Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law kicks off in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal AI platform built for in-house teams.

Emilie Mathieu, General Counsel at Checkout.com, joins Scott Brown to share her journey from Amazon and eBay into the fast-paced world of fintech, where she now leads legal, compliance, and enterprise risk across a global team of 110.

In this conversation, Emilie reflects on stepping up from managing 14 people to an executive role in one of the world’s most dynamic payments companies. She shares candid lessons about people leadership, decision-making under pressure, and why strong opinions—weakly held—are vital in today’s in-house environment.

Her three Lessons in Law are both practical and thought-provoking. From embracing the idea that multiple truths can coexist, to the discipline of bottom-line-up-front communication with executives, Emilie highlights the skills that differentiate effective legal leaders. Along the way, she talks about building trust, sending the elevator back down for the next generation, and why internal networks are often the most powerful career accelerators.

This episode is packed with insights for anyone considering how to make the leap into senior leadership or simply wanting to become a more impactful in-house lawyer.

Guest Recommendations

• Aftermath by Harald Jähner – A gripping account of Germany’s transformation in the decade after 1945.
• 50 States – A French-language exploration of each US state’s unique culture.
• Wild Things – The rise and fall of Siegfried and Roy.

About Heriot Brown:

Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.