CLOC Talk

In this episode of CLOC Talk, recorded live from the CLOC EMEA Summit in London, Jenn sits down with Sam Ross, Chief Legal Officer at Remote.  Sam shares his intriguing past as a member of a boy band and his thoughts on transitioning from music to legal operations. They chat about Sam's approach to hiring, emphasizing the importance of hunger, curiosity, and pragmatism over specific experience.  Sam elaborates on managing a large legal team remotely, stressing the need for clear communication, concise writing, and frequent feedback. Jenn and Sam touch on the impact of AI and technology in streamlining legal ops processes, improving efficiency, and the significance of establishing a clear vision and purpose for the team early on.  Tune in as this episode underlines the evolving landscape of remote work and its social challenges, offering practical insights and tips for legal ops professionals. Special thanks to our sponsor DocuSign for this episode! 

In this episode of CLOC Talk, recorded live from the CLOC EMEA Summit in London, Guest Host, Lewis Bretts, Partner at PwC chats with Alisha Andert, co-founder of This Is Legal Design and chairwoman of the German Legal Technology Association.  Alisha shares her journey from traditional law into the field of legal design, her passion for innovation, and her work with legal technology company Flightright.  They discuss the role of design thinking in law, simplifying legal content, and how AI intersects with legal design.  Tune in as this episode touches on empathy's importance in design, the challenges of the legal profession, and future trends in legal design. Special thanks to our sponsor DocuSign for this episode! 

In this episode of CLOC Talk, Jenn sits down with Nancy Rademaker, Co-Founder of Drawify & Speakers Club, and our brilliant opening keynote at our EMEA 2024 Summit in London.  They discuss how AI can solve business challenges by improving efficiency and reducing manual tasks, as well as the importance of identifying the right problems before deploying AI solutions.   Nancy touches on the role of AI in enhancing employee engagement and well-being by pointing it at preventing productivity loss and solving knowledge management issues. Tune in as Jenn and Nancy share insights on generational differences in adapting AI tools, the potential of augmented intelligence, and how emerging technologies like brain-computer interfaces could revolutionize various fields! Special thanks to our sponsor Docusign for this episode! 

In the episode of CLOC Talk, guest host Jeremiah Kincannon chats with Justin Schweisberger, Chief Revenue Officer at Pramata and Kari Walden, Assistant General Counsel at Jack Henry about strategic planning in legal operations.  They explore the importance of aligning legal operations with company strategy.  And, share hurdles and successes, like improving sales contract processes and implementing post-contract management systems.  Justin and Kari emphasize the significance of communication, timing, and achieving quick wins to gain buy-in for legal operations initiatives.  Tune in as they offer tips on persisting through failure and learning from experiences!Special thanks to our sponsor Pramata for this episode! 

In this episode of CLOC Talk, guest host Jeremiah Kincannon, advisor on CLOC’s Voice and Brand Council chats with CJ Nicastro, Program Manager, Global Affairs & Legal Strategy Operations at Google and Scott Rosenberg, Managing Director & Corporate Counsel at Unbiased Consulting, LLC, both co-chairs of the CLOC Legal Project Management Committee.  They discuss the relevance and application of Legal Project Management, otherwise known as LPM in the legal industry.  CJ and Scott highlight misconceptions about LPM and the importance of integrating project management principles into legal workflows. They emphasize the need for lawyers to embrace project management skills and the value of matter lifecycle management for improving efficiency and process alignment.  Tune in as this episode covers strategies for gaining leadership buy-in for LPM initiatives and offers guidance for legal professionals looking to enhance their project management capabilities. 

This special episode of CLOC Talk comes straight from the main stage of our APAC Summit 2024 in Sydney. It features a closing panel discussion on how generative AI is influencing legal ecosystems. Moderated by Terri Mottershead, Executive Director at Centre for Legal Innovation, the participants engage in a lively debate over whether AI will fundamentally change pricing models for legal services. They are: Anna Golovsky, Executive Manager, Legal & Company Secretariat Operations at IAG Petra Stirling, Head of Operations & Transformation at Westpac Group Legal Genevieve Collins, Chief Executive Partner at Lander & Rogers, and Michelle Mahoney, Chief Innovation Officer at King & Wood Mallesons  The panelists adopt playful 'rap names' and present arguments both for and against AI significantly altering pricing structures.  They discuss challenges, the ongoing shift toward collaborative practices between law firms and in-house counsel, tech vendors, as well as evolving relationship dynamics.  Tune in as the panelists reflect and engage with the live audience on the role of digital literacy and AI in transforming legal ecosystems. 

On this episode of CLOC Talk, recorded live from CGI 2024 in Las Vegas, Jenn chats with Bernadette Bulacan from Icertis, our awesome Diamond-Level sponsor. They tackle the tricky world of contract lifecycle management! Jenn and Bernadette explore why it's important for everyone to understand contract processes, not just the legal team. Bernadette breaks down how different teams play a role and why it's smart to segment contracts, especially those high-volume, low-risk ones like non-disclosure agreements. They also get into best practices for contract automation and making data-driven decisions. Get ready for a great conversation about how legal, finance, and tax teams can work better together! 

This episode of CLOC Talk comes straight from the main stage of our APAC Summit 2024 in Sydney. Jenn had a fantastic panel discussion with Caryn Sandler, Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Gilbert and Tobin; Mick Sheehy, Global Clients & Markets Leader at PwC Legal Business Solutions; and moderator, Matt Duncan, Legal Operations Director at Australian Retirement Trust. They explore how legal operations is growing and changing – not just within companies, but at law firms and tech providers too. The panelists shared some interesting challenges around integrating legal ops in different environments such as: figuring out hybrid roles, balancing strategic and operational work, and harnessing the power of AI. Enjoy this exciting conversation as they get into some of the regional differences between legal ops in the U.S. and Australia and share their predictions for the future of legal operations in 2030! 

In this episode of CLOC Talk, recorded at the 2024 APAC Summit in Sydney, Australia, Jenn sits down with Craig Emery, the head of the legal chapter and chief compliance officer at Telstra. Craig highlights his roles and responsibilities at Telstra, including his transition to the group company secretary role.  Jenn and Craig discuss Telstra's implementation of an agile legal chapter structure, innovative use of AI for compliance, and the benefits of a central legal front door system. Craig shares insights on creating efficient legal services, leveraging technology, and fostering an innovative mindset within legal teams.  Enjoy this impactful conversation as Craig emphasizes the importance of balancing compassion with the challenge of leadership. It’s also full of advice for legal ops professionals on how to start small and build upon digital transformation efforts! 

In this episode of CLOC Talk, recorded live at CGI 2024, Jenn sits down with Sheila Dusseau and Sean Houston, Europe region leaders, to discuss their experiences and insights as part of the founding advisory council in Europe.  They delve into how legal operations in Europe differs from the U.S., focusing on resource constraints and the drive for efficient processes. Sheila and Sean highlight the necessity of strategic thinking, humility, and integrity in hiring for legal ops roles and emphasize the importance of communication, storytelling, and questioning the status quo as essential skills.  You don’t want to miss this discussion as they emphasize their commitment to advancing the legal operations field in the Europe region! Enjoy!  

Meet Holly Ransom, the dynamic CEO of Emergent Global, a sought-after keynote speaker, and a master interviewer who’s all about shaking up the status quo. As the author of The Leading Edge and a true trailblazer in leadership, Holly’s work spans from boardrooms to global stages, where she brings a fresh perspective on what it means to lead with purpose and agility.She’s tackled big conversations with some of the world’s most influential figures and is shaking up industries as co-founder of Energy Disruptors. Holly is also driving sports inclusion as a Non-executive Director at Port Adelaide Football Club and board member at Pride Cup.  Tune in to discover how Holly’s redefining leadership for today’s world. You can follow Holly on LinkedIn and Instagram, and don’t miss her Love Mondays newsletter for your weekly dose of leadership wisdom to kickstart the week!

In today’s episode of CLOC Talk, recorded in person at CGI 2024 in Las Vegas, Jenn sits down for an in-depth conversation with Travis Zimbelman, a legal ops and tech in-house professional with a diverse career background from international business consultancy to roles in Google and Meta. His most recent role had him leading Meta’s legal and compliance central services team.  They discussed the evolution of Travis’ last role and team which included project management, technology, legal operations, and elements of community and connection. The conversation is a story of growth, going from a team of five to dozens of employees.  A story of integration of the technology component, and a reminder of the importance of project management, learning and development within legal operations.  Travis elaborates on the impact of generative AI and how we should all consider the proof of concept first before adopting in our workflows.  Working at a FAANG company and legal department is a learning experience in itself. Want to find out what it's like inside the likes of Netflix, Google, or Meta? Look no further! Enjoy this fascinating conversation and uncover strategies for embracing change, curiosity, and partnerships while maintaining human-centered change management!

In this episode of CLOC Talk, recorded live from CGI 2024 in Las Vegas, Jenn sits down with  Pepe Toriello, from CLOC’s LATAM regional group whose based in Mexico City, and Gui Tocci, leader of CLOC’s Brazil Legal Ops regional chapter.  They discuss the nuances and challenges of implementing Legal Operations in their regions. Pepe highlights that in Mexico, Legal Ops is often perceived narrowly as technology-focused, specifically on contracts, with general counsels yet to fully adopt it.  Gui shares that in Brazil, Legal Ops is often mistaken for paralegal work without strategic involvement, and roles blend with other duties due to a lack of dedicated headcount.  Both emphasize the importance of technology in gaining initial interest and the critical need for a 'translator' role to bridge gaps between legal, IT, and business teams.  The conversation underscores the foundational stage of Legal Ops in Latin America and the efforts to evolve it toward a more strategic and integrated function. So, get ready to travel to LATAM, via Las Vegas, and hear a lively discussion packed with actionable insights. Enjoy! 

In this episode of CLOC Talk, recorded live from CGI 2024 in Las Vegas, guest host Adam Becker, Director of Legal Operations at Cockroach Labs, chats with seasoned legal management and coaching professional, Natalie Loeb, Founder and CEO of LOEB Leadership. The discussion highlights the importance of wellness in the legal profession which is critical for an industry know for high standards and a culture of perfectionism. Adam and Natalie examine the impact of the billable hour on lawyer well-being, the challenges in seeking help, and the widespread issue of burnout.  Natalie emphasizes the importance of self-care, leadership modeling wellness practices, and the need for systemic support within organizations.  If you are looking to up your all-around work-life wellness game, this conversation is for you! Enjoy! 

In today’s episode, Jenn is joined by Laura Dieudonne, fellow CLOC Board Member, and Legal Operations and Administration Director at Delta Airlines. We continue the CLOC Core conversation by diving into the nuances and importance of knowledge management systems (KM) within legal departments.Laura shares her first-hand experience in establishing a centralized KM platform, starting with a successful pilot program run by the commercial transactions team. The platform helps store templates, responses to routine questions, and key documents, which improves efficiency and self-service access for the legal team.They also discuss KM challenges such as resistance from seasoned professionals and maintaining up-to-date information. Laura shares her strategies for involving practice group leaders and incentivizing buy-in through incremental steps and executive endorsement.Join us for this in-depth conversation as we discover the best KM strategies in the legal operations biz. Enjoy!Thank you to our sponsor Sirion!!