Notes To My (Legal) Self: Recent Episodes
Olga V. Mack
Hello! Welcome to the Intersection of Law & Fun.
I am Olga V. Mack, CEO of Parley Pro, next-generation contract management and digital negotiation technology.
I love legal innovation and had dedicated my career to improving and shaping the future of law. I am convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology.
This podcast will focus on the future of law, especially the future of contracts, what it means to be a next-generation leader in law, and legal technologies.
In this full episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, Olga V. Mack sits down with Basha Rubin, CEO and Co-Founder of Priori to explore how legal marketplaces are transforming the way in-house teams find, hire, and manage outside counsel.Basha shares her journey from Yale Law School during the 2008 recession to co-founding Priori in 2013, and how the company evolved from serving individuals and small businesses to partnering with Fortune 10 enterprises.
Together, Olga and Basha dive into the rise of legal marketplaces, the role of data and AI in decision-making, and why alternative providers are reshaping the future of legal services.
Together, Basha and Olga explore:
• Why the traditional big law model underserves many clients
• How in-house teams can categorize legal work by risk and complexity
• Practical benefits of marketplaces for efficiency, cost savings, and expertise
• The growing importance of data-driven, defensible legal decisions
• How AI and technology are shaping the future of outside counsel management
Key Learning Outcomes:
• Understand how legal marketplaces provide alternatives to big law firms
• Learn strategies for smarter allocation of legal work across risk levels
• Discover how data and scorecarding can improve outside counsel selection
• Gain insight into the impact of AI on in-house counsel decision-making
• Explore the future of legal services through Priori’s marketplace model.
If you’re an in-house lawyer, legal ops professional, or legal leader seeking innovative ways to manage outside counsel, Basha’s insights offer a roadmap for embracing efficiency, transparency, and strategic value.
In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, Olga Mack sits down with Adriana Dulic, Chief Compliance Officer at a leading fintech company, to explore the powerful intersection of legal compliance, leadership, and service.
Adriana shares her journey from private practice to a long-term in-house and compliance career, shaped by the dynamic world of financial technologies and regulatory change. But beyond her corporate role, Adriana offers a compelling case for why lawyers should make pro bono and community engagement a core part of their professional lives.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- What a day in the life of a CCO in fintech really looks like
- How compliance careers evolve with tech innovation and global oversight
- Why pro bono work builds leadership skills and business acumen
- How community service can ground legal careers in purpose and perspective
- What lawyers need to thrive in highly regulated, fast-paced industries
Whether you're charting a path in compliance, looking to make a meaningful career pivot, or seeking ways to serve beyond billable hours, this episode offers practical strategies and heartfelt insights on leading with integrity and impact.
The boundaries of a legal career are wider than you think. In this episode, Avril Sisk—independent corporate director and former judge—joins Olga Mack to explore how legal professionals can lead beyond traditional practice and reshape industries, communities, and boardrooms.
With a career spanning public policy, nonprofit leadership, the judiciary, and corporate governance, Avril shares her inspiring journey and offers strategies for applying legal expertise across diverse sectors. If you've ever wondered how to take your legal career to new heights, this episode is for you.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- Why interdisciplinary skills are key to modern legal careers
- How to transition into executive and non-legal leadership roles
- The value of community engagement in long-term professional success
- How to pivot your career with resilience and purpose
- Why viewing yourself as a client can transform personal development
Whether you’re a lawyer exploring new horizons, a business leader looking to integrate legal insight, or someone passionate about community impact, Avril’s story will inspire you to reimagine the possibilities of a legal career.
In the season finale of Notes to My (Legal) Self, Olga Mack is joined by Tara Emory—former big law antitrust attorney, general counsel, and legal tech consultant—for a candid conversation on how legal teams can overcome cultural and organizational resistance to GenAI.
With two decades of experience at the intersection of law and technology, Tara shares her evolution from litigator to legal innovator. Drawing on her in-house and consulting work, she breaks down what it really takes to bring GenAI into legal workflows in a way that sticks.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- Why legal tech adoption is as much about culture as it is about code
- How in-house teams evaluate legal tools through a cost–value lens
- Real-world use cases for GenAI—from drafting contracts to redline comparisons
- How to align GenAI initiatives with company culture and strategic goals
- Why GenAI should enhance human clarity, not replace legal judgment
Whether you're a GC evaluating tools, a legal ops leader planning implementation, or a skeptic wondering where GenAI fits in, this episode offers practical insights to guide your next steps.
The future of in-house leadership is bold, efficient, and business-driven. In this episode, Vinaya Ganesan, General Counsel for Europe at Firstsource Solutions, joins Olga Mack to share how GCs can do more with less—without compromising impact, innovation, or team morale.
Drawing on her experience leading legal strategy for billion-dollar deals in tech and global outsourcing, Vinaya redefines what it means to be a modern, business-minded GC. From operationalizing legal strategy to empowering legal teams at every level, she shares actionable insights to elevate legal’s role across the enterprise.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- How to turn “more for less” into a legal leadership strategy
- How to uncover hidden business pain points—and solve them proactively
- Why empowering legal team members, including paralegals, fuels innovation
- What it takes to build trust and redefine the GC role as a business partner
- Scalable strategies to embed legal in operations and drive business outcomes
Whether you’re a solo counsel, part of a lean legal team, or leading legal at the enterprise level, this episode is packed with insights on building agile, purpose-driven legal functions.
The path to a fulfilling legal career doesn’t have to be paved with burnout. In this episode, longtime trial lawyer turned coach Gary Miles joins Olga Mack to discuss how lawyers can transform stress into success and frustration into freedom.
With over 45 years of legal experience, Gary shares practical tools and mindset shifts to help legal professionals manage imposter syndrome, avoid burnout, and build purpose-driven careers. Whether you're a new in-house counsel or a seasoned legal leader, this episode offers strategies to reclaim time, confidence, and clarity.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- How imposter syndrome manifests for in-house lawyers—and how to overcome it
- Which key performance indicators (KPIs) lawyers should be tracking
- How to structure your day for productivity and reduce burnout
- The value of unstructured time—and how to protect it
- How to lead through service, not just conflict
Whether you’re navigating your first legal role or rethinking your career after decades in practice, Gary’s insights are a powerful reminder that stress doesn’t have to define success in law.
The path to truly inclusive legal teams starts with one powerful trait: curiosity. In this episode, Niti Nadarajah—a former in-house lawyer turned leadership coach and DEI advocate—joins Olga Mack and co-host Memme Onwudiwe to unpack what it takes to build equity and belonging in the legal profession.
With honesty and nuance, Niti challenges traditional hiring practices, exposes the hidden biases professionals of color face, and shares practical ways leaders can foster inclusion by asking better questions and listening more deeply.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- Why traditional “big law” pipelines fall short in building diverse teams
- How listening—really listening—can uncover blind spots and biases
- How healthy conflict can be a catalyst for innovation and better legal outcomes
- How visual and verbal cues reveal hidden assumptions about socioeconomic status
- Strategies for widening hiring funnels and redefining what it means to be “qualified”
Whether you're building a legal team, mentoring future leaders, or navigating your career from an underrepresented background, this episode offers actionable insight for those serious about equity in law.
In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, Olga Mack sits down with Shanti Ariker , a trailblazing Chief Legal Officer and tech veteran, to explore what it means to be the first lawyer at a fast-moving public company. In “First In-House,” Shanti reflects on her journey from Wall Street law firms to leadership roles in Silicon Valley’s most iconic tech companies.
Shanti shares how she navigated legal practice in the early days of tech, when in-house legal teams were small or nonexistent, and how that experience shaped her strategic approach to business, compliance, and innovation. With deep experience at companies like Twilio, Zendesk, and JFrog, she opens up about translating legal risk into business value, building legal functions from scratch, and the power of understanding your product from the inside out.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- What it takes to lead as the first and only in-house counsel at a public company
- How in-house legal teams have evolved in Silicon Valley over the last two decades
- Why staying close to the business and earning cross-departmental trust is key
- How to thrive in high-growth environments with complex tech stacks
- Why calculated risk-taking and product fluency are essential for modern legal leadership
Whether you’re an aspiring General Counsel, early-career in-house counsel, or a legal leader navigating fast-paced industries, this episode offers practical strategies and candid insights on building legal teams, aligning with business strategy, and leading with confidence at the intersection of law and technology.
In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, Olga Mack continues the Legal Operations series with Minh Merchant, a three-time General Counsel and mission-driven legal leader in the healthcare industry.
In “Leading with Intent,” Minh joins Olga to unpack what it really takes to become—and remain—a public company GC. From writing earnings scripts and navigating securities disclosures to conducting career “true-up” conversations, Minh shares how she’s built a business-aligned legal path by leading with clarity, courage, and intentionality.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- How to “true up” your experience when pursuing a stretch role
- What hiring managers actually look for in a general counsel
- The mindset shift from qualified to capable
- How to tap into your network for mentorship and accelerated growth
- Why asking “Do I still want this?” is key to long-term career alignment
Whether you're preparing for a leap into a new role, transitioning into a different industry, or refining your career blueprint, Minh offers a thoughtful, practical framework for legal leadership that lasts.
This episode is for:
- In-house counsel mapping their next move
- Legal ops professionals with executive ambitions
- Legal leaders seeking growth beyond traditional career ladders
Tune in to explore what it means to grow your legal career intentionally—on your terms, and in alignment with where you’re headed next.
The legal world can be intense—especially when you're the only lawyer in the room. In this episode, Tara Trantham joins Olga Mack to share her powerful story of navigating legal leadership, federal investigations, and mental health challenges without the safety net of a law firm or legal tech.
With over 23 years as in-house counsel in financial services, Tara brings hard-won insights into how legal professionals can survive and thrive under pressure. From managing legal, compliance, and HR teams to advocating for mental health in high-stress environments, she delivers a candid look at what it takes to lead with resilience.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- How to survive high-stakes internal investigations as a solo GC
- Why legal tech is essential—and what it costs to go without it
- How to make a compelling case to the board for legal ops investment
- What outside counsel can do to truly support in-house teams
- Why mental health advocacy is non-negotiable in today’s legal landscape
Whether you're a solo in-house lawyer, a GC managing change, or an advocate for wellness in the legal profession, this episode offers a clear, human roadmap to legal resilience and leadership.
In this episode, Tyler Quillin, Product and Regulatory Counsel at Xbox, joins Olga Mack to kick off Season 12 of Notes to My (Legal) Self with a powerful conversation on how legal professionals can better align with product teams, regulators, and executives in today’s fast-paced tech world.
Drawing on his background as both an educator and in-house attorney, Tyler shares how a teaching mindset—paired with business fluency—can help legal teams collaborate more effectively, build executive trust, and deliver solutions that move the business forward.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- How to simplify legal guidance through analogies, visuals, and storytelling
- Why early engagement with regulators can give your company a strategic edge
- How legal can say “yes” while managing risk and driving innovation
- Practical ways to systematize mentorship and leadership development
- How to build trust across departments and become a true business partner
Whether you're an aspiring product counsel, a legal ops professional, or a tech-savvy in-house attorney, this episode offers a roadmap for adding real business value—without compromising on legal integrity.
Have you ever wondered how in-house legal teams can navigate the rapidly shifting landscape of AI and ESG? Join us in this episode with Christine Uri, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer, as she reveals how legal leaders are shaping the future of their departments through innovation, governance, and purpose.
In this conversation with Olga Mack, Christine shares her unconventional journey—from artificial intelligence governance to corporate sustainability—and explores how today’s legal professionals can thrive by embracing the unexpected.
Tune in to discover:
- Why AI and ESG are no longer optional—they’re essential for legal teams.
- How legal leaders can balance innovation with governance.
- Why collaboration and proactive risk management are the keys to success.
- Practical steps for building effective AI oversight frameworks within legal departments.
Don’t miss this chance to learn from Christine’s wealth of experience and her insights into how in-house lawyers can drive innovation while maintaining responsible oversight. Whether you're leading a legal department or just beginning your in-house journey, this episode will give you the tools to future-proof your career and your company.
The future of legal education is here! In this episode, Linsey Krolik joins Olga Mack to discuss how law schools can adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of legal operations and technology. Together, they explore how GenAI, legal ops, and tech adoption should be integrated into law curricula to better prepare students for in-house roles.
Linsey shares her vision for reshaping legal education to equip the next generation of lawyers with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in modern legal departments. If you're passionate about the future of legal education, this episode is for you.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- How GenAI is reshaping legal education and what law schools can do to adapt
- Why legal operations is a critical area of focus for future lawyers
- How law students can develop skills that make them valuable contributors to legal tech
- The importance of hands-on experience and internships in preparing for legal ops roles
- Strategies for continuous learning and adapting to the changing legal tech landscape
Whether you're a legal educator, an in-house lawyer, or simply passionate about the future of legal ops, this episode will give you a roadmap for the changes needed in legal education.
Ready to make AI work for your legal team? In this episode, Navin Mahavijiyan unpacks the magic (and the challenges) of implementing and maintaining legal chatbots that are not just functional—but truly aligned with your team’s culture and tone.
Continuing our Legal Operations series, Navin joins Olga Mack to share actionable insights on designing chatbots that help, not hinder. From the first step of chatbot implementation to scaling and ongoing maintenance, Navin gives you the roadmap for making AI a trusted ally in your legal ops toolbox.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The real first step to chatbot implementation (spoiler: it’s not technical!)
- Why bot maintenance is critical for long-term success
- How to humanize bots to fit your team’s unique language and values
- How to use real-world scenarios to train your bot for greater impact
- Why chatbots can amplify your team’s work, not replace it
If you're ready to dive into the world of legal chatbots, this episode offers everything you need—from initial setup to keeping your bot aligned with your evolving needs.
What if data could create a stronger sense of belonging in the legal profession? In this episode, Flo Nicolas shows how people analytics and bold leadership can transform legal teams from the inside out.
Continuing our Legal Operations series, Flo joins Olga Mack to share her inspiring journey from traditional law practice to becoming a trailblazer for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in legal ops. With a mix of candor and strategic wisdom, Flo breaks down how data, risk-taking, and community-building can fuel real, lasting change.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How people analytics can power smarter, more inclusive legal operations
- Why risk tolerance matters in building a modern legal career
- How setbacks and failures can become stepping stones to innovation
- Strategies for using data to bridge the gap between business and legal functions
- Why authentic networking is key to driving legal transformation
If you're passionate about building stronger, more inclusive legal teams—or curious about how data and human capital intersect—this episode offers actionable insights and inspiration for the future of legal leadership.
Think lawyers hate legal tech? They don’t—they just don’t know how much they need it yet. In this episode, Chad Aboud reveals how to sell legal tech into corporate legal departments and drive adoption that actually sticks.
Continuing our Legal Operations series, Chad joins Olga Mack for a candid conversation about what really works (and what doesn’t) when bringing new solutions into legal teams. From building internal champions to avoiding post-sale burnout, Chad shares a playbook grounded in empathy, curiosity, and community-building.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to sell into legal without selling out your values
- Why pre-agreeing on “wins” smooths tech rollouts
- How to build first versions that leave room for growth
- Ways to engage sales, finance, and account management post-sale
- How to become a trusted sounding board for lonely legal teams
If you're ready to turn resistance into momentum—and move legal teams from “maybe” to “let’s go”—this episode is your essential guide. Tune in for real-world strategies, fresh perspective, and a smarter way to sell and implement legal tech.
Think AI in legal is all hype? Think again. In this episode, Colin Levy breaks down how generative AI, litigation analytics, and strong communities are already reshaping the future of legal work.
Continuing our Legal Operations series, Colin joins Olga Mack to share real-world lessons from years at the frontlines of legal tech transformation. From AI-powered workflows to the human side of innovation, this conversation goes beyond the buzzwords—and into what’s actually working.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Where generative AI is already improving legal practice
- How litigation analytics are changing client strategy and courtroom wins
- Why AI is perfect for solving legal admin bottlenecks
- How to build your presence and voice in the legal tech community
- Why data and storytelling together are the secret to real legal change
If you’re ready to move past the fear, embrace tech with empathy, and be part of the future of law, this episode is your guide. Tune in for practical insights, fresh ideas, and a whole new way to think about legal innovation.
What if the future of law wasn’t just faster—but happier? In this episode, Maryam Salehijam reveals how ALSPs, legal tech, and a human-centered mindset can transform legal teams for the better.
Continuing our Legal Operations series, Maryam joins Olga Mack to break down what alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) really offer, how to find the right fit, and why lawyer well-being must be part of every innovation conversation. With insights from both European academia and U.S. legal tech, Maryam brings a fresh, passionate take on building legal teams that thrive.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What ALSPs are, how they work, and how to choose the right partner
- How ALSPs and tech together can fuel real legal transformation
- Why legal ops leaders must rethink change management to avoid burnout
- How to turn tech adoption fatigue into lasting success
- Why empathy and partnership are critical to building happier, healthier legal teams
If you’re ready to reimagine what legal work can feel like—with the right tools and the right partners—this episode is your roadmap. Tune in for practical strategies, powerful insights, and a vision for a more joyful legal future.
Think legal ops success is all about tech and processes? Think again. In this episode, Jeffery Kruse reveals why communication is the real game-changer—and how lawyers can ditch complexity for clarity that actually moves people.
Continuing our Legal Operations series, Jeffrey joins Olga Mack to break down the C Framework: Simple, Easy, Effective communication that drives real results. From law firms to Fortune 100 companies, Jeffrey shares how better messaging can turn good ideas into real-world action—and why speaking “business” matters just as much as speaking “law.”
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to communicate clearly in a way that drives change
- Why legal teams must speak the language of business, not just law
- The real difference between change management and “improvement management”
- How to influence without authority—and boost adoption rates
- Practical tips to simplify presentations, messaging, and strategy
If you're ready to lead better, get buy-in faster, and make legal ops work for everyone, this conversation is your blueprint. Tune in for smart, actionable advice on building communication muscles that actually make a difference.
Think legal ops is just a buzzword? Think again. In this episode, Tanisha Minev shows how smart legal operations can scale your team without burnout—and why the future of law is lean, tech-savvy, and human-first.
Continuing our Legal Operations series, Tanisha joins Olga Mack to break down what operational efficiency really looks like inside high-growth, fast-paced companies. From AI workflows to lean principles, Tanisha shares the real moves that legal teams can make today to work smarter, not harder.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to scale legal teams with less friction—and more impact
- Where AI and automation fit into real-world legal workflows
- Why legal ops isn’t a project—it's a mindset shift
- How to build people-centered legal teams that drive business outcomes
- How to turn lean legal theory into real-life results (without the jargon)
If you're ready to ditch busywork and future-proof your legal team, this episode is your playbook. Tune in for a sharp, energizing conversation packed with practical tools and big inspiration.
Is guilt running your legal career? In this bold episode, Brent Dyer shares why it’s time for lawyers to drop guilt, perfectionism, and people-pleasing—and lead with emotional intelligence instead.
Closing out our Legal Operations series, Brent and Olga Mack dive deep into the emotional traps that sabotage lawyers' success and how to replace them with clarity, confidence, and self-trust.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why guilt is a terrible strategy (and what to use instead)
- How perfectionism and people-pleasing sneak into legal work
- How to take up space with authenticity, not performance
- Why emotional intelligence is the real edge in client service
- How to build boundaries without apology
If you're ready to stop second-guessing yourself and lead with purpose, this conversation is your starting point. Tune in for a raw, practical guide to reclaiming your power in the legal world—and beyond.
Have you ever wondered how authenticity could transform the legal profession? Discover why being true to yourself is a game-changer for lawyers in this episode with Hannah Beko. As part of the "Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data" book tour, we invite you to explore how authenticity can revolutionize the legal field.
Join us for an enlightening session with Hannah Beko, a commercial property lawyer and founder of Authentically Speaking. With years of experience coaching and training thousands of lawyers, Hannah is an authority on professional skills development. She’s also the author of The Authentic Lawyer, a podcast host, keynote speaker, and Head of Mission at Legal Studio Solicitors. In this episode, Hannah shares her invaluable insights on the significance of authenticity in law and how it can enhance your professional life.
In this episode, you'll gain:
- An understanding of why authenticity is crucial for lawyers.
- Insights into the historical reluctance towards authenticity in the legal profession.
- Knowledge on how being authentic improves work relationships and mental health.
- Practical steps for lawyers to embrace authenticity.
- Insights on how authenticity impacts leadership in law firms.
- Tips for junior or aspiring lawyers to be authentic from the start.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an industry expert. Tune in to this engaging, fun, and educational discussion that promises to provide valuable insights and practical advice on embracing authenticity in the legal profession. Whether you're a seasoned lawyer or just starting, this episode will help you unlock the power of authenticity in your career.
Are you a lawyer looking to explore new career horizons? Or perhaps you're intrigued by the innovative solutions transforming the legal profession? Join us for an insightful episode with Neil Handwerker and Kimberly Fine, visionary co-founders of ex judicata, a platform revolutionizing how lawyers transition into nonlegal roles and offering comprehensive solutions for those seeking new career paths.
In this episode, we dive into the motivation behind ex judicata and explore why Neil and Kimberly created this groundbreaking platform. We’ll uncover the significance of their work in today’s evolving legal landscape, discuss the challenges within the legal profession, and discover why more lawyers are considering nonlegal opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the Shift: Gain insights into why lawyers are increasingly seeking alternative careers and the driving factors behind these shifts.
- Exploring New Career Paths: Learn about the variety of nonlegal roles available for lawyers and how ex judicata facilitates these transitions, offering support through a unique career diagnostic tool and personalized coaching.
- Engaging with Talent Executives: Understand how ex judicata connects lawyers with hiring executives and the strategies used to ensure successful placements, leading to fulfilling career pivots.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone contemplating a career shift or simply curious about the future of legal careers. Hear from Neil and Kimberly as they share their experiences and expertise, offering valuable advice for lawyers ready to explore new professional avenues.
Ready to revolutionize your legal practice? Join us for an electrifying episode on Notes to My (Legal) Self as we explore “Supercharge Your Law Firm with AI Legal Assistants,” featuring Tom Martin, CEO of LawDroid and a trailblazer in legal tech innovation.
In this can't-miss episode, Tom takes us through the transformative potential of Generative AI in legal practice. With his extensive expertise as a legal AI advocate, lawyer, and founder, Tom highlights how AI can turbocharge your law firm’s efficiency and deliver innovative solutions to traditional challenges.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Generative AI: Understand how AI legal assistants can enhance your firm's productivity by automating routine tasks and improving client interactions.
- Real-World Applications: Explore practical use cases of AI in law firms, from lead generation and intake to client communication and document automation.
- AI's Role in Legal Innovation: Dive into the future of legal services and learn how AI can streamline workflows, allowing lawyers to focus on high-value work.
- Security and Privacy Concerns: Learn about safeguarding client data when using AI tools and ensuring privacy is protected through encryption and other measures.
Tom also shares his passion for empowering the legal community through education. He explains how LawDroid’s platform simplifies AI adoption for law firms, making it accessible and intuitive. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to deepen your understanding, Tom’s insights provide a roadmap for embracing AI legal assistants to elevate your practice.
Practical Next Steps:
- Explore the potential of AI by experimenting with tools like LawDroid to automate intake and client communications.
- Understand the importance of data privacy and security by reviewing vendor agreements and ensuring data encryption in your AI applications.
- Stay curious and continue learning with resources like the LawDroid Manifesto newsletter and LawDroid University, which offer in-depth education on AI’s applications in law.
Join us for this transformative conversation and discover how to supercharge your law firm with AI legal assistants. Don’t miss the opportunity to stay ahead in the ever-evolving legal landscape!
Ready to dive deep into the world of standard contracts and their potential to revolutionize the legal industry? Join us for an enlightening episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self as we explore “Standard Contracts: Benefits, Challenges, and the Path to Adoption,” featuring Jake Stein, co-founder and CEO of Common Paper.
In this episode, Jake takes us on a journey through the conception, development, and adoption of standard contracts, offering valuable insights into how these standardized agreements could streamline legal workflows, reduce friction, and create a more efficient legal process. We’ll also address the tension between standardization and the need for customization, exploring how lawyers can balance the two.
Key Takeaways:
- The Road to Standardization: Discover the journey from ideation to broad acceptance of standard contracts across industries.
- Impact on Legal Practice: How standard contracts can simplify negotiations, shorten timelines, and allow lawyers to focus on high-value work.
- Balancing Standardization and Customization: Learn how standards can exist alongside bespoke negotiations, offering efficiency without sacrificing leverage.
- The Role of Technology: Explore how contract standardization in technology compares to law, where complexity often requires unique solutions.
Jake also shares his experiences working with lawyers, highlighting that the problem isn't the people—it’s the system. The friction in contracts often stems from a lack of standardization, leading to inefficiencies and opaque agreements. Drawing on examples from real estate and venture capital, Jake emphasizes how standardized contracts can bring transparency, speed, and consistency to legal transactions.
Whether you’re a legal tech enthusiast, a practicing attorney, or just curious about the future of law, this episode provides a comprehensive look at how adopting standard contracts could reshape the industry and increase access to efficient legal services.
Practical Next Steps:
- Consider adopting standard contracts for routine transactions like NDAs, sales agreements, and early-stage fundraising.
- Evaluate how implementing standards could accelerate your legal processes and benefit both your firm and your clients.
- Explore partnerships with associations and platforms like Common Paper to help drive the adoption of these standards in your practice.
Join us for this engaging and thought-provoking discussion. Don’t miss out on learning how standards can provide that “free lunch” of efficiency, benefiting you, your clients, and the entire legal ecosystem.
What can low-code and no-code platforms do for lawyers looking to streamline their practice and enter new markets? Find out in this insightful episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self as we dive into "Rapid-Development Platforms for Lawyers," featuring Brittany Hernandez, Global Ambassador to Law Schools at Gavel. Brittany’s unique journey from serving in the U.S. Coast Guard to becoming a legal tech leader shows the incredible impact technology can have on the legal field.
In this episode, Brittany explores the world of low-code and no-code platforms, including Gavel, and how these rapid-development tools are transforming legal services. From automating document creation to building client-facing legal products, Brittany reveals how lawyers can leverage these technologies to optimize their workflow and deliver better results to clients. Whether you’re looking to streamline internal processes or explore new revenue streams by productizing legal services, this episode offers valuable insights into how legal tech can revolutionize your practice.
Key Takeaways:
- What is No-Code? Learn how low-code/no-code platforms enable lawyers to build tools without needing coding expertise.
- Internal vs. Client-Facing Tools: Discover the difference between automating internal processes (like document generation) and creating client-facing solutions that expand access to legal services.
- Real-World Examples: From HelloDivorce to estate planning automations, Brittany shares practical examples of how lawyers are using Gavel and other no-code platforms to serve clients more efficiently and scale their practices.
- Productization of Legal Services: See how you can transition from traditional legal practice models to offering legal products, opening new markets and revenue streams.
- Client Portals and Data Management: Learn how to enhance client experience through personalized portals, making it easier for clients to manage their legal documents and updates seamlessly.
Whether you’re a seasoned attorney, paralegal, or new to legal tech, Brittany offers concrete advice on how to start using these platforms and the benefits of embracing rapid development to enhance your practice.
Practical Next Steps:
- Start small with a free trial of Gavel or another no-code platform to see how it can improve your legal workflow.
- Explore Brittany’s free one-hour workflow exercise at ChromiumAcademy.com to dip your toes into legal automation.
- Consider how no-code platforms can help you offer new, innovative legal products to clients—opening new opportunities for profitability and accessibility in your practice.
Join us for an inspiring conversation as Brittany shows how legal tech is not just for the future—it’s for right now. Whether you're interested in automating your internal processes or developing client-facing legal products, this episode is packed with insights to get you started.
What happens when legal technology can increase access to justice and boost the profitability of law firms? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we dive into "Using Legal Technology to Increase Access to Justice While Making Lawyers More Money," featuring Eric Voogt, CEO of Proof Technology, Inc., and former trial attorney. Eric’s shift from the courtroom to founding a legal tech company provides critical insights into how technology can revolutionize both the legal industry and the delivery of justice.
Eric walks us through the founding of Proof, a company that streamlines the process of service, one of the most fundamental elements in litigation. He highlights the inefficiencies in the traditional system, including the time and costs that lawyers and firms face, and how this has broader implications for access to justice. By automating service of process, Proof helps pro se litigants and law firms alike, creating a more efficient legal system for everyone.
In this episode, you will learn:
- How legal technology like Proof can reduce mundane, manual tasks, allowing lawyers to focus on strategic work.
- Why the billable hour may be on its way out, and how this shift opens the door for more predictable pricing and broader market access.
- The importance of embracing legal tech to serve the 85% of businesses and individuals who currently cannot afford traditional legal services.
- How technology can empower paralegals and elevate their role within law firms, leading to greater efficiency and better client outcomes.
Eric also shares practical advice for legal professionals, from implementing case management systems to leveraging AI for tasks like deposition summaries and evidence review. His message is clear: change is coming, and those who adopt technology now will not only benefit financially but will also play a key role in addressing the access to justice crisis.
Key Takeaways:
- Communication & Measurement: Streamlining communication and measuring success is essential for a modern law practice.
- Embrace AI: Artificial intelligence can handle tedious tasks like summarizing depositions and linking evidence, freeing up lawyers for high-value work.
- Elevate Paralegals: By adopting technology, law firms can empower paralegals to take on more significant responsibilities, boosting productivity and client satisfaction.
- Billable Hours are Fading: As clients demand more transparency and predictable costs, alternative fee structures and efficiency-driven models are gaining traction.
Join us for this insightful conversation with Eric Voogt and learn how technology is reshaping the legal landscape. Whether you're a lawyer, paralegal, or simply interested in the future of law, this episode offers actionable insights and inspiration for the road ahead.
Thank you for joining us, and don't miss out on this opportunity to rethink how technology can transform your legal practice. See you next time!
What happens when justice is truly accessible to all? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we dive into "Courts Belong to the People" with Sonja Ebron, CEO of Courtroom5, as part of The Future Belongs to Builders series. Sonja, a PhD electrical engineer and former college professor, shares her unique journey into the legal world after representing herself in court numerous times. She founded Courtroom5 to empower people to navigate the legal system, addressing the pressing issue of access to justice for those unable to afford legal representation.
Sonja’s insights take us deep into the barriers that prevent fair access to justice, including the complexities of legal procedures, power imbalances in the courtroom, and how strategic litigation can make all the difference. She also discusses how her platform, Courtroom5, helps pro se litigants (those representing themselves) overcome these challenges, offering tools, resources, and education to help them stand up to opposing parties, many of whom are represented by experienced lawyers.
This episode will provide you with:
- A deeper understanding of the access to justice crisis and its impact on underrepresented communities.
- Insights into how non-lawyers can use litigation strategically to achieve their goals.
- An exploration of the role of justice tech in breaking down barriers to the legal system.
- Practical solutions for leveling the playing field in court.
Sonja also touches on the regulatory barriers like UPL (Unauthorized Practice of Law) that slow down legal innovation, and the potential of AI to improve access to justice. Whether you're a legal professional, a technologist, or someone passionate about making the legal system more equitable, this episode offers critical perspectives on reshaping the future of law.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Recognize the power imbalance in the courtroom and how it disproportionately affects unrepresented individuals.
- Understand the role of justice tech and AI in expanding access to legal resources and education.
- Learn strategies for self-represented litigants to navigate complex legal procedures and use litigation to their advantage.
- Reflect on the regulatory changes needed to foster innovation and make the legal system more accessible.
Don't miss this engaging discussion with Sonja Ebron, a true advocate for access to justice. Join us and learn how we can make courts truly belong to the people.
What happens when Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is more than just a buzzword? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we dive into "Unlocking Success: Examining the Business Imperative of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" with Malobi Achike, Founder-CEO of DEI Directive. Together, we explore the essential role DEI plays in transforming businesses and driving innovation.
Malobi shares her personal journey, from law to founding a company dedicated to helping organizations embrace DEI as a strategic advantage. This episode redefines the business case for DEI, illustrating why it’s not just an ethical obligation but a critical component for organizational success and sustainability. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or legal professional, you’ll gain actionable insights on how to implement DEI effectively and navigate the challenges that often come with it.
In this conversation, we break down how DEI can improve workplace culture, foster innovation, and give businesses a competitive edge. We also address common misconceptions, like the idea that DEI compromises hiring standards, and discuss practical strategies for overcoming barriers to DEI initiatives.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the tangible benefits DEI brings to businesses, including increased innovation and better financial performance.
- Learn how to strategically integrate DEI into business practices and measure its success.
- Discover how to overcome common obstacles to DEI and foster a workplace culture that promotes inclusion and belonging.
- Recognize the value of data-driven approaches to track and enhance DEI initiatives within an organization.
- Understand how DEI impacts employee retention, engagement, and overall business growth.
Don’t miss this critical discussion on how to unlock your organization’s true potential through DEI. Whether you’re looking to attract top talent, boost retention, or drive better business outcomes, this episode provides the insights and tools you need to lead with purpose.
What happens when you’re building a company while managing mental illness? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we continue our Future Belongs to Builders series with a deeply personal and empowering conversation, “Building Companies With Mental Illness,” featuring Collin Williams, founder and chairman of New Era ADR. Collin shares his journey as a lawyer turned entrepreneur, offering invaluable insights into how mental illness can both challenge and fuel success in the high-pressure world of startups.
In this raw and insightful discussion, Collin opens up about his own experiences living with depression and how he’s reframed it as a unique motivator rather than a weakness. With a focus on practical coping strategies, from therapy to structured routines, Collin explains how mental illness doesn’t have to be a barrier but can instead be a source of strength. His candid reflections will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to succeed while navigating mental health challenges.
This episode is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship and mental health are not mutually exclusive. Collin offers a roadmap for founders living with mental illness, showing how to manage stress, maintain resilience, and build a company with the right support systems in place. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, legal professional, or someone curious about mental health in high-stakes careers, this episode offers a compassionate and honest perspective on the intersection of mental illness and business.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how mental illness can serve as both a challenge and a unique strength in entrepreneurship.
- Learn about the importance of routine and structure in managing mental health while running a company.
- Explore how Collin reframed living with depression from a burden to a source of resilience and strength.
- Gain insights into how being open about mental illness can help destigmatize the conversation and encourage others to seek help.
- Discover practical strategies for balancing the stresses of startup life with mental health, from therapy to medication and community support.
- Learn the importance of transparency with business partners, employees, and investors regarding mental health.
Collin’s message is clear: mental illness doesn’t define you, but how you live with it can shape your success. Join us for a conversation that breaks the silence and empowers entrepreneurs to thrive, not in spite of their challenges, but because of them.
What happens when legal tech gets too helpful? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we kick off our new series, The Future Belongs to Builders, by exploring the fine line between legal information and legal advice. In “Too Helpful? What is the Line Between UPL and Legal Information?” Erin Levine, CEO of Hello Divorce, and Quinten Steenhuis, legal tech expert at Suffolk Law School and founder of Lemma Legal Consulting, join us to dissect how technology is transforming the legal landscape—and sometimes blurring boundaries.
Erin and Quinten dive into the critical difference between providing legal advice and offering legal information, a line that has become increasingly difficult to define as automation tools and AI evolve. With legal tech offering form automation, document generation, and AI-powered tools, where exactly does information stop and advice begin? The conversation unpacks how constitutional protections for legal form books and websites fit into this gray area, and how modern technologies are pushing those boundaries.
From exploring regulatory challenges to discussing real-world examples of how legal tech is improving access to justice, this episode is a must-listen for those curious about the future of law. Erin shares how Hello Divorce uses aggregated data to guide users, helping them make better decisions without crossing into legal advice. Quinten offers insights on how lawyers and legal tech companies can build services that comply with UPL regulations while still delivering valuable information to clients.
They also dive into the evolving role of AI in legal services, touching on how tools like ChatGPT are being used to draft documents and guide users—but with cautionary notes about the importance of supervised, lawyer-vetted systems. Practical strategies for staying compliant, including keeping humans involved in automated processes and offering users the ability to customize and review their legal documents, are front and center in this conversation.
As the regulatory landscape shifts and AI plays a larger role in the legal world, Erin and Quinten offer valuable insights for anyone navigating these waters. From the use of data-driven insights to enhance user experience to strategies for steering clear of UPL violations, this episode arms you with the tools to stay ahead in legal tech innovation.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the critical difference between legal advice and legal information, and how technology blurs this line.
- Explore how constitutional protections for legal form books and websites apply in the context of modern legal tech.
- Learn how AI-powered tools, like form automation and ChatGPT, are reshaping the legal landscape.
- Discover practical strategies for staying compliant with UPL (Unauthorized Practice of Law) regulations while delivering valuable legal information.
- Gain insights on how legal tech is improving access to justice and helping consumers navigate complex legal processes.
- Learn how data-driven insights and AI can guide users in making informed decisions without crossing into legal advice.
- Understand the importance of lawyer-vetted systems and keeping human oversight in automated legal services.
- Stay informed on the evolving regulatory challenges and opportunities as legal tech continues to advance.
The future belongs to builders, and this episode shows you how to be part of it.
AI and Environmental Sustainability: Can AI Shape a Greener Future?
🌿 How can AI shape a greener future? 🌿
Join us for a special episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self featuring the remarkable Pamela Isom, founder and CEO of Izabayte Consulting. With over 30 years of experience in AI, cybersecurity, and systems engineering, Pamela focuses on leveraging AI for sustainability and corporate governance.
In this episode titled "AI and Environmental Sustainability," we’ll explore how AI is revolutionizing sustainability practices across industries.
In this episode, we cover:
- How AI can revolutionize sustainability practices, from climate modeling to renewable energy.
- The use of simulated data to accelerate environmental efforts.
- The growing potential of AI-powered tools like text-to-video and audio, and their implications for sustainable practices.
- Pamela’s unique approach to coaching and training in AI for environmental goals.
🎯 Learning Outcomes:
- Discover how AI can drive real, tangible impacts in the environmental sector.
- Gain insights into how data simulations are advancing the clean energy movement.
- Understand the intersection of AI, corporate governance, and sustainability.
As you listen, consider these questions:
- Can AI truly make a difference in environmental sustainability, and if so, how?
- What are the ethical considerations of using AI for environmental solutions?
- How can organizations integrate AI into their sustainability strategies?
Don’t miss the opportunity to engage in a dynamic discussion about the future of AI and sustainability with one of the leading voices in the field!
Additional Resources:
- AI or Not the podcast: https://aiornot.buzzsprout.com/
- LinkedIn post that gives an example of AI sustainability issues and a good example of a sustainable prompt: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7244667489903681536/
- IsA website: https://www.isadviceandconsulting.com/
Are you ready to explore the intersection of law and technology? In this insightful episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, join Laura Jeffords Greenberg, Senior Legal Director at Worksome and Prompt Engineer, for an in-depth discussion on the future of legal practice and how generative AI (genAI) is reshaping the legal landscape.
In "The Future of Legal: Will Prompting Be Required?" Laura, a tech-savvy in-house counsel with vast experience in scaling organizations, shares her expertise on asynchronous communication and genAI tools. She explains how these tools are revolutionizing legal team efficiency, knowledge management, and inclusivity. Laura brings a practical approach, teaching listeners how clear and concise communication can lay the foundation for successful AI adoption.
Episode Highlights:
- Mastering Asynchronous Communication for Legal Teams: Learn the principles of async communication and how it enhances documentation, knowledge sharing, and team collaboration, especially for globally distributed teams. Laura discusses how to effectively implement this strategy for legal departments.
- The Power of Prompts for AI Tools: Discover Laura’s step-by-step strategies for crafting effective prompts to achieve better results with genAI. Whether you’re drafting contracts or automating responses, get practical tips on how to optimize your interaction with AI tools.
- Strategies for Seamless genAI Integration: Laura offers insight into how legal teams can prepare for and smoothly integrate AI technologies into their daily workflows, improving productivity and collaboration without sacrificing legal standards.
Laura also breaks down her "RAPS" prompt framework—What (expected output), Role, Audience, Purpose, and Scope—and shares "DIP" for engaging with AI tools: Discussion, Interrogate, and Pace. This episode is packed with actionable tips that will help you navigate the rapidly evolving legal landscape with confidence and creativity.
Key Takeaways:
- Clear Documentation is Key: Effective asynchronous communication creates a knowledge bank, ensuring that AI tools can work with more specific data and return better outputs.
- Prompt Engineering is an Art and Science: Refined prompts lead to more accurate AI results, and Laura’s practical frameworks provide a simple yet powerful approach to enhancing your AI interactions.
- Experiment and Innovate: Lawyers need to embrace experimentation with AI and give their teams the space and freedom to explore and innovate with these tools.
Don’t miss out on learning from one of the leading experts in legal technology. Tune in now and equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the AI-powered future of law!
Are you ready to uncover the real impact of AI on the legal field? Join us for a special episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, AI Insights LIVE, where we explore the transformative potential of AI in the legal profession with our esteemed guest, Professor Daniel Schwarcz!
In this episode, titled "Beyond the Hype: Empirical Evidence on the Impact of AI in the Law," Professor Schwarcz, an award-winning scholar and teacher from the University of Minnesota Law School, shares his groundbreaking research on how generative AI is reshaping the practice of law. This is your chance to learn from an expert whose work spans insurance law, regulatory challenges, and the intersection of AI with legal education and practice.
Episode Highlights:
- The Real Benefits and Risks of Generative AI for Lawyers: Discover the empirical evidence that reveals how AI is improving efficiency and reducing time for legal tasks without compromising quality. Understand the specific scenarios where AI is most beneficial and where it might pose risks to independent legal judgment.
- Key Tasks Where AI Excels in Legal Practice: Learn about the particular areas of law where AI tools like GPT-4 are making significant impacts, from drafting legal documents and summarizing cases to brainstorming contract clauses and accelerating research.
- Future-Proofing Your Legal Career in an AI-Driven World: Gain insights into the skills and strategies legal professionals need to develop to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape. Professor Schwarcz discusses the importance of experimentation, continuous learning, and adapting to new technologies.
- Ethical Considerations in AI Integration: Explore the ethical challenges that come with integrating AI into legal workflows, including concerns about bias, fairness, and the need for transparency in AI-driven decisions.
Join us for this enlightening session with Professor Daniel Schwarcz to elevate your understanding and be at the forefront of legal innovation. This episode will leave you well-prepared to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in the legal profession. Don’t miss this chance to gain a competitive edge and enhance your practice with the power of AI.
Tune in now and stay ahead of the curve!
Curious about the explosive growth of AI and its profound impact on the legal industry? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we dive deep into the transformative power of AI with our special guest, Cat Casey, a pioneering advocate of AI in the legal space for over two decades. As part of Cat's roadshow for her new book, Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data, we explore how the AI boom is reshaping the legal landscape and what you can do to stay ahead in an AI-driven world.
In this episode titled "AI & The Future of Legal: Challenges and Opportunities," Cat shares her insights on the rapid adoption of AI and generative AI technologies and their transformative effects on the legal field. We delve into the future of legal discovery in an era dominated by visual and video generative AI, discussing both the challenges and opportunities these technologies present.
We’ll also explore our collaboration on Cat’s insightful chapter, "Dance of the Data Dragons," which uses a unique metaphor to examine the strategic complexities of eDiscovery and legal operations in the age of AI.
Key Takeaways:
- The Impact of AI on the Legal Industry: Understand how the explosive growth of AI adoption is transforming various aspects of legal practice, from eDiscovery and client management to the strategic use of data.
- Navigating Challenges and Opportunities: Discover the critical challenges and opportunities that AI presents for legal professionals, including ethical considerations, data security, and the evolving role of lawyers.
- Strategies to Future-Proof Your Career: Learn actionable strategies to ensure you remain relevant and competitive in an AI-driven legal market, including which skills to develop and how to integrate AI tools effectively.
- Insights from "Dance of the Data Dragons": Gain unique insights from Cat’s chapter in our collaborative book, which blends popular culture with cutting-edge AI strategies to provide a fresh perspective on navigating the complexities of legal tech and operations.
Join us for an enlightening discussion that will equip you with the knowledge and tools to thrive in the rapidly evolving legal landscape shaped by AI. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading experts in the field and prepare your practice for the future of legal innovation. Tune in now and stay ahead of the curve!
Curious about how to build your own legal tech product? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we dive deep into the world of legal tech innovation with our special guest, Horace Wu, the founder and CEO of Syntheia. Titled "How to Build Your LLM Product in Five Easy Steps," this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leveraging AI and machine learning to create cutting-edge solutions in the legal field.
Horace Wu brings his wealth of experience in legal tech to the table, breaking down the process of building an LLM (Legal Language Model) product into five actionable steps. Whether you're a legal professional looking to enhance your practice with technology or a tech enthusiast eager to enter the legal tech space, Horace's insights offer a clear roadmap for success.
Throughout the episode, you'll learn how to identify user pain points, explore the latest technological advancements, design user-friendly solutions, assemble the perfect team, and ensure the successful adoption of your new product. Horace's straightforward approach and practical advice make this complex process accessible to all.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding User Pain Points: Discover the importance of starting with a deep understanding of the specific pain points in legal services that your product aims to address. Horace emphasizes the need for thorough user research to ensure your product truly meets the needs of its intended audience.
Leveraging Cutting-Edge Technologies: Learn about the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) and other innovative technologies that can be integrated into legal tech solutions. Understand how to choose the right tech tools that align with your product goals.
Building a Winning Team: Gain insights into the strategies for assembling a team that can effectively design, build, and launch a legal tech product. Horace discusses the critical roles needed, from domain experts to tech builders, and how to foster effective collaboration among them.
Iterative Product Development: Explore the importance of iterative development and continuous feedback in refining your product. Horace outlines how to use user feedback to guide product improvements and ensure your solution evolves with your users' needs.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insider knowledge on building a successful legal tech product. As you listen, think about these questions: What drives your interest in legal tech innovations? How do you envision AI transforming your daily legal tasks? What challenges might you face in adopting new technologies in your practice?
Join us for an enlightening discussion with Horace Wu and take the first step towards building your own LLM product with confidence. Be part of the future of legal innovation and learn how to harness the power of AI to revolutionize the legal industry!
How can AI transform the way we build and sustain legal communities? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self—AI Insights, we explore the innovative potential of AI tools in revolutionizing community-building within the legal sector. Titled "AI Unites: Crafting the Next-Gen Legal Community—Connect, Empower, Transform," this episode promises insights that could reshape the landscape of legal practice.
Join us with our special guest, Robert Hanna, as we delve into how AI is changing the dynamics of connection, mentorship, and innovation among legal professionals. From AI-driven matchmaking for mentorship programs to platforms that democratize access to valuable resources, the opportunities for growth and inclusivity in the legal field are vast.
In this episode, you'll discover how AI can foster a more collaborative legal ecosystem. Learn about the innovative AI applications that are enhancing networking opportunities and inclusivity and gain insights into the ethical use of AI with predictions for the next decade. Robert Hanna, a leading figure in legal talent solutions and a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, shares his expert perspective on how AI can break down traditional barriers within the legal profession.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding AI's Role in Building Legal Communities: Robert Hanna discusses the role of AI in reshaping community building within the legal sector. He highlights how AI can enhance networking, mentorship, and collaboration, ultimately creating a more inclusive and connected legal community.
Innovative AI Applications for Networking and Inclusivity: Learn about cutting-edge AI tools that help legal professionals network more effectively, such as AI-driven event networking platforms and personalized content distribution algorithms. Discover how these technologies can make networking more targeted and efficient.
Ethical Considerations for Integrating AI in Legal Communities: Explore the ethical dilemmas and considerations involved in using AI for community building in the legal field, including issues related to transparency, bias mitigation, and maintaining the integrity of professional interactions.
Strategies for Leveraging AI to Democratize Access: Understand how AI can be used to democratize access to legal resources and mentorship, ensuring that all legal professionals have equal opportunities to grow and thrive in the profession.
Don’t miss this chance to be at the forefront of legal innovation. Engage with us and join the discussion on how AI is connecting, empowering, and transforming the legal community. Be a part of the future of legal tech and discover how you can leverage AI to enhance your professional network and make a meaningful impact in the legal field.
How can law firms safely integrate AI while managing the associated risks? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we explore the role of artificial intelligence in law firm risk management with our special guest, Jeff Cunningham. Together, we examine the potential benefits and challenges of using AI tools like ChatGPT in legal practice and discuss practical strategies for maintaining ethical standards and managing risks effectively.
As AI technologies become more prevalent, many law firms face the dilemma of either embracing these tools to increase efficiency or avoiding them to minimize risk. With Jeff's expertise in law firm risk management and ethics, we delve into the essential components of a robust AI policy that helps law firms navigate this complex landscape.
With AI platforms such as ChatGPT becoming more advanced, many law firms are integrating these tools into their daily operations. These platforms can significantly enhance efficiency in tasks like legal research, document review, and client communications. However, with increased use comes increased risk, particularly around data security, client confidentiality, and ethical compliance. How can law firms strike the right balance between innovation and caution?
Key Takeaways:
Understanding AI's Role in Legal Risk Management: Jeff Cunningham explains how AI is being used in law firms today, from legal research and client intake to drafting documents. He highlights the potential risks and the necessity of understanding these technologies to use them effectively.
Crafting a Comprehensive AI Policy: Learn about the critical components of an effective AI policy, including guidelines for data privacy, client consent, and ethical use. Discover how a well-defined policy can help your firm adopt AI technologies responsibly and mitigate potential risks.
Ethical Considerations in the Age of AI: Explore the ethical dilemmas posed by AI in legal practice, such as maintaining client confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, and ensuring that AI is used in compliance with professional ethics rules.
Risk Mitigation Strategies for Law Firms: Understand the strategies that law firms can implement to minimize the risks associated with AI adoption, including robust cybersecurity measures, regular policy reviews, and continuous staff training.
Don’t miss this essential episode as we navigate the complexities of AI in legal practice. Learn how to integrate AI responsibly, manage risks, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry. Join us in this insightful conversation and discover how to safeguard your practice while embracing the future of legal innovation.
Are you navigating the rapid currents of AI in legal practice? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we dive deep into the essential skills needed to thrive as the legal profession undergoes a technological revolution. Our guest, Sam Moore, shares his expertise on how to bridge the gap between traditional legal skills and the new competencies required in an AI-enhanced world.
As AI continues to redefine efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility in legal work, we explore the tools that are transforming the practice of law. From the lessons learned in the past decade’s digital evolution to the latest AI technologies that are reshaping the industry, this conversation will equip you with the insights needed to stay ahead.
Discover:
- From Past to Future: Learn how the digital evolution over the last decade can inform your approach to embracing new AI tools and methodologies in legal practice.
- The AI Revolution: Get an in-depth look at the AI technologies that are currently transforming legal work and understand their potential impact over the next ten years.
- Bridging the Skills Gap: Identify the essential competencies for legal professionals in an AI-driven future and explore strategies for acquiring and refining these skills.
As you listen, consider these thought-provoking questions: How will AI change the day-to-day tasks of legal professionals in the next decade? What skills will legal practitioners need to develop to leverage AI effectively in their work? As AI becomes more integrated into legal practice, how can professionals ensure they remain adaptable and forward-thinking?
In today’s conversation, Sam shares his journey from practicing law to becoming a senior director of innovation at Skillburst Interactive, where he focuses on educating lawyers about technology and AI. His insights will help you understand not just the technological shifts but also the human skills—like empathy and critical thinking—that are increasingly valuable in the modern legal landscape.
Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with your colleagues, and keep the conversation going. Let’s work together to embrace the future of legal practice with confidence and curiosity.
How will lawyers make money in a world where AI can do in minutes what used to take hours? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we dive into the transformative effects of Large Language Models (LLMs) on legal practice with our special guest, Damien Riehl. Together, we explore the profound changes LLMs are bringing to the traditional hourly billing model and discuss how the legal industry can adapt to this new reality.
With LLMs increasing efficiency, we're seeing a shift toward flat fee billing models. Currently, flat fees make up about 10%-15% of legal revenue, but this could rise to 50% or more as AI continues to revolutionize our industry. But what does this mean for the future of legal work and the financial health of law firms?
Our conversation also delves into the untapped market of legal services—both in corporate and consumer sectors—where needs often go unmet due to high costs. With LLMs reducing expenses, there's a golden opportunity for lawyers to penetrate these markets more deeply, potentially boosting profitability even as traditional revenue streams evolve.
Key Takeaways:
- Insights into Reshaping Workloads: Damien explains how LLMs are changing workloads and billing practices in the legal field, making traditional time-based billing less viable as technology increases efficiency.
- Shift from Hourly Billing to Flat Fee Models: Understand the broader implications of moving from an hourly billing model to flat fees, especially as LLMs reduce the time required for various legal tasks.
- Strategies for Tapping into the Latent Market: Learn how lawyers can leverage LLMs to access underserved markets, both in corporate and consumer sectors, by providing more affordable and efficient services.
- Navigating the Ethical Landscape: Delve into the ethical considerations that arise as the legal industry adapts to new technologies, including the challenges of maintaining reasonable fees and client confidentiality.
As you listen, reflect on these critical questions: How can you adjust your billing practices to stay competitive in the age of LLMs? In what ways can legal professionals leverage LLMs to access and serve the latent market effectively? What are the potential challenges and benefits of transitioning to a flat fee model?
Don’t miss this insightful exploration into the future of legal billing. Learn how you can adapt and thrive amid these technological advancements. Join the conversation and discover the opportunities that lie ahead.
Thank you for tuning in, and remember to subscribe and share this episode with your colleagues. Let's navigate these changes together and redefine what it means to practice law in the 21st century. Stay curious, stay proactive, and embrace the future of legal innovation!
Welcome to Season 9 of Notes to My (Legal) Self, the podcast where we explore the critical issues shaping the future of the legal profession. In this season opener, titled "It's Actually Not About the AI," we're thrilled to host Jordan Furlong, a renowned legal sector analyst and forecaster. Together, we dig deep into the challenges that extend far beyond the shiny allure of generative AI, uncovering the structural issues that have long hampered the evolution of law.
As AI technology rapidly advances, it's easy to be swept up in the excitement of its potential. But are we missing the bigger picture? Jordan Furlong argues that while generative AI has the power to revolutionize legal services, the real story lies in the enduring flaws of our current systems. From outdated business models and lawyer training programs to the barriers that limit access to justice, this episode challenges us to rethink how we approach these persistent issues.
Key Takeaways:
- Exposing Structural Weaknesses: Jordan explains how generative AI highlights existing inefficiencies in law firm management and client service delivery, urging a shift from traditional models to those centered on value and client relationships.
- The Role of Generative AI: Learn why Jordan believes AI is more of a catalyst than a cure-all, pushing the legal industry to confront and adapt to long-standing issues.
- Future of Legal Education: Discover insights on how legal training must evolve to prepare future lawyers for a world where AI and interdisciplinary collaboration are the norms.
- Regulatory Reflections: Delve into a discussion on the necessity of rethinking legal self-regulation, especially in the face of technological advancements that outpace current frameworks.
We also explore some thought-provoking questions: How can the legal profession adapt to an AI-driven world without losing sight of the fundamental values of justice? What changes are essential in legal education to better prepare new lawyers for the challenges ahead? Could AI be the key to bridging the gap in access to justice, or will it exacerbate existing inequities?
If you found this episode insightful, don't forget to subscribe and share it with your colleagues. Join the conversation by sending in your questions or thoughts—what do you think is the most pressing issue facing the legal industry today?
Thank you for tuning in to this enlightening discussion on the true challenges and opportunities facing the legal industry. Stay curious, stay engaged, and remember—change starts with you!
Join us for an engaging episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self featuring the formidable Justin Wales, Head of Legal for the Americas at Crypto.com. Dive deep into the world of crypto law and discover a path less traveled in the legal profession.
Justin Wales, one of the nation’s top crypto lawyers, shares his unique journey in the legal landscape, focusing on the revolutionary world of crypto, DeFi, and NFTs. Having recently authored "The Crypto Legal Handbook," Justin is here to dismantle traditional career paths and offer fresh perspectives for law students and seasoned professionals.
In this session, you'll gain insights into the challenges and opportunities within the crypto legal framework. Justin discusses the importance of carving out a niche in decentralized technologies and shares strategies for building a fulfilling career that defies conventional specialization.
This session is more than just a conversation; it's a chance to engage directly with a leader in legal innovation. Bring your questions, share your views, and network with like-minded professionals. Consider questions like: What pivotal experiences shaped your career path? How can legal professionals pivot their careers towards emerging technologies like crypto? How can breaking the specialization barrier in law lead to greater job satisfaction?
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a pioneer in crypto law and gain valuable insights that could transform your legal career. Tune in for a fun, educational, and inspiring discussion that promises to broaden your horizons and spark new ideas.
In this episode, Justin Wales takes you on a fascinating journey through his career in the legal field, emphasizing his unique path that defies traditional specialization. He introduces himself as a self-proclaimed "degenerate" with a passion for crypto since law school, which set the stage for his unconventional career trajectory. Justin explains the genesis of his book, "The Crypto Legal Handbook," which began as a collection of resources to help budding crypto enthusiasts and evolved into a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in the field.
He shares the challenges of self-publishing, the importance of making educational resources accessible and affordable, and the benefits of maintaining an updatable digital presence to keep readers informed. Justin's approach to law is refreshingly candid, prioritizing practical knowledge and the broad application of legal principles across various domains.
The conversation also touches on the pitfalls of over-specialization in law, advocating for a more holistic approach to legal practice that can adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of technology and regulation. Justin's story is a testament to the power of taking risks, seeking mentorship, and continually adapting to new challenges.
- Holistic Legal Education: Understand the value of broadening your legal knowledge beyond a single specialization to remain adaptable and relevant in a rapidly evolving field like crypto law.
- Practical Insights: Gain practical advice on how to navigate state and federal regulations in the crypto space, emphasizing the importance of being legally ambidextrous.
- Career Flexibility: Learn how to actively shape your career path by taking calculated risks, seeking out mentors, and being open to blowing things up and starting anew when necessary.
- Community and Networking: Discover the importance of networking within the crypto community, both online and in person, to stay informed and connected with industry developments.
- Accessible Resources: Appreciate the benefits of self-publishing and maintaining updatable resources that can adapt to the fast-paced changes in technology and regulation.
Tune in to this episode for a wealth of knowledge from a leader in crypto law, and walk away with actionable insights that can help you build a dynamic and fulfilling legal career.
Join us for an enlightening episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self with Robert Chesnut, former General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at Airbnb. Discover the critical role of integrity in business—a strategy that goes beyond charitable contributions to become a cornerstone of corporate success.
Robert Chesnut, a Harvard Law graduate who pioneered trust and safety at eBay and shaped the ethical framework at Airbnb, shares his wealth of experience. This episode features an interactive Q&A session where you can ask Rob your burning questions about corporate ethics and learn from his extensive experience. Gain actionable insights into integrating integrity into your business strategy and understand why it's crucial for long-term success.
Rob's journey at Airbnb, especially during the #MeToo movement, underscores the importance of proactive ethical leadership. He discusses how he transitioned from the reactive role of a General Counsel to the proactive stance of a Chief Ethics Officer, focusing on embedding integrity into the company culture. Rob delves into the difference between ethics and integrity, emphasizing that integrity resonates more with people because it aligns with personal values rather than just compliance.
Learn how to implement integrity as a core aspect of corporate culture through practical strategies such as engaging employees in rewriting the code of ethics, using voluntary integrity videos, and creating an ethics advisor program. Rob's innovative approach, including the use of "Integrity Yetis" to reward ethical behavior, highlights how small gestures can significantly impact corporate culture.
This episode is not only educational but also an opportunity to engage directly with a leader who has shaped ethical standards in major companies. Explore how integrity can influence decision-making at the highest levels and apply these principles in your day-to-day business operations. Set your reminders now and prepare to be inspired by this engaging and thought-provoking discussion.
In this episode, Robert Chesnut shares stories and frameworks that illustrate the power of integrity in business. He explains how his role at Airbnb evolved during the #MeToo movement, leading him to focus on preventing problems rather than just addressing them. Rob's insights into the difference between compliance and integrity reveal that while compliance is about following rules, integrity is about doing the right thing because it resonates with personal values.
Rob discusses practical ways to embed integrity into corporate culture, such as involving employees in rewriting the code of ethics and creating engaging, voluntary integrity videos. He highlights the success of Airbnb's ethics advisor program, which increased engagement and reinforced the importance of ethical behavior across the company.
By sharing anecdotes like the "Integrity Yeti" initiative, Rob demonstrates how recognizing and rewarding ethical behavior can foster a culture of integrity. He emphasizes that integrity is contagious and that leaders set the tone for the entire organization.
From this conversation, you will learn:
- The distinction between compliance and integrity and why integrity resonates more with employees.
- Practical strategies to embed integrity into your company's culture, including rewriting the code of ethics and creating engaging integrity videos.
- The importance of involving employees in ethical initiatives to create a sense of ownership and commitment.
- How recognizing and rewarding ethical behavior can significantly impact corporate culture.
- The role of leaders in setting the tone for integrity and how their actions influence the entire organization.
- The value of integrating ethical practices into business strategies for long-term success and brand trustworthiness.
Tune in to gain valuable insights from Robert Chesnut and learn how to make integrity a driving force in your business.
Join us for an engaging episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self featuring the distinguished Harry Borovick, General Counsel at Luminance and lecturer at the University of Law, London. Harry recently contributed to the pivotal discussion on Legal Operations in the Age of Data and AI, bringing a unique blend of academic and practical expertise to the table.
In this session, Harry guides us through the evolving landscape of legal practice shaped by technological advancements. Delve into the significant changes within the legal field, the pivotal role of AI, and the necessity of AI skills in legal training. This conversation is essential for anyone interested in understanding how AI is transforming legal practice and the importance of integrating these skills into legal education.
You'll gain insights into the transformation of legal practice through AI, learn about the importance of integrating AI into legal education, and discover how to balance traditional legal skills with emerging tech demands. Harry's expertise provides a comprehensive look at the future of the legal profession, emphasizing the need for adaptability and continuous learning.
This episode also encourages you to engage and explore critical questions: Do you think AI skills should be a compulsory part of legal education? How can traditional legal skills be preserved amidst the rise of AI? What impact will AI have on the legal profession in the next decade?
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a thought leader at the forefront of legal technology. Tune in for a fun, educational, and thought-provoking discussion that promises to equip you with the knowledge to navigate the future of legal practice.
Harry Borovick, in this episode, shares his unique experiences and profound insights on the dynamic relationship between AI and legal practice. He discusses his role at Luminance, an AI company at the forefront of legal technology, and contrasts it with traditional General Counsel positions. Harry emphasizes the importance of feedback loops, where his team not only develops but also uses the products, providing valuable insights from a user's perspective.
He reflects on the need for legal education to evolve, stressing the importance of integrating AI and technology skills into curriculums. Harry explains that while traditional skills remain vital, the application of these skills must adapt to technological advancements. His teaching experience underscores the necessity for law students to be proficient in AI, preparing them for the complexities of modern legal practice.
By tuning into this episode, you'll learn:
- How AI is revolutionizing legal practice and education.
- The critical balance between traditional legal skills and emerging tech demands.
- The significance of integrating AI training in law schools.
- Strategies for adapting to technological changes in the legal profession.
- The importance of continuous learning and personal ownership in legal careers.
Engage with this conversation to better understand the future of the legal profession and how to stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from a leading voice in legal technology!
Are you ready to supercharge your professional growth and expand your network? Join us for an inspiring episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self with the remarkable Brittany Becker, Marketing & Product Counsel at Redfin. Brittany's journey in the legal world is a testament to her unique ability to balance a demanding career while nurturing deep client relationships, fostering friendships beyond her immediate colleagues, and contributing significantly to the legal profession through mentorship—all without compromising her personal time and passions.
As a dedicated mother, introvert, lifelong learner, and an advocate for mentorship, Brittany has mastered the art of leveraging her strengths to create a fulfilling professional life that aligns with her personal values and interests. In this session, you gain valuable insights into the art of scaling your abilities to practice law more efficiently. Brittany shares her strategies for making time for what truly matters—both professionally and personally.
Discover the power of mentorship and how building meaningful relationships within and outside of your workspace can transform your career. Brittany also offers tips on becoming a trusted advisor and a continuous learner in the rapidly evolving legal landscape. This episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories that promise to help you navigate your own professional journey with greater ease and fulfillment.
You’ll hear Brittany discuss her role at Redfin, where she skillfully manages everything from reviewing marketing materials like TV ads and postcards to advising on AI compliance with state regulations. She sheds light on the significance of details, such as writing clear and approachable disclaimers, which contribute to a brand's authenticity and customer trust. Brittany emphasizes that even the smallest tasks, when done right, can reflect the larger values of a company.
Brittany's personal experiences as a first-generation college student and the challenges she faced entering the legal profession have fueled her passion for mentoring. She shares how her winding career path, from being a public defender to her current role at Redfin, has equipped her with a diverse skill set and a unique perspective on the importance of mentorship. Brittany's dedication to mentoring through the Legal Mentor Network highlights her commitment to guiding others through their professional journeys, ensuring they too can navigate their careers with confidence and clarity.
One of the standout moments is Brittany's approach to mentoring, which is tailored to each individual's needs. She recounts how she has guided mentees through resume revisions, career transitions, and even just being a supportive listener. Brittany's flexible and empathetic mentoring style is a testament to her belief in the importance of personal connections and genuine support.
In this episode, you will learn:
- How to effectively balance a demanding legal career with personal passions and commitments.
- The importance of building and maintaining meaningful professional relationships.
- Strategies for creating clear, concise, and engaging legal disclaimers.
- The value of mentorship in personal and professional development.
- Practical tips for navigating the legal landscape and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving field.
Tune in to this enlightening episode and walk away with actionable insights to enhance your professional life and network more effectively. Don't miss out on Brittany Becker's inspiring journey and the wealth of knowledge she brings to Notes to my (Legal) Self.
Ever wondered how the landscape of legal technology has transformed over the past three decades? Dive into this episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self for an enlightening conversation with Marla Crawford, General Counsel at Simplify. Marla was at the forefront of the e-discovery revolution, witnessing firsthand the monumental shifts that have reshaped the legal profession.
In this episode, Marla shares her journey from big law in the late 80s to leading the charge in the Enron case's e-discovery efforts. She recounts the early days of sifting through mountains of paper documents in a basement office, to the revolutionary moment when legal teams began using technology to manage massive amounts of data. Through her story, you'll gain unique insights into how technology has both challenged and improved the legal industry over the past 35 years.
Marla also delves into the SPLASH Pledge movement, an initiative aimed at combating sexual harassment within the legal tech industry, and the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion in professional environments. Her reflections on balancing a demanding career with personal life, and her advice on leveraging technology to stay ahead in the legal field, offer invaluable lessons for legal professionals at all stages of their careers.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
- The Evolution of Legal Technology: Understand how e-discovery began and evolved, transforming the way legal professionals handle large-scale data management.
- Balancing Act: Learn strategies for balancing career and personal life, and how to find opportunities in less glamorous tasks.
- Embracing Change: Discover the importance of adapting to technological advancements and how it can lead to professional growth and innovation.
- The Power of Inclusion: Gain insights into advancing and protecting diversity within legal spaces, and why it's crucial for the future of the profession.
- Practical Advice: Get practical tips on managing e-discovery and leveraging new technologies to enhance legal practices.
- SPLASH Pledge: Explore the significance of the SPLASH Pledge in creating safer and more inclusive professional environments.
Marla’s story is a testament to the power of embracing change and using it as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. Whether you're a legal practitioner, technology enthusiast, or an advocate for workplace diversity, this episode promises to leave you inspired and equipped with practical advice to navigate the evolving landscape of legal technology.
Tune in to reflect on how technological advancements have impacted your field, share your perspectives, and join the conversation on how we can work collectively towards a more inclusive and diverse legal industry.
In this episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self, dive into the captivating world of Large Language Models (LLMs) with legal expert Damien Riehl. Explore how LLMs are transforming the landscape of idea extraction and generation, and the intricate legal challenges they pose.
Expect an engaging discussion on the significant lawsuits against LLM companies, such as NY Times v. Microsoft/OpenAI and Doe v. Github, and why major players like Google, Microsoft, and Adobe are indemnifying LLM users against copyright lawsuits. Gain insights into the legal foundations of the idea-expression distinction, understanding how neural nets process text into uncopyrightable vector embeddings, and why LLM inputs and outputs often present strong fair use defenses.
Damien provides an in-depth analysis of how the idea-expression dichotomy is at the heart of many copyright cases, arguing that ideas themselves are not copyrightable—only their expressions are. He explains that LLMs extract ideas from vast data sets and generate new expressions, thus navigating away from copyright infringement claims. The conversation delves into the complexities of determining what constitutes an "original" work and the implications of statistical likelihood in LLM-generated content.
In the practical realm, discover why Big Tech's support for LLM users is a strategic move to avoid bad case law, and learn how in-house lawyers can protect their companies when relying on these technologies. Explore the future of business models in legal tech, where Damien predicts that the value will lie in unique data ("oil") and innovative products, rather than simply wrapping LLMs in new interfaces.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
- Grasp the legal reasoning behind Big Tech’s support for LLM users.
- Master the idea-expression dichotomy for copyright eligibility.
- Learn about the transformation of text into uncopyrightable ideas via LLMs.
- Discover how LLM inputs and outputs navigate away from infringement claims.
Whether you're an attorney, a legal technologist, or simply intrigued by the intersection of law and technology, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of copyright risks and AI. Don’t miss this chance to stay ahead in the rapidly changing world of legal innovation.
Ever wondered what magic unfolds when the precision of law meets the innovation of technology? Discover the secrets behind successful collaborations driving the tech industry forward in this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, featuring Laura Jeffords Greenberg, Senior Director of Legal at Worksome. Together, we explore the art of communication between legal experts and developers, unveiling strategies that bridge gaps and forge new pathways for innovation. Laura shares her insights on ensuring seamless interactions between legal and development teams, highlighting communication strategies that lead to successful collaborations. Gain practical tips to enhance teamwork, reduce risks, and embrace a culture of continuous innovation. Laura delves into how a shared language between contracts and code can unlock opportunities for groundbreaking projects, showcasing transformative synergies that drive tech advancements.
Questions to ponder include preemptively solving communication challenges between tech and legal teams, adapting to evolving tech landscapes, and innovative tools fostering deeper cooperation. This session is open to tech enthusiasts, legal professionals, developers, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of technology and law. We're setting the stage for a dialogue that promises to enlighten and inspire actionable change in your organizations and projects. Prepare to be amazed as we peel back the layers of collaboration, transforming how legal and tech teams interact. Bring your curiosity, questions, and insights to this engaging discussion as we navigate the complexities of translating between contracts and code, charting a course toward a more integrated, innovative future.
In this engaging episode, Laura Jeffords Greenberg discusses her journey from aspiring sports lawyer to tech legal expert, highlighting her experiences as the first in-house lawyer at multiple tech companies. Laura emphasizes the importance of building relationships with developers, understanding their work, and integrating legal advice seamlessly into the tech development process. She shares her approach to effective communication, stressing the value of learning basic coding and documenting interactions to avoid misunderstandings.
The conversation covers the shift to asynchronous communication, especially in distributed teams, and how it can enhance productivity and collaboration. Laura provides examples of using tools like DocuSign and Legal OS to streamline repetitive tasks and leverage AI for more efficient workflows. The discussion also touches on the necessity of setting boundaries and prioritizing mental health to maintain a sustainable work-life balance.
Learning Outcomes:
- Effective Communication Strategies: Practical tips for building strong relationships with developers, understanding their work, and fostering mutual respect and collaboration.
- Asynchronous Communication: Enhancing productivity in distributed teams by adopting asynchronous communication, allowing for better time management and reducing the need for real-time interactions.
- Leveraging Technology: Benefits of using AI and other tools to automate repetitive tasks, improve documentation, and enhance the efficiency of legal teams.
- Setting Boundaries: The importance of setting boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance and improve overall work quality.
- Continuous Learning: The value of continuously learning and adapting to new technologies to stay relevant and effective in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Join us for a fascinating discussion that bridges the gap between contracts and code, offering valuable insights and practical advice for legal professionals and tech enthusiasts alike. Don't miss this opportunity to transform how you approach collaboration in your organization.
In this episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self, join experts Humira Noorestani and Kassi Burns as they navigate the complex world of AI governance and risk management. As AI becomes an integral part of our daily lives, understanding its implications is crucial, especially for in-house legal teams. This session unpacks the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), a key tool in shaping ethical AI practices and setting industry standards.
Unlike the stringent legal requirements of the EU AI Act, the NIST AI RMF offers a voluntary, adaptable approach, emphasizing trust, innovation, and effective risk mitigation. You'll learn how to use this framework to manage AI risks effectively within your organization.
Humira and Kassi delve into what an AI audit entails, discussing the triggers for conducting one, such as security breaches, regulatory requirements, and periodic reviews. They also explore the significance of New York City's Local Law 144, which mandates independent AI audits for automated employment decision tools, ensuring fairness and transparency in hiring processes.
The conversation then shifts to the NIST AI RMF, highlighting its four core elements: governance, mapping, measurement, and management. These elements serve as a roadmap for organizations to understand and mitigate AI risks. They stress the importance of starting with AI mapping to identify and categorize AI systems, which is the first step in conducting comprehensive audits.
For in-house legal teams, understanding and implementing these frameworks is vital. The speakers emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach, involving various stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability. They also share practical tips on maintaining detailed documentation and engaging in continuous learning to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field.
By the end of this episode, you will:
- Understand the structure and significance of the NIST AI RMF in managing AI risks.
- Learn actionable strategies for conducting AI audits and developing robust AI governance policies.
- Explore the future of AI governance and its impact on legal practices, gaining insights into how to stay informed and adaptable.
Whether you're a legal professional, tech enthusiast, or simply curious about AI governance, this episode provides valuable insights and practical advice. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from leading experts and prepare your organization for the future of AI.
Ever wondered how to stay ahead in the rapidly changing world of corporate law? Tune in to an eye-opening episode with the innovative Peter Connor, Founder & CEO of AlternativelyLegal, as he delves into "The Future of In-House Legal Mastery: Becoming a T-Shaped Lawyer." Peter introduces a transformative approach that redefines success and effectiveness for in-house lawyers, general counsels, and legal departments. He demystifies the 'dark art' of legal practice, revealing what elevates some legal professionals above their peers in corporate environments and law firms.
Peter shares his extensive experience, highlighting the T-Shaped Lawyer Framework™, which combines deep legal expertise with broad business and technological skills. This framework helps legal professionals develop a balanced skill set, ensuring they remain competitive and effective in their roles. Discover practical knowledge from Peter's journey, including insights from his latest book, "The T-Shaped Lawyer: A New Vision for You and Your Work."
Join us to explore how becoming a T-Shaped Lawyer can significantly advance your career. Peter explains how embracing this framework equips you to navigate the evolving landscape of corporate law, making you more adaptable and resilient in the face of discontinuous change. He offers actionable advice for lawyers at every career stage, from junior associates to senior leaders, on how to implement business partnering and leadership to add immense value to their organizations.
In this engaging, fun, and educational episode, you’ll gain:
- Insights into the T-Shaped Lawyer concept and its importance.
- Practical steps to develop a T-shaped skill set and mindset.
- Strategies for providing business input and advice alongside legal expertise.
- Examples of how to engage in business partnering and leadership.
- The significance of aligning personal vision with professional goals.
Peter’s approach not only prepares you for the future of law but also empowers you to excel and add significant value in your role. Whether you're just starting your legal career or are a seasoned professional, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to thrive in the dynamic world of corporate law. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your approach and become a T-Shaped Lawyer.
In this episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self, you’ll dive into the future of justice as we sit down with Judge Scott U. Schlegel, a trailblazer in integrating artificial intelligence into legal proceedings. With a career marked by innovation and a dedication to improving the justice system, Judge Schlegel shares his insights on how AI is transforming the courtroom, from digitizing court calendars to potentially reshaping how justice is served.
Discover how Judge Schlegel's journey began, transitioning from a prosecutor to a judge determined to modernize the legal process. Hear firsthand about his early challenges and successes in implementing technology to streamline court operations. You’ll learn about the crucial role AI can play in reducing backlogs and improving access to justice, making the legal system more efficient and effective for everyone.
Judge Schlegel also delves into the ethical and practical implications of AI in the courtroom, highlighting the balance between embracing technology and maintaining fairness. You’ll explore the fascinating yet concerning realm of deepfakes, understanding the potential risks they pose in legal settings and the measures needed to authenticate evidence reliably.
The conversation doesn’t shy away from the complexities of consensus-building among various legal stakeholders. Judge Schlegel offers practical advice for legal professionals on how to start integrating AI into their practices responsibly. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and experimentation with AI tools, urging you to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with technological advancements.
By the end of this episode, you will:
- Understand how AI is currently being used to improve efficiency and access to justice in courtrooms.
- Recognize the ethical considerations and practical challenges of implementing AI in the legal system.
- Be aware of the potential risks associated with deepfake technology in legal proceedings and the importance of robust evidence authentication.
- Gain practical insights on how to start integrating AI into your legal practice responsibly, fostering innovation while upholding ethical standards.
Join us for this engaging, thought-provoking discussion with Judge Scott U. Schlegel and take a step into the future of justice. Embrace the possibilities and prepare to be inspired by the transformative power of AI in the legal world.
Did you know that the legal ecosystem is as unpredictable as the weather? One day it's sunny, and the next, there's a new opportunity cloud on the horizon. In this latest episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self, we explore this dynamic landscape with Adam Becker, Director of Legal Operations at Cockroach Labs and a proud CLOC Board Member. When Adam graduated from law school, the roles he excels in today didn't even exist!
Adam's journey is a testament to the unpredictability and evolution of the legal field. He emphasizes that thriving in legal operations isn't just about chasing the next big thing; it's about introspection, understanding your passions, recognizing your strengths, and being in tune with your personal evolution. Adam shares his insights on foreseeing the future for Legal Operations leaders and staying two steps ahead, with a sprinkle of calculated risk-taking to add that extra zing.
Through this engaging conversation, you'll discover the importance of understanding your own career trajectory. Adam's mantra revolves around the idea that your career isn't just defined by your current role but by the people you surround yourself with, the wisdom you soak up on the job, and the connections you nurture in your professional circle.
Adam began his career in big law as an associate before transitioning to the "other side" of the firm as a global recruiting manager and later as a professional development leader. This diverse background provided him with a unique perspective that he carried into his in-house roles, first at MetLife and then in the entertainment industry. Now, at Cockroach Labs, Adam is pioneering legal operations in a tech startup environment, showing how adaptable and forward-thinking legal ops can be.
His story underscores the importance of curiosity and flexibility in a constantly changing field. Adam's move from practicing law to focusing on legal operations was driven by his interest in the business side of legal practice and his desire to solve problems in innovative ways. He emphasizes that success in legal ops requires a blend of curiosity, organizational skills, and the ability to work well with people from various backgrounds.
Key Takeaways:
- Be Curious: Curiosity is crucial in legal operations. It drives you to understand how things work, why they work that way, and how they can be improved. This trait helps you stay ahead in a field that is always evolving.
- Embrace Change: The legal landscape is dynamic. Embracing change and being willing to take risks can open up new opportunities and paths that you might not have considered before.
- Build a Strong Network: Surround yourself with a supportive network of peers, mentors, and advisors. These connections can provide valuable insights, feedback, and opportunities that will help you grow in your career.
Tune in to learn how to embrace the unpredictability of the legal world and turn it to your advantage. This episode promises to be fun, educational, and a game-changer for anyone looking to thrive in legal operations.
Step into the intricate world of AI risk management with Kassi Burns and Olga Mack as they unpack the complexities of the EU AI Act. In this episode, we delve deep into the criteria that categorize AI systems into high and mid-level risks and the significant implications these categorizations have on AI development and deployment.
Join us as we explore:
- AI Risk Assessment: Understand how AI systems are classified into high and mid-level risks.
- Real-World Impact: Discover real-world examples and case studies illustrating how AI applications across various industries fit into these risk categories.
- Balancing Innovation and Ethics: Learn about the delicate balance between fostering innovation and ensuring ethical AI use within the framework of these risk categorizations.
- Global Implications: Examine how the EU’s stance on AI risk levels might shape future AI policies and industry standards globally.
- Strategic Navigation: Uncover strategies for navigating the complexities of AI ethics and compliance.
Meet the Experts: Kassi Burns and Olga Mack
Kassi Burns, with her extensive operational focus, and Olga Mack, renowned for her expertise in innovation and compliance, come together to shed light on the EU AI Act. They share their perspectives on the impact of this regulation on both large enterprises with comprehensive compliance departments and smaller, innovative companies that often face unique challenges in risk management.
Conversation Highlights
Kassi and Olga discuss the intricacies of the EU AI Act, emphasizing the importance of transparency and consumer awareness in AI applications. They address the challenges faced by smaller, innovative companies in navigating mid-level risk categories and the potential pushback from various stakeholders. The conversation also touches on the regulatory landscape, with insights into the FTC’s role in the U.S. and how it might influence global AI policies.
Kassi shares her operational perspective, highlighting the importance of understanding how AI systems are used within organizations, while Olga provides insights into the consumer-facing aspects of AI and the significance of transparency in maintaining trust and compliance. They discuss the potential for innovation in compliance tools and the evolving nature of AI regulation.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this episode, you will:
- Gain a thorough understanding of the EU AI Act’s high and mid-level risk categorizations and their implications.
- Learn practical examples of AI applications within these risk categories and their impact on society and business.
- Explore strategies for balancing innovation and ethical AI use, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.
- Understand the potential global impact of the EU AI Act and how it might influence AI policy and industry standards worldwide.
- Discover the challenges and opportunities for smaller, innovative companies in navigating AI risks.
Kassi and Olga emphasize the importance of staying informed and proactive in addressing AI risks, encouraging listeners to engage with the AI community and share their insights and experiences.
Join us for this insightful episode and equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of AI risks and regulations!
Ever felt like your career path is more of a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book than a straight line? In this episode of Notes to my Legal Self, we delve into the fascinating journey of Flavia Naves and how she transformed her LLB into a thriving legal career in the United States. Picture this: You've aced your Bar Exam, conquered legal battles in your home country, and now you're ready to tackle the US legal market with your LLM. But your impressive resume doesn't quite fit the traditional JD mold. Sound familiar?
The big takeaway: Your international legal background isn't just a piece of paper—it's a treasure trove of global insights and cross-cultural expertise. The American legal landscape isn't just ready for you; it needs you. Flavia Naves, a dual-trained powerhouse attorney from Brazil and the US, shares her inspiring journey of breaking barriers and rebuilding bridges for foreign-trained attorneys in the US market.
In this candid conversation, you'll learn how to spot and seize unconventional opportunities that others might overlook. Flavia reveals the art of pivoting, turning roadblocks into stepping stones, and how chasing your North Star is more rewarding than listening to the naysayers. Discover the "language" of the US legal market and how to become fluent, master networking strategies that turn cold contacts into warm allies, and understand the power of your unique story in building a standout brand.
Join us for an engaging, fun, and educational episode that promises to transform your approach to a legal career in the USA.
Flavia's journey started in Brazil, where she interned at a law firm specializing in international transactions, inspired by Brazil's privatization of public utilities. This led her to pursue further legal studies in the US, choosing Pennsylvania for its proximity to her host family. Despite the hurdles, such as adapting to the US Bar system's state-specific requirements, Flavia's perseverance paid off. She found unexpected opportunities, like clerking for a judge in Pennsylvania, which significantly boosted her career credibility.
Flavia's move to California marked a pivotal point, where she navigated the complex terrain of registering as in-house counsel and eventually taking the California Bar. Her advice to foreign-trained attorneys is to find what differentiates you from others—whether it's cultural, linguistic, or specialized training—and leverage that uniqueness. Flexibility and an open mind are key to navigating a non-linear career path. Flavia's story emphasizes the importance of not letting anyone else dictate your career. Persevere, be flexible, and aim for your North Star, no matter how unconventional the path may be.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize Your Unique Value: Your international background is a strength. Use your unique skills and experiences to stand out in the US legal market.
- Networking: Build and maintain relationships, not just within the legal field but across various industries. Your network can open doors and create opportunities.
- Flexibility and Persistence: Be open to unconventional paths and persist despite setbacks. Every experience, even unexpected ones like clerkships, can be a valuable stepping stone.
Don't miss this insightful episode that will inspire you to take charge of your career and navigate the US legal landscape with confidence and creativity.
Step into the dynamic world of AI and the law with Mitch Jackson, Esq., a renowned legal expert, in this enlightening episode. As AI continues to revolutionize various industries, understanding the legal landscape becomes crucial. Mitch Jackson breaks down the "Top 10 Legal Guidelines in AI" to help you navigate this evolving field effectively.
In this episode, Mitch shares valuable insights into the intersection of AI and legal considerations, covering:
- Legal Landscape of AI: Discover the key legal aspects of AI, including intellectual property, data privacy, and emerging technologies.
- Strategic Navigation: Learn strategies for overcoming legal challenges and maximizing opportunities in the AI space.
- Expert Insights: Benefit from Mitch Jackson’s extensive experience in bridging the gap between law and technology.
Special Features
Dive into real-world legal scenarios and their implications in the AI realm. Mitch also offers a glimpse into the future of AI regulation and its potential impact on businesses and individuals.
Teaser Questions
- How do you anticipate the legal landscape of AI evolving in the coming years?
- What steps can businesses take to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risks in AI ventures?
Meet the Expert: Mitch Jackson, Esq.
With over three decades of experience as a trial lawyer and now a full-time private mediator, Mitch Jackson has been at the forefront of integrating technology into legal practice. He has guided countless startups from inception to successful outcomes, always staying ahead of technological trends. Mitch’s passion for technology, combined with his legal expertise, makes him a sought-after advisor for businesses navigating the complex world of AI.
Conversation Highlights
Mitch Jackson shares his journey from a traditional law practice to becoming a leading voice in tech law. He discusses the transformative power of AI and its potential to reshape various industries, emphasizing the importance of understanding and leveraging AI responsibly. Mitch delves into the top legal pitfalls, such as intellectual property issues, data privacy concerns, and liability risks, offering practical advice for businesses and legal professionals alike.
He also sheds light on the evolving regulatory landscape, including the implications of the EU AI Act, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and the Biden executive orders. Mitch underscores the need for companies to stay informed and proactive in addressing these legal challenges.
Learning Outcomes
By tuning into this episode, you will:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal issues surrounding AI, including intellectual property, data privacy, and liability.
- Learn actionable strategies to navigate legal challenges and leverage AI effectively in your business.
- Understand the importance of due diligence in using AI-generated content and the potential risks of intellectual property violations.
- Explore the regulatory trends shaping the future of AI and how they impact businesses and legal practice.
Mitch Jackson emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and staying informed about AI advancements. He encourages you to follow leaders in the AI space, engage with the community, and leverage the technology responsibly to enhance your business and legal practices.
Join us for this insightful episode and empower yourself with the knowledge to navigate the legal complexities of AI!
Ever wonder about the untold stories behind the successes of legal professionals? The latest episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self dives deep into the hidden battles fought by lawyers every day. While many firms promote feel-good solutions and organize "are you ok" days, the stark reality is that numerous legal professionals continue to struggle with mental health issues in silence.
In this episode, Mariette Clardy-Davis, AVP Assistant General Counsel, Mental Health Storyteller for Lawyers, and a multi-disciplinary creative force, shares her personal journey with bipolar depression, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the challenges she faces and how she transforms her struggle into a source of strength. Her story resonates deeply, highlighting the often-overlooked mental health issues within the legal profession.
Mariette reveals the single most impactful strategy for improving mental well-being among lawyers, both in their professional and personal lives. Through her experiences, she underscores the importance of acknowledging mental health struggles and fostering a supportive environment in the workplace.
From the start, Mariette introduces herself as an in-house counsel at Primerica, focusing on securities business. She traces her unique journey to her current role, beginning in consulting and solo practice, which provided her with diverse experiences in mental health representation, estate planning, and emerging fields like Web3 and blockchain.
Delving into her advocacy, Mariette describes her diagnosis with bipolar depression at 21 and the years she spent suffering in silence. Her turning point came after two intensive outpatient treatments, which spurred her to share her story on social media, receiving overwhelming support and private messages from others who related to her struggles.
Mariette highlights the importance of creating a safe environment in the workplace where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health. As a manager, she advises listening more and speaking less, using open-ended questions, and being knowledgeable about available resources and support systems.
The conversation also covers practical tips for managers on identifying when an employee might need help, ensuring they feel safe, and how to offer support without infringing on privacy. Mariette emphasizes the significance of having resources and tools on hand, as people in crisis often cannot seek them out.
Mariette also discusses her initiatives, ML Clardy LLC and The Peak: A Doorway into Wellness newsletter, aimed at providing ongoing mental health support and resources for lawyers. The newsletter offers quick-start actions and tools to help attorneys manage their mental health effectively.
In the closing moments, Mariette reflects on the power of storytelling in de-stigmatizing mental health issues. She sees herself as a bridge-builder, connecting people through her stories and providing resources and support to those who need it. Her ultimate message is to find what works for you, using the lessons from her story to build your unique path.
By tuning into this episode, you gain valuable insights into the importance of mental health awareness in the legal field, learn practical approaches to support your well-being, and discover how to create a more empathetic and supportive legal community. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation that promises to change the way you perceive mental health in the legal profession.
Dive into the thrilling world of artificial intelligence and data privacy with Debbie Reynolds, famously known as "The Data Diva." In this episode, we explore the critical balance between technological innovation and safeguarding individual privacy rights. As AI continues to evolve at breakneck speed, understanding its impact on data privacy is more essential than ever.
Join us as we navigate:
- AI's Impact on Privacy: Unpack how AI is transforming the data privacy landscape and its implications for security.
- Regulatory Insights: Get up-to-date with the latest regulations in AI and privacy.
- Ethical AI Use: Explore the ethical responsibilities in developing AI technologies.
- Real-World Applications: Hear about practical challenges and success stories in the realm of AI and privacy.
- Future Trends: Peek into the upcoming trends in AI and privacy.
- Data Protection Strategies: Learn actionable tips for protecting personal and organizational data.
Meet the Expert: Debbie Reynolds "The Data Diva"
With over two decades of experience in emerging technologies, Debbie Reynolds has established herself as a leading authority in data privacy and tech innovation. As the CEO and Chief Data Privacy Officer of Debbie Reynolds Consulting LLC, she brings a wealth of knowledge from various sectors, including AdTech, FinTech, and EdTech. Debbie's insights are sought after globally, making her a prominent figure in AI and privacy discussions.
Conversation Highlights
In this engaging conversation, Debbie shares her journey from a philosophy major to a tech innovator. She discusses her early work in digital transformation and how her personal interest in privacy evolved alongside her career in emerging technologies. Debbie emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's dual role as a tool for innovation and potential risk. She provides practical advice for companies on managing AI responsibly, highlighting the need for human judgment in AI decision-making processes.
Debbie also touches on the regulatory landscape, discussing the current state of AI regulations in the U.S. and Europe, and the significant role of the FTC in protecting consumer data. She envisions a future where smaller, specialized AI models will become prevalent, emphasizing the need for ongoing education and training in AI use within organizations.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this episode, you will:
- Understand the transformative impact of AI on data privacy and security.
- Gain insights into current and upcoming AI and privacy regulations.
- Learn about ethical considerations in AI development and use.
- Explore practical examples of AI applications in privacy and security.
- Discover future trends in AI technology and privacy practices.
- Receive actionable tips for managing data responsibly and mitigating privacy risks in your organization.
Debbie’s wisdom offers a clear message: Embrace AI with caution and responsibility. Stay informed, ask critical questions about data usage, and ensure you have robust strategies for data protection and privacy.
Tune in to this enlightening episode and equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate the intricate world of AI and privacy!
Join us for an eye-opening episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self as we dive into the transformative world of generative AI with Conor Grennan, Dean of MBA students and head of generative AI at NYU Stern School of Business. Conor brings his wealth of experience in academia, writing, speaking, and coaching to the table, sharing how he is helping students, professors, and corporations leverage the power of generative AI to achieve unprecedented productivity.
In this episode, Conor reveals his journey into the AI space, inspired by his wife, Liz Grennan, who is also an AI enthusiast at McKinsey. Despite having no technical background, Conor has become a leading voice in generative AI, emphasizing that this technology is accessible to everyone, not just those with technical expertise. He discusses the importance of building a framework to teach AI effectively, the surprising ease of using these tools, and how they can revolutionize various industries, especially the legal field.
Conor and Olga explore how generative AI can tackle mundane tasks, freeing up professionals to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their jobs. They highlight the necessity for companies to approach AI as a learning journey rather than a mere technical upgrade, stressing the need for comprehensive training and top-down leadership to inspire widespread adoption.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
- Understanding the basics of generative AI and its potential to transform productivity in the legal industry.
- The critical role of non-technical professionals in leading AI initiatives and why a technical background isn't necessary to excel in this space.
- Practical strategies for implementing AI in your daily tasks and overcoming common challenges such as hallucinations and data privacy concerns.
- The importance of developing a strategic framework for AI adoption within organizations, focusing on inspiring and educating the workforce.
- Tips for individuals to stay ahead in their careers by mastering AI tools, including practical steps for integrating AI into their professional routines.
Tune in to discover how you can harness the power of generative AI to boost your productivity and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape. Follow Conor Grennan on LinkedIn and YouTube to continue learning from his insights and stay updated on the latest AI advancements. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools to thrive in the age of AI.
Welcome to Notes to My (Legal) Self, where today’s episode promises to be an enlightening journey into the dynamic world of digital policies and data provenance. Our guest, a seasoned digital policy consultant, brings over two decades of experience in helping organizations balance the risks and opportunities of emerging technologies.
In this engaging conversation, you’ll discover what drives excitement for digital policies, the journey of our guest from the wild days of the dot-com era to becoming a leading consultant, and the transformative impact of digital governance on corporate strategies and operations. The discussion delves into how digital transformation reshapes business landscapes, from AI and VR to blockchain, and the necessity of robust policies to manage these innovations.
Our guest explains what digital policies truly entail, moving beyond the common misconceptions to understanding them as essential guardrails that foster innovation and protect brands. The episode covers the process of developing effective digital policies, the importance of having a clear set of rules, and the role of digital policy stewards in disseminating and implementing these policies.
In the latter part of the episode, the focus shifts to the Data Trust Alliance and the development of data provenance standards. You’ll gain insights into the importance of data lineage, the challenges and benefits of tracking data origins, and the balance between what’s necessary and what’s doable in ensuring trustworthy data.
Key takeaways from this episode include the liberating potential of well-crafted digital policies, the evolving role of lawyers in digital governance, and the exciting future of data provenance standards. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how these elements can drive business success, foster innovation, and enhance trust in the digital age.
Join us as we explore these topics with passion and expertise, ensuring you walk away with actionable insights and a newfound appreciation for the critical role of digital policies and data governance in today’s rapidly changing technological landscape.
Dive into the intriguing world of AI regulation with the latest episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self! This time, they explore the complexities of the EU AI Act and its implications for the future of artificial intelligence. Join Kassi Burns and Olga V. Mack as they navigate the high and mid-level risks outlined in the Act, breaking down how these risk levels are defined and why they matter.
The conversation starts with an engaging discussion on AI risk categorizations, featuring real-world examples of AI applications that fall into high and mid-level risk categories. They explore the implications these categorizations have on innovation, development, and ethical AI usage. You'll hear fascinating case studies and insights into how different AI applications are assessed under the EU AI Act.
As they delve deeper, they consider the global ramifications of the EU's approach to AI regulation. How might this influence AI policy and industry standards worldwide? What are the potential challenges and benefits of striving for a global consensus on AI risk levels? They invite you to reflect on these questions and share your thoughts and experiences during the live discussions.
To make things even more engaging, Kassi and Olga open up with their signature "fire drill" questions, revealing their preferences and quirks that you won't find on LinkedIn. From their debate on concise versus verbose legal writing to their thoughts on legal ethics dilemmas and the ideal law firm culture, they keep things lively and relatable.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the EU AI Act's criteria for high and mid-level AI risks.
- Real-world examples of AI applications within these risk categories and their impacts.
- The balance between fostering innovation and ensuring ethical AI practices.
- Global implications of the EU's AI regulations and potential for international standards.
- Personal insights into their professional styles and approaches to legal challenges.
By tuning in, you'll not only gain a clearer understanding of the EU AI Act but also enjoy a candid and entertaining conversation that brings AI regulation to life. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and join a vibrant community of curious minds.
Share your thoughts on AI risk categorizations and their impact on AI development. How do you see these regulations shaping the future of AI? Leave a comment, engage with them on social media, and let’s continue the conversation!
Join them for this insightful episode and stay tuned for part two, where they delve into the other aspects of the EU AI Act and its broader implications!
In this episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self, we dive into the fascinating world of open source software with Heather Maker, an accomplished lawyer and venture capitalist. Heather, who has been a mentor and inspiration for many years, shares her journey from practicing law in Silicon Valley to joining OSS Capital, a venture fund focused exclusively on commercial open source development. Her unique blend of legal expertise and investment acumen offers a compelling perspective on the intersection of law, technology, and business.
Heather's story is one of unexpected twists and passion for open source. Starting as a lawyer specializing in software licensing, she transitioned into the venture capital world, bringing a deep understanding of open source legal issues to her investment strategy. Heather discusses her career trajectory, from working at prestigious law firms to co-founding a fund that supports innovative open source projects.
In this engaging conversation, we explore the nuances of open source business models, the role of intellectual property rights, and the symbiotic relationship between open source and artificial intelligence. Heather explains how open source projects can thrive in recessionary periods due to their capital efficiency and community-driven nature. She also addresses the complexities of making money from open source software and the importance of trademarks in building a successful open source business.
Heather's insights are invaluable for entrepreneurs, developers, and legal professionals navigating the open source landscape. Whether you're curious about the legal aspects of open source, interested in starting your own open source project, or just looking to understand how open source can drive business innovation, this episode is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking ideas.
- Open Source Business Models: Learn about the most effective open source business models, including the popular software-as-a-service (SaaS) approach, and understand why these models are particularly suited to inflationary and recessionary periods.
- Intellectual Property in Open Source: Discover the critical roles of copyright and trademarks in open source, and how these IP rights can shape your business strategy.
- AI and Open Source: Explore the complex relationship between artificial intelligence and open source, and why transparency in AI development is crucial for fostering innovation and trust.
- Investing in Open Source: Gain insights into why venture capital funds are increasingly interested in open source projects and how specialized knowledge in this area can streamline investment processes and drive success.
Join us for this enlightening episode and delve into the dynamic world of open source with one of its foremost experts. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, you'll come away with a deeper understanding of how open source can transform businesses and drive technological advancement.
Welcome to "Notes to My Legal Self," a podcast where we dive deep into the intersection of law and technology. In this episode, we're exploring the intricate world of Data Provenance Standards with two seasoned experts in the field, Olga Mack and Kassi Burns. Get ready for a geeky yet enlightening conversation about data, AI, legal technology, and much more!
Key Takeaways:
- Insight into Data Provenance Standards by the Data & Trust Alliance.
- How these standards, akin to food safety labels, enhance transparency and trust in data usage.
- The impact of data integrity standards on various sectors, including healthcare and finance.
- Exploring the intersection of AI, legal tech, and data governance.
Guest Information:
- Kassi Burns is a forward-thinking attorney with a decade of experience in AI and Machine Learning.
- Olga Mack is a legal tech enthusiast and expert in disruptive tech and the future of law.
Special Features:
- Engaging in rapid-fire Q&A sessions with the guests.
- Discussion on practical solutions over legal philosophy.
- Insights into the future of legal education and the impact of AI on small businesses.
Teaser Questions:
- How can Data Provenance Standards revolutionize trust in AI systems?
- What are the implications of these standards on your career in the legal tech industry?
- Can small businesses leverage these standards for growth and opportunity?
"Stay ahead of the curve in the evolving world of legal technology. Follow us for more insightful episodes and join the conversation by sharing your thoughts on how data provenance is shaping the future of AI and legal tech."
Welcome to Episode 19 of Season 6, where we delve deep into the AWS 'NOV 2023: ACCELERATING AI SKILLS' report. This episode stands out as we take a solo journey with our host, exploring the groundbreaking insights from this comprehensive study. The report, commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and prepared by Access Partnership, sheds light on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors, focusing on the legal industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Transformation in the Legal Sector: AI's role in automating routine tasks, leading to enhanced efficiency and accuracy.
- Efficiency and Role Shift: The expected shift in legal professionals' roles towards more strategic activities.
- Accessibility of Legal Services: How AI-driven tools can democratize legal assistance.
- Ethical and Regulatory Challenges: Addressing the growing concerns as AI integrates into legal practices.
- Emerging Skill Requirements: The need for legal professionals to blend legal expertise with AI skills.
Joining us in this insightful discussion is Olga Mack, bringing her expertise to the table as we dissect the AWS report's findings.
Special Features:
- Interactive Analysis: Our host provides a unique, interactive breakdown of the report.
- Highlights of Key Predictions: Focusing on the anticipated mainstream adoption of AI in the legal sector.
- Practical Advice: Tips for legal professionals to adapt and upskill in the AI-driven future.
Teaser Questions:
- How will AI reshape the legal industry in the coming years?
- What new skills will legal professionals need to thrive in an AI-integrated environment?
- How can legal services become more accessible through AI?
Don't forget to engage with us! Share your thoughts and insights on how AI is shaping your industry. Join the conversation, and let's navigate this AI-driven future together.
Enjoy the episode and stay tuned for more insights into how AI is revolutionizing industries, one sector at a time!
Welcome to another engaging episode of 'Notes to My Legal Self,' where we dive deep into the evolving landscape of tech and law. In Season 6, Episode 18, we're thrilled to have Kassi Burns join host Olga Mack as they explore the recent FTC developments affecting AI and consumer rights. This episode promises to be a treasure trove of insights for both legal professionals and tech enthusiasts.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the FTC's new approach to AI-related products and services.
- Insights on the FTC's Voice Cloning Challenge and its implications for consumer protection.
- Discussion on the intersection of AI, privacy, and antitrust laws.
- Kassi Burns' unique perspective on eDiscovery and emerging technologies.
Kassi Burns, an attorney with a decade of experience in AI and Machine Learning, is known for her expertise in eDiscovery, privacy law, and the legal impacts of blockchain, NFTs, and Web3. Follow her journey and insights on social media via @eDiscoverist.
Special Features:
- An impromptu proposal and acceptance of co-hosting duties between Olga and Kassi.
- A lively Q&A session revealing personal preferences and professional opinions on various legal topics.
Intriguing Questions:
- How will the FTC's new resolutions shape the future of AI in the legal landscape?
- What does the rise of voice cloning technologies mean for consumer rights?
- How should businesses prepare for the changing regulatory environment around AI?
Remember to subscribe to Notes to My Legal Self for more insightful discussions. Share your thoughts on this episode using #LegalTechFTC and join the conversation online!
Join us for this enlightening journey into the heart of legal technology and AI regulations with Olga Mack and Kassi Burns.
Welcome to Season 6, Episode 17 of "Notes to My Legal Self AI Insights." In this riveting episode, titled "Navigating the AI Legal Landscape: Florida vs. California," we dive into the complex world of AI regulation in the legal field. Join us as our host, Olga Mack, and special guest Kassi Burns explore the contrasting approaches of Florida and California in regulating lawyers' use of AI and Machine Learning.
Key Takeaways:
- In-depth Analysis of AI in Legal Practice: Understand the unique ways Florida and California regulate AI usage by legal professionals.
- Impact of AI and Emerging Technologies: Insights into how blockchain, NFTs, and web3 are transforming the legal industry.
- Future of Legal Profession: Explore the evolving landscape of legal services in the age of digital transformation.
Kassi Burns, a seasoned attorney with a decade of experience in AI and Machine Learning, shares her expertise on the topic. She is known for her deep understanding of data’s impact on legal issues and her involvement in the eDiscovery community.
Special Features: The episode features a lively fire-grill question session, revealing our guests' personal preferences and professional insights on various legal topics.
Teaser Questions:
- How do Florida and California differ in their legal frameworks for AI use by lawyers?
- Can emerging technologies like blockchain and NFTs reshape the legal landscape?
- What ethical concerns surround AI in law, particularly regarding biases and confidentiality?
Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more insightful episodes. Share your thoughts on this episode's topic in the comments, and join us in our next discussion on the impact of FTC regulations!
Join us for this enlightening journey through the legal implications of AI technologies, and stay ahead of the curve in understanding the future of law!
In this thought-provoking Notes to My Legal Self AI Insights episode, we're dissecting the tumultuous shifts in corporate governance at OpenAI. Join us as we welcome Duane Valz, a seasoned Silicon Valley legal expert, to unravel the events leading to Sam Altman's unexpected departure and the broader implications for AI governance.
Key Takeaways:
- The Evolution of OpenAI: A detailed exploration of OpenAI's transformation from a non-profit entity to a complex, venture-backed organization and how this shift impacted its corporate governance.
- Sam Altman's Departure: Analyzing the circumstances and aftermath of Altman's exit, including its ripple effects across the AI industry.
- Corporate Governance Challenges: Lessons on foresight and strategy for rapidly evolving tech companies, with a focus on maintaining robust governance structures.
Duane Valz, currently serving as VP & General Counsel at Insitro, shares his extensive experience in corporate law and IP strategy, drawing from his roles at Google, Zymergen Inc., and his involvement in several non-profit boards.
Special Features:
- A deep dive into Duane's Medium article that sparked a significant conversation about OpenAI's governance issues.
- An analysis of the complexities of OpenAI's corporate structure and its implications for the AI industry.
Teaser Questions:
- What were the underlying factors that led to the corporate governance failure at OpenAI?
- How could OpenAI's structure and strategy serve as a cautionary tale for other tech companies?
- In what ways could OpenAI have navigated its challenges differently for a more stable outcome?
Subscribe to our podcast to stay connected with the evolving world of AI and law. We encourage listeners to share their perspectives on this episode's themes in the comments and join us for our next episode for more enriching discussions.
This episode promises to be a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, corporate law, and technology governance. Join us for an enlightening journey through the inner workings of one of the most influential companies in AI.
Welcome to Episode 15 of Season 6, where we delve into the transformative world of AI, sparked by the recent NIST workshop on AI safety and trustworthiness. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Olga Mack and Kassi Burns, an attorney with a decade of experience in AI and machine learning, joining us for a comprehensive discussion.
Key Takeaways:
- Insight into marrying AI potential with ethical practices.
- Understanding the synergy between tech leaders and policymakers.
- Exploring cutting-edge tools and models in AI safety.
Kassi Burns, an attorney and seasoned expert in AI and Machine Learning, shares her perspective on AI’s impact on legal issues and the significance of blockchain, NFTs, and web3.
Special Features:
- Deep dive into NIST's "A USAISI Workshop: Collaboration to Enable Safe and Trustworthy AI."
- Exploration of innovative strategies for AI ethics.
- Discussion on the role of tech leaders and policymakers in shaping AI.
Intriguing Teaser Questions:
- How can AI development balance innovation and ethics?
- What are the emerging challenges in making AI safe and trustworthy?
- How will AI shape the future of legal professions and other industries?
Don't forget to subscribe for more insightful discussions and follow us on Twitter at @AIPodcast for updates.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of AI, its ethical implications, and the future it holds for various industries. Join us on this insightful journey!
Welcome to Episode 14 of Season 6, where the world of law meets cutting-edge AI technology! In this episode, titled "How to Use Agent GPT in Law: A Guide to Autonomous AI Agents", we dive deep into the integration of AI in the legal sphere with our special guests, Kassi Burns and Olga Mack. Kassi, a seasoned attorney with a decade of experience in AI and machine learning, joins us to share her insights into the evolving landscape of law and technology.
Key Takeaways:
- Kassi Burns' journey from transactional law to the forefront of eDiscovery and privacy law.
- The role of AI and machine learning in modern legal practices.
- Practical applications and limitations of AI tools like Agent GPT in legal settings.
- Creative uses of AI agents for non-legal purposes.
- Future implications of AI in the legal profession.
Kassi Burns, a Senior Attorney at King and Spalding, is known for her expertise in eDiscovery, privacy law, data breach response, and information law. She brings a unique perspective to the table, emphasizing the importance of AI and machine learning in legal services.
Special Features:
- Insights into the creation and customization of AI agents for legal and personal use.
- An intriguing discussion on the conservative nature of AI tools and how to creatively direct them.
- Perspectives on the ethical considerations and practical applications of AI in law.
Intriguing Teaser Questions:
- How is AI reshaping the legal industry?
- Can AI agents like GPT truly understand and work within legal frameworks?
- What are the innovative ways attorneys like Kassi Burns are utilizing AI in their practice?
Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Stay tuned for our next episode, where we continue exploring the fascinating intersection of law and technology.
Welcome to Season 6, Episode 13 of our podcast, where we delve into the captivating realm of AI and wearables. In this episode, titled "AI Pin: The Future of Technology and Law," we're joined by Kassi Burns, a seasoned attorney with a decade of experience in AI and Machine Learning.Key Takeaways:The AI Pin from Humane: We explore this groundbreaking innovation, which is leading the charge toward a screenless era, and its potential impact on daily life and technology interaction.Kassi Burns' Journey: Discover Kassi's unique path in the legal field, her involvement with eDiscovery, and her passion for emerging technologies like blockchain, NFTs, and web3.The Intersection of Wearables and AI: We dive into the challenges and potential of integrating AI into our daily wearables, with a focus on practicality and user experience.Guest Information:Kassi BurnsBackground: Senior Attorney at King and Spalding, Texas; Expert in eDiscovery, Privacy Law, and AI in legal operations.Special Features:An in-depth discussion on the potential and skepticism surrounding wearables like AI Pin.Insights into the evolution of legal tech and how AI is reshaping the industry.Intriguing Teaser Questions:Could AI Pin herald a new era in our interaction with technology?How does AI and wearable tech intersect with legal practices and data privacy?Don't forget to subscribe for more insightful discussions. Join us in exploring the frontiers of technology and law!
Welcome to Episode 12 of Season 6, where we delve into the pivotal White House Executive Order on AI and its profound implications for businesses and clients. Joining us is Steven Kelts, a renowned lecturer from Princeton's University Center for Human Values and an ethics advisor at the Responsible A.I. Institute.
Key Takeaways:
- Overview of the White House Executive Order on AI and its significance.
- The role of NIST's risk management framework in regulatory compliance.
- The impact of AI regulations on businesses, especially those dealing with the government.
- Insight into foundation model registrations and market regulation changes.
Steven Kelts brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive experience in ethics, AI, and tech firms. His work at Princeton and contributions to IEEE’s Technology and Society Magazine highlight his expertise in ethical action in technology.
Special Features:
- In-depth analysis of the executive order's implications.
- Insightful discussions on AI ethics, technology firms, and regulatory landscapes.
- Steven Kelts' unique perspective on ethical decision-making in AI.
Teaser Questions:
- How will the executive order reshape the landscape for AI technology?
- What steps should businesses take to comply with new AI regulations?
- How does the executive order impact the ethical considerations in AI development?
Stay informed and prepared. Subscribe to our podcast for more insightful discussions on AI and technology ethics. Share your thoughts and questions in the comments or reach out to us on social media.
Join us for this enlightening episode as we navigate the complexities of AI regulation and its far-reaching consequences.
Welcome to another groundbreaking episode of our podcast, where we delve into the fascinating intersection of technology and law. In Season 6, Episode 11, titled "How to Test Legal AI Tools Before They Are Ready," we're joined by special guests Rayan Krishnan and Langston Nashold from PlaygroundRL. As recent Stanford graduates with a wealth of experience in big tech, startups, and machine learning labs, Rayan and Langston are at the forefront of revolutionizing legal AI.
Key Takeaways:
- Insight into PlaygroundRL: Discover how Rayan and Langston's journey from Stanford undergraduates to AI pioneers led them to develop PlaygroundRL.
- Evaluating Legal AI: Learn about the challenges and methods for ensuring the accuracy and safety of legal AI tools.
- Future of Legal AI: Explore the potential roles and impact of large language models (LLMs) in the legal industry, balancing technological innovation with ethical considerations.
Rayan Krishnan and Langston Nashold share their unique experiences and perspectives, from academic research to practical applications in AI, particularly in the legal domain.
Special Features:
- Real-world Applications: Discussions on how legal AI is currently being used in the industry and its potential future developments.
- Stanford Memories: A glimpse into Rayan and Langston's Stanford experiences and how these shaped their current pursuits.
Intriguing Teaser Questions:
- Will lawyers need to become teachers for AI models?
- How do Rayan and Langston envision the future of legal AI?
- Can AI truly replicate the nuanced decision-making process of a legal professional?
Relevant Links and Resources:
- Rayan Krishnan’s publication on radiology report evaluation.
- PlaygroundRL website and information.
- Studies on current legal AI applications and their implications.
Tune in, share your thoughts, and engage with us in this exciting exploration of legal AI. Your questions and insights are invaluable!
This episode offers a compelling look into the evolving world of legal AI, highlighting the innovative work of Rayan Krishnan and Langston Nashold. Join us in discovering the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of AI in the legal sphere, and how these advancements might shape the industry.
Welcome to Season 6, Episode 10 of our insightful podcast series, where we delve into the innovative world of legal technology. In this episode, titled "Legal AI Unveiled: Beyond ChatGPT with Richard DiBona," we explore the groundbreaking advancements in AI-powered legal search engines.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the application of AI in legal tech.
- The mechanics behind natural language search in legal documents.
- The role of experimentation in leveraging AI for legal purposes.
Our special guest, Richard DiBona, is a skilled software engineer and co-founder of descrybe.ai. Alongside his wife Kara Peterson, Richard has developed a unique legal search engine that simplifies case law research using natural language processing.
Special Features:
- Insightful discussion on the intersection of AI and legal research.
- Real-world examples of AI application in legal contexts.
- Anecdotes about the challenges and triumphs of developing a legal tech startup.
Intriguing Teaser Questions:
- How can AI revolutionize the way we approach legal research?
- What inspired Richard to transition from traditional software engineering to legal tech?
- How does working with a spouse influence the dynamics of running a tech startup?
Tune in to this fascinating episode to discover how AI is reshaping the legal landscape. Don't forget to subscribe for more insightful discussions and leave your thoughts in the comments section!
Dive into the depths of AI in the legal world in Season 6, Episode 9 of our cutting-edge podcast. Join us as we welcome Nicole Black, a New York-based attorney and author, and Olga V. Mack, a legal tech visionary, for a compelling discussion titled "ChatGPT in Your Legal Practice." This episode delves into the integration of AI, particularly ChatGPT, into modern legal practices, examining its potential benefits, challenges, and the future of law in the AI era.
Key Takeaways:
Insight into the practical application of ChatGPT in legalpractices.
Strategies for maintaining confidentiality while leveragingAI.
Exploration of document handling, brainstorming, andeducational uses of ChatGPT.
Discussion on the importance of tech competency for legalprofessionals.
Special Features:
Expert insights from seasoned professionals in legal tech.
Engaging dialogue format, offering diverse perspectives.
Real-world examples of AI integration in legal settings.
Teaser Questions
- Can ChatGPT effectively transform legal practices?
- How can lawyers ensure confidentiality while using AI tools?
- What are the emerging trends in AI and legal technology?
Subscribe to our podcast for more insights into legal innovation! Join us in our next episode for a deeper dive into specific AI tools for legal professionals. Share your experiences or questions about AI in the legal sector.
Gear up for an enlightening journey through the intersection of AI and law, filled with expert insights, practical tips, and forward-thinking discussions! 🎙️👨💼💡
Welcome to Season 6, Episode 8 of our enlightening podcast series, where we delve into the pressing issue of 'Responsible AI Implementation: Overcoming the 90% Failure Factor.' In this episode, we are joined by the esteemed Larry Bridgesmith, a renowned legal innovation and technology figure.
Key Takeaways:
- Expert Insights: Larry Bridgesmith, with his vast experience in legal technology, shares his perspectives on the intersection of law and AI.
- AI in Legal Practice: Discussion on the benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations for lawyers in the AI era.
- The 90% AI Implementation Challenge: Strategies for overcoming the high failure rate in AI implementation in legal settings.
- AI's Impact on the Legal Profession: Examining whether AI will replace lawyers and its effect on traditional billing models.
Larry Bridgesmith brings a wealth of knowledge from his roles at the International Institute of Legal Project Management, Lipscomb University, and Vanderbilt Law School. His experience in legal technology innovations offers invaluable insights for our listeners.
Special Features:
- Larry's journey from litigation to legal tech and innovation.
- Interactive Q&A on AI's ethical implications in law.
Intriguing Teaser Questions:
- How can lawyers navigate the ethical minefield of AI in legal practice?
- Will AI redefine the traditional law firm business model?
Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more insightful discussions. If you have any thoughts or questions on this episode, reach out to us through our social media channels.
Welcome to Season 6, Episode 7 of "Notes to My Legal Self," where we delve into the innovative world of legal technology. In this episode, we're thrilled to host Jacqueline Schafer, a pioneer in the integration of AI into legal practice. As the founder and CEO of Clearbrief and an acclaimed litigator, Jacqueline's insights are sure to enlighten and inspire.
Key Takeaways:
- Jacqueline's Journey: From appellate litigator to tech entrepreneur, discover Jacqueline's transition and the motivations behind her pioneering work.
- Clearbrief's Impact: Learn how Clearbrief’s AI platform has become a staple in law firms, courts, and government agencies, streamlining legal workflows and enhancing document management.
- AI in Legal Practice: Understand the practical applications of AI in legal settings, including generating hyperlinked timelines and scoring the accuracy of opposing documents.
Jacqueline Schafer, a respected appellate litigator, founder, and CEO of Clearbrief. Her accolades include the 2021 Washington State Bar APEX Award for Legal Innovation and recognition in the American Bar Association’s “2022 Women of Legal Tech.”
Special Features:
- Live demonstration of Clearbrief’s functionalities.
- Insights into the future of AI in the legal field.
Intriguing Questions:
- How does Clearbrief transform the day-to-day operations of legal professionals?
- What are the challenges and triumphs of integrating AI into legal workflows?
- What does the future hold for AI in the legal industry?
Don't forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes! Join us next week as we continue to explore cutting-edge legal technologies.
Embark on this enlightening journey with us, as we uncover the fascinating intersection of law and technology with one of the field’s most innovative minds.
Welcome to Season 6, Episode 6 of "Notes to My Legal Self: AI Insights," where we delve deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence and its intersection with the legal field. In this captivating episode, titled "Taming the Generative AI Monster," we are thrilled to have Shawnna Hoffman, a renowned AI and Blockchain expert, join us. Get ready to dive into a thought-provoking discussion that demystifies AI and explores its ethical dimensions.
Shawnna Hoffman, the current President of GuardRail Technologies, boasts an impressive background in AI and Blockchain. Her career includes roles like Chief Technology Leader of Legal Strategy and Operations at Dell Technologies and a decade at IBM in Digital Transformation and Strategy. She is celebrated for her contribution to AI and Blockchain, evident from her speaking engagements at events like the UN Blockchain for Impact and the UN Data Forum.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding AI's role in human society and the concept of Responsible AI.
Discussion on developing AI with proper ethical guidelines and societal considerations.
Exploring the future of AI, particularly in the context of elections and societal impact.
Shawnna's journey from her early career to becoming a leader in AI and legal technology.
Special Features:
Information about GuardRail Technologies and its upcoming projects, including an API for integrating with systems like AWS and Azure.
Insights into the non-profit education sector led by GuardRail Technologies, collaborating with prestigious institutions like Oxford and potentially Stanford and Berkeley.
Teaser Questions:
What are the potential societal implications of unchecked AI?
How can AI be harnessed as a force for good while ensuring human well-being and fairness?
What does the future of AI look like in the context of elections and democracy?
Don't forget to engage with us! Drop your comments and questions, and join our community of legal superheroes. We'd love to hear from you if you have insights or experiences to share about AI in the legal world. Let's foster a vibrant community where knowledge and ideas flow freely.
Join us on this enlightening journey, and let's explore how AI can be a responsible and beneficial tool in our legal arsenal. Tune in now for a riveting episode!
Welcome to Season 6, Episode 4 of our enlightening podcast series! In this episode, titled "AI Audits: Best Practices and Regulatory Trends," we delve into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) audits with the expertise of Jey Kumarasamy, an associate at BNH.AI. As AI continues to permeate various aspects of our lives and legal practice, understanding AI audits becomes crucial for legal professionals.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the basics of AI audits and their importance in the legal field.
- Insights into the evolving regulatory landscape, with a focus on New York City's Local Law 144.
- Jey Kumarasamy's unique blend of legal and technical expertise in AI and data analytics.
- The role of AI audits in ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
Jey Kumarasamy, a seasoned associate at the boutique D.C.-based law firm BNH.AI, specializes in AI and data analytics. With a rich background in corporate and commercial law, coupled with software engineering experience, Jey offers a unique perspective on the intersection of law and technology.
Special Features:
- In-depth discussion on the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.
- Exploration of various laws and regulations applicable to AI systems.
- Practical insights into conducting AI audits, balancing legal and technical aspects.
Intriguing Teaser Questions:
- What exactly are AI audits, and how do they impact legal practice?
- How does New York City's Local Law 144 shape the future of AI regulation?
- In what ways can AI audits be used as a tool for responsible AI adoption?
Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review for our podcast! Stay informed and ahead in the rapidly evolving field of AI law and governance.
This comprehensive episode not only enlightens listeners on AI audits but also equips legal professionals with the knowledge to navigate this emerging field. Join us for this intriguing journey into the world of AI and law!
Welcome to another insightful episode of our podcast, where we delve into the fascinating intersection of technology and law. In this special episode, we're thrilled to host Nicole Black, a notable figure in the legal tech world. Get ready for an enlightening journey into the realm of Generative AI and its implications in the legal industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Evolution of AI in Law: Grasp the development of AI technologies, including ChatGPT, and their tailored applications in the legal sector.
- Practical AI Applications: Explore 10 essential ways AI is revolutionizing legal practices, from document summarization to drafting assistance.
- Ethical and Technical Challenges: Dive into the ethical dilemmas, algorithmic bias, and challenges posed by the emerging AI technologies in law.
- Strategies for Implementation: Discover actionable strategies for integrating AI into your legal practice, tailored for varying levels of tech expertise.
- Future-Proofing Legal Practice: Learn innovative approaches to adopting AI for enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and innovation in legal work.
Nicole Black, an attorney from Rochester, New York, is a renowned author, journalist, and Senior Director at MyCase. With her extensive background in law, technology, and writing, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge to today’s discussion.
Special Features:
- In-Depth Discussion on AI: From its foundational concepts to advanced applications in legal contexts.
- Real-World Examples: Nicole shares practical scenarios where AI is making a significant impact in legal practices.
- Ethical Considerations: An essential look into the ethical landscape surrounding AI in law.
Teaser Questions:
- How will Generative AI reshape the future of law?
- What are the potential risks and ethical concerns associated with AI in legal practices?
- Can AI in law lead to a more efficient and equitable legal system?
Don't miss out on this groundbreaking conversation. Tune in to gain essential insights into how AI is shaping the future of the legal profession. Follow, share, and subscribe for more thought-provoking episodes!
Join us for this compelling episode where we unravel the complexities and promise of AI in the legal world with Nicole Black.
Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 6 of "Notes to My Legal Self: AI Insights," where we delve into the profound realm of digital legacies. In this riveting episode, we're joined by Art Shaikh, the visionary Founder and CEO of DigitalWill.com, to explore how AI is revolutionizing estate planning in the digital era.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the importance of digital assets in estate planning.
- Insights into AI's role in simplifying legal processes in will and estate planning.
- Strategies for managing digital legacies and ensuring your digital assets are properly handled.
Art Shaikh, a thought leader in digital estate planning, shares his personal journey and professional insights on integrating AI into legacy planning.
Special Features:
- In-depth discussion on AI's impact on legal tech.
- Real-life stories illustrating the importance of digital legacy.
Teaser Questions:
- How can AI transform the way we approach estate planning?
- What challenges do we face in managing digital legacies, and how can AI help?
Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on today's discussion, and let's build a community of legal innovators and enthusiasts. Don't forget to nominate someone making waves in legal AI or even nominate yourself!
Welcome to an intriguing exploration of Legal Prompt Engineering in the latest episode of 'Notes to My Legal Self, AI Insights'. This session, featuring Dazza Greenwood, delves deep into the integration of AI in the legal field, highlighting how this technology reshapes legal processes and decision-making.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding Legal Prompt Engineering: A comprehensive introduction to this emerging field, blending legal analysis, systems design, and data governance.
- The Interplay of AI and Law: Insights into the collaboration between legal professionals and engineers in creating AI solutions that adhere to legal norms while enhancing transparency and fairness.
- Real-World Applications: An exploration of various legal scenarios where AI is effectively utilized, showcasing both potential benefits and challenges.
- Future of AI in Legal Practices: Discussion on the evolving role of AI in law, its potential impact, and ethical considerations.
Dazza Greenwood, a seasoned expert in legal technology and AI, shares his extensive experience, providing valuable perspectives on the significance and future of Legal Prompt Engineering.
Special Features:
- Analysis of current and future trends in legal technology.
- Strategies for effectively integrating AI into legal workflows.
- Examination of the ethical implications of AI in legal contexts.
Teaser Questions:
- What does Legal Prompt Engineering entail, and why is it critical in today's legal landscape?
- How can AI be harnessed to support legal professionals while maintaining ethical standards?
- What future developments can be anticipated in the intersection of AI and legal practices?
Call to Action:
- Engage in the conversation about AI in law by sharing thoughts and experiences on social media platforms.
- Nominate individuals who are making significant strides in the legal AI arena for future episodes.
- Subscribe to stay informed about the latest developments in legal technology.
This episode promises to be a thought-provoking journey through the dynamic realm of legal technology, offering insights into how AI is shaping the future of law. Share this episode to spread knowledge and spark discussions in the legal community.
Welcome to a groundbreaking episode of 'Notes to My Legal Self, AI Insights'! In our Season 6 premiere, we delve deep into the complexities of client consent in the AI-driven legal landscape. Join us as we dissect the legal, ethical, and practical considerations of integrating AI into legal consent processes, featuring expert insights from Aileen Schultz.
Key Takeaways:
- Role of AI in Client Consent Processes: An exploration of how AI is being used to facilitate client consent, including its advantages, risks, and the impact on privacy and informed consent.
- Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: A detailed discussion on the existing legal structures that govern the use of AI in client consent, highlighting areas of compliance and potential gaps.
- Ethical Implications and Principles: A deep dive into the ethical issues raised by AI in client consent, emphasizing the importance of maintaining transparency, fairness, and accountability.
- Balancing Innovation with Risk Mitigation: Strategies for leveraging AI technologies in client consent while ensuring strong safeguards for client rights and privacy.
- Future Outlook and Best Practices: Insights into emerging trends, practical approaches, and future potential of AI in legal practices, especially in the realm of client consent.
Aileen Schultz, a pioneer in legal innovation and AI governance, shares her extensive expertise, shedding light on this nuanced topic.
Special Features:
- Insightful analysis of real-world case studies demonstrating AI's application in legal consent processes.
- A comprehensive discussion on the intersection of AI, law, and ethics.
- Practical tips for legal professionals navigating AI integration.
Teaser Questions:
- What are the implications of using AI in legal consent processes?
- How can legal professionals balance technological advancement with ethical responsibilities?
- What does the future hold for AI in legal practices, particularly in the context of client consent?
Call to Action:
- Join our social media platforms to contribute to the ongoing discussion about AI in the legal field.
- Nominate or self-nominate someone making significant contributions to legal AI.
- Subscribe for more episodes that blend legal expertise with technological insights.
As we unravel the dynamic interplay between law, ethics, and AI, your participation is invaluable. Engage with us, share the episode, and be part of a community shaping the future of legal practices in the AI era. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions and let's journey together through this evolving landscape of legal technology.
Welcome to this enlightening episode of "Notes to My Legal Self," where we dive into the evolving landscape of wellness beyond traditional corporate programs, exploring the intricate connection between mind, body, beliefs, connections, and environment. Our guest, Ashlee Best, a seasoned legal operations leader with a rich history in Fortune 500 companies and startups alike, shares her transformative journey towards holistic wellness and its implications for the legal profession.
Key Takeaways:
- Ashlee's extensive background in legal operations, spanning over 20 years across tech giants and startups, provides a unique perspective on the intersection of law, technology, and wellness.
- An exploration of the five pillars of wellness, as outlined by the Mindvalley's Holobody Coaching certification program, through Ashlee's personal and professional experiences.
- Insights into Ashlee's career transition from legal operations to legal wellness, highlighting her mission to transform the legal ecosystem's approach to health and well-being.
Guest Information:Ashlee Best, a trailblazer in legal operations, brings her innovative mindset to the forefront of legal wellness. With experience in companies such as PeopleSoft/Oracle, Zynga, Pandora, Dropbox, and Asana, Ashlee is now embarking on a new path as a wellness coach, certified by Mindvalley's Holobody program, aiming to revolutionize wellness in the legal profession.
Special Features:
- Deep dive into Ashlee's holistic approach to wellness, emphasizing the importance of addressing individual needs and the interconnectedness of various wellness pillars.
- Ashlee's insights into the future of work, technology, and their impact on human well-being within the legal sector.
- Engaging discussions on how traditional legal operations roles can evolve to include wellness as a core component.
Questions:
- How can legal professionals integrate wellness into their daily routines?
- What role does technology play in promoting wellness within the legal ecosystem?
- Can the principles of legal operations offer a blueprint for implementing effective wellness strategies?
Join the conversation on wellness in legal operations by following "Notes to My Legal Self" on your favorite podcast platform. Engage with us through comments, likes, and shares, and let us know your thoughts on integrating wellness into the legal profession. If you or someone you know is pioneering wellness initiatives in legal or any other field, reach out for a chance to be featured in future episodes.
Embrace this opportunity to rethink wellness in the legal profession with Ashlee Best, as we navigate the path to holistic health and well-being together. Don't forget to engage with the episode and share your insights and experiences. See you in the next episode of "Notes to My Legal Self"!
Director of Legal Operations, Managing Attorney (ex Hasbro). Strategic legal operations for in house legal departments; design thinking; product counsel and bringing together 12 years in-house with experience and skill in game design and software development. Bo has just finished the first-phase of his legal-ops career after building Hasbro, Inc.’s legal operations from scratch. He did so while maintaining a rich legal practice in kids’ data privacy, digital product counsel (including for almost all of Hasbro’s connected toy products between 2016 and 2023). But law was not Bo’s first career – Band Life. After graduating UC Santa Cruz (modern literary studies, highest honors), he spent the rest of the 1990s playing guitar in the San Francisco indie rock/shoegazer/neo-psychedelic California-pop band “Pete,” (Instagram page) creating this release: https://peterecords.bandcamp.com/releases – while working at Polygram Group Distribution. PS2 Game Designer By 2002, Bo was now a game designer at Idol Minds, LLC, a developer near Boulder known for the “Coolboarders” and “Rally Cross” franchises. Wait, what? He shipped “Neopets: The Darkest Faerie” in 2005 as lead game designer. How? He learned C, studied lots of books on game design and development and put together a Windows game demo himself that helped to get his foot in the door. His experience as a web application developer for UC Santa Barbara (where his (now) wife was an English PhD. candidate) in creating applications using SQL and ASP technologies to deliver dynamic web pages in HTML and VB Script also helped open that door. And, those apps were aimed at helping administrators administer the English Department. Sound familiar? Legal Practice Bo went to law school in his mid-thirties. He graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2009 and managed to get his foot in the door at Hasbro. During that time he worked on Hasbro’s growing entertainment portfolio: television for the Hub (a JV with Discovery Channel) and on a massive software implementation of a rights-management system for Hasbro Studios. Full Circle: The Digital Practice & Legal Ops From the beginning, as the “tech guy” within Hasbro’s legal department, Bo worked on things that would be recognizable as legal ops now. This started with Access databases to track contract rights. It ultimately led to fully embracing building full-blown applications in Microsoft 365 tools for CLM and process management, building an Innovation Committee, a Legal Ops Advisory Committee, and evangelizing legal ops for years in the department. Bo was almost single-handedly responsible for getting the whole department to adopt SharePoint along a (semi!) rational framework in the department. Full Ops Now, Bo is committed to legal operations as his core passion, and wants to be a part of the transformation that’s happening both from within a smart, ambitious department ready to embrace the digital transformation journey to across the ops community, taking part in the amazing conversations that are happening every day. This is an amazing community to be a part of! Bo wants to build amazing programs. In both senses of the word: (a) ops programs for legal departments and (b) amazing, creative software and tech programs. Build them. Not just implement them. He says his true superpowers are seeing the connections between what others may see as disparate parts and then demonstrating how to synthesize these into . . . the art of the possible. He is a big-picture thinker who uses some pretty technical specifics and insight to make it happen.
Laurie David-Henric joined her currently role for a Fortune 500 in June 2022. Laurie serves as the Head of Operations & Strategy for the Law, Compliance, Audit and Government Relations (LCAG) function, consisting of over 1,300 professionals across North America, Asia and Europe.
In this role, Laurie leads the execution of LCAG’s global strategy and has responsibility for LCAG’s operations globally, including the prioritization and implementation of the group’s technology roadmap, the optimization of the Law Department operating model, and oversight of strategic cost management, financial planning, monitoring and reporting.
Laurie reports to the company's global General Counsel and is part of his Leadership Team.
Laurie has substantial expertise in strategic planning and management for complex global operations and projects. She has served in senior roles at The Citco Group of Companies (Citco), most recently as Head of Business Process Optimization, where she led continuous improvement of internal business processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and controls while mitigating risks and increasing revenue and competitiveness. At Citco, Laurie also earlier served as International Project and Program Lead, as the Country Head and Operations Lead in France, and as an international corporate and business lawyer, both in-house and in law firm.
Laurie holds a Master’s Degree in International Commercial Law from the Centre du Droit de l’Entreprise in France, and a Master’s Degree in International and European Law jointly from the Business School and Law School of Aarhus in Denmark and the Law School of Avignon in France.
All in all, Laurie has worked on 2 continents, lead teams across 4, collaborated with colleagues in 25+ jurisdictions around the globe, and worked with almost as many regulators.
So you are this seasoned professional with a successful double-digit career, and you decided to go for this new exciting challenge.
First day on the job and it’s much, much bigger than you were expecting, All of a sudden you got overwhelmed with the question "OMG where do I start??".
Sounds familiar?
Well, natural reaction is to want to deliver something ASAP to prove to your boss they have made the right decision by selecting you, isn't it? There is no better recipe to deliver something not aligned with the needs of the business, but rather with your need of feeling reassured. And when the first one will happen, the second will not. You will likely end up with raised eyebrows from your boss, and merely a ‘hmm hmm’ in lieu of approbation.
In this discussion, Laurie David-Henric will share her personal experience of how in 100 days she successfully positioned herself and her function as a strategic partner to her boss and other key leaders without formerly delivering anything for 3 months.
In the world of law, often known for its conservatism, Ramtin Taheri is revolutionizing the approach. Alongside co-founder Brian Potts, he's established a pioneering marketing agency connecting brands with social media influencers focused on lawyers and law students.
Ramtin's agency breaks the mold by leveraging influencers specializing in legal content, bridging the gap between the legal field and modern digital trends. Their curated influencer group offers unique insights into effective strategies for marketing to lawyers.
This journey has been an exploration of innovation, distilling legal complexities into concise social media posts and crafting narratives that resonate with legal professionals. Ramtin's agency embodies a shift in redefining how legal practitioners interact with the digital landscape, breathing new life into marketing and the legal community's connection with contemporary dynamics. As law embraces the digital era, Ramtin's agency underscores innovation, collaboration, and progress.
Christi Disparte is an in-house legal counsel at ENGIE Impact - a company committed to sustainability now. Prior to joining the In-House ranks, Christi worked as a litigation associate gaining experience in complex civil litigation.
The transition from litigation to in-house counsel is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions, leaving many aspiring legal professionals wondering about the path they should take to make such a shift. In this episode, we delve deep into the realities of this transition, debunking common misconceptions, and shedding light on the key factors to consider when contemplating a move from the courtroom to the corporate environment.
Christi shares her personal journey, recounting the challenges she faced and the insights she gained while navigating the path to becoming an in-house counsel. Her story serves as a source of motivation for others who may be considering a similar career change but are unsure about the best course of action.
Together, we explore the various aspects involved in transitioning from litigation to in-house counsel, discussing the skills and qualities that can be leveraged from a litigation background and how they seamlessly translate into the corporate setting. Moreover, we discuss the importance of timing and readiness when making this significant career shift, ensuring that aspiring in-house counsels are well-prepared to tackle the unique challenges and responsibilities that come with this role.
Mary Smith is President-Elect of the American Bar Association (ABA), and is the first Native American woman in this role. Mary is an independent board member and former CEO of a $6 billion national healthcare organization, the Indian Health Service. Mary currently serves on the board of PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of medicines that provide benefits to patients with rare disorders. She also serves on the board of HAI Group, a leading member-owned property-casualty insurance company for the affordable housing industry. Mary is also Vice Chair of the VENG Group, a national consulting firm. Earlier in her career, Mary served as an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, as a senior in-house counsel at Tyco International, and in government, both as Associate Counsel to the President in the White House and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. In her bar association activities, Mary is the immediate past National Secretary of the ABA and a former president of the National Native American Bar Association. She was the first Native American to serve as a commissioner on the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession, and she has received the ABA Spirit of Excellence award for her trailblazing work on diversity and inclusion. She is also the founder and president of the only national organization that promotes Native American girls in STEM, the Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation.
As you move up the leadership ladder, what brought you to the table might make you lunch or cause you to fail. As your legal career progresses, your view of your work is broader and your impact expands. What does it mean to be a leader? What is your leadership style? How do you develop leadership skills. Join Mary Smith, President-Elect of the American Bar Association, to discuss moving into leadership, mistakes along the way, and how to become the best leader you can be.
Stefanie Frank is Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Thriveworks. For three years, so far, she’s been able to support a large admin and clinical team helping people live happier lives through counseling and therapy. Prior to Thriveworks, Stefanie was Associate Counsel at the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. In her free time, she loves weightlifting, running, and some hard rock with a bit of metal on the side. She spends her time with her fiancé and cat, Bella.
When constant fires pop up in a corporate situation, an in-house legal generalist is there to assist. Join Stefanie as she discusses her journey though being a in-house attorney generalist for the past eight years. How to navigate every day problems, big projects, and a generalist legal team. She shares where she gets her inspiration from, and her current journey into thought leadership. Diving into how these two things work together to make a better in-house attorney.
Sara Ajmi works as a Legal Operations Specialist for a global beauty and personal care manufacturer after she served as a Paralegal and Board Secretary Assistant for a Public Media Company in Canada. As part of her current job, she focuses on matter management, contract management, legal process improvement and legal metrics. Before moving to Canada in late 2019, Sara worked for more than 5 years as an in-house counsel in her home country, Morocco, where she held a master’s degree in Business Law.Even though she accidentally fallen into the legal industry, Sara is passionate about the legal departments and teams’ management, a topic she always loves talking about. During all her years working in-house, Sara was always frustrated with the way the legal departments are managed. This is why she is actively involved in raising awareness within the legal community about how to effectively run legal department and show the real value of this high strategic function. She even started recently creating content on LinkedIn on everything related to legal operations, legal department management and legal leadership.
The legal operations' main role is to be the GC and the company leadership advisor and right hand on everything related to the legal department operations. To achieve their business and strategic goals, the GC should run their department as a Business, focusing on competencies such as Financial Management, Strategic Planning, Business Intelligence, Technology, Knowledge Management, etc.Legal operations is not a new concept but, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we noticed a forced evolution of this function within the legal industry. Many GCs found themselves with no other choice but to implement a legal ops function to help them revamping the way their department works to keep achieving their goals while navigating this change. The other side of the coin is that, with this ‘new age’ of legal operations, so many legal professionals (GCs included) still hire a legal ops as a ‘fashion hiring trend’ without proper understanding the real importance of this highly strategic function. As a result, unsuccessful function, and unachieved business goals. This is exactly what this talk with Sara is about.
Karna Nisewaner is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Cadence Design Systems, Inc. She is responsible for Cadence worldwide legal operations, covering matters such as corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, commercial transactions, employment, export compliance, government affairs, intellectual property, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and stock administration. Prior to this role, she was Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Cadence where she led many key functions in the legal department. Prior to joining Cadence in 2011, Nisewaner held in-house counsel roles at Intuit and IBM and was in private practice at Finnegan, Henderson, Farbow, Garrett, and Dunner, LLP focused on intellectual property. Nisewaner received her BSE in civil engineering and operations research from Princeton University and her Juris Doctor degree from UCLA Law School.
How do you build great teams? Create a trusted environment. For Karna Nisewaner, trust is the foundation of her strong legal team and her relationships with fellow executives. Through trust, Karna was able to build her career at Cadence to reach the level of General Counsel. She thinks there are great lessons to be learned in how you create trust and how that makes you a great leader.
Logan Maley is someone who really likes what she does. She believes she found her niche. She loves being in-house in tech because she gets to do all of the things she enjoys doing and that she think she's good at; strategy, advisory work, negotiating, making an impact, being creative, working and collaborating with a variety of people who have diverse skill sets and strengths. What really makes her job--and her life--fulfilling, however, is connecting with people. Logan likes to say that she's a serious professional who doesn't take herself too seriously. The second attorney in at Procore, she's seen the company scale from a private company with sub-500 employees, US only, to a NYSE-listed global company with over 3,000 employees and growing. She helped the company prepare for its IPO in every way (twice actually, thanks pandemic). Logan loves the journey of scaling a company and continues to enjoy each new phase of maturity. She has worn many hats and supported just about every practice area possible. She is currently supporting legal and compliance for their new ventures in FinTech, broadening her experience out of B2B SaaS. Aside from being a lawyer/tech exec, Logan is a mom of two awesome little humans, a spouse to one awesome very tall gentleman, a lover and player of music, and the one always hosting the parties.
Molly Graham, a seasoned tech-exec, wrote an amazing piece about scaling a tech company in which she said "if you personally want to grow as fast as your company, you have to give away your job every couple months." Logan Maley has taken this approach to heart and will talk about how a "team of generalists" in a high-growth tech company can help legal teams meet each phase of maturity and help legal leaders keep not-yet-GC-level employees on board and engaged long past IPO or other late-stages of growth.
Olivia Vizachero, a former BigLaw commercial litigator and criminal defense attorney, runs The Less Stressed Lawyer, a boutique life coaching practice for lawyers. As a Certified Life Coach, she works with lawyers who are over the overwhelm and want to live lives with less stress and far more fulfillment by teaching them how to manage their mindset and make themselves and their well-being their top priority. She’s also the host of The Less Stressed Lawyer Podcast and a co-author of the book #Networked, a pandemic anthology written by 20 women lawyers about networking and building successful businesses during a global public health crisis.
So many attorneys struggle with achieving balance between their personal and professional lives and end up feeling overwhelmed and anxious as a result. One of the most helpful solutions they can implement to start living lives with less stress and far more fulfillment is to stop people pleasing and to start setting and honoring healthy boundaries. But that's easier said than done. Join Olivia Vizachero, certified life coach to lawyers and founder of The Less Stressed Lawyer, as she teaches you how to put an end to your people-pleasing tendencies once and for all.
James Bellerjeau was General Counsel of an S&P 500 company for 20 years, and then Head of its Global Sustainability Program. He served as President of the Association of Corporate Counsel Europe and writes the Career Path column for the ACC Docket, the magazine for in-house lawyers. He is a Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University and teaches at the University of Zurich. He serves as an executive coach for newly promoted General Counsels and other senior executives.
James is currently focused on applying principles of Stoic philosophy to live a good life and achieve satisfaction. Check out some of his thoughts on his blog at www.klugne.com, where he writes about happiness, thinking and decision-making, and moving back to the U.S. after 25 years abroad. He's also recently published a modern version of Seneca's Moral Letters to Lucilius.
What happens when you get an ESG skeptic to run a global, public company Sustainability Program? Interesting things. For one, a strategic focus on creating real impact. For another, battles with stakeholders who each think THEIR issue should be in your strategic focus. Ultimately, you get the No BS Approach to ESG.
James served for 20 years as the General Counsel of an S&P 500 company, a U.S. global multinational headquartered in Switzerland. During that time, he worked on the company's public sustainability reporting. How well did his GC role prepare him for then running the Sustainability Program for the coming 2 1/2 years?
We'll discuss how (and why) James made the switch from the GC role to Head of Sustainability. What surprised him about the role. And why he thinks the ESG movement is headed for hard times.
Megan Lutes is the General Counsel and CHRO at Glowforge, Inc., a Seattle-based technology start-up that designs and produces 3D laser printers. Megan also oversees the HR team, customer support organization, recruiting, and the facilities team at Glowforge. Megan joined Glowforge's executive team during a period of rapid growth. Megan came from heading up the legal team at Convoy, Inc. another Seattle-based technology start up. In addition to her day job, Megan founded and runs Diversity University, a company that provides diversity, equity, and inclusion tools such as trainings, project management, or assists in investigations for companies, law firms, and organizations. Megan's background includes both law firm and in-house experience with previous senior legal positions at Moss Adams, one of the country's largest public accounting firms and Expeditors International, a Fortune 500 international logistics company. Megan serves on the board of directors for Providence Pediatric Hospice of Seattle, sits on the executive board for ACC - WA, co-chairing the sponsorship committee. Recently she was awarded the top ten 30 somethings by ACC national, received the "Legal MVP Award" by SimpleLegal, received the Championing Diversity in Tech award at the Leaders in Tech Law award in New York, she was listed in Marquis 2022 Who's Who in America, was featured in InView magazine and on the International "The Counsel" Podcast, and was recognize by Women, Influence and Power in Law for Championing Diversity in-house and for Innovative Leadership. She has spoken around the country on a wide range of topics and is seen as a prominent leader in the legal community. She recently published her book The Art of Networking, providing tangible advice for those wanting to work on their career progression or to grow a more robust network. Her robust network has brought her board seats, speaking opportunities, awards, and put her on her path to General Counsel.
Building a robust network is crucial to taking your successes in most areas of your life to the next level. Many people advocate networking, but rarely do people provide actionable and tangible advice on how to network well. Join Megan Lutes, General Counsel and CHRO of a tech start-up in Seattle and author of the Art of Networking for tools and resources to build an incredible network. She will share several tips from her book. Her insights are valuable to any professional or individual looking to open opportunities and connections.
Since 2020, SALI has had great success in bringing together stakeholders — lawyers, vendors, and clients — to come together toward standardizing legal data. This discussion will explore how vendors like Thomson Reuters, Lexis, and Fastcase — as well as some of the largest law firms (e.g., Ogletree) and clients (e.g., Microsoft, Intel) — are implementing SALI. We will also discuss how the SALI API project is making the legal ecosystem more interoperable.
Alex Khachaturian serves as a Director in FINRA’s Office of Financial Innovation (OFI) in Washington, DC. Alex supports OFI’s mission in the identification and analysis of emerging technologies, laws and regulations, business models, and industry practices (both domestic and international) to inform FINRA’s risk management and strategy goals. His primary area of focus, in recent years, has been at the intersection of technology, law, and regulatory compliance. Alex’s professional background includes several years of federal government service, law firm practice, and operations within global financial institutions.
Facilitating compliance through innovation will be a key area of focus for years to come in the financial services industry. The industry is increasingly relying on technology to improve both internal operational functions as well as regulatory compliance. In this context, regulatory taxonomies (i.e., a method of classifying and categorizing a hierarchy of key legal, business, and regulatory terms and concepts) have been seen as a way to make regulations more easily processed by a computer and, therefore, potentially less time-consuming and costly for a firm’s legal and compliance staff to review. In addition, application programming interfaces (APIs) can be used to ingest rule content, including the application of regulatory taxonomies to rules.
Join Olga and Alex as they discuss how technology-based tools can allow financial market participants to potentially enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their compliance efforts, thereby supporting investor protection and market integrity.
Tom Stephenson currently serves as Director of Legal Operations at Credit Karma. In his role, he focuses on strategic financial management, technology and innovation, operations, and knowledge management for Credit Karma’s global legal function. Over a decade of varied leadership roles within the legal industry, Tom has worked alongside global law firms, Fortune 500 corporations, legal tech vendors, and consultants to address issues impacting today’s evolving legal operations workplaces. He challenges the next generation of legal operations leaders to dig deep to find and release their inner brilliance through courageous conversations, mentorship, and educational opportunities. Tom is a national thought leader in alternative pathways for legal operations professionals and regularly speaks as an authoritative voice on innovative legal operations strategies that drive efficiency, innovation, and transparency within an organization, including Harvard Law School.
Driving value through innovation is a core element that moves the legal operations function from a cost center to a value creator. But how do law firms fit into legal ops equation? Join Tom Stephenson & Olga Mack as they pull back the curtains explore how legal ops professionals propel their departments into the future by partnering with law firms and legal tech to deliver strategies focused on collaboration, process efficiency, and operational excellence.
Jordan Chapnik-Kadec brings 15 years of Operations background, 7 of them specializing in Legal Operations for In-House legal department. Jordan holds MBA degree and graduated MIT Sloan School of Management program for AI business Implications.
In this podcast we will talk about Artifactual Intelligence(AI) evolution to our days and where it meets Legal Industry. We will analyze and compare changes AI brought to other industries. Are we heading into the future where machines replacing attorneys and paralegals? What would that be like....
Robin Taylor leads the global nonprofit, Lawyers Without Borders, harnessing the power of pro bono service to promote the rule of law and increase access to justice. Under her leadership, Lawyers Without Borders trains human rights lawyers, builds case management and trial advocacy skills, provides technical assistance to combat transnational organized crime such as human trafficking and wildlife poaching, and creates sustainable institutions, including the new Kenyan Prosecution Training Institute.
Ms. Taylor has extensive trial and international experience serving more than 20 years at the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) as an Assistant United States Attorney Investigating and prosecuting cases in federal court specializing in international cybercrime and fraud. Ms. Taylor served overseas as USDOJ’s legal advisor in Stuttgart, Germany as part of a newly-created U.S. interagency team advising the U.S. Department of Defense and European officials on transnational threats, foreign influence, illicit finance, and cyberspace challenges. As the legal advisor to the U.S. Embassies in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Nairobi, Kenya she provided technical assistance to combat terrorism, transnational organized crime, and money laundering, creating trusted networks and multi-agency working groups to improve financial integrity and inclusion. Reflecting on her service, the Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions said publicly that Ms. Taylor came to Africa not as a doctor with a cure, but as a highly experienced and competent advisor and collaborator to help solve vastly complex and often polarizing issues.
Ms. Taylor is a frequent public speaker who briefed the Joint Chiefs of Staff and regularly lectured at the USDOJ’s National Advocacy Center, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, European Commission, Eurojust, Global Counterterrorism Form, Defeat ISIS Working Group, United Nations, U.S. Department of State, and Cambridge University, among others. She co-founded "Operation Protect & Defend,” a nationally recognized civil education program; served as a Judicial Applicant Evaluator for the State Bar of California; as the President, Vice President, Treasurer, of Sacramento's Federal Bar Association, and was named a Master of the Bench for the Sacramento Inn of Court.
The military cannot bring peace and security down the barrel of a gun alone. Prosecution will not by itself decrease crime. Global, national, and regional challenges require an integrated and whole-of-government approach. Join Robin Taylor, the Executive Director of Lawyers Without Borders, an international not-for-profit, and former US Federal Prosecutor, for this conversation. She will share real-world stories from prosecuting cases; living overseas in Kenya and Indonesia working for the US Department of Justice; her four years advising and collaborating w US Military; and new assignment leading a global nonprofit to explain how a whole-of-government effort is essential to addressing significant, headline-grabbing criminal and security threats.
Aparna Dasai Williams joined Coalfire Systems, Inc. in 2022 as General Counsel. She is an accomplished in-house legal leader with over 20 years of experience scaling and managing global legal teams for high growth private and public software companies. She was previously Head of Legal at Shippo, a venture backed ecommerce company, AGC at Imperva, Inc., a privately held application security technology company, and Senior Director at Symantec Corporation, the world's largest public cybersecurity company at the time. She is excited to be a board member of the Pride Hockey Association, fostering youth hockey for girls and propelling them into success in their education and sports careers. Aparna received her B.A. in Literature and History from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and a J.D. from the UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. Aparna is admitted to practice in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.
It's easy to impress young lawyers with your story and how you overcame obstacles and became a seasoned and respected in-house leader; but usually we leave out a lot of the mundane and repetition and frustration to spin a good tale. It's important not only to share your story, with brutal truth, but to coach the next generation to use their own strengths and perspectives to achieve their own style of success. Join Aparna Dasai Williams, a 20+ year veteran of in-house tech legal, for this episode of NTMLS. She will reveal her trials and errors, and some successes in the journey to learning how to coach and develop the next generation to be invaluable business partners and leaders in their organizations.
Since 2003, Alex has been advising tech's leading companies on complex commercial arrangements and the handling of personal data. Alex focuses on new products and services and on commercial arrangements involving personal data, responding to data breaches, cross-border data transfers, marketing/ad tech, and data governance. He has provided trainings on evolving areas of data privacy law such as cookie compliance and was recently named to the 2022 Top 50 Lawyers In America list. Alex is certified by the IAPP in both the U.S. and in the E.U. and holds a global MBA from INSEAD in France.
Do you know just how much information companies around the world collect about you? If you did, would this change your behavior online or even in the real world? There is a massive sea change in the way governments around the world are looking at personal data and consumer rights are at the heart of this debate. The companies that "get" privacy will lead the transition to a future where our personal data will be seen for what it is...a global currency...those that don't will lose not only consumer trust but also market share. Big Brother has been watching for a long time. How this story ends is in the hands of big tech and the in-house legal teams that advise them.
Gisele Kalonzo-Douglas is an accomplished legal counsel and trusted advisor to senior management and boards of directors on risk mitigation, ethics and compliance, litigation, and corporate governance.
Currently, Gisele is the General Counsel and Director of Business Affairs for Bethel Gospel Assembly Inc. and The Pavilion Off The Park, LLC. In this role, Gisele is responsible for guiding the organization’s leadership in the identification and mitigation of risk, ensuring adherence with applicable laws and regulations governing tax-exempt and religious corporations and providing oversight over its growing real estate portfolio.
Gisele was previously a criminal defense attorney for a prominent firm in New York City where she represented clients in a variety of cases including white collar crimes and high level felonies. She has argued and litigated in state and federal courts, managing cases throughout all stages of litigation, including disposition at trial.
Gisele, who was born in the Democratic Republic of The Congo, received a Juris Doctorate from Fordham University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts, from The City College of New York. She has been a prior speaker on risk management, property development for churches, and diversity, equity and inclusion. She serves as a Senior Editorial Advisor to Church Law and Tax which engages over 4.5 million Christian leaders worldwide and provides critical content and practical solutions on important issues pertinent to religious organizations. Gisele is an advocate for women, youth and immigrants. She, her husband and son currently reside in Atlanta, Ga.
In 2019, while at a football game, my son asked me what I had wanted to be growing up. I said, I am doing it, I am a lawyer. He looked at me casually and asked, "but what's your more?". How do we get to our more? Gisele will share her search for her more. She will help you discover your "more" and how you can harness this discovery for personal and professional growth.
Chad Aboud tries hard to be an approachable General Counsel that focuses on genuine and fun relationships built on selflessness and curiosity, so that we all create amazing solutions and find fulfillment in our careers. Chad currently holds a position of a General Counsel at AudienceView, where he creates and leads the Legal function for an int'l portfolio of tech companies. There, he is responsible for developing scalable LegalTech, systems and tools to empower the business and leading cross-functional projects.
In the Legal industry we 've been inundated with self-promotion and the pressure to get the bigger title, salary increase, or book of business. Yet we know that even after meeting these milestones, so many Lawyers remain unfulfilled and dissatisfied with our profession. That's because we've had it backwards. Lifting others first, lifts us in a way that's more rewarding internally and creates greater external success. The best news is that there are so many fast and no/lost cost ways to prove this to ourselves. It just takes a bit of curiosity and humility for our outlook to change.
Dr Louis Sanchez de Lozada is Director Legal Counsel at Unigestion (UK) Limited, a Swiss management company based in London. He has more than 20 years’ experience as a financial and corporate legal counsel in international banks and asset management companies all over the world. Louis has a solid educational foundation with a PhD in Financial comparative law from University Paris 2 Pantheon-Assas and an infinite passion for LegalTech. During his PhD, he wrote a book on all kinds of fiduciary Funds and investment companies that was published in 2012. He is a qualified lawyer in France and Bolivia and interchangeably uses English, French and Spanish as his working languages and rely heavily upon Common Law, French and European Law for work and for his academic writing.
Instead of painfully negotiating long contracts in Word to set up Investment Funds, you can set up a DAO in the DLT, give some nodes to your investor friends, get some Oracles for the external data, and code a few smart contracts to automate all operational obligations. The machine will do the investor’s ID checks for you, receive their investments and issue some security tokens for them to trade. Meanwhile, you will have time to finally chill, spend time with your family and learn how to code your next contract. Are you a beginner in Blockchain and this sounds like Japanese to you? Or are you an expert and you think that this is too good to be true? Join Dr Louis Sanchez de Lozada, LegalTech expert and authorfor this episode of NTMLS. He will explain step by step how to automate investment Funds. He will help to understand and use the Blockchain, DAOs, smart contracts and Oracles. Most importantly, he will inspire you to find your own path to begin, continue or enhance the automation of your own legal and operational activities. Time to full automation is here. Let’s move forward to the future now.
Mindy S. Berkower is Chief Client Officer and General Counsel of iRelaunch, LLC. iRelaunch, a consulting, events, and content firm founded in 2007, is the pioneer, industry leader, and chief innovator in the return to work space, bringing progressive employers together with “career relaunchers”: educated, experienced professionals seeking to return to work after a career break. Since joining iRelaunch in 2013, Mindy has held multiple cross-functional roles encompassing marketing and communications, audience development, strategic planning, business development, client and partner relationship management, and legal.
Currently, Mindy develops and manages key corporate client relationships, shapes iRelaunch’s overall corporate client practice and policies, and leads iRelaunch’s legal function as the sole in-house attorney. A career relauncher herself, Mindy practiced corporate and securities law in major New York City law firms before taking a multi-year career break to raise her two children. During her time away from paid work, Mindy used and enhanced her skills by project-managing important family undertakings and volunteering extensively in her community, including in what she calls “skin-thickening” PTA leadership roles. She is a lifelong New Yorker and received her JD from New York University School of Law and her BA in Political Science from Binghamton University (SUNY).
Many of us pursue career paths because of parental expectations or fall into a career by accident. Taking a career break can often shed light on one’s true interests and provide direction, leading to a career pivot. In other cases, as with Dorothy in ”The Wizard of Oz,” one’s heart’s desire has actually been close at hand all along. Mindy Berkower shares her story of leaving the grueling life of “big law” to raise her family, having a multi-year career break as a recovering lawyer and community volunteer, relaunching her career in a marketing role for a small company, and eventually, and happily, becoming the solo general counsel at the same company.
Duane Valz has led the legal and IP functions at prominent Silicon Valley companies operating at a variety of scales and growth stages. He has been broadly recognized over the past 10 years as one of the world’s leading IP strategists. Duane is currently VP & General Counsel of Insitro, a venture-backed company applying machine learning and automation to disease target identification and new drug development. Prior to Insitro, he was VP & General Counsel of Zymergen Inc., a molecular technology growth company operating at the intersection of biology, chemistry, automation and machine learning.
Duane was previously a senior member of the Patent Team at Google, where he led strategic IP initiatives bearing on mobile, cloud, web, and open source technologies. He was also previously Associate General Counsel in charge of patent development at Yahoo! Duane began his career at Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin (now combined with Arnold & Porter LLP). Duane serves on the Board of Directors for SMASH.org, is an advisory board member for UCOP's MESA program, and is on the advisory Board for the National Society of Black Physicists — all organizations focused on supporting underrepresented students in the pursuit of educations and careers in STEM fields.
The assemblage of computing devices, sensors, cloud-based services, artificial intelligence and software applications that make up the internet have transformed our daily lives quite remarkably over the past 25 years. We enjoy connection, information, entertainment and host of conveniences with an ease and utility previously unimaginable. But along with those positives has come a shadow side that is increasingly concerning. This includes intrusive user tracking and targeting, secret government surveillance, cyber bullying, misinformation and distortions of history, election interference and voter manipulation, wide dissemination of conspiracies and violent ideologies, large scale cyber breaches, etc.
Can Web 3 save us from the various ills that are afflicting the Internet? Its proponents suggest that a new approach to designing web services can help address many of the problems impacting internet users. In this discussion, Duane Valz will address the promise and possible shortcomings of Web 3. We'll also discuss what else might be needed to create a more positive internet experience going forward.
Kevin Keller counseled, advised, invested and been an inventor for a wide variety of start-ups and emerging tech businesses, including being the first in-house legal support for moonshots of some of the worlds largest tech companies.
Kevin is an engineer and attorney with broad experience that includes privacy, intellectual property, employment, regulatory, compliance, complex commercial contracts and general product counseling. He has developed and led diverse and inclusive teams that supported the development and worldwide launch of innovative consumer and enterprise hardware, software and services, including innovative retail and payment solutions, advanced autonomous robotics, social media, text, audio and video content and physical retail and delivery services.
Law schools rarely show students more than a handful of possible career paths, leading a lot of students to believe that one of the only ways to be successful is to run the BigLaw gauntlet and then turn to working in-House at similarly big and apparent stable companies. In this episode, Kevin Keller will discuss his walk down one of those conventional paths, but also why some of his best career moves and the best career moves of those he knows were not those imagined by law school career counselors and were real leaps of faith. In addition Kevin will explore some of his insights after meeting with hundreds of law students and practitioners over his career to discuss career paths and choices.
Fatima Jafri is a Lead Product and Privacy Counsel at Facebook where she leads the Social Impact, Election and Health product teams. She manages all of the legal and compliance issues related to the Blood Donation Products, Covid-19 Information Hub, Racial and Social Justice, Facebook Health Groups, Preventive Health, Voter Information Center and Voter Registration drives.
She was previously at ChargePoint where she focused on the privacy, legal and regulatory regimes around electric vehicle charging stations in the US, EU and Asia. Prior to that she was at Inventus Law, where she practiced corporate law and advised startups on venture financings and other corporate matters.
Fatima is involved with and on the board of a variety of organizations focused on women's leadership, startup growth and legal services including Leading Women in Technology, Asian Law Alliance, TechWadi, Lazardis Institute and Founder's Space. She has a JD from Northeastern School of Law, a Masters in International Relations and Economics from the Fletcher School of Diplomacy, Tufts University and a BA in International Relations and Economics from Trinity College.
Can technology save the world? For decades, tech enthusiasts have made grandiose statements about the power of technology, how lines of code can change the world. Join Fatima Jafri, the Lead Attorney for Social Impact for a LinkedIn this conversation. She will talk about her path into social impact and synthesizing her passion for social justice, impact and equity through the channels of technology.
Robert Esposito spent the first eight years of his career as a litigator at the law firms Morrison & Foerster and Bryan Cave in San Francisco, focusing on intellectual property, consumer protection, and business disputes. In 2018, on the verge of GDPR's enforcement date, Robert made the jump in-house as a product counsel at Facebook, where he helped launch social good products and programs. Later, Robert joined Pandora Media, where he led the development of Pandora’s privacy program and worked on digital entertainment services. Robert currently serves as Senior Legal Counsel, Technology and Product Counsel at Hillspire, LLC, which advises a number of initiatives such as Schmidt Futures, which partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to help scale promising new ideas in science, technology, and society.
In the past decade, in-house legal departments, primarily at large technology companies, began creating a new role called "product counsel." The product counsel role is amorphous. Most in-house lawyers don't know what product counsel do, let alone the product, engineering, and marketing teams they're meant to serve. Join Robert Esposito, law firm litigator turned in-house product counsel to learn about this "new" type of attorney and how to become one.
Wei Chen is the SVP and Associate General Counsel, Strategic Transactions, at salesforce.com, inc., the global CRM leader that empowers companies to digitally transform and create a 360° view of their customers. Wei and her team are responsible for providing legal support of Salesforce’s global mergers & acquisitions, strategic investment, real estate and data center transactions.
Wei founded The Atticus Project, a non-profit organization and the curator of CUAD, an open-sourced high quality AI training dataset of legal contracts with 13,000+ annotations crowd-sourced under the supervision of experienced lawyers, and the dataset powering the 2021 ABA Public Target Deal Points Study. Wei is a member of the Advisory Board of the Berkeley Center for Law and Business and a frequent lecturer on the topics of AI innovations in Legal, including at various legal conferences hosted by TechGC and Transaction Advisors Institute, as well as law schools such as Columbia, Berkeley and Stanford. As part of The Atticus Project, Wei has mobilized over 50 experienced lawyers to create rich learning materials and provide hands-on legal training to nearly 100 law students and volunteers around the world.
Wei started her legal career at Skadden Arps and then at Cooley. Prior to joining Salesforce, Wei served as the Assistant General Counsel at Sun Microsystems responsible for all of its M&A legal activities. Wei is a sub-4-hour marathoner and an active volunteer in her community and local schools.
Very few legal professionals understand the secret of success of the modern-day AI - it requires a large amount of training data to be able to perform a task that surpasses human accuracy. The only group of people who can create the training data or perform quality checks are highly skilled legal professionals, but many are oblivious of the fact that their contributions are required to advance the quality of the AI. A successful legal transformation depends on creating a human-centric strategy that motivates legal professionals to take part. Its success depends on our ability to design systems and workflows that make the human lawyers’ experience more rewarding than before.
Adele Tegger is a 20+ year attorney having practiced in-house the entirety of her career. She has spent her career at some of Orange County's best companies including Boeing, Yamaha, Arbonne and now Western Digital.
Our culture, and the legal field particularly, says you should always be striving for the next level, the next promotion and if you do not you must be lazy. Adele disagrees, you can be an amazing attorney and contributor without wanting to become the General Counsel. You can be a great attorney and not be reaching for the next big client or next big promotion.
Anirma Gupta is an accomplished business executive with broad experience in the technology industry, including cybersecurity and privacy. She has a proven track record of managing challenging corporate, business and legal issues, with the demonstrated ability to advise and provide strategic analysis on technology, products, business strategy, risk management, and regulatory and compliance matters.
Ms. Gupta is currently SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Carbon, Inc., a leader in the additive manufacturing industry making innovative 3D printers, polymer resins and software. Prior to Carbon, Ms. Gupta was General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary at Tanium Inc., a revolutionary cyber security and systems management software company. Both at Carbon as well as at Tanium, Ms. Gupta advised the Company and the Board on business strategy implementation, managing global compliance and a variety of legal issues associated with a high growth stage company. Ms. Gupta additionally built legal teams at both companies to address a broad range of global legal and compliance issues as the companies grew domestically and internationally. .
Prior to joining Tanium, Ms. Gupta held a number of roles with increasing breadth of responsibility, including with Intuit, Inc., where in addition to managing several legal functions, she was a strategic member of several cross-company technology and change management initiatives and regularly presented to the company’s Audit Committee. Ms. Gupta has also held roles at Sun Microsystems as well as in private practice as a patent litigator.
Ms. Gupta is also a co-founder and board member of a non-profit dedicated to the promotion and advancement of women in technology, policy and law and has volunteered with the Tech Talent Project and Lawyers for Biden. In addition to her law degree, Ms. Gupta holds a degree in Electrical Engineering.
As leaders and managers, we’ve traveled the path of advancement by being good at what we do. As a leader and a manager, it’s about more than getting the work done. It’s about leading teams of individuals and enabling them to do their best work. Join Anirma Gupta, a seasoned leader as she shares her experiences of growing into the full leadership role.
Elizabeth A. Colombo ("Beth") is from Ridgewood, New Jersey, but lives in sunny Sarasota, Florida.
Beth earned her B.A., magna cum laude, in Film, Television, and Theatre from The University of Notre Dame and her J.D., cum laude, from Quinnipiac University School of Law.
With 15 years of legal experience and a decade of in-house experience, Beth was corporate counsel for Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. and senior associate, cyber risk for Kroll.
Beth currently serves as senior legal counsel at Vendavo, Inc., working cross-functionally with the relevant business teams and stakeholders, providing legal advice on a broad range of topics and guiding the business on legal compliance with a particular focus on drafting, managing, and negotiating client and vendor contracts of moderate-to-high complexity from the bid phase through contract execution, including software licensing and SaaS-specific provisions, as well as matters related to contractual liability and risk-shifting provisions, data privacy, intellectual property, and products.
When not working for Vendavo, Beth teaches business law for Southern New Hampshire University and sits on the Board of her all-girls Catholic high school in Washington Township, New Jersey, Immaculate Heart Academy.
On a personal level, Beth enjoys spending time with loved ones and swimming, writing, dancing, dining out, and television! Beth moved to Sarasota, in part, because she loves the beach, sunsets, birds, manatees, and other wildlife!
As attorneys, we are often continual learners. Thus, it makes sense that we can utilize lessons learned from education to enhance our practice of law. Join Beth Colombo, corporate counsel, board member, professor of business law, and author this episode. She will explore skills and abilities utilized in education as a means to excel in your legal career. Join Beth as she discusses her Four “C”s of Education in Law: Communication, Counsel, Creativity, and Compassion.
Alexandra Ross is Senor Director, Senior Data Protection, Use & Ethics Counsel at Autodesk, Inc. where she provides legal, strategic and governance support for Autodesk’s global privacy, security, data use and ethics programs. She is also an Advisor to BreachRx and an Innovators Evangelist for The Rise of Privacy Tech (TROPT).
Previously she was Senior Counsel at Paragon Legal and Associate General Counsel for Wal-Mart Stores. She is a certified information privacy professional (CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT, FIP and PLS) and a frequent speaker at privacy and security conferences. She holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law and a B.S. in theater from Northwestern University. Alexandra is a recipient of the 2019 Bay Area Corporate Counsel Award – Privacy.
Alexandra launched The Privacy Guru blog in 2014 and has published an ebook Privacy for Humans (available on Amazon and iTunes).
An Advisor is someone who provides advice and expertise to organizations to help them improve parts of their business. Privacy professionals [or in house counsel if you want to speak more generally] have the opportunity to act as advisors to their teams, business colleagues, peers, and formally as Advisors or Board Members of start-ups and other organizations. Join Alexandra Ross to learn how to leverage your skills and experience, provide sound advice and become a trusted advisor.
Carolyn Herzog is a C-Suite executive with over 25 years of broad technology experience in multinational companies, having worked in the U.S. and overseas. Currently, as EVP, General Counsel, Company Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer at Arm Ltd., the world’s leading semiconductor IP company, Carolyn is responsible globally for all legal, regulatory and public affairs matters for the company and provides strategic counsel to the CEO, Board and leadership team on a broad range of corporate, commercial and regulatory issues.
Prior to Arm, Carolyn was the VP, CCO and Deputy GC at Symantec Corporation (SYMC), the world’s largest cybersecurity company. Prior roles included acting as Head of Legal for EMEA. Carolyn joined Symantec through the acquisition of AXENT Technologies, Inc. (AXNT) where she led the transaction as GC. Prior to her legal career, Carolyn worked at The World Bank in Washington, D.C.
Carolyn currently serves on the Board of the Association of Corporate Counsel and has served as an Advisory Board member to IPWatch Systems Corporation and on the Board for the National Cyber Security Alliance. She has been recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal C-Suite Awards, as a Distinguished GC by the Director’s Roundtable and an Attorney That Matters by Ethisphere. Carolyn and the Arm Legal Department were recognized for their innovation and positive human impact in 2020 by the American Legal Technology Awards. Both within the companies that Carolyn has worked and externally, she has been an executive advocate for equality and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
As in house counsel - and leaders - it is not always our job to be right, but to influence others to want to do the right thing. Lawyers often pride ourselves on our depth of knowledge in our chosen profession - and it's important to ensure that we can advise our clients on legal requirements. Equally important to the success of an in house leader is that our clients seek our counsel.
Nikhil Patel is an internationally experienced in-house counsel with a top tier M.B.A. and LL.M. He has hands-on generalist experience in the pharmaceutical and FMCG industries, across Europe, Asia, the Middle East & Africa, with a special emphasis on M&A and competition law.
Nikhil is currently Chief Legal Officer (AMEA) & Global Anti-Trust Counsel at Upfield B.V. in the Netherlands. He's lived in the Netherlands since 2016, after stints in Malaysia and South Africa working with large multinational organizations in legal roles.
A career as an in-house counsel is now a viable alternative to the traditional law firm or practicing attorney path, however, making a move outside of the country or region of qualification remains daunting. While this remains the most lucrative and rewarding career for an in-house counsel, it does require a shift in mindset. We are going to discuss these views in this episode.
Victoria Libin is an accomplished strategic legal executive with a passion for disruptive technology. She most recently was at Accenture Digital, where she led a global team of senior lawyers focused on expansion into new business areas and development of cutting-edge technology platforms. Previously, she served in senior legal roles at Viacom and multiple startups. Victoria holds a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, a master’s in art history from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s in art history from Brandeis University.
As senior in-house counsel we are required to see "around corners" and not only anticipate change but help lead the companies through times of change and turmoil. This requires the ability embrace risk, be willing to make mistakes, learn and grow from those mistakes, which is not natural for lawyers. However, while counterintuitive adopting a growth mindset and stepping out of our comfort zone will make us more resilient and successful. In this episode, we will explore how to become comfortable in the "grey zones" and embrace intelligent risk taking. We will discuss how to create safe zones where our team members and colleagues feel empowered to take intelligent risks and be able to make mistakes.
Andy Dale is General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of Alyce, Inc. a B2B gifting and engagement platform. Andy leads all legal affairs including data privacy, strategic partnerships and corporate compliance. He has led the legal, privacy and compliance functions at SessionM which was acquired by Mastercard in 2019 and dataxu. Inc. an advertising technology company which is now owned by Roku. Andy was also an in-house lawyer at TD Ameritrade, worked in a corporate law firm and clerked for a judge in Baltimore. Andy received his BA from Colgate University, his JD from University of Baltimore and holds the IAPP’s CIPP/US and CIPP/E certifications.
Its hard to get in early! It is great to be able to come in and build a legal function but how do you convince founders and investors to bring in a lawyer? It's not easy! We will discuss some tricks and trends that can help. How do you show value? How do you combat the idea that legal is a cost center only? How can legal help sales? What are the key relationships to develop? Who can help me do this? Are there platforms/tools that help legal show value in the early going?
For the past 20 years, Steven J. Shanker, Esq. has helped businesses that provide for-hire transportation navigate the complex industry they work in and the unique legal issues they face. Through his understanding of the for-hire transportation market and his relationship with the leaders of the industry, Steven has been able to not just help his clients mitigate and manage risk, but also to continue to flourish all in the face of the massive disruption brought about by Transportation Network Companies such as Uber and Lyft. Steven also reinvented the relationship between the client and the lawyer by creating what he calls the position of "Outside General Counsel". This construct more closely aligns the interests of the lawyer and the client for the benefit of both. Sarah is licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. One of his favorite things to do is meet new and interesting people on LinkedIn via his informative posts about historical New York City. Steven believes that if we do not learn the lessons history has taught us, then we are bound to repeat the mistakes we have made. This applies not just in the legal profession, but in business and life in general. The legal industry has historically been slow to adapt, but in the for-hire transportation industry, either you overcome and adapt or you die a slow death. Steven helps his clients not just survive, but to thrive.
Let's face it. Most people do not like lawyers and almost everyone hates when they have to find and retain one. But when you need one, you want one who you trust and have faith in their ability to represent your interests. The billable hour business model for lawyers is broken and puts the client's interests at odds with the lawyer. Alternative fee arrangements and the role of "Outside General Counsel" have enabled Steven J. Shanker, Esq. to revolutionize the delivery of legal services in a way that is more cost-effective and more closely aligns the interests of the lawyer and client. It is a win-win situation for everyone. Steven helps businesses in dynamic industries adapt to change and thrive.
Chris is an experienced commercial lawyer who now specialises in helping clients optimise how contracts are created, agreed and managed. This includes working with clients to develop and design better contracts.
Chris is currently Head of Contract Optimisation at Simmons Wavelength (part of global law firm Simmons & Simmons). Most of his work is with household names, supporting them to simplify and improve their contract templates and playbooks. This includes creating modular contracts, writing plain English content, preparing documents for automation and more.
Before joining Simmons, Chris was a senior in-house lawyer at two FTSE100 companies. Before that, he qualified and worked at a leading international law firm. He has spent most of his career creating, negotiating and advising on a wide range of contracts - from large-scale outsourcing arrangements to consumer terms and conditions - and is passionate about finding practical ways to improve contracts and the contracting process.
The CLM market is booming. More than ever, companies are focussing on how to improve the way contracts are created, agreed and managed. Technology grabs a lot of attention. But optimising the content of our contracts is critical. Clear, balanced and well-designed contracts remain key to optimising so much of the contract lifecycle. Join Chris Simkins, Head of Contract Optimisation at Simmons Wavelength, for this discussion about the benefits and challenge of creating better contracts, including practical tips for your own projects.
Stefania Passera is a contract design and simplification expert based in Espoo, Finland. She runs her one-woman consultancy Passera Design, and is Contract Designer in Residence at World Commerce & Contracting. In these roles, she helps organizations transform their contracts and policies into user-friendly, effective tools that work for business.
Stefania is an all-rounder, backing her design expertise with a solid academic background. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Vaasa, Department of Business Law, and has earned her doctoral degree from Aalto University School of Science. She has guest lectured at prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, Bucerius Center on the Legal Profession, KU Leuven, UC Louvain, European University Institute, ESADE Law School, and California Western School of Law.
She is a co-founder of the Legal Design Alliance, a co-author of the Legal Design Manifesto, and the creator of Legal Design Jam. In 2020, she received the European Women of Legal Tech Award.
Paula Doyle is Chief Legal Innovation Officer at World Commerce & Contracting. She works with organizations to build efficient contract frameworks, reimagine, and redesign their terms and conditions for greater ease of doing business, understand and work with the WorldCC contracting principles, and collaborate with technology for better outcomes.
Before World Commerce & Contracting, Paula headed up the European Cloud and Solutions legal team at IBM. Prior to joining IBM, she worked for leading New York law firm Weil Gotshal and ex Silicon Valley-based start-up Micromuse.
Paula is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Quintin Hogg Trust, a charity dedicated to the advancement of education. She has been working tirelessly for greater equality and has successfully lobbied the UK government to agree changes in the law to help vulnerable children access education.
In an age of fast-growing complexity, the winners are those who simplify the lives of others. So why are most contracts still so complex? They can be made so much easier to understand and still control risk. They can be designed to be better for business. It's time to join the revolution!
In this episode, Stefania and Paula discuss why the time for better contract design and simplification is now. They explore the many benefits of simplified contracts and how user-centered design is now a must-have!.
With academic prowess comes a fear of failure and perfectionism. As lawyers, this fear is honed time and time again - at school, when we go to university and later when we start practicing. Making mistakes is frowned about - every "i" dotted and every "t" crossed. We learn that we need to wear armor...a mask...HIDE.
But what happens when everything unravels?
What happens when we reach breaking point?
How do we find our way back to the self that hides beneath all that armor?
In this epizode, we have two guests – Niti Nadarajah and Lisa Lang!
In a career spanning almost 20 years, Niti Nadarajah has worked as a corporate lawyer at major law firms in Melbourne, London and Sydney, and is now the head of the legal department at Philip Morris in Australia. But, in addition to being a lawyer, Niti is also a woman, a mother and a human being.
As she has grown into her career and life has thrown challenges at her, including the juggle of motherhood, Niti has become an advocate for authenticity and vulnerability, mental health issues and DEI.
After spending a total of nine years with a mid-size law firm in Kentucky, first as a paralegal then as an associate attorney specializing in insurance defense, Lisa Lang left private practice to work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky first with the Office of the Attorney General and then for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
She worked at KDE in various roles including an Assistant General Counsel, an Assistant Director, and then as a General Counsel for the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). It was because of her work in education that she eventually landed a job as a General Counsel for a regional public university.
David Hamm is Senior Counsel – Corporate at Summit Materials where he provides legal support for the company’s board and its committees, SEC filings and other disclosure matters, mergers and acquisitions and commercial transactions. He graduated from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University in 2008 and is currently pursuing an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center in Financial Regulation and Securities (projected graduation December 2021). David is co-chair of the In-House Subcommittee of the ABA Corporate Governance Committee and, in connection with the subcommittee’s activities, is currently recording an upcoming ABA podcast entitled Conversations with GCs designed to educate and develop aspiring general counsels by interviewing leading general counsels for the purpose of exploring the path that led them to becoming a general counsel, essential skills and characteristics of a successful general counsel, current issues that are of a particular focus for general counsel and advice for aspiring general counsels. He and his family are based in the Denver area and try to find as much time as possible to hike, ski and explore.
David Hamm is the host of the new ABA Podcast, Conversations with GCs, that was created to help aspiring GCs find practical and actionable guidance as they pursue the top in-house legal role. The podcast facilitates conversations with leading GCs that explore the paths that led them to the role of GC, essential GC skills and characteristics, current GC hot topics and advice for those aspiring to be GCs. In this episode, he will tell the origin story of the podcast, share the highlights of the first three episodes and why aspiring GCs should consider listening in.
Electra Japonas is the co-founder of oneNDA, the first peer-to-peer, legal community-led initiative to create a universally standardized, open-source NDA contract.
Electra worked for over ten years in various large organizations in commercial legal roles, and is now founder and CEO of tlb, a contracts optimisation company. Her experience has given her a passion for legal design and better ways of working, and a staunch belief that there must be a better way than the current contract process.
Since its inception in February 2021, the oneNDA has garnered incredible support, with over 1,000 sign ups to the oneNDA club and a steering committee that will give anyone FOMO.
In this episode, we discuss my favorite topic - contracts! We go over the following questions: how did Electra start in the industry? Why contracts aren’t documents but data? How long does it take to understand your agreements? Why did Electra start oneNDA? Why do some contract problems need to be addressed at an industry level?
For over two decades, J Kim Wright has been an advocate for systems change in the law. She focuses on a set of values and models called Integrative Law.
In the early 2000s, Kim attended dozens of events and conferences about many innovative legal practices: holistic law, therapeutic jurisprudence, law and creative problem-solving, sacred activism, humanizing legal education, plain language, PISLAP (the Project for Integrating Spirituality and Law), ADR (alternative dispute resolution), mediation, collaborative law, restorative justice, non-violent communication, and more. She applied all of those in her law practice while building a network of lawyers practicing the models.
Kim saw a lot of common ground among the ideas and decided to pull those siloed approaches together and to support the developing movement. In 2008, she gave up her house and law practice and went on the road to focus on her mission. (There wasn't a name for it then but we now would say that Kim became a digital nomad.)
In the beginning, Kim was just seen as a weird lawyer but as the movement grew, it has become more mainstream. In 2009, she was named by the American Bar Association as a Legal Rebel. In 2010 the ABA published her first bestselling book, "Lawyers as Peacemakers, Practicing Holistic, Problem-Solving Law" followed by "Lawyers as Changemakers, the Global Integrative Law Movement" in 2016. She has collaborated on several other books and is co-editor of "Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Practicing Lawyers," to be published by the ABA in 2022. She is also one of the collaborators of the Lawyers as Designers project.
Kim is a coach and consultant, a co-founder of the Conscious Contracts® project, a speaker and trainer. She is an educator and visiting clinical professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law and collaborates with the Institute of International Education in South Africa, where Integrative Law is taught in seven law schools. She has relationships and projects on six continents. She views the changes in the legal system as a transformation that is the foundation of a new legal system being built.
Systems change experts are predicting the collapse of most of our institutions. The signs of previous collapses in history are there. Pandemics, climate change, income inequality, social unrest, racism, sexism...the list of wicked VUCA problems is daunting.
Systemic racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, toxic adversarialism, incivility, and a number of other dysfunctional models are baked into the legal system. Even the roles of victim, offender, and judge (rescuer) are based on a dysfunctional drama triangle model. The old legal system is dying.
A new legal system is emerging. The Integrative Law Movement offers alternatives that are conscious, humanistic, holistic, values-based, and flexible enough to respond to rapid change.
Berlinda Bernard is an experienced paralegal, owner and founder of Quintessential Pillar Paralegal Consulting, LLC. Prior to starting her paralegal consulting business, Berlinda spent 12 years utilizing her education, skills, and professional experience providing quality legal support to lawyers in law firms, corporate in-house departments, and government settings. She has worked in various areas of law including labor & employment and bankruptcy law. Berlinda is also a co-author and has published several blog articles which can be found on her company website. Berlinda is also a member of several paralegal associations, where she continues to share her knowledge and insights.
Freelance paralegals help lawyers work smarter. They help them save time and clients money. They are available as needed and can be retained on a contract basis. When a lawyer realizes that he needs additional legal support but not necessarily a new hire, he can reach out to a virtual freelance paralegal to get the help he needs to run his practice smoothly. Freelance paralegals can help lawyers be more productive by simply taking on some of the substantive legal tasks and legal administrative work that a lawyer is responsible for completing. This partnership is precisely what the legal industry needs as legal fees rise and cases become more complex.
Jay Harrington is the President of Harrington Communications, a leading thought-leadership marketing agency for the professional services industry. Jay has written four books, hosts The Thought Leadership Project podcast, and previously practiced law at Skadden Arps, Foley & Lardner, and co-founded and ran his own small law firm.
We think we make decisions based on logic and reason, but we're really driven by emotion. And story is the best way to unite an idea to an emotion. From hiring to buying to fundraising, decision-makers are driven to act by compelling stories that illuminate risk and bring opportunity into focus. Join Jay Harrington, who will discuss what storytelling is and why it matters in business, and will describe frameworks for telling stories in our thought-leadership content that engage our audiences. In short, Jay will make the case as to why we need to get people interested in us, as individuals, before they will become interested in buying what we have to sell.
Emma Sharma serves as Chief Administrative Officer; General Counsel of Valiant Integrated Services, overseeing many of the organization's vital administrative and legal functions. As one of the core executive team members who stood up Valiant Integrated Services, Emma drew on her 25 years of experience as a global business executive known for her entrepreneurial approach.
Emma has a proven track record in complex organizational transformations and a strong empathetic leadership style with a gift for pulling together high value creation teams. Additionally, Emma’s passion for organizational design, psychology, and development led her to pioneer mentoring and leadership development initiatives for fellow executives and senior managers at Valiant Integrated Services. Emma is also a passionate advocate for workplace mental health issues.
Since the pandemic began, mental illness has finally been acknowledged as a real scourge that affects many people especially during times of unforeseen stress and loss. With a strong support network, empathy and understanding, a full recovery is possible; however, fear of being labelled, ostracized or worse prevents many sufferers seeking the very support they need to win their own personal battle. Join Emma Sharma, a successful business woman and attorney, who is courageously open about her own struggles with PTSD, as she shares practical tips and an encouraging message of real hope for a life of total freedom beyond mental illness!
Marla Persky is CEO and President of WOMN LLC, a company dedicated to helping women succeed in the business of law by increasing their knowledge of and acuity with financial drivers, client development, and leadership. Throughout her professional life, Ms. Persky has had the opportunity to understand and practice business principles that lead to personal and company success.
Ms. Persky retired in 2013 as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Boehringer Ingelheim Inc., where she oversaw a department of over 70 individuals. She also was a member of Boehringer’s executive management team and a director of the company and several of its subsidiaries.
Prior to joining Boehringer Ingelheim, Ms. Persky spent 19 years at Baxter International Inc. where she held numerous business and legal positions, the most recent of which was Acting General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. During her career at Baxter, Ms. Persky managed global legal services, was General Manager of an international medical device business, led international crisis management teams, acquired, and integrated international businesses, and designed/implemented strategies to manage global mass torts.
Ms. Persky currently serves on the Audit and Chairs the Governance Committees of Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ: XERS), a specialty pharmaceutical company that leverages proprietary non-aqueous formulation technology platforms. She is also on the Board of Directors of Revolo Biotherapeutics and serves on the Audit and Strategic Planning Committees of the Board of Directors of YGEIA, a medical informatics technology
company. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors of Cytyc Corporation (NASDAQ: CYTYC) a device and diagnostics company. She was also on the Board of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, the world’s largest privately owned pharmaceutical company. Ms. Persky was a director of Watermark, Inc. a private publisher and broker of children’s literature and on the board of advisors of Text IQ, a technology company that harnesses thepower of artificial intelligence to prevent legal, compliance and reputational disasters.
In addition to her corporate activities, Ms. Persky is on the Board of several not-for-profit organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Primary Stages (Off-Broadway Theater Company) and World Neighbors Inc. Ms. Persky is a frequent speaker on a variety of subjects including leadership principles, career development, board service, mentoring, diversity, and crisis management. She is a graduate of Washington University, School of Law and Northwestern University.
Throughout her career, Ms. Persky has focused on improving diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. She has been awarded for her contributions by elite organizations such as the Lawyer's Collaborative for Diversity and the Connecticut Appleseed Foundation. She was recognized as one of the ten most innovative in-house counsel for her strategy and efforts to increase the opportunities and visibility of women in high profile litigation.
Many rumors abound about how difficult it is for lawyers to get on corporate boards...too risk averse...no P&L experience...companies already have their own general counsel. What these nay-sayers overlook, however, are the skills and competencies that lawyers, particularly general counsel, bring to boards of directors. Just like sitting CEOs and CFOs are sought for board service, so are general counsel. Join Marla Persky, a former general counsel, as she discusses her pathway to board service. Marla is president and CEO of WOMN LLC and sits on several boards of directors. Somehow she managed to overcome the burden of being a lawyer and found her way to board service.
Stanley Lui is TI Fluid Systems’ Legal Director for the APAC region, mainly dealing with legal and risk aspects in both the selling and manufacturing fronts. Between 2015 and 2018, he served as the Head of Legal and Compliance for the APAC of Hilti (construction material manufacturer); one of his key functions is formulating and directing compliance programs.
Prior to that, Stanley worked five and a half years at Nobel Biocare – a medical device manufacturer – as its General Counsel for APAC where he was responsible for procuring legal, compliance and risk related advice to various business functions. Stanley has also worked for the Fire and Security unit of United Technology Corporation (2007 to 2009) and local apparel retailer G2000 (2005 to 2007).
Stanley is also the founder of “White Hat Guys”, a legal and compliance communication best-practice sharing platform, whose objective is to engage employees via innovative messaging. (www.whitehatguys.com)
Dude! Compliance communications and training are seriously BORING! Heck no! White Hat Guys can really put the COOL in COOmpLiance! They believe Innovation is Communication! If you're looking to put some zing in your legal and compliance narrative framework, do drop into this episode where White Hat Guys will be showcasing the creative process behind the design and production of "sticky messages".
Anna Posthumus Meyjes is a lawyer with 10 years experience in international litigation turned legal designer (lawyer + information designer) and founder of Aclara Legal Design. She brings creativity, design and a user-centred approach to law. Anna's focus is on information design and user-centricity. She started Aclara Legal Design to improve communication in law and legal services. Anna designs clarifying visualisations that communicate legal information effectively and convincingly.
Most legal documents are not designed, they're only written. A design approach focuses on the users' needs: what is a privacy statement actually for? The days of mindlessly clicking 'agree' should be over. Join Anna Posthumus Meyjes, legal designer, who will discuss clear, concise and creative privacy statements and all other legal documents that need a redesign and change of mindset.
Norman Bacal spent a career as a lawyer in the film and television finance industry for over 25 years, representing various Hollywood studios on their Canadian made productions and sat on the board of directors of LionsGate for almost ten years. He was the founder of the Toronto office of Heenan Blaikie in 1989 and went on to build the firm into an iconic Canadian and international firm.
In 2016 he retired from practice and began writing books. The first, a career memoir that went on to be a Canadian bestseller. That spurred a second career as an author of fiction and self-help books for young professionals. Norman also consults with law firm leaders across the continent and mentors young professionals.
So many of us doubt whether we have it in us to succeed. Perhaps that's why most give up without a try. They settle for good enough. They see the success stories as exceptional. As not applying to them. Join Norman Bacal for this episode where he debunks that thesis. You do have greatness in you. You can succeed. Defining the path to success, capturing it, and mastering the elements in your own head, that are keeping you from it, is what this is all about.
Kristen Porter has more than 20 years of experience in legal compliance, risk management, government relations, and contract negotiation in the automotive, aerospace, appliance, real estate, and home automation industries. She has collaborated with members of Congress on language for federal legislation and prepared briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court. She has also examined commercial property titles and managed the implementation of an internet domain dispute system.
Kristen is currently with GHSP, Inc. as General Counsel. She serves as a strategic business partner to all functions of the company and brings collaborative experience with federal and state lawmakers and regulators.
In her free time, Kristen serves on the boards of directors for nonprofit organizations and is currently serving on an advisory board for a mental healthcare facility. She is also a registered yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and certified health and wellness coach.
This week, we speak with Kristen who is the solo general counsel for a mid-size private company. She was their first in-house counsel and has learned some tricks and tips to being effective and influential in her role. It is a balancing act, but with supportive leadership and the willingness to be agile, Kristen has been successful in making a large impact in her company. Join us as we talk about the challenges and rewards of being a solo general counsel. You’ll learn how to thrive in this exciting and ever-changing role.
Tessa Manuello is Legal Design pioneer, Internationally recognized speaker, Certified High Performance Coach, Tessa Manuello is considered one of the world's reference in Legal Design and Innovation. She's regularly invited to speak to international audiences worldwide as a thought leader at the intersection of innovation, creativity, disruption and law. Tessa has grown one of the biggest and most engaged community in the Legal Design space with her highly engaging and motivating virtual events and trainings, through the Legal Creatives Academy and most recent Legal Creatives podcast.
Everybody is creative, and lawyers too! Let's demystify what is creativity, innovation, also disruption for legal professionals. Thinking creatively about the law is the starting point for legal innovation. In this highly interactive talk, you will learn the fundamentals of creativity and innovation, and the methodologies you can use to seize the new opportunities in this modern, fast-paced technological age.
Sarah Ouis is an in-house legal counsel specialized in commercial and data protection related matters.
She is also a legal content creator who produces innovative legal content on social media (on LinkedIn Sarah OUIS and Instagram @verylawyerproblems). She is on a mission to contribute to a more user centric approach to the delivery of legal services and has been helping legal departments and legal service providers revisiting their approach to legal materials and value add to the end users
With in-house legal teams not being at the core of the business and often being described as cost centers, how can in-house lawyers demonstrate their value both internally and externally by leveraging something that is personal and unique to them, their creativity?
Join Sarah as she explores her journey to creating innovative legal content, first as an in-house lawyer for internal and educational purposes and then on social media for the legal community.
Omar Sweiss is Founder/CEO of Justice Bid, a Chicago-based technology company that helps legal departments source legal services in a data-driven manner, using the robust RFI, RFP, e-Auction, and diversity survey capabilities included in the Justice Bid platform. Omar, a trained lawyer, lifelong entrepreneur, and South Side Chicagoan, spent 20+ years building businesses and investing in diverse opportunities, and a decade as in-house counsel for his real estate development company. Omar is also an outspoken advocate for DEI and social justice issues, especially in the legal and technology space, frequently writing and speaking on these topics.
In this episode, we discuss how sourcing can lead to better diversity results. How did Omar’s business inspire him to go to law school? What excites him about RFP? Why is sourcing so important? Why does it make sense to make more data-driven decisions in sourcing? What is the value that Justice Bid provides to its customers? What do legal departments need to pay attention to when sourcing? Is there more interest in the diversity of sourcing this year among companies?
Mark Sangster is the author of No Safe Harbor: The Inside Truth About Cybercrime and How to Protect Your Business. He is an award-winning speaker at international conferences and prestigious stages including the Harvard Law School and RSAConference. His thought-provoking work and perspective on shifting risk trends has influenced industry thought leaders, and is a go-to subject matter expert for leading publications and media outlets including the Wall Street Journal and Forbes when covering major data breach events.
As humans, we bring biases to the table that hinder our ability to understand cause, seek forward accountability, and reduce risks. Join Mark Sangster, cyber expert and author, as he explores real-world stories of disaster to unpack our human biases, and help us find a path to understanding cause without assigning blame, and move our business forward.
Stacey Shaw is an experienced attorney who has held various regulatory and legal roles at the Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance and in Legal departments for financial services companies. She is a solutions-focused corporate generalist with a strong background in technology, privacy, and marketing.
Stacey has led projects to implement matter management, contract lifecycle management, and data mapping and continuously leverages technology solutions to streamline processes within the Legal department. She was a co-presenter for the DocuSign “Capturing Customer Consent Online with a Single Click” webinar in May of 2020 and was also on a customer panel for the Thomson Reuters Annual Sales Meeting in February of 2019. Stacey is passionate about attorney wellness and is leading the new wellness initiative in the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.
In 2016, the American Bar Association conducted a study with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation on lawyer impairment and found attorney experience issues with alcohol at a higher rate than other professions. The study also found attorneys experience significant mental health distress. This research highlights the need for more resources for lawyer assistance programs and a focus on attorney wellness. So why are we focused on this now?
Over the last year during the pandemic, many attorneys experienced burnout and isolation, along with higher levels of stress and anxiety due to longer hours and no boundaries between work and home. Join Stacey Shaw this Wednesday for a LinkedIn LIVE conversation on how to work mindfulness into your daily routine at work and at home (or both if you work from home still). She will discuss the wellness initiative she started in the Dallas Fort Worth Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel and how she is combining CLE and wellness in the Legal Department. Stacey will go over practical tips you can use to start "working with wellness in mind."
Christine Uri is the Chief Sustainability and Legal Officer at ENGIE Impact - a company committed to accelerating the sustainability transformation. Christine built her in-house career over the last 8 years at ENGIE starting as Corporate Counsel, moving to General Counsel, and expanding her breadth to include other executive leadership roles. In addition to leading a global legal team,
Christine is currently responsible for the development and implementation of ENGIE Impact’s corporate sustainability strategy. She recently launched a series on LinkedIn under the hashtag #SustainableCounsel. The #Sustainable Counsel series is designed to help in-house counsel take a leading role on corporate sustainability.
Transformation is underway. More and more companies are making bold public commitments to ambitious sustainability goals like net zero carbon. Together with Christine Uri, Chief Sustainability and Legal Officer at ENGIE Impact, we explore the role of in-house legal departments in helping chart the course for their company's sustainability initiatives. She helps us see new opportunities to make a difference on some of the most challenging social issues of our time.
Sangeetha Raghunathan is a member of the executive team and as General Counsel, CCO, and Head of Government Relations for Earnin, a financial services app financed by Andreessen Horowitz and other investors.
Her experience covers a broad range of areas relevant to technology-driven companies at all stages of development and she is sought out by boards and investors consistently to collaborate on business structure and strategy for companies or business units in disruptive and unproven industries with unclear or evolving regulatory oversight. She also has expertise in recruiting, building and managing teams, including key players who can support robust growth in a start-up environment.
Prior roles include General Counsel for Indiegogo, Deputy GC for Squaretrade (acquired by Allstate for $1.4B), in-house positions at Disney Interactive and Visa, and Deputy Attorney General III (and lead counsel for multi-state corporate fraud and antitrust cases) at the California Office of the Attorney General. She also has a master’s degree in Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology
In this episode we discuss Sangeetha’s career and her journey from antitrust litigation to privacy and fintech. Where did she begin her legal journey? How did she transition to the startup business? What parts of litigation does she find helpful for a big company but also for a startup? What attracts her to fintech? How do you go about building your legal team? How do you align yourself with a business to help it to scale up as a legal professional? How do you build trustworthy relationships with your colleagues?
Robin Meyer, CIPP/US and CIPP/E, is General Counsel for TokenEx, a company that protects sensitive data through tokenization. Prior to recently joining TokenEx, Robin developed a deep expertise from the buyer's perspective of tech contracting of all different flavors as well as procurement. She has significant experience as a point of input for senior leadership teams and is energized by the intersections of legal, technical and business issues and projects.
In this episode, Olga and Robin explore the approach to tech contracts and ways in which that approach needs to change. They discuss review and negotiation approaches that highlight the default of the tech industry in its contracts -- and a different way ahead.
Marty Finestone is an artist, DJ, lawyer, and legal designer.
Marty has over 15 years of experience in private practice, in-house, and government. Today, he helps in-house legal and business teams simplify their legal docs and legal ops at Legal Adjacency, a boutique legal consultancy founded by Marty in 2020. Legal Adjacency challenges legal and business teams to thrive through better outcomes. Marty uses a blend of legal expertise and law adjacent methods and tools to simplify and solve the challenges that matter most to his clients.
Your value as in-house counsel is not in being a good lawyer, but in being a great advisor. The organization doesn’t have legal problems, it has business problems. Typically, the business problems of an organization have legal aspects, but they are not discreetly legal. Business problems often require creativity. Working in a role like legal, where there are many constraints and an established “way it’s done,” can feel like there’s limited opportunity to infuse more creativity or innovation, into your work.
If we zoom out and change our perspective, we can see that the law may tell you to do one thing, but it doesn’t dictate how you do it. This mindset opens the door to finding creative ways to advise and provide legal solutions to the organization’s problems. This is where legal design comes into play. Legal design is a mindset, an approach, that starts with the user - the internal client - their needs, interests, communication style, constraints, and more.
Winter Wheeler is a former top civil litigator who has made her niche as an expert mediator. She is sought out for her unique, compassionate, and successful style handling complex matters that involve a diverse range of cultures, including Spanish speaking clients.
Most recently, Winter was a senior attorney at a prominent law firm, and it’s this extensive body of experience she brings into her current mediation practice that makes her work stand out. A graduate of Georgetown University and Tulane Law School, Winter has always combined her passions for culture, diplomacy, and the law.
Winter is the creator of The Four Cornerstones of Mediation™, which she introduced to the world in her first TEDx talk in March 2021. She is co-author of the bestselling book, #Networked. She is also creator and host of The Mediate Now™ podcast.
This podcast will discuss the changing face of mediation and how the industry is trying to keep up with the changing demographics of the United States. Most mediators are retired, judges, male, and white. We need to be sure that the parties involved in these lawsuits feel fully supported by their mediators. The Four Cornerstones of Mediation™ will help any mediator be certain to meet their clients where they need to be met. Additionally, the Four Cornerstones can apply to all human interaction and conversation.
David Cunningham is the founder of the data-driven legal ops initiative Legal Metrics and the Chief Information Officer of Winston & Strawn.
Ashley Clingo is a licensed attorney who focuses on bringing Legal Metrics to life through dashboards and designs that provide clear and useful insights for legal and business teams. Ashley has a background in data, statistics, and programming and has led numerous projects in legal artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Diversity metrics define priority and progress, but have been very simple measures in the legal market. Consider the first phase of metrics (1.0) to be the diversity of timekeepers at a law firm. The second phase is more sophisticated by considering recruiting pipelines, committee inclusion, and financial rewards. We are now at the beginning of a third phase, whereby we correlate these diversity metrics to other aspects, such as matter outcome, client satisfaction, value, client business unit, cycle time, and other factors. And we finally automate the calculations of these metrics to free up the time of the diversity team and allow more sophistication and trending analysis. In this podcast, we'll cover this journey and the expected insights to be learned.
Ryan Finn is an attorney turned technologist working at the intersection of people/process/tech innovation. He loves contracts—especially those that facilitate strategic business growth and currently works in the field of Contracts & Risk Management for Boeing. He has negotiated hundreds of commercial agreements, including numerous complex technology transactions and cloud-based, hybrid software offerings from OEMs and resellers.
Ryan has also helped many startups through formation and financing. His favorite current projects include: -Software Procurement (100+ Enterprise Terms and Conditions Contract Negotiations) - No-code self-help contracting tools (applicable agreement creator and interactive negotiation support tool) -Clause Library (Constructed Back-end database of provisions built on Transaction Attributes & Use-Case Logic to support automated contract creation and negotiation deviations based on enterprise risk profile) -Contract Governance (Template management)
The exchange of goods and services between people and companies has always been governed by laws and contracts—with lawyers as the intermediaries. The limitations of these mechanisms to quickly, efficiently, and intelligently govern our economic and financial exchanges has reached their limit. More and more we see evidence of a future of law and contracts as code! Software provides efficient mediums of exchange: cost-effective, scalable, and data-driven computational law to the benefits of clients. There will be winners and losers in this new system, but mostly, a much different set of rules.
For the past 13 years, Sarah Stogner has helped energy-related businesses understand, mitigate, allocate, and manage risk. She is now bringing that experience to help cannabis-related entities learn from other industries and avoid the same mistakes. Sarah is licensed to practice in Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado (pending in Mississippi). And yes - one of her favorite things to do is banter about indemnity provisions and new insurance provision wording. But the world is changing. And the legal industry is slow to adapt.
Sarah is actively working with other oil and gas industry leaders to develop smart contracts and utilize blockchain technology to avoid legal issues. We now have data that can prevent accidents. It was nearly impossible to know what happened downhole 60 years ago. That is rapidly changing and she is helping clients develop new ways of contracting and insuring risks by integrating data into legal decisions.
Sarah is also helping clients in the cannabis industry. Cannabis, like oil and gas, is a commodity. Federal decriminalization is inevitable, and it will open the industry up for quick and rapid expansion. Cannabis will be grown in the most efficient means possible - no longer restricted by state boundaries and laws. Oil and gas contracts can be modified to allocate risk for cannabis just like we currently do for the energy sector. It's exciting and she is looking forward to making a lasting impact as these legal issues develop.
She loves helping clients identify, mitigate, and allocate risk through contracts and insurance. Please send Sarah a request to connect with #unicorntribe so she knows you've read this far. @unicornlawyer on Clubhouse. You can also follow her on twitter & instagram: @sarah_e_unicorn.
In this episode, we discuss advising cannabis clients. Where does the unicorn name come from? How did Sarah get into cannabis law? What are the most frustrating issues? What the legalization will look like over the next 5 years? What are 3 pieces of advice to someone interested in the cannabis space?
Charlotte Smith is a former lawyer and professionally certified leadership coach. Starting her career at a top-tier UK law firm, she now resides in Silicon Valley coaching lawyer leaders from around the globe. Charlotte is the premier lawyer coach for the next generation of leaders in the law. She takes general counsels, in-house counsel, attorneys, legal operators, and lawyer entrepreneurs, on a transformational journey to let go of feeling stifled, so that they can create a life and career which is in alignment with who they truly are. She supports her clients to harness their true potential on the journey of becoming who they are meant to be, as leaders, and as individuals.
In this episode, we discuss how to overcome common mindset challenges facing lawyers. How does mindset impact performance when it comes to our legal careers? How can we be more aware of our mindsets? Imposter syndrome impacts many lawyers. Why is that, and what can we do about it, as individuals and as leaders?
Yilin Chen is General Counsel at Hearth. Hearth is a fintech company with a SaaS platform that provides over 10,000 contractors the financial tools they need to close more business, including financing solutions, invoicing, payment collections, and insurance products, all in one, modern system designed specifically for the home improvement industry. Her practice areas include fintech regulations such as data privacy, consumer financial services, venture financing, capital markets, and software product counseling for SaaS.
Prior to her tenure with Shogun, she was heavily involved in legal and compliance with leading companies in the private equity/structured finance, mortgage banking, capital markets and consumer finance space.
Beyond her expertise in legal and compliance, she enjoys leverages her business acumen to help drive business growth and mitigate the company's overall exposure to risk and liability. She enjoys working with companies with a mission to democratize financial services offering to consumers and small business owners by leveraging cutting edge technology.
We as women are often told to get a seat at the table. But what happens afterwards? How do we effectively communicate our opinions and belief in a room where we are often the lone minority female voice? This podcast chronicles what happens after you get a seat at the table from the perspective of a female minority General Counsel. The podcast will walk you through her experiences, some of the pitfalls she has experienced along with some effectively strategies that can enhance communications between the business stakeholders. The podcast is one woman's experience of being an Asian American Genera Counsel in the FinTech startup world and how she found her voice to become a more confident and empathetic business leader within her organization.
Julie Honor is General Counsel at 3Q Digital, where she brings an energetic and passionate change management approach to in-house legal, partnering with various leaders throughout the organization to identify and optimize processes and increase productivity. Julie also oversees HR at 3Q, developing proactive programs to support managers while managing personnel-related risk factors.
Prior to her role at 3Q, Julie built out and led the legal department at Rise Interactive and managed North American commercial work for Anixter. Pre-in house, in addition to her years in private practice focusing on class action, business, and intellectual property litigation, Julie also took a break from her legal career with a stop in change management consulting, where she worked with clients to re-engineer processes and optimize organizational design.
In this episode, we discuss data. What are the business questions that resonate with execs most? How do you decide what data or relevant metrics to collect and measure? How do you set up your legal organization to be data-focused? What could possibly go wrong with data collection or analysis? How data could be used inappropriately?
Punam Kaji is Assistant General Counsel at Ben E. Keith Company, a food and alcohol distributor. Her practice focuses on employment and litigation matters for the Company, which has about 5000 employees working in 14 states. She is Board Certified in Labor and Employment law.
Punam’s expertise comes from years of counseling and litigating employment law matters for clients while working at Haynes and Boone, LLP in the firm’s Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston offices. Punam is an alumni from SMU Dedman School of Law and the University of Texas at Austin for her undergraduate studies. Punam has been recognized for her legal work as a 2019 Top Lawyer in Fort Worth Magazine, and she was a Finalist for a Corporate Counsel award from the ACC-DFW in 2019.
When Punam is not handling labor and employment issues, she serves her community. She is currently on the Diversity Committee of the Tarrant County Bar Association. She was recently appointed to the State Bar of Texas Diversity Taskforce. She is the past Chair of the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas. She has served on the board of the South Asian Bar Association of Houston (SABA Houston) and as a committee chairperson of the Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA).
Punam’s commitment to local bar associations and D&I initiatives has been recognized on various occasions. She was named a Finalize for Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion by the ACC-DFW in 2020. In 2013, she was recognized as DAABA’s Member of the Year. In 2016 she received the Outstanding Public Service Award by SABA Houston. She has served on the board of various non-profit organizations in Houston and Dallas. She is currently on the board of New Leaders Council Dallas as the Mentorship Chair, and she is on the board of WiseUp TX, a nonprofit for South Asian Texans to become more engaged citizens and a host of their podcast.
Punam regularly speaks at conferences and other venues regarding workplace issues, employment law, and on diversity and inclusion. She enjoys traveling with her husband, eating out and cooking (you can follow her food adventures on Instagram @eatsbyPK).
In this episode, we discuss what it means to love your job vs. to love your work. Many attorneys struggle with mental health and poor job satisfaction - how to have a realistic approach to job-satisfaction? Why is the “do what you love” message not an equitable one? How to find your balance and maintain job satisfaction?
Darshan is the Principal Attorney of the Kulkarni Law Firm, and focuses his practice on
providing life science, healthcare and healthtech companies with comprehensive regulatory advice. Darshan has worked at multiple Venture Capital backed in-house positions, and started multiple legal departments including at Embedded Healthcare, LLC where he served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer and as Corporate Counsel for Nostrum Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for and oversaw multiple legal and compliance matters including issues relating to advertising, clinical research, and creating and reviewing a variety of agreements including NDAs, MSAs, CDAs, employment agreements, and licensing agreements.
He has created multiple compliance programs including addressing issues relating to the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Law, HIPAA, HITRUST issues etc.
Most recently, he has also served as Vice President of Regulatory Strategy and Policy at Synchrogenix, another Venture Capital backed global consulting company.
He has spent over 20 years counseling clients on regulatory issues, and has served as a pharmacist for over a decade.Darshan has also written several book chapters on regulatory compliance for various publications on behalf of the American Bar Association where he is Chair of the Life Sciences Interest Group.
In this episode, we discuss parsing the biotech enigma. Why is there a boom in biotech right now? What is patient centricity and does it matter in the biosciences? Is transparency the cure to the lack of trust in the biosciences? What is biohacking and is it the future of bioscience?
Helen Yoon is Assistant General Counsel – North America, for Brink’s, Incorporated. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from The University of Texas at Austin and her Juris Doctorate from The University of Houston Law Center. Helen is a full-time attorney, small business owner, mom, and diversity advocate.
In addition to her devotion to supporting women in corporate leadership, she is passionate about supporting women-owned small businesses. She lives in Arlington, Texas with her husband, son, mother, and dogs.
In this episode, we discuss unconscious gender bias in the workplace.What types of unconscious bias has Helen experienced? How have these biased interactions affected her self-esteem? What advice would she give to others who are experiencing similar interactions at work? What can we do to change the negative effects of unconscious bias?
Monica Phillips is the president and founder of Spark Plug Labs. She delivers powerful keynotes and workshops on wellness, heart-based leadership, team culture, and business development. She is a Career Coach with the Association of Corporate Counsel, a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach with the Co-Active Training Institute, and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. She has led innovation and change in law firms for 22 years. She is a certified yoga teacher and trained in positive intelligence.
In this episode, we discuss how wellness benefits the bottom line. What are the top saboteurs we see in the legal industry? How do they impact our productivity and harm our relationships? What does wellness have to do with increased performance or diverse teams?
K Royal is an attorney and global privacy professional with 25 years of experience in the legal and health-related fields. She has the distinct honor of filing the first successful joint controller / processor Binding Corporate Rules for data transfers out of the European Union and also founded a program for women in house attorneys that is now a Global Women in Law and Leadership annual summit held at the United Nations in New York. As an attorney, she has received numerous honors for her leadership in both technology and diversity/inclusivity, including being named an Outstanding Woman in Business and Member of the Year for the Association of Corporate Counsel (out of 43k members globally). K received her law degree from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and is in the dissertation phase of her PhD in public policy from the University of Texas at Dallas.
She is currently the Associate General Counsel at TrustArc and is an adjunct law professor teaching privacy law. She is certified through the IAPP as a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), Information Privacy Management (CIPM), US and EU Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US, CIPP/E), and as a Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) through ISACA. K also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, co-hosts the popular Serious Privacy podcast, and is the USOA Mrs. Arizona for 2021.
In this episode, we discuss finding that professional niche that matches your lifestyle and interests. How did K Royal transitioned from being a registered nurse into being a lawyer? What are some advantages of being a privacy attorney? How to keep up a good work / life balance? What challenges do female attorneys face in a tech-driven industry?
Ari Redbord is the Head of Legal and Government Affairs at TRM Labs, the blockchain intelligence company. Prior to joining TRM, Ari was the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary and the Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the United States Treasury. In that position, Ari led teams from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and other Treasury components to use sanctions and other regulatory tools effectively to safeguard the financial system from illicit use by terrorist financiers, weapons of mass destruction proliferators, drug kingpins, and other rogue actors, including Iran, Syria, North Korea and Venezuela.
In addition, Ari worked closely with regulators, the Hill and the interagency on issues related to the Bank Secrecy Act, cryptocurrency, and anti-money laundering strategies. Prior to Treasury, Ari was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia for eleven years where he investigated and prosecuted terrorism, espionage, threat finance, cryptocurrency, export control, child exploitation and human trafficking cases.
In this episode, we discuss Ari’s background as a federal prosecutor and his work at the blockchain intelligence company. What made him choose to join a tech startup after a career in government? What is his to lawyers navigating the transition?
Vandana Dhamija is a lawyer, accountant, Founder and CEO of boutique consulting practice Legal Operations Consulting, LLC. Winner of 2017 Process Improvement Award - Harman by Buying Legal Council. She brings over 20 years of project management and operational experience to her corporate legal department and law firm clients, encouraging an atmosphere of understanding and collaboration between both. Her expertise spans diverse in-house legal and compliance roles at multi-billion dollar organizations such as - Viacom, BlackRock, and JPMorgan Chase. Her solution driven practice provides real-world, long and short-term tailor-made strategic solutions in Spend Management including Global Rate Review, RFPs and AFAs, Law Firm Panel Program Management, Process Improvement, Vendor Selection (Technology or Law firms), Secondment - Head of Legal Operations, Training, Change Management, and Enterprise Legal Management.
**She recently published an article in Bloomberg Law - Strategic Planning for In- House Legal Operations, Rate Negotiation Primer (Best approach) and conducted a webinar on Global Rate Review Process for the Buying Legal Council. She also moderated a session at ALM’s SuperConference 2018 on the topic of Operational Transformation & Best Practices and was a guest lecturer at Columbia Law School.
In this episode, we discuss strategic planning for your legal department. Strategic planning in legal operations involves streamlining, optimizing, and incorporating technology in every aspect of the legal department. Learn the importance of creating a long-term approach instead of dealing with one issue/pain point at a time.**
Deb Feder is a business development coach, strategist, owner and CEO of Feder Development LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping lawyers bring in consistent clients through curious, confident conversations and changing the way we view productivity for professionals.
Deb believes in dropping excuses and simple productivity solutions. Using LinkedIn as a platform to validate and share ideas, Deb helps professionals engage in meaningful content and connections. For the last decade, Deb has committed herself to changing the way we think about work-life balance and tackle high stakes work, allowing for big careers and enjoying our free time. Deb leads the community in dropping excuses, getting productive, and bringing in business through the monthly membership program, Focus30.
Prior to founding Feder Development, Deb practiced corporate law for 15 years and holds a history degree from the University of Michigan and her JD/MBA from the University of Iowa. Deb completed her coach training and certification through New Ventures West and completed the training in The Daring Way™, which is based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. As a contributing author to the best-selling anthology #Networked, Deb shares her common-sense approach to building business relationships. Deb is a frequent speaker at conferences, podcasts, CLE programs, and corporate retreats on business development, productivity, networking, authenticity, and communication.
In this episode, we discuss building relationships, the right way. What is Focus30? What is great about LinkedIn for business development? What’s the one piece of advice for professionals wanting to take their career to the next level?
Frank Ramos is the Managing Partner of Clarke Silverglate, where he practices in the areas of commercial litigation, drug and medical device, products liability and catastrophic personal injury. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for his defense work in product liability matters. Frank has been with Clarke Silverglate for virtually his entire career. He has tried to verdict personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, and inverse condemnation cases. As a certified mediator, Frank has resolved numerous matters through alternative dispute resolution.
Frank is an ambassador for the Firm’s mission of leadership and service.
He has been President of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and the 11th Judicial Historical Society and has served on the boards of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Defense Research Institute, Florida International University’s Alumni Association, Florida International University’s Honors College, Parent to Parent of Miami, Miami-Dade Defense Bar Association, Legal Services of Greater Miami, and Florida Christian School. He serves as a mentor to countless young lawyers and law students through his publications, social media posts, presentations, webinars, and his “coffee chats.” Frank has written 20 books for lawyers, edited five books for lawyers, and has written over 400 articles for lawyers and business professionals.
In this episode, we discuss how in house counsel can identify the right attorneys to hire and how to keep them. How can a company define the right candidate for their open position? What questions should a company ask to find the right candidate during the interview process? How does a company train new hires?
Angela Han is a healthcare lawyer and a health coach for lawyers' physical, mental, and professional health. She coaches lawyers on their physical and mental health through her Fit to Practice Society fitness program, and she coaches lawyers on their professional health for those who want to create more impact beyond their day job. She is also host of the Fit to Practice podcast, where she interviews lawyers all over the country on their health journey as legal professionals.
In this episode we discuss mental, physical, and professional health for lawyers. How did Angela become a health coach? What are some mistakes people make in building an ideal lifestyle? How can anyone create their optimal life and health?
Felipe Jaramillo is an experienced senior legal counsel working for Ingram Micro, a global technology distributor that offers a focus on cloud, mobility, technology lifecycle, supply chain, and technology solutions. A US attorney (currently based in Barcelona, Spain) with extensive international experience, including U.S., Latin American, and European jurisdictions. As a passionate in-house lawyer for multinational companies, he is committed to providing the best legal and business strategies with a practical and innovative approach.
In this episode, we discuss the unique experiences that took him from practicing litigation to a career as in-house with a strong international component. What is the biggest challenge he has faced in his career? What tools does he use to continue adapting to change as the career continues? How is it to be working abroad as a US attorney?
Meyling Ly Ortiz currently holds the position of Managing Counsel of Employment & Labor at Toyota Motor North America. She is a child of refugees and grew up in a small town in Texas. She turned big city employment lawyer and now in house in a mobility company. Wife to Navy Veteran and Ironman. Mom to Olivia (5) and Orion (3). Passionate about mentoring and paying it forward. Forever committed to learning.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of individual actions. Perhaps one of the greatest skills of a lawyer that is often forgotten is the ability to figure it out, even if the answer is unknown.
Aviram is a legal and business leader, who qualifies both in England and in Israel. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees of law. In a professional career of 25 years in law and business, he has accumulated extensive international experience of team management and transnational deals. Involvement in international deals since the early stages of his professional route, via leading a 10 professional team in 3 continents and 5 countries in AIG, and now he is making first steps for his company in the UAE, less than 3 month after the Abraham Peace Accords were signed.
In this episode, we discuss leading international teams. What are the keystones for a great international team? How do we build one? What should we focus on from the start?
Robyn Frank is responsible for all legal matters at Centerforce USA, an enterprise which develops and hosts conferences around the country on issues that concern female and minority leaders in the legal profession. Robyn oversees the Diversity Division, including speaker recruitment, panel prep, creation of all content, and on-site management of the Women in the Law Summit Series, where she moderates panels on diversity, equity, and inclusion before audiences of 150+ attendees. She also founded Frank Talk as a powerful resource for professionals and organizations that want to further their DEI initiatives by participating in one-to-one training, workshops, and retreats that deliver high-impact results toward full inclusion.
Robyn’s expertise in workplace equity goes back even further, to her days as General Counsel at Great Eastern Energy in Brooklyn, New York. There she headed the legal and regulatory departments, and she led the development of the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Robyn holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from the Ohio State University, a J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University, and a Master’s in Energy Law from the University of Tulsa. Robyn is also a Member in Good Standing of the New York State Bar.
In this episode, we discuss her journey from GC of an energy company to a spokesperson and advocate for DEI. Why has DEI become such a hot button topic? Why should companies prioritize DEI as a core value as we head into 2021? What advice can she offer to those organizations that want to embrace DEI but don't know where to begin? What other resources can she suggest in order to further these initiatives?
Julie Honor is General Counsel at 3Q Digital, where she brings an energetic and passionate change management approach to in-house legal, partnering with various leaders throughout the organization to identify and optimize processes and increase productivity. Julie also oversees HR at 3Q, developing proactive programs to support managers while managing personnel-related risk factors.
Prior to her role at 3Q, Julie built out and led the legal department at Rise Interactive and managed North American commercial work for Anixter. Pre-in house, in addition to her years in private practice focusing on class action, business, and intellectual property litigation, Julie also took a break from her legal career with a stop in change management consulting, where she worked with clients to re-engineer processes and optimize organizational design.
In this episode we discuss Julie’s legal career. Fall of 2008 was a rough time for lawyers everywhere; how was she able to survive that time? How did she create opportunities for herself? How did she address vulnerabilities that came about from this experience, especially on job applications and in interviews? How did this experience shape her as a lawyer?
Nada Alnajafi is an award-winning attorney with deep experience serving as in-house counsel for startups and public companies that are building or using ground-breaking technology products. She currently serves as Corporate Counsel for Franklin Templeton, a Fortune-500 global financial services organization. Previously, she served as in-house counsel for Faraday Future, Indi EV, Lexus, and Concannon Business Consulting. Nada is passionate about leveraging the latest in legal tech to gain efficiencies in the contracts management process. With her dynamic legal and consulting background, she is more than just an attorney; she is a trusted advisor, business partner, project manager, creative problem-solver, and skilled negotiator. In addition, Nada enjoys training contracts and procurement personnel on the ins and outs of contracts negotiations. This is what sparked her new blog, Contract Nerds, which provides powerful tips and strategies that any smart in-house counsel or procurement professional should use to successfully and effectively negotiate contracts. In addition, Nada has recently joined The Conscious Inclusion Company as a Board Advisor and Faculty Member.
In this episode, we discuss Nada’s passion for contracts and the way legal tech is impacting the contracts space. How can attorneys leverage CLM tools to negotiate better contracts? What is one aspect of contract negotiations that cannot be replaced by technology?
Annmarie is the founding and principal attorney of Giblin Law PLLC which specializes in cyber and privacy law and general litigation. Annmarie is considered a cyber law thought leader, who regularly speaks about cyber and privacy law, and is currently developing a blog to better share her thought leadership with her clients and colleagues. She is also a seasoned litigator, having spent well over 10 years practicing “in the trench” litigation in a wide variety of practice areas. She brings a litigator’s eye to every client engagement, trying to both identify and address potential problems to avoid litigation and set up the best-case scenario should the matter end up in litigation. Annmarie is also an experienced drafter, having spent a little over two years as the Global Cyber Attorney for a large multinational insurance carrier drafting insurance policies, endorsements and other contract provisions.
She is married and has two young children, who both keep her young and age her mercilessly. In addition to being an avid reader and cook, Annmarie also enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies and major league baseball. She is also a member of her local PTA and has worked with charities to help with the homelessness crisis in New York City.
In this episode we discuss moving closer to AI negotiated and drafted contracts, and the legal concerns and opportunities that follow. How has Artificial Intelligence started to infiltrate the legal community already? If AI does all the work, will we still need the lawyers anymore? How will the use of AI in the contract process affect traditional contract negotiations? Who is responsible for drafting or other mistakes if made by the AI?
Breen Sullivan is the Founder of The Fourth Floor, an innovative community and ecosystem for women reimagining the board room, investment and how we support female entrepreneurship. Women have a hard time getting board seats and they also have a hard time raising money to scale their companies. To solve for this, the Fourth Floor brings entrepreneurs and leaders together so we can increase the number of women on boards, be more competitive fundraisers, and create wealth.
Breen is a C-Suite executive with concentrated experience in operations, commercial contracting, human resources and employment matters; organization, corporate and deal strategy; Board of Director communications and responsibilities; privacy and risk management; financial matters, and occasionally novel challenges. As a career general counsel, Breen has worked with startup and high growth companies for nearly a decade, specializing in technology, SaaS, energy efficiency and data science.
Breen and The Fourth Floor have been featured by Forbes, Corporate Counsel Magazine, Law.com, The American Lawyer, Above The Law, Women On The Record Podcast, and Her CEO Journey: The Business Finance Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs. She holds a JD from Tulane, and a BA from Yale University. She has earned certificates and completed coursework at Boalt Hall, Berkeley, Universita Degli Studi di Firenzi, and Humboldt-Universität Zu.
In this episode, we discuss collaboration and competition trends. Competition is not always better than collaboration. Are certain groups better at leveraging collaboration? What can be the benefits of collaboration? How can it lead to innovation? Is the idea that collaboration enlarges the pie so there is more value for everyone to than compete over?
Phil Strauss has more than 20 years of diverse experience at the intersection of law, business, technology, privacy and compliance in the San Francisco Bay Area. Phil is the VP & Chief Compliance Officer for Rakuten USA, where he started the Americas privacy and compliance functions, 12 business units in the Americas for Japanese e-commerce giant, Rakuten, Inc. Phil was previously General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at Ebates Inc., a shopping rewards company acquired by Rakuten in 2014.
Phil has had several other General Counsel, CPO and CCO positions: Health Fidelity, Inc. (health care analytics software); MarketTools, Inc. (market research software, now Survey Monkey); Actuate Corporation (enterprise software, now OpenText); and Brio Software (enterprise software, now Oracle). Phil was also a Director at KPMG LLP and an associate at Shearman & Sterling and Jones Day. Phil holds a B.A. in International Relations from Emory University, a J.D. from Duke University, and an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, where he has served as Adjunct Faculty, teaching business law.
In this episode we discuss navigating the line between Legal and Compliance. How do you build a Compliance department from scratch at a large, established company like Rakuten? What are the main differences between being an in-house lawyer vs. a compliance officer? How have the events of 2020 shaped the Compliance function going forward? Can legal professionals smoothly transition back-and-forth between the Legal and Compliance worlds?
Podcast:
Rachita Maker is the head of Global Legal Operations at Tata Communications and is responsible for leading the legal department’s transformational journey to be more technology and data driven. She is responsible for multiple technology implementations, continuous improvement, and automation projects.
She brings more than 18 years of legal industry experience, and prior to joining Tata Communications, she was Vice President – Legal Services at Integreon where she was heading the India Legal Services team of over 1000 legal and non-legal professionals. As her last assignment at Integreon, Rachita spent about six months in Integreon’s London office in a business development role.
Prior to Integreon, Rachita was a Director for Ernst & Young’s contract lifecycle management solutions team, where she oversaw the development of new solutions, improvements to workflow and quality control processes, the application of Six Sigma methodologies to ALSP engagements, the selection of enabling contract management automation tools and other technologies, and the management of complex client engagements. Prior to Ernst & Young, she consulted with a Dubai-based private equity firm to set up Sri Lanka’s first ALSP.
In this episode, we discuss Rachita’s professional background and her perspective of legal operations departments. Where should new legal operations leaders begin in their journey? How can legal operations leaders be strategic and take charge of leading the legal department through changing times? Why should GCs invest in a strong legal operations department? And, finally, what can GCs do to support the success of the legal operations department?
Mel Scott is the Senior Legal Counsel at Megaport Limited, a global technology company founded in Brisbane and now in the ASX200. She has worked in house for 7 years across multiple industries such as aviation, infrastructure, financial services and cloud computing. Mel has previously been awarded the Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel 30 Under 30 Award. She is a passionate advocate for all things in-house and shares career insights for law students and graduates on Instagram @theinhouselawyer. She serves as a Member of the Queensland Law Society's In-House Committee, the Association of Corporate Counsel Early Career Advisory Committee and as the In-House Advisor to the Women Lawyers Association Queensland. She is excited to have recently launched "Counsel", a self-made and self-funded podcast about in-house lawyer life.
In this episode, we discuss Mel’s thoughts on personal branding in 2020 and the inspiration for her content. What is the best social media for self-promotion? Where to get ideas for posts? And what is the best career advice nowadays?
James J Strange is a legal and policy professional that specializes in the renewable energy industry to ensure programmatic compliance with municipal, state, and federal laws and regulations. He works as an Associate General Counsel at the Center for Sustainable Energy.
In this episode, we discuss the regulation of energy and what challenges this creates for the market and regulators. How does renewable energy fit in this mix? Can we truly achieve a net zero carbon electric grid?
Catherine is the author of the successful book focused on the business of law for legal departments Business Thinking in Practice for In-House Counsel: Taking Your Seat at The Table (Globe Law & Business, 2020). She runs her own company Catherine McGregor Research working as a consultant to law firms and legal departments around the world. Her work focuses on a range of areas including business ideas, the future of law; human centered skills, leadership and inclusion and diversity.
Prior to moving into the legal sector, Catherine was a lecturer at universities in the UK and USA, including the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston.
In this episode, Catherine McGregor speaks about how her creative background has inspired her work in law. She shares how these ideas came together in her new book Business Thinking in Practice for In-House Counsel. And why she thinks in-house lawyers are the architects of creative thinking in the legal profession.
Sarah Feingold is the co-founder of The Fourth Floor, a next level community democratizing women’s access to board seats and investments to drive systemic change. She is also the creator and producer of the play, Legal Madness, an NYU Law School Engelberg Center fellow, a board member, an investor, and a speaker. Previously, Sarah was Etsy’s first attorney (and 17th employee) and Vroom’s first attorney and General Counsel.
In this episode, we discuss the interception of art and law. How can art help reduce work related stress? What are the similarities between making art and contract negotiation? What is the beginners mindset and how important is it for practising law? Find out in this episode.
Neil Greenbaum is a transactional attorney and strategic consultant with offices in Florida and New York. He focuses on corporate and commercial real estate transactions and contracts.
In this episode, we focus on the difference between in-house and private practices and why LinkedIn is a great tool for users.
Lauren Zajac is a Chief Legal Officer of Workhuman, a multinational company providing cloud-based, human capital management software solutions. As vice president, general counsel and data protection officer, Lauren oversees all legal, regulatory, and compliance affairs for Workhuman. With more than 15 years of experience, she has served as legal counsel for a broad mix of high-growth public and private companies. Lauren is on the advisory board for the Leader Mom Project and is part of the Ellevate Women’s Network. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and a Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law.
We discuss her career path, problems associated with being the only woman on the executive team and what it means to be a leader. We focus on building strong cultures and implementing a robust employee recognition program:
- What is a culture of recognition and how does it promote authenticity?
- Why is it important to live up to your values and ideals in the work environment?
- What are the pros and cons of implementing employee recognition?
Ken I. Ito is General Counsel of Green Solar, a nationwide solar installer. After Ken graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School , hee began his career as a litigator and eventually transitioned to in-house in 2017.
Ken discusses his legal career path that took off after the 2008 financial crisis and the difficulties that followed. He gives advice and pragmatic suggestions for anyone who looking for a first job in law or wants to pivot. What does job hunting in the recession look like? Why is it important to gain any legal experience to build your resume and leverage new opportunities?
Laurie Ehrlich is an experienced legal leader with a passion for creation and transformation, who actively works to create more value and devise better solutions for her business partners through cross-functional and intradepartmental collaboration while protecting the company against potential risks. Laurie is currently Chief Counsel - Sales and Alliances at Datadog. Prior to joining, Datadog, Laurie was at Cognizant where she spent many years as the Chief Counsel for Cognizant’s North America Insurance vertical, serving as a business-savvy, trusted advisor to her business teams, before deciding to establish and run the legal operations function so she could focus on solutions for more cost-effective and efficient delivery of internal legal services powered by common sense and data analytics.
In this episode, she describes how technology-facilitated its growth in her career. You will learn how side projects can be a great way to pivot your career and why financial knowledge is critical for all lawyers, especially in-house lawyers. Laurie also shares her vision for the perfect legal department of the future and profession.
Jeanette Nyden is an internationally recognized contract negotiation expert. She’s written and co-authored four books including The Contract Professionals Playbook; A Definitive Guide to Mastering Performance-Based Contracts. With more than 20 years of experience drafting and negotiating a variety of agreements, Jeanette guides contract professionals as they negotiate complex performance- and outcome-based agreements.
She shares her love for contracts. When reaching an agreement, it is important to promote collaboration and interdependence between all parties involved: this notion is still problematic for some lawyers and leads to high risks. Mutual gain, performance, and outcome-based agreements are explained in detail. What is a risk profile thinking, why is it an important start, and what steps need to be taken to reach it? What is the intentionality and benefits associated with using legal tools?
Heather Stevenson discusses her experience of running a business and finding her way back to law. They touch upon finding the courage to go off the traditional legal career path. Why is it beneficial to be a business-minded lawyer? What are the rewards of making atypical choices when it comes to law?
Lourdes is the Founder and CEO of Karta Legal LLC, a legal operations and technology management consulting firm. She has over 20 years of legal operations, technology management, and litigation experience. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and a Legal Project Manager.
In this episode, she discusses digital transformation in the legal industry and various approaches to it. She touches on the importance of implementing a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, the critical importance of legal culture, and how to build a modern legal department.
Together with Simon Zinger we discuss the General Counsel Oath. What is it? Why did he create it? How did his career lead to leading this initiative?
Following the global pandemic and developments in the United States, it is clear that many companies struggle in, among other areas, with diversity, equity, and inclusion. The General Oath is a tool for the legal leaders to lead the change and move in the right direction.