey to become the GC and Chief Administrative Officer at Terminus, crediting the support of mentors and her network and explaining why sponsors are so important in career growth, in this episode of Between the Legal Lines with Andrea Bricca.
Justine Harrison talks about how she found her perfect job when she came to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association as it combines her professional passion with her personal passion for flying in this episode of Between the Legal Lines with Andrea Bricca.
Bernadette Chala talks about the biases often projected on women lawyers, the sense of self-censorship required as a lawyer and her team mentality in this episode of Between the Legal Lines with Andrea Bricca.
Nicole Stanton likes a challenge and the one the general counsel role at Harvest Health presented was too good to pass up. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Nicole chats with Andrea Bricca about working in a multi-state cannabis company, the unique challenges of working in an ever-changing regulated industry and what she’s learned about being a lawyer and business professional.
Phyllis Gilland feels strongly that much of her professional growth was fueled by never turning down a growth or educational opportunity even if it was in an unfamiliar industry or required her to take on duties she has never performed. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Phyllis shares with Andrea Bricca how she has navigated leadership and why she believes in taking important growth opportunities that come your way.
As the head of legal for The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Kate Karl does much more than play with animals all day. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Kate chats with Andrea Bricca about what it is like to lead legal for a nonprofit, what she had learned while leading through a pandemic and what lessons she has learned throughout her career.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many to re-evaluate their geographic proximity to extended family, including Kim Chainey, executive vice president and global general counsel of Aptar. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Kim shares with Andrea Bricca why she decided to take a new role during the pandemic and why Aptar was the right fit, aligning with her values and priorities. She also advises on why you should find the place you are meant to be and how success is possible for women.
If board service is a goal of yours, then Jane Wasman, former lawyer and business executive, is a good person to talk to. She currently sits on four corporate boards, and in this episode of Between the Legal Lines, she shares her journey to the boardroom with Andrea Bricca. Jane discusses how the GC role prepared her to serve as an independent director, what she learned on her first board and what women need to do to land that coveted board role.
Hosts Andrea Bricca and Eliza Stoker wrap up 2020 with a look back at the amazing conversations they’ve had with women who are leading the way in the legal profession. They chat about authenticity, the effects of the social justice movement on 2020 and how to support each other in this 30-minute conversation.
With 30 years of experience as a law firm gaming attorney, Ellen Whittemore was up for the challenge when she stepped into the top legal role at Wynn Resorts. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Ellen talks to Andrea Bricca about what it was like to go from being a law firm partner to a general counsel. She also shares advice on what she would have done differently along the way and how leading during COVID has been an incredible learning experience.
Traevena Byrd, vice president, general counsel and secretary for American University, has a unique legal career path growing up and excelling in higher education. Her experience in higher education has allowed her to talk about subjects that may be taboo in other industries, benefit from the mentorship of other women, and explore all sides of the higher education experience—from teaching to recruiting. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Traevena and Andrea Bricca discuss everything Traevena has seen and experienced as a woman of color leading the law.
As the first general counsel for goop, Virginia Llewellyn came into the organization ready to take on any legal challenges it faced. But this isn’t the first time Virginia has been the first GC for an organization; in fact, she’s playing that role several times before. In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Virginia chats with Andrea Bricca about her career path, why she sought out an executive MBA and what leading during a pandemic has been like.
Jill Twedt, vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Boise Cascade, talks to Andrea Bricca about her road to the GC role, working her way up and adjusting to new challenges along the way. She also shares her experiences as a women leader in a male-dominated industry and as a new leader navigating a global pandemic.
In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Andrea Bricca speaks with Beatryx Washington SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of O.C. Tanner, about leading through a crisis, the challenges of being an African-American woman in leadership and her nontraditional career path into the law.
In this episode of Between the Legal Lines, Andrea Bricca speaks with Michaune Tillman, experienced general counsel and human resources, compliance and ethics executive with Worthington Armstrong Venture, about her journey to becoming more than just a legal leader. Michaune shares why it has been important to her to identify stretch opportunities along the way, build substantive relationships and maintain her authenticity.
Katie Lever, experienced chief legal counsel in the gaming and hospitality industry, has held numerous legal executive-level roles in her career—often as the first female legal leader for an organization. In this episode, Katie shares with Andrea Bricca how she broke through the glass ceiling, how she taught others to adjust to working with a female executive, and how she maintains her authenticity.
Lacey Bundy, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of PetSmart, shares her career journey with Andrea Bricca, discussing how mentors and advocates have helped build her up along the way and how she has navigated imposter syndrome.
Desiree Ralls-Morrison, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Boston Scientific, chats with Eliza Stoker about the risks she has taken in her career and the support she has received from her family, mentors, and network to accept being a unicorn and find a place where she belongs.
Beate Parra, managing director, head of legal at Unicredit Bank AG, chats with Eliza Stoker about how mentors have helped her refine her craft and then how she has paid it forward in her career. They also explore the importance of authenticity and building relationships throughout your career.
Kate Murtagh, managing director for sustainable investing and the chief compliance officer of Harvard Management Company, chats with Eliza Stoker, Major, Lindsey & Africa executive director, about her career path and how she completed undergrad and law school in six years and dove headfirst into her legal and compliance career, becoming partner by 32.
LaTanya Langley, vice president and general counsel at BIC, chats with Eliza Stoker, executive director with Major, Lindsey & Africa, about her unique superpowers and how her journey has empowered her to become more than just a lawyer—she is an influencer, disruptor, and strategist.