Innovative Legal Leadership

Dr. Sebastian Lochen, the General Counsel and Head of Compliance at Thyssenkrupp, shares his professional journey within the company, where he began his career in the compliance department in 2011 and rose to lead the legal function in 2021. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Lochen emphasizes the significance of embedding the legal team within the business units to ensure proactive support and early involvement in organizational projects and decisions.Lochen speaks to the environmental and regulatory challenges Thyssenkrupp faces as it transitions to greener technologies, and how the changing business model, driven by regulatory pressures and economic shifts, requires adaptive strategies from the legal team to provide robust support while also maintaining vigilance over traditional risk areas like antitrust issues. The two also explore the evolving dynamics between Thyssenkrupp and its external legal advisors. Dr. Lochen discusses the critical role of law firms in providing innovative solutions and leveraging technology to enhance legal service delivery. He emphasizes the importance of a collaborative relationship with external partners to navigate new regulatory landscapes effectively. 04:36 Expansion of Compliance Programs Since 201107:36 Diversified Industry Ventures Overview09:50 Integrating with Business Operations13:41 Future Challenges: Regulation and Efficiency18:06 AI Compliance Implementation Strategies19:48 Evolving Role of Law Firms24:53 Steel Industry's Green Transition25:46 Navigating Economic and Legal Changes29:33 Nurturing Children's Interests through ExplorationHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, Cynthia Lareine interviews Samallie Kiyingi, the global General Counsel for Corporate Investment Banking at Standard Chartered Bank. The two talk about Samallie's impressive career journey, emphasizing her transitions across prestigious organizations like Afreximbank, Clifford Chance, Deutsche Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. Despite initially focusing on international law and human rights, Samallie’s path led her into finance law, a transition influenced by mentors and opportunities to develop a wide range of skills. Her global career, spanning continents including Australia, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and her current role at Standard Chartered reflect a natural progression towards leveraging finance to foster prosperity.The conversation delves into Samallie’s leadership style, enriched by her culturally diverse work experiences. She discusses the challenges of adapting to different cultural contexts, such as her significant moves from Sydney to London, Cairo, and Singapore. One pivotal moment in her career was negotiating and procuring COVID-19 vaccines for African countries, where her structured finance expertise played a crucial role. Samallie stresses the importance of maintaining personal resilience and celebrating team wins in high-pressure situations. She advocates for clear daily routines, empathetic leadership, and building trust within teams to enhance productivity and innovation.Samallie also shares insights on elevating the in-house legal team's strategic role within organizations. She emphasizes the necessity of relationship-building, over-communicating, and taking ownership to demonstrate value beyond the traditional legal advisory scope. Additionally, as a member of Standard Chartered’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Samallie highlights the importance of fostering diverse leadership and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. She balances forward-looking perspectives on technological advancements in the legal field with practical advice for young lawyers on betting on themselves and seeking roles that open future opportunities. Her personal reflections and professional guidance make for an inspiring episode, underscoring her belief in leveraging law and finance as tools for broader societal impact.06:57 Cultural Bias in Leadership Adaptation08:41 Cultural Sensitivity in Workplace Communication14:16 Vaccine Collaboration and Coordination17:16 Managing Stress Through Routine19:28 Celebrating Wins Amid Challenges24:04 Surprise Award Highlights Global Impact27:16 Building Legal-Business Trust30:17 Boosting Personal Visibility at Work32:28 Visibility and Relationship-Building Strategies36:10 Enhancing Diversity Through Senior Engagement40:10 Tech Innovations in Legal Industry43:26 Career Decisions: Prioritizing Future OpportunitiesHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, Jim Delkousis, CEO of PERSUIT, sits down with Tia Sherringham, General Counsel at DoorDash, to explore how legal can be a true business partner rather than just the department of “no.” Tia shares her journey from being the second lawyer at DoorDash to leading a global legal team of 150, navigating the company through hypergrowth, the pandemic pivot, and its IPO. She also dives into building a problem-solving legal culture, partnering with external counsel, and scaling legal for a global company.From empowering her team with a "Yes, And" mindset to balancing business agility and compliance, Tia offers valuable insights for legal leaders looking to evolve with their companies.For more great episodes of the Innovative Legal Leadership podcast, visit PERSUIT.com[00:01:14] - Tia's Journey to Law and DoorDash[00:03:18] - The Scrappy Early Days as DoorDash’s second lawyer[00:04:23] - The Pandemic Pivot, Pausing the IPO [00:06:51] - Scaling Legal Through an IPO & Beyond[00:12:04] - The DRI Model and Empowering Her Legal Team[00:13:11] - Choosing the Right External Legal Partners[00:17:33] - Legal as the "Department of Yes, And"[00:19:34] - Legal & Marketing Collaboration (Including a Super Bowl appearance)[00:21:32] - The Future of Legal & AI[00:22:40] - Advice to Her 25-Year-Old Self[00:24:25] - Fun Wrap-Up: Tia’s Go-To DoorDash OrdersHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of the Innovative Legal Leadership Podcast, Jim Delkousis sits down with Lynn Charytan, the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Comcast Cable. Lynn traces her career journey, starting from her early days at the Washington Post, moving on to a 17-year tenure at WilmerHale as a partner, and finally transitioning to Comcast in 2010. She describes the challenges she faced in establishing a legal regulatory function at Comcast without a structured onboarding process and reflects on important milestone moments that shaped her career, including a transformative realization about her leadership approach.Lynn discusses her perspective on leadership, emphasizing the need to empower her legal team to excel rather than focusing solely on her own expertise. She recounts how her department has grown and evolved with the addition of new legal functions like compliance and government investigations. Lynn highlights the importance of having a robust onboarding process to foster a strong team culture. She also touches on topics like cybersecurity, the role of AI in business and legal operations, and maintaining strategic partnerships with external law firms.00:00 Lynn's Career and AI Insights04:49 Establishing a Legal Regulatory Team07:20 Career Transition and Reflection12:44 Empowering Colleagues for Success16:39 Navigating Selective Leadership and Trust18:06 Enhancing Interdepartmental Collaboration23:38 AI's Role in Law Efficiency26:30 Collaborating to Overcome Resistance29:37 Collaborative Firm Negotiations34:18 Understanding Business Strategy for Decisions35:01 Integrating Legal Advisors in Strategy38:58 Shifting Focus: From Self to OthersHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Angelique Strong Marks, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer at Cars.com, joins us to discuss what it truly means to win as in-house counsel. She emphasizes the importance of understanding a company’s business goals and aligning legal strategies accordingly. Angelique also explores how AI is transforming the legal field, allowing lawyers to focus on more strategic tasks, and shares her unique take on diversity, highlighting the need to redefine success metrics in the legal profession. Tune in for valuable insights into holistic legal strategies, AI’s role in legal operations, and the future of diversity in law.Join us as we discuss:[1:48] Leadership and what it means to win as an in-house legal counsel[7:41] AI and digital transformation in the legal profession[15:48] Why the diversity conversation is still flawedCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:What it Means to Win for In-House Counsel by Angelique Strong MarksHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Nisreen Al-Shaker, Global Head of Legal Operations and Strategy — Legal and Compliance at Nokia, didn’t passionately pursue legal ops. Instead, her diverse experiences in multiple international legal departments naturally pushed her into the dynamic field.Nisreen believes an expansive skillset is essential to understanding the challenges that come with today’s lightning-fast change in the legal industry.She gives us an exclusive snapshot of how her team is embracing innovative tools and collaborating with partners like PERSUIT to establish operational resilience in their Middle Eastern market. Join us as we discuss:[5:23] How legal ops helps in-house teams navigate complex issues[15:04] Partnering with PERSUIT to help unravel spending expectations[23:53] Operational resilience in the face of rapid change[33:11] The rise of legal operations in the Middle EastCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Damien Atkins, CLO and GC at Aura, a provider of online security solutions, has learned a lot about leadership during his extensive career spanning companies like AOL, Panasonic, and Hershey’s. His reputation has garnered him recognition in multiple publications, including recently being named as one of the most influential executives in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine.Yet he’s always chasing more insights, which is why he launched The Purposeful Leader, a podcast featuring executives from law and business who discuss leadership values. Damien joins us for a compelling conversation about what distinguishes great legal leaders, how they can drive cultural change, and why they need to work outside of the legal box.Join us as we discuss:[4:38] Drawing from the leadership philosophies of great sports coaches[14:06] Creating in-house culture for differentiated value to the business[22:57] Expanding the influence of in-house within the business[36:24] Using technology strategically to drive more impactCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Savoy Magazine: 2024 Most Influential Executives In Corporate AmericaThe Purposeful LeaderHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

From Zimbabwe to Nairobi, Otilia Phiri has solidified her reputation as a leader in the African legal tech space.As Principal Corporate Counsel for the Africa Regional Cluster at Microsoft, she’s committed to transforming how legal departments support business objectives, promoting diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to in-house projects.Otilia gives us an exclusive peek into how Microsoft is transforming the African continent with exciting new technology and how she thinks AI will give legal professionals more creative freedom.Join us as we discuss:[15:38] AI conversations at Microsoft and African agencies[25:33] Use cases for AI tools in Microsoft’s legal departments[32:08] DEI and career advancement opportunities[46:06] Why old traditions are holding the legal industry backCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Microsoft Africa Development CenterMicrosoft Responsible AI PrinciplesCopilot for Microsoft 365100 Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & TelecommunicationsHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How does one begin to measure the social impact of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives in legal? And how can you get others to buy in? When Porter Merriman, VP & Assistant GC at AutoDesk, helped spearhead her department’s new DEIB program, she knew she couldn’t force people to be fully invested. But she could acknowledge and reward those who were. In this episode of our new Mission Possible series, Porter gives other legal leaders a map to help them charter their own DEIB programs and build diverse partnerships. Join us as we discuss: - Why DEIB can’t be a string of start-stop initiatives (1:54) - Factoring DEIB in the external sourcing process (7:59) - Advice to legal leaders starting internal DEIB programs (14:29) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: AutoDesk FY2023 Diversity & Belonging Report Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ulrike Schwarz-Runer, Managing Director and Senior Partner, GC and CLO at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), has long been a champion for DEI and psychological safety in the workplace.While she’s overseeing BCG’s global legal operations, she’s also leveraging her position to empower her people to feel safe and heard while participating in international forums on inclusivity.Ulrike shares how BCG is driving DEI initiatives through innovation, effective communication, and expertise deployment.Join us as we discuss:➡️[5:11] Why diverse teams are more effective and innovative➡️[14:32] The importance of psychological safety in the workplace➡️[21:39] Keeping the human connection in digital transformationCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:➡️The Positive Domino Effect of Psychological Safety (BCG)➡️Flexible Teams Are Key for In-house Lawyers to Share Expertise (Financial Times)Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It takes everyone, from corporate leadership to interns, to drive successful DEI initiatives through an in-house legal department.So, when Forbes recognized NiSource as one of the top employers for diversity in the energy field in 2023, André Wright and his team knew their efforts had paid off.The VP & Deputy GC for NiSource joined us to talk about how they implemented their DEI strategy and share some of the surprising challenges and outcomes of bringing everyone along.Join us as we discuss:[4:05] Carrying out DEI initiatives at the strategic level[11:59] The need to find like-minded suppliers and partners[16:48] Why it’s important to consider opposing viewpointsCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)NAMWOLFHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Creating a positive culture is hard — especially in the legal space.Old institutions and ways of doing things are difficult to unseat, and modern corporate legal departments need to lean heavily into building culture that works for both the company and its people equally.Kailee Goold, VP of Litigation and Legal Operations at Cardinal Health, sits down with PERSUIT’s own Michelle Landy to discuss how to disrupt outdated patterns of thinking and behavior when it comes to culture and belonging inside of your organization.When everyone has a seat at the table and is comfortable sitting in it, legal departments win.Join us as we discuss:[3:30] Acting as an “actor in a playground of critics” [6:15] Tailoring DEIB to your department’s culture[11:00] How disrupting existing patterns can impact legal department healthHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

As the Director of Legal Operations, Employment Law, and Litigation at Trend Micro, Brent Dyer is leading the transformation of legal operations within the multinational cybersecurity giant. His journey from aspiring opera singer to legal innovator is not just a fascinating career transition but a testament to the dynamism and versatility required in the legal ops landscape.Brent joins us to unpack the world of legal ops, sharing insights on enhancing operational efficiencies, strategic litigation management, and spearheading initiatives that challenge the conventional law firm model.Join us as we discuss:[6:57] The duality of legal ops and traditional legal work[15:44] Optimizing litigation management and billing issues[26:02] Why law firms need to care more about the client experience[35:15] Underappreciated value of non-lawyers in legal opsHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Most of our guests started their legal journeys in private law firms before pivoting to corporate in-house legal departments. In this insightful episode, the shoe is on the other foot.Veronica Gromada spent nearly 20 years with Walmart’s in-house legal department, leading teams of attorneys, paralegals, and various professionals and managing the retailer’s extensive tort litigation portfolio.Now, as a partner at the prestigious law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Veronica is not only overseeing their products liability group. She is also the co-chair for multiple ESG initiatives.Hear how Veronica is using her Fortune One experience to give her colleagues new perspectives on business relationships and how she’s championing diversity in AMLAW firms.Join us as we discuss:[3:03] Pivoting from a massive in-house department to private practice[13:51] Why law firms need to adopt a business mindset[23:56] The challenges of being a black female partner[34:34] How AI will free legal professionals to better serve clientsHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The roles of chief legal officer or general counsel can mean different things in different corporate hierarchies.But if there’s one thing that Ben Adams has learned on his way to becoming CLO and Corporate Secretary at Western Union, it’s that those men and women must be true problem solvers.He’s always reminding his in-house team that a uniform legal background will only get them so far. It’s the willingness to adapt and learn the ins and outs of their business that will take them places. Ben gives us an exclusive peek into how his team manages the legal challenges that can arise in financial services and how they’re cautiously approaching AI to help with international transactions.Join us as we discuss:[7:53] Core values and the Western Union Foundation[19:46] If in-house legal job titles really tell the whole story[28:53] How technology ties into transparency in legal departmentsCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Western Union FoundationHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

As AI tools continue to infiltrate the global workforce, how can legal ops teams separate relevant AI services from ill-fitting alternatives? And how can in-house teams best leverage some of these exciting new data models to make informed decisions?Sue Manik, Head of Supplier Performance at Standard Chartered Bank, believes that legal professionals must reevaluate how they think about data if they want to keep up with accelerated innovation.Sue walks us through the changes she’s witnessed in legal operations’ evolution from data-wielding sidekicks to collaborative partners and how Standard’s D&I task force is breaking barriers.Join us as we discuss:[3:10] How embedding in legal operations opens up new opportunities[12:43] Why legal professionals should never take data at face value[20:44] Measuring ROI on legal operations initiatives[33:32] Standard Charter Bank’s D&I task forceHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The role of the GC has come a long way since the days when everyone only wanted to work for big law firms.GCs have now evolved into a more strategic and important role within organizations, where lawyers are doing more of the legal work and interacting with the business. For the role to continuously improve, lawyers must stay endlessly curious, evaluate what they’re doing and improve upon it, and learn how to delegate.This week, we're joined by Sterling Miller, CEO and Senior Counsel at Hilgers Graben PLLC. Sterling’s diverse professional experience has enabled him to strategically adapt to each position, embrace change, and disrupt the legal department.In this interview, we delve into what it takes for the GC to chart a more strategic path within their organization.Join us as we discuss: [08:23] How the GC role has evolved [21:34] How lawyers can be more productive[26:01] How to foster innovation and diversity in the legal departmentCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Sterling MillerHilgers Graben PLLCPERSUITHear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If lawyers and the legal function are going to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce, they need to be tech-savvy, forward-thinking, and able to project manage. The legal landscape is in a constant state of evolution, and teams must embrace that change to stay ahead. They need to push alternative ways of doing things and work differently. This week, we're joined by Shane O’Connor, General Manager of Strategy and Operations at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Shane’s extensive experience across different functions in the banking industry has enabled him to tackle challenges head-on, question the status quo, and implement positive disruption within his organization. In this webinar, we delve into what it takes to initiate change within an organization. Join us as we discuss:  - [07:40] How Shane created the legal ops function at Commonwealth Bank - [14:18] Shane’s problem-solving process and how he implemented a rollout - [20:53] Strategies for winning the hearts and minds of lawyers - [24:36] What proper change management looks like Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Shane O’Connor - Commonwealth Bank of Australia - PERSUIT Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Unbeknownst to many, mass arbitration is actually something that recently evolved in the legal landscape as an alternative to large class action lawsuits. What should companies be aware of, and how can they deal with mass arbitration successfully? This week, we're joined by Maui Gevero, Senior Manager of Legal Advisory at PERSUIT. We dive into what mass arbitration is and how companies can proactively address challenges arising from this. Maui also shares his views on where the system loopholes are and what companies should do to test different approaches to handling mass arbitrations. He also leaves us with some tips regarding what companies requiring legal consultation must do. Join us as we discuss:  - The definition of mass arbitration (00:10) - Maui’s best examples of mass arbitration cases (02:44) - Three steps that companies should follow related to mass arbitration (07:18) Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A lot has happened since Inderpreet Sawhney became General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Infosys in 2017. After globetrotting through several firms and businesses, she now oversees an in-house team that is witnessing incredible advances in generative AI firsthand. And like many other GCs and legal professionals, she’s curious to see how these innovations will redefine value in the field. Inderpreet gives us her insights into what generative AI could mean for future lawyers, and some do’s and don’ts when transitioning from big law firms to in-house teams. Join us as we discuss: - How the role of GC has evolved from tactical to strategic (8:12) - Generative AI and its impact on relationships with outside counsel (14:27) - The evolution of the young lawyer’s traditional training ground (25:03) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Infosys Topaz Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.