Modern Counsel #42

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Elena Stein became a lawyer on a dare. Now, she’s Dyson’s general counsel and is helping the company expand into new territories and engineer excellence. P84

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A leading trial defense firm with broad capabilities and a client-centered approach

A premier healthcare litigation defense firm with a full range of services HPS is a national law firm with Chicago roots and offices around the country.

The firm is defined by its unswerving focus on client service, and for its track record in defending clients against allegations of medical malpractice.

CALIFORNIA

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www.hpslaw.com

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General Counsel Elena Stein shares her journey to Dyson and helping the billion-dollar company expand its global

Cover and this page: Cass Davis

presence P84

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Contents

Implement P20 Andrea Flanagan faced her biggest opponent in taking her GC role at LeadVenture: herself

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P30 Andrew Gratz is ensuring the next generation of lawyers are prepared to inspire and lead

Feature P58 Lisa M. Kpor says serving as a mentor isn’t a choice for her.

It’s a way of life at United Airlines.

P58

P64 everything she needed to know about her employer

Lead P68 Suzanne Broadbent and Brittany Pierick share their career journeys and describe what makes CapSpecialty a special place to work

P92 With a curious and driven mindset, Precious Murchison Gittens finds opportunities to be a better version of herself and make an impact at Google and beyond

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David Fox (Gratz), Kinda Arzon Photography @kindaarzonphotography (Kpor), Katarina Price (Gittens)

Breana Jeter’s first thirty days with Wells Fargo told her

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Pivot P108 Riddhi Shah overcame the challenge of being an immigrant attorney with no US law degree to land her ideal corporate

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role at Pinterest

P122 Cheryl Luce Fuga shares her passion for labor and employment and her winding career journey

Focus P142 Dan Lett solidified his legal team as a high-performing department with a culture of collaboration and

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togetherness at Bunzl North America

P154 Sukrat Baber shares his leadership philosophy and the

Genevieve Lee (Fuga), Courtesy of Sukrat Baber (Baber), Nicole Tyler (Hughes)

impact he has at Ferrara Candy Company

Evaluate P167 Assistant General Counsel and Head of Litigation Bill Childs on his legal journey and work at Solventum

P181 At McGriff, Kieran Hughes uses his legal and finance expertise to enhance customer service and mentor the next generation of risk advisors

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Creative

Corporate

Editorial Director Frannie Sprouls

CEO & Publisher Pedro A. Guerrero

AUDIENCE & ENGAGEMENT

Chief of Staff Jaclyn Gaughan

VP, Hispanic Division Head of Audience & Engagement Vianni Lubus

Contributing Editors Megan Bungeroth Navpreet Dhillon Rhiannon Root Darcy Waskiewicz Hana Yoo

SALES

Director, Events Jill Ortiz

Senior Director, Sales Hannah Tanchon

Social Media Coordinator Rodrigo Cortés

Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships & DEI Solutions Krista Horbenko

OPERATIONS

Contributing Writers Zach Baliva Frank DiMaria Will Grant Noah Johnson Natalie Kochanov Joseph Stark Billy Yost

Lead Recruiter Haylee Himel

Managing Editor Melaina Cecilia de la Cruz

Art Director Anastasia Andronachi

Senior Talent Acquisition Manager Jordyn Gauger Content & Advertising Managers Megan Apfelbach Amanda Matuszewski Megan Noyes Kara Thomas Aleksander Tomalski Stuart Ziarnik

Designer, Modern Counsel Rebecca Kang

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Designer Arturo Magallanes Photo Manager & Video Director Cass Davis Contributing Photo Editor Sarah Joyce

Facebook: @ModernCounselConnect Instagram: @moderncounselmagazine LinkedIn: @modern-counsel Twitter: @ModernCounsel Modern Counsel is a registered trademark of Guerrero, LLC. © 2025 Guerrero, LLC guerrero.co 1500 W. Carroll Ave., Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60607 Reprints Reprinting of articles is prohibited without permission of Guerrero, LLC. Printed in China. For reprint information, contact Reprints & Circulation Director Stacy Liedl at stacy@guerreromedia.com

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There’s an adage that says

Editor’s Letter

if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I’ve found that to be categorically false. Loving what you do doesn’t make it any less work; it just means you care enough to endure the hard parts. This is a lesson I learned early in my own career. I’d never envisioned that my dream job would sometimes be my nightmare or that an employee-sanctified “crying bench” would be such a staple office amenity.

But those moments have never made me question being an editor. I’m the type of person who reads style guides for fun and habitually proofreads billboards, flyers, and even text messages. It’s what I was born to do. I believe in the immense power of words and responsibility I have to produce trustworthy content, and that what gives my work purpose. Hey—that’s the name of this issue!

In this year’s Purpose issue, you’ll find stories of legal leaders who’ve made it their mission to align their professional lives with their personal values. For them, their roles are more than just jobs; they’re a calling to make a difference and believe in themselves.

On the cover is Elena Stein, Dyson’s general counsel for the Americas, whose purpose has always been driven by her love for people. Her ability to navigate different personality types is key to being a strategic partner for the company as it expands into new territories.

When you think of your own purpose, I urge you to consider that it doesn’t have to be directly tied to your daily responsibilities. It can be a hobby, your family, your friends, or any of the things that inspire you to be who you are. “Regardless of whether you have a dream job or are famous or wealthy, work isn’t going to be the only thing that makes you whole,” says Ian Bolden, corporate counsel of Akima, whose full story you can read in this issue.

When you trust in your purpose, you can feel good about what you do and let yourself log off for the night. Go enjoy the other corners of your life where you find meaning.

Cass Davis

Melaina Cecilia de la Cruz Managing Editor

Open the door to diverse audience reach, business leaders, and talent pools with Guerrero.

Share in Our Mission

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Celebrating legal leaders’ latest efforts and achievements, including tktktktktkt

transactions, expansions, negotiations, and inclusion initiatives

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Silicon Valley’s Secret Weapon Developers and engineers may be at the heart of Silicon Valley, but Flexport’s Ashianna Esmail knows legal and compliance experts play a critical role

By Zach Baliva

AS ASHIANNA ESMAIL STROLLS

down the long stretch of Market Street that bisects downtown San Francisco, she sees more than the eBikes, cable cars, sidewalk cafés, and street performers. Waymo’s self-driving cars navigate through traffic as local gourmands effortlessly order meal delivery with apps like GrubHub and Uber Eats.

Coders sit nearby, sipping cold brew while working remotely on the latest advancements in augmented reality and artificial intelligence.

Even the Bay Area Rapid Transit system shows off its mastery of modern technology through an app loaded with real-time tracking, contactless parking payment, fare calculators, and

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Shenaika Davis

Ashianna Esmail Chief Legal Officer Flexport

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“Innovation comes from legal and compliance, and not just from the technologists in Silicon Valley.”

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personalized navigation options. While most people give credit for the region’s spirit of innovation to its robust community of programmers and developers, Esmail knows that the in-house legal and compliance teams working behind the scenes play a critical role in their public success.

Esmail serves as executive vice president and chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Flexport, a supply chain company with a platform designed to help users optimize workflows and coordinate global logistics to bring products from the factory to the consumer. Each individual on her team of thirty professionals leaves an indelible mark on the overall organization.

“The attorneys and risk professionals in legal and compliance, each have unique skills that we bring to partner with the business so we can get creative and solve problems together,” she explains.

“Innovation comes from legal and compliance, and not just from the technologists in Silicon Valley.”

The California native completed her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley and headed to the nation’s capital to work for a nongovernmental organization (NGO) dedicated to influencing humanitarian policies related to relations between the United States and Iraq. Esmail frequently observed conversations between lobbyists, lawmakers, and other stakeholders. As she listened, she noticed something: the creative minds driving collaboration and finding new solutions to driving legislative change had one thing in common—they all had law degrees.

She enrolled to study at the University of Michigan Law School.

By the time graduation came, Esmail had solidified her desire to work with mission-driven organizations where

she would have the chance to make a true impact. Four years at Latham & Watkins helped her hone general problem-solving and critical thinking skills before she made the transition to an in-house role.

Esmail worked first in international payments through positions with Xoom and PayPal. She left the online payment platform in 2017 to join Flexport and work in international trade. Since her arrival seven years ago, Esmail has focused on elevating the company’s legal and compliance functions. As CLO, she is also responsible for Flexport’s physical security team.

While those matters are of critical importance, Esmail is careful to ensure all she does ties back to Flexport’s overall mission. “We exist to make worldwide trade easier for everyone so companies big and small can all participate in global commerce,” she says.

That mission drives Flexport, and the company has been growing. When Esmail joined, she was one of about two hundred employees. Flexport’s workforce has now surpassed two thousand.

The company has also expanded its geographical footprint and reached past its core business of international cargo movement to build out customs brokerage services, last mile capabilities, trade financing, insurance, and more.

Esmail has kept legal at the center of this growth by ensuring her department serves as a strategic thought partner to the business. In heavily licensed and regulated industries, Flexport relies on legal and compliance to create the right infrastructure on which it can build each business line.

A simple credo helps Esmail get the best results. “The best idea in the room wins here, no matter who it comes from,” she says. Within Flexport’s legal

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“The best idea in the room wins here, no matter who it comes from.”

and compliance departments, a strong work product is seen as table stakes, and each member of the team is committed to understanding how they can help both one another and the business grow in lockstep.

Esmail has been afforded the opportunity to build her own department, which she has customized to match Flexport’s needs. “We’re a company that has expanded into multiple businesses since my arrival, so each member of legal and compliance has to have deep subject-matter expertise in at least one area while developing the agility to support new business lines or innovative ideas,” she says.

Those novel ideas sometimes transcend Flexport’s core business. About seven years ago, several of Esmail’s colleagues started talking about an emerging issue. They realized that the logistic and material aid meant for refugees, the unhoused, and those affected by natural disasters doesn’t always reach

its intended destination. The problem often arises when people and groups lack access to the supply chain. In response, Flexport started a pilot program to identify and remove barriers that prevent the flow of resources.

Members of Flexport legal helped formalize the necessary partnerships and now support a full team that coordinates these efforts through Flexport.org.

The group has worked with partners like UNICEF and Save the Children to complete nearly two thousand shipments that addressed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and the Horn of Africa food crisis. These activities have impacted 112 million people in 78 countries since 2018.

There was a time when Esmail thought she needed to be crafting laws on Capitol Hill in order to drive impact with her legal degree. Now, she tells new attorneys to keep an open mind. “Lawyers are some of the most creative minds in companies, trained

to solve problems. It’s possible to have a fulfilling legal career in many different arenas, including in the heart of Silicon Valley where you can be an integral part of driving the most innovative technological solutions to worldwide issues faced by real people every day,” she says.

As Flexport and Flexport.org move forward, Esmail will continue to partner with the business leaders and technologists to drive innovation.

Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP: “Ashianna has a remarkable instinct for understanding how legal issues will implicate business concerns and excellent judgement about when those legal issues need to either be front and center or take a back seat to other considerations.”

—Paven Malhotra, Partner Miller Thomson: “Miller Thomson is proud to collaborate with Ashianna Esmail and the team at Flexport, and we wish them continued success.”

—Louis Amato-Gauci, Partner

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A Career of

Complex Cases Before becoming Cigna’s senior managing counsel, Kevin Brenner spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor, experience that informs the leader he is today

By Noah Johnson tktktktktktkt

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Charlie Dwyer

FOR KEVIN BRENNER, THE JOURNEY

to senior managing counsel at health services company Cigna began with going to court as a child to watch the jury trials being tried by his father, a lawyer in Chicago.

“When you go to court, you see a lot of different types of trial techniques and behaviors. The one consistent thing that I observed was the way my dad handled himself in front of juries and judges,” says Brenner, who grew up in Chicagoland.

“He was always prepared, respectful, and had a natural, easygoing way of communicating information to juries.”

Those formative experiences inspired Brenner to follow in his father’s footsteps. He received his bachelor’s in political science and government from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his law degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

In 2002, he started his career at Arnstein & Lehr (since merged with Saul Ewing), where he gained experience in commercial litigation, tort defense, white-collar criminal defense, and appellate practice. This diverse practice gave Brenner the chance to develop key relationships with senior leaders, including criminal defense partners who took him under their wing. That exposure opened his mind to career possibilities he hadn’t considered before.

Brenner recalls one of the criminal defense attorneys championing public service, particularly for an attorney interested in becoming a trial lawyer. “That resonated with me, and as I began working more closely with the white-collar practice group and saw the quality of work generated by the US Attorney’s Office, I developed an interest in becoming a federal prosecutor.”

In 2008, after finishing his tenure at Arnstein and spending two years handling internal investigations and complex commercial litigation at Dewey & LeBoeuf, Brenner took that partner’s advice. Having received an offer to serve as a prosecutor for the US Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Brenner and his wife packed their bags and relocated from Chicago to Philadelphia. He believes the ensuing nine years he spent investigating and prosecuting complex criminal matters shaped him not only as a lawyer but as a person.

“On a professional level, I don’t think I’ll ever have a more rewarding experience,” Brenner says. “There’s no substitute for having the goal of your job be the pursuit of justice.”

Kevin Brenner Senior Managing Counsel Cigna

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ALWAYS BETTER, THANKS TO YOU.

Congratulations, Kevin Brenner, on your recognition in Modern Counsel. Your leadership, dedication and legal insight consistently impress and inspire us all.

VISIT US AT MWE.COM

Many of his cases involved working closely with cooperating defendants, who often were incarcerated and awaiting sentencing. The unique perspective gained through those experiences was eye-opening.

“You get to know about their background, their challenges, whether that’s in their upbringing or the environment they grew up in. You get to know their families,” Brenner says. “When you start to see someone as more than just an investigative target or criminal defendant, but as a person with a history and a future—over time it can take a toll.”

Eventually Brenner came to a decision point. He felt it was time to leave the US Attorney’s Office, but he also wanted to continue doing investigations and help root out harmful behavior. That drew him in-house, first to environmental services company Enviri and then to Cigna. Today, he manages an internal investigation team responsible for identifying, investigating, and remediating issues that present legal and regulatory risk across the enterprise.

As someone whose legal career has focused on public service and solving complex cases, Brenner is proud to work in healthcare. “Healthcare is very different than the other areas I’ve worked in previously,” he says, noting how his experience as a trial lawyer has helped him learn how to get up to speed quickly when venturing into new industries.

“Working to improve health services and outcomes for patients is complicated but incredibly fulfilling.”

Brenner believes the key to success in law is aligning interests with skills. “Lawyers tend to struggle when they gravitate toward practice areas for the wrong reasons,” he says. “You have to be honest about who you are and what you have a natural aptitude for.”

McDermott Will & Emery: ©2024 McDermott Will & Emery. For a complete list of entities visit mwe.com/legalnotices.

This may be considered attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

“It’s always a pleasure to partner with Kevin, who brings the unique mix of an enforcement background and a solution-oriented approach to every legal challenge. His insights and problem-solving abilities make him an incredible lawyer.”

—MWE Team

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The Privacy-First Human rights, technology, and privacy go hand-in-hand for Swati Sharma

By Noah Johnson

AS ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL

at Pluralsight, Swati Sharma’s passion for intellectual property (IP), privacy, cybersecurity, and technology runs deep. It’s a passion that was born out of “personal intrigue and professional necessity,” she says.

“As I embarked on my educational and career journey, I encountered Neil Postman’s Technopoly, which vividly depicts a society deeply influenced by technology, reshaping everything from politics to truth itself. This revelation, while captivating, also instilled a sense of concern,” she remembers.

Mindset She continues: “My subsequent exploration of the intricate legal and ethical frameworks surrounding IP, data protection, and cybersecurity was further fueled by my background in product development. Witnessing firsthand the imperative of safeguarding innovation and user privacy in a rapidly evolving digital landscape solidified my commitment to these disciplines.”

After completing a political science undergraduate degree and a law degree from Brigham Young University, Sharma delved into human rights and antitrust work at the Washington, DC,

office of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll.

Following that role, she transitioned into positions as a privacy compliance attorney at Clearlink and an associate legal counsel at Adobe. In each position, she played a pivotal role in providing legal support at all stages of product development, including negotiating protections in IP, privacy, cybersecurity, and technology.

In 2022, she brought her expertise to Pluralsight, a global cloud-based technology skills platform aimed at enhancing proficiency in various tech domains.

It offers skill assessments, a curated

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About Pluralsight INDUSTRY

E-learning providers COMPANY SIZE

2,000+ employees HEADQUARTERS

Draper, UT FOUNDED

2004 S P E C I A LT I E S

AI Cybersecurity Ruby ASP.NET MVC Cisco Hardware and Networking Windows Server jQuery Visual Studio SharePoint MySQL iOS PHP Maya Developer to Architect Bootstrap Java MapReduce Hadoop After Effects C++ Virtualization Unity

Source: Pluralsight

library of expert-authored courses, directed learning paths, interactive content, and business analytics.

The company provides technology leaders with insights into workflow patterns for objective measurement of software developer productivity, online development, and IT training services worldwide that cater to professional developers, IT administrators, and creative artists across diverse sectors. In her role, she leads the privacy, cybersecurity, and IP legal team, fostering a privacy-first mindset and implementing robust protocols. Sharma continues to secure valuable IP protection for cutting-edge products and technologies.

“Technology grows at such a fast pace and keeping up with the changes is exciting, especially when you're positioned as a vanguard in ensuring privacy rights aren’t compromised,” says Sharma, a Nepal native. “In my role, I wear numerous hats and am able to influence change by forming relationships in different departments and helping the whole company think privacy first.”

In addition to bringing that privacy-first approach to Pluralsight, Sharma is focused on advising the organization on artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) compliance, conducting cybersecurity risk assessments, and championing privacy by design principles within product development cycles.

As a leader in the IP, privacy, technology, and cybersecurity

space, several issues occupy her thoughts, from the ongoing discourse on data privacy and AI/ ML regulations to the escalating threats of cyberattacks and IP theft. “Those challenges have made vigilance and innovation more important than ever,” she says.

“Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing present unprecedented opportunities alongside profound ethical dilemmas,” Sharma explains.

“Drawing inspiration from Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, I approach AI and machine learning-related legal guidance with a focus on ethical considerations and human well-being.

This intersection between technology and humanity fascinates me deeply as these advancements shape our language, culture, and even thought processes.”

Sharma strongly believes in the role women can play in making an impact in that space. That’s why she often engages in mentorship initiatives to empower and elevate their voices.

“Many women struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Many give credit to everyone but themselves and always want to go the extra mile to prove their worth or to prove themselves,” she says. “As a leader, I like to highlight the fact that I’m nothing without my colleagues and I offer encouragement constantly so they can believe in themselves and their abilities.”

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Patent Law Works congratulates Swati Sharma for this well-deserved recognition.

Swati – We appreciate the opportunity to work with you and applaud you for all your achievements at Pluralsight and beyond.

Stuti Charma

Swati Sharma Associate General Counsel Pluralsight

Sharma is looking forward to “contributing to a more secure and equitable world for all.”

“My dedication to IP, privacy, cybersecurity, and technology extends beyond professional realms—it’s integral to my identity,” she says. “I firmly believe that fostering innovation necessitates a steadfast commitment to protecting IP rights, preserving privacy, and mitigating cyberthreats. As I navigate these complex landscapes, I’m reminded of the profound influence technology holds on humanity’s future.”

Sharma credits much of her success to her drive to learn continuously, and she advises young professionals to develop a similar passion for learning.

“My late grandmother often said, ‘Always be hungry,’” Sharma says. “Ask for more, not just in terms of a higher salary, but seek a position where you can be positioned to gain deep knowledge. Be hungry, stay curious, question the status quo, and challenge the norm. That will make you grow automatically. People will grow to see that you are what you preach and then they’ll trust you, respect you, and invite you to be a credible voice at the table.”

Patent Law Works specializes in IP law.

Our attorneys are knowledgeable, engaged, and strategic in partnering with our clients to provide them with the highest level of legal services and protection of their IP.

Silicon Valley

Salt Lake City

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Simplify “SIMPLIFY AND SCALE” IS ANDREA

&

Flanagan’s mantra.

After leading the legal function at Tripwire, LeadVenture was a whole new ball game. Flanagan began as the sole member of the legal team, and before she could make it to “simplify and scale,” she had to build a roster at the software company. It was her first chance to build out a function from scratch, and the general counsel has delivered.

Value versus Volume

Scale Andrea Flanagan faced her biggest opponent in taking her GC role at LeadVenture: herself

By Billy Yost

In Flanagan’s previous roles, in the firm world as well as in-house, she understood the potential pitfalls of driving a team too hard. Flanagan is no stranger to long nights or the voice inside one’s head that demands as close to perfection as possible. She has never been particularly motivated by comparing herself to others because she’s got her hands full trying to measure up to her own expectations.

But that kind of work ethic isn’t inherently conducive to leading others.

“As I began leading legal teams, I found that that kind of mentality can wear people out,” the GC explains.

“It doesn’t matter how many rockstars you have on your team. Things are going to break or slip through the cracks, and I’ve learned to focus on prioritizing the value we can provide rather than the sheer volume of work.

With that mindset, I can emphasize my team taking care of themselves.

Lance Reis

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There will always be too much work— that’s the nature of working in-house—so you just need to prioritize and be OK with having a list of things you’re not going to be able to get to until tomorrow.”

Automation Opportunities

Flanagan has looked to automation and technology to create more high-level work for her team. She says things always being done one way doesn’t necessarily mean that’s how they should be done going forward, and she’s built a team around her that’s willing to challenge the status quo of workflow and innovation.

Flanagan has worked to retool legal structures within the business that may

be overly complicated because LeadVenture has grown several times through acquisitions over the years. There lies both the opportunity for simplifying and scaling.

The legal team implemented a contract lifecycle management (CLM) that served its initial purpose well, but as LeadVenture continues to grow, the legal team is looking for more self-service options.

At the same time, Flanagan says the implementation of a relational database sharing platform has helped automate processes and reporting. Finding the right vendors to work with the legal team’s budget can be challenging, but

Lance Reis

Andrea Flanagan General Counsel LeadVenture

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Flanagan is quick to point out that it’s a common theme among in-house legal departments.

Over the last three years, Flanagan has had the opportunity to get much more exposure to M&A, a process she had never been able to see through to completion previously in her career. Flanagan has navigated about two deals a year since coming to LeadVenture, and this work has allowed her to continue building out that skill set.

The Value of Balance

When Flanagan talks about wanting her team to be able to focus on their lives as much as their work, she has experienced that change in her own life firsthand.

After putting work before just about everything in her day-to-day life, she met and married her husband, Andrew, and gave birth to their daughter, all in just the last few years.

“When we started talking about having a family, this was something I really had to work through because before I met Andrew, I naturally worked ridiculous hours,” Flanagan says. “But suddenly there was this person in the world that I wanted to spend time with and then a daughter [whom] I wanted to be present for. I have this same drive inside me, but I now have to work with a bigger picture in my mind.”

Flanagan says she couldn’t imagine coming back to her job with less drive or motivation, it’s simply a matter of being OK with prioritization and honing her ability to address what needs it most at the right time.

The Flanagan family has worked to simplify and scale in its own unique way. Flanagan and her husband recently bought a small farm in Oregon’s Coastal Range and are slowly developing a homegrown agriculture tech (agtech) company that combines the passions of both Flanagan and her husband.

She spent her early summers on her grandparents’ wheat field, pulling weeds and learning to drive in a wheat truck.

“There is going to be a tremendous amount of land turnover in the next decade because of older farmers retiring,” Flanagan explains. “I hope we can be a small part of preventing ‘big ag’ from taking over all of those family farms. We want to encourage and support small-family farmers to continue that legacy.

It’s a wonderful adventure to take on together.”

Kirkland & Ellis is proud to join in recognizing our friend and client

Andrea Flanagan of LeadVenture A portfolio company of True Wind Capital and TA Associates

www.kirkland.com

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The global investment firm places diversity and inclusion at the heart of its mission

By Joseph Stark

Westlight/AdobeStock.com

Carlyle’s Commitment to DEI

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CARLYLE IS A GLOBAL INVESTMENT FIRM

that deploys private capital across its business and conducts its operations through global private equity, global credit, and global investment solutions.

At the heart of its mission to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and communities is a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In the US and Europe, Carlyle secured the largest ESG-linked credit facilities of more than $6 billion tied to achieving its goal of 30 percent diverse directors across its controlled portfolio companies by 2023. In 2021, 59 percent of the new directors added to goal-eligible companies were from underrepresented groups.

Those strides are a few of many that the firm has accomplished to reach its DEI goals.

DEI by the Numbers According to a Carlyle employee engagement survey:

87%

of employee respondents agree that Carlyle values diversity

82%

agree their managers take action to develop a diverse and inclusive team

64%

of US employees are women or ethnically diverse

71%

of 2023 new hires were women or ethnic minorities

50%

of total assets under management are managed by women

DEI Council

In 2018, the firm started its global DEI council, which comprises seventeen senior leaders that meet at least three times a year. They review the firmwide DEI strategy, help create inclusive environments, and work to build the systems needed to embed diversity and inclusion across business segments.

Establishing Carlyle DEI Leadership Network

In March 2022, Carlyle rolled out the Carlyle DEI Leadership Network, a coalition of the firm’s portfolio company CEOs around

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Simpson Thacher Proudly Supports the Work of

Anat Holtzman Head of Fund Formation for Global Private Equity, Senior Counsel and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group

We applaud Anat on Her Vision and Industry Leadership

the globe to develop a peer group for shared resources, insights, and learnings to advance DEI within their respective companies. In addition to annual meetings and quarterly expert DEI speaker series, CEOs have access to dedicated communication channels and resources to support actionable DEI initiatives.

CEO Kewsong Lee said the network aims “to ensure management teams have the tools and resources they need to drive meaningful change within their companies and the communities they touch.”

“We look forward to collaborating with the DEI Leadership Network to ensure management teams are equipped to lead and inspire as they drive focused progress across their organizations,” Lee said in a press release.

DEI Changemakers

Firm leaders like Anat Holtzman—head of fund formation for global private equity, senior counsel, and managing director—have focused on contributing to Carlyle’s DEI Changemakers program.

The DEI incentive award program rewards a select group of employees who have gone above and beyond to contribute to the firm’s DEI initiatives.

Since 2021, the firm has awarded about $2 million annually to over 180 changemakers.

Business and Community Support

NEW YOR K BEIJING BRUSSELS HONG KONG HOUSTON LONDON LOS A NGELES PA LO A LTO SÃO PAULO

TOK YO

WA SHINGTON, D.C.

Carlyle supports several initiatives to improve diversity and promote an inclusive culture for women and underrepresented professionals industry wide. Some of those efforts include: • Joining the Milken Institute as a strategic partner and first underwriter for the DEI in Asset Management Program.

• Becoming a signatory in the CFA Institute DEI CODE. • Ranking as a leader in the Equality Group’s Inclusive PE Index 2023.

• Earning a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for five years in a row.

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Bridging IT and Sandra Gallini serves as Shell USA’s managing counsel LIG, a role that allows her to speak two languages: IT and legal

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By Noah Johnson

Legal at Shell

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AS MANAGING COUNSEL LIG AT

Sandra Gallini Managing Counsel LIG Shell USA

Gallini, who grew up on a dairy farm in central Illinois, studied Spanish in college until a faculty advisor suggested that she pursue a career in the law. She went on to take the LSAT, attend the University of Illinois College of Law at Urbana-Champaign, and start her legal career at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale (now UB Greensfelder) in St. Louis, Missouri. For over a decade, she represented businesses in complex commercial litigation in the areas of antitrust and trade regulation, franchise and distribution, motor fuel marketing, and consumer fraud. She also helped modernize the litigation support department and managed e-discovery in complex litigation.

The latter responsibility opened her eyes to how technology could transform the discovery process.

Gallini first experienced electronic discovery in 2005 when she and her team needed to review and collect hundreds of thousands of emails for a commercial dispute. At that point, e-discovery tools were still relatively new and not user-friendly, so she had to rapidly get up to speed on what was possible. “That’s when I first started thinking deeply about how we could use technology to find what actually matters, especially when dealing with largely unreasonable requests from the claimants,” she remembers.

Monica Hindmarsh

Shell USA, Sandra Gallini manages a global e-discovery team that gathers and preserves potential evidence relevant to legal proceedings. The team has developed a strong process not only for identifying potential evidence for specific cases but also for keeping up with ever-changing technology, tracking platforms that Shell employees use to communicate, share documents, and create content.

In that capacity, Gallini prides herself on serving as an intermediary between groups that often speak different languages—IT and legal.

“We tend to talk past each other and often use different vocabulary,” she shares. “I spend my time trying to translate so the litigation team can stay ahead of technology adoption and keep up with the pace of change. We can’t possibly know everything that’s happening in the organization, but when we partner with IT colleagues, we can educate them on the importance of document preservation and Shell’s disclosure obligations in litigation. Meanwhile, we help the legal team understand what technology can do for them.”

Since stepping into her role in 2021, Gallini has closed that gap and more.

In addition to being a bridge between technologists and legal professionals, she has focused on building relationships across the organization.

“I surround myself with people who are smarter than me in their area of expertise and I try to support them to do great things,” Gallini says. “I try hard not to get in their way. I don’t know everything and look to my immediate team and business and IT colleagues to fill in the gaps. I like to be around people that I can learn from.”

29

About Shell

87,000 employees

70+ countries

30 million customers

45,000 retail service stations

Specialty in chemicals

Oil and gas industry

Source: Shell

She credits that journey to shaping her into the leader she is today.

“I have learned from every relationship I’ve built. I’ve had the opportunity to manage complex discovery issues and use the discovery process to further an overall litigation strategy.

I enjoy putting the puzzle together, taking these different documents and putting them together in ways that help tell a story when presented in court,” she says.

Gallini advises the next generation of lawyers to be curious. “Learn new things; don’t be afraid to ask why we do what we do,” she recommends.

“Being curious is a critical part to individual and professional growth.”

Drive Decisions.

Accelerate Outcomes.

30

Implement

Andrew Gratz Transforms Lawyers into Leaders Andrew Gratz is ensuring the next generation of lawyers are prepared to inspire and lead

By Will Grant

A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO,

Andrew Gratz was attending an executive development program at LyondellBasell, a publicly traded petrochemical company where he has led numerous legal and compliance teams over the past fifteen years. During a robust discussion on leadership development, Gratz’s mind focused on a critical query: Why isn’t leadership taught and strongly encouraged within the legal profession?

David Fox

Mo dern Couns el

“Reflecting on the early stages of my career, and after talking with peers and colleagues, I realized that the legal profession doesn’t focus enough on the need for lawyers to develop into effective leaders,” says Gratz, who currently serves as associate general counsel at LyondellBasell. “I believe this deficiency is one of the primary reasons why disenchantment and disengagement is rampant among legal practitioners. If lawyers are expected to lead, we must equip them with the proper skills and training to do so. While I’ve been very fortunate to work with incredible leaders and mentors, especially in-house, the legal profession, in and of itself, has a leadership gap that needs to be addressed.”

After having his epiphany on the leadership gap within the legal profession, Gratz decided he would not be a passive observer. He immediately took action. Incorporating lessons learned from his multidecade legal career, MBA education, and work in government relations, Gratz wrote a series of articles for Corporate Counsel magazine on how lawyers can develop effective and efficient legal teams. However, sharing this thought leadership was only the first step in Gratz’s journey.

Believing he needed to do more to close the leadership gap within the legal profession, Gratz quickly transitioned from writing articles to developing a semester-long class for law students at his alma mater, the University of Houston Law Center. Without any prior teaching experience, Gratz developed the criteria, goals, and expectations for Lawyers as Leaders, a class dedicated to providing critical leadership skills and training to lawyers.

“Andrew’s contribution to the legal profession and his desire to inspire the

next generation of lawyers is incredible. I’ve been very impressed with how many people he has impacted in such a short amount of time,” Justin Savage, partner and global coleader of the environmental practice at Sidley Austin LLP, says.

“My goal in developing Lawyers as Leaders was simple. I wanted to equip law students with the leadership acumen vital for success, both in and out of the legal realm,” Gratz says. “For this reason, as I was developing this class, I met with business leaders across a variety of industries. Each said they wanted more from their legal partners.

All wanted their legal teams to demonstrate more effective leadership, regardless if they were being asked to manage transactions, litigation matters, global risk, board concerns, or investigations.

“The overall consensus was that many lawyers are not pragmatic and

31

Andrew Gratz Associate General Counsel LyondellBasell

32

Implement

“At the end of the day, business leaders want an attorney who sees not only the risk but the reward as well.” business-minded,” he continues. “At the end of the day, business leaders want an attorney who sees not only the risk but the reward as well. They want leaders on their legal teams, not just technocrats.”

Gratz also spoke with numerous general counsels and managing partners from many Am Law 50 firms. “I wanted to know what kind of gaps and concerns they saw in our profession.

I also asked how these legal leaders effectively lead their organizations and the skills required to manage sophisticated and experienced legal teams,” Gratz says.

“Andrew stands out for his strategic mindset, insight, and creativity in leading diverse teams and complex transactions. He focuses on the long game and really raises the bar for his peers and colleagues,” says Herschel Hamner, partner at Sidley Austin LLP. Based on the feedback he received from students and legal practitioners as a result of teaching Lawyers as Leaders, and fueled by his relentless drive and collaborative spirit, Gratz approached the University of Houston Law Center with the idea to establish an initiative dedicated to providing critical leadership skills and training to the entire Houston legal community. The University of Houston Law Center established the Initiative on Lawyers as Leaders

in early 2024, partly based on Gratz’s thought leadership, with the aim of demonstrating through class offerings, lectures, scholarship, mentoring, and forums that leadership has an appointed role in the practice of law. Gratz’s goals for the Initiative are front and center: “The Initiative on Lawyers as Leaders at the University of Houston Law Center is dedicated to providing law students the skills and knowledge needed to assume leadership roles in the public and private sector and promoting the study of what it means to be an effective and productive leader outside of the legal community.”

Amidst teaching his second semester, the class Gratz created isn’t just another academic venture—it’s a catalyst for change that he hopes will reach beyond the Houston legal community.

By challenging students to define their leadership ethos and explore their values, he hopes to ignite a passion for purpose-driven leadership in the next generation of legal professionals. “Making sure your client looks to you, not simply as a lawyer, but as a valued advisor, counselor, and leader, is the key to a successful career,” Gratz explains. “Academia, corporations, law firms, and nonprofits must work together to help lawyers achieve this vital goal.”

SIDLEY CONGRATULATES

Andrew Gratz Associate General Counsel for LyondellBasell ON BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HIS INGENUITY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. We join Modern Counsel in recognizing Andrew for his contributions to the legal industry and thank LyondellBasell for our continued partnership.

Attorney Advertising - Sidley Austin LLP is a global law firm. Our addresses and contact information can be found at www.sidley.com/en/locations/offices. MN-20316

AMERICA • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE

sidley.com

34

PURPOSE

THE

I S S U E Eight executives take us into the why behind their work and how they align their professional lives with personal values

35

MODERN COUNSEL

36 40 43 46 50 54 58 64

L AU R E N K I N G Cboe Global Markets

IAN BOLDEN Akima

E R I N YO U N G Extended Stay America

FELIX SHARPE Humana

ANGIE NOLET Redfin

JUSTIN PRUETT HCA Healthcare

LISA M. KPOR United Airlines

BREANA JETER Wells Fargo

36

PURPOSE

CaLL the

Lauren King wants to be the business partner you want to hear from at Cboe Global Markets B Y B I L LY Y O S T

37

MODERN COUNSEL

L

auren King (née Bever) always

Given her pur v iew, K ing can’t

knew she’d wind up in-house,

delve into minute details, but she

even as an undergraduate. And by the

says she takes her partnership and

time she was wrapping up her private

relationship-building with Cboe’s HR

practice career, she was already pro-

department incredibly seriously. She is

viding employment law counsel when

tasked with rolling out numerous global

not litigating.

initiatives and projects. Her role requires

Coming to Cboe Global Markets has

constant communication, particularly

afforded King the opportunity to help

when it comes to legal changes that have

make a great employer even better.

affected workplaces of all kinds.

“Cboe aligned with so much of

“The law in the employment space is

what I care about as an attorney,” King

ever changing, and I’ve enjoyed working

explains. “ This company treats its

with our HR team, the executive team,

people very well, and to be frank, that

and the rest of legal team to navigate

makes my job [as director and assistant

all the changes and understand the

general counsel] a lot easier. What I’ve

risks associated.”

been motivated to do in my own work is

Cboe’s legal department is a proud

to figure out how to be more proactive

partner and supporter of the Lead-

than reactive—and work to understand

ership Council on Legal Diversit y

all the things that make this place run

and its development programs. King,

so well.”

along with others in the department,

King was Cboe’s first employmentspecific attorney hire. Over the course of

is a graduate of the organization’s Pathfinder program.

two years, King got to build the role as

In bridging the gap between legal

she dived deep into learning about her

and HR, King says she wants to act as

employer. In return, the legal department

a partner, not an inhibitor of progress.

provided her with myriad opportunities

The AGC is well aware that “talking to

for skill growth, exposure to substantive

legal” often feels like a last resort in

matters, and time to build relationships

many companies, but that is not the

with senior executives and the board. It

culture within Cboe’s legal team. She

wasn’t long before it became apparent

knows that it might be natural for team

that King was overseeing an entire legal

members to feel a twinge of panic when

area, and a promotion followed.

she pings them, and she works to build

LAUREN KING (NÉE BEVER) Director and Assistant General Counsel Cboe Global Markets

PURPOSE

bridges that invite discussion and collaboration, not worry.

King sits in on weekly HR leadership calls and has endeavored to make herself a familiar face and voice in the HR department. The director sees herself as a guide to uniting business goals and HR goals. Even if she can’t immediately say yes to a proposal, she will find a way to get to a solution that works for everyone.

All this work, King explains, is easier because of Cboe’s culture.

“I tell job candidates this: One of our guiding principles here is to create a world-class employee experience. Without a doubt in the world, I can tell you that from my experience, this company walks the walk,” King says. “The fact that I know this company values people’s lives outside of work makes my job easier. It makes the legal team’s job easier. Not every company is perfect, but I’ve never once dreaded coming to work. The culture here just makes that impossible.”

Yevgeniy Koval

38

MODERN COUNSEL

Not every company is perfect, but I’ve never once dreaded coming to work. The culture here just makes that impossible.”

Unlike a great percentage of in-house teams, Cboe’s legal department is committed to pro bono work in the communities where Cboe operates. King and another colleague just took over leading the legal team’s pro bono committee.

39

Winston & Strawn applauds Lauren Bever for her leadership, vision, and commitment to Cboe Global Markets, and for her dedication to the field of employment law.

For more than 170 years, Winston & Strawn has served as a trusted advisor and advocate to companies in a broad array of industries. The firm has built a global law practice based on an uncompromising commitment to quality and client service.

She says it’s a tremendous opportunity for legal professionals to step outside their comfort zones and practice a different kind of law.

“You may be a transactional lawyer who is reviewing contracts every day, but you can help someone who has recently arrived in the country prepare their asylum application,” King says. “Our outside counsel firms team up with us and provide support to help us help people.

It’s such rewarding work.”

At the moment, King is struggling to find extra time for much of anything. At the time of speaking, she’s just a month away from getting married, though the stress isn’t showing. She’s used to a fast pace and ensures that no matter what, life comes first, then work. But when it comes to work, the lawyer loves what she does, and it shows.

NORTH AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA EUROPE ASIA winston.com

40

PURPOSE

When You

to

Find

BALANCE Ian Bolden’s journey to the law was rife with challenges, but now he makes time for what matters most at Akima B Y B I L LY Y O S T

41

MODERN COUNSEL

I

n 2018, Ian Bolden found himself at an impasse. The private prac-

tice attorney had garnered incredible experience in real estate, oil and gas, and civil litigation. By any metric, Bolden, current director and corporate counsel at Akima, was an unmitigated success.

He rose from economic instability in San Antonio. Out of his eight hundred high school graduating class, the attorney knows of only one other person who became a lawyer and one who became a

IAN BOLDEN Director and Corporate Counsel of Legal Services Akima

physician. Bolden had done it, against great odds. But in 2018, while his gratitude remained, his heart was heavy.

“I remember seeing that Anthony Bourdain had taken his life,” Bolden explains. “Around the same time, Kate Spade did the same. And it just took me back to a few years prior when an older attorney I knew from back in the day

“I wanted to go somewhere where

At present, Akima’s growth and

passed away. There were so many people

there was a mission that was important

expansion into new markets continue to

at the funeral. But you know what?

to me,” Bolden says. “I took a chance in

provide new and interesting challenges.

The next day, the world kept spinning.

coming here, but over time, I figured

Bolden says his department streamlines

Regardless of whether you have a dream

out that I’m good at this. I can take the

processes for a company that is made up

job or are famous or wealthy, work isn’t

time to research an issue when I need

of many different businesses. Addition-

going to be the only thing that makes

to and not worry about billable hours or

ally, his team is working to create more

you whole.”

staying up until midnight trying to make

readily accessible institutional knowl-

a deadline.”

edge so that turnover or retirements

Adrian Kadir

In 2019, Bolden decided to go in-house at Akima, whose work in federal

That doesn’t mean the transition

don’t throw a wrench in the works.

government contracting runs the gamut

in-house was easy. Bolden’s predecessor

“Every time there is a personnel

from facilities and ground logistics, IT,

gave him some advice that proved true.

change, you have to figure out not just

and protective services, among others.

He told the lawyer that it would take him

their own workflow and process, but how

It’s incredibly demanding work, espe-

six months to start feeling remotely com-

to adapt that for the next person coming

cially with the growth the company has

fortable in understanding the true scope

in,” Bolden explains. “We’re heavily

experienced in recent years. For Bolden,

of his role. In that time, Bolden joined a

focused on streamlining our processes

it’s the right balance of challenging

small but mighty legal team with a focus

and ensuring the company can scale to

work and time to focus on his family and

on labor and employment as well as

meet the demands that come with the

holistic health.

litigation management.

growth we’ve seen over the last few years.”

42

PURPOSE

Bolden has already been promoted since coming to Akima as a staff attorney, but his journey to the law somehow seems more challenging than any legal role he may ever tackle.

The lawyer-to-be grew up in a trailer home in an unincorporated area of Texas within the San Antonio metropolitan area. In his early childhood, his mother worked constantly to support the family, and his father wasn’t around. The only job Bolden even considered growing up was teaching or law enforcement.

“I had no exposure to professionals, for the most part,” Bolden remembers. “I only knew what I saw, and that was teachers and police. I’m fortunate that I was pretty good at school. I think it would have been very easy to go down a different path.”

Through a friend, Bolden got a job at a law firm, where mentors encouraged him to pursue law school.

But first he had to make it through undergrad. He worked part-time at the law firm, part-time as a pizza delivery driver, and went to class during the day. Law school was the same, working full-time and attending class at night.

“It was a lot,” Bolden says, laughing. “I remember seeing the bar passage rates in Texas at the time, and they weren’t great. I remember wondering even if I managed to make it through law school, would I be able to be an attorney?”

Bolden’s pr imar y concer n t hese days is ensur ing his ten-yea r-old daughter’s wellbeing. The attorney knows what it means to grow up without a father around, so he’s an active presence in his daughter’s life.

The lawyer is also an avid exercise enthusiast and loves games in all forms. When time permits during evening wind down, you can find him enjoying the latest video game releases with his daughter or playing Spelling Bee and Connections with his wife, who is also a lawyer.

The Kullman Firm: “Ian is a first-rate lawyer who quickly identifies the overall objective and understands what is required to achieve that objective. He is great to work with: tenacious, strategic, and pragmatic.”

—Sam Zurik III, Shareholder

T

43

MODERN COUNSEL

TRAILBLAZING in the

Hospitality Industry Erin Young shares her role and responsibilities, her leadership philosophy, and her work/life balance journey at Extended Stay America

BY NOAH JOHNSON

A

t

E x t e nde d

Stay

As the company’s first attorney ded-

can’t effectively organize if people don’t

America, no day is the

icated to managing its litigation, Young

understand what you want and what your

same for senior litigation counsel Erin

explains that she’s had to stay prepared

perspective is.”

Young. Since stepping into the role in

for the unexpected while blazing new

That change in perspective ties into

2022, Young has leveraged over two

trails and developing a more cohesive

advice she has for young people who

decades of private practice experience

litigation strategy.

might have similar struggles on their

to manage litigation in a role that’s new

Developing relat ionships w it h

way to success: trust yourself.

to the leader and the company, which has

outside counsel and internal business

“People doing the most speaking

over six hundred hotels in the US. It’s an

colleagues have been paramount to those

aren’t always the most knowledgeable,”

opportunity that’s brought its fair share

ends. That’s why the leader prioritizes

Young says. “You need to realize that

of challenges and opportunities.

clear and concise communication as she

you belong in the room and that your

“One day, I might be dealing with

navigates the complexities of her work

perspective matters. Know that you add

a slip-and-fall case. The next, I might

and the dynamic nature of her role. But

value to discussions and to the environ-

have to learn about emotional support

she admits that tendency didn’t always

ments that you’re in.”

animals after a guest leaves exotic birds

come naturally to her.

Young traces her ability to communi-

in their hotel room,” she says. “Also,

“As a young Black female attorney, I

cate and to advocate for herself back to

we often have guest who stay for long

struggled with imposter syndrome and

her twenty-three years in private prac-

periods of time and our hotels become

shrunk in my seat at times. I didn’t speak

tice, when she gained extensive experi-

little communities for some people, so

up even when I knew I was right,” she

ence in mediations, depositions, client

there’s a lot of conflict management.”

shares. “But over time, I learned that you

counseling, and risk mitigation. But that

44

PURPOSE

ERIN YOUNG’S CAREER LEGACY journey also showed her the value of having a healthy work/ life balance. For years, she rolled up her sleeves and buried herself in her litigation work. She didn’t realize the toll it took until February 2021, when she was diagnosed with cancer.

“While undergoing chemotherapy, I realized that the stress from the boots-on-the-ground litigation I did for my entire career was not something I could keep up,” she says. “I always enjoyed litigation, but I started to be worn out by the kind of conflict that’s necessary in that type of environment.”

The realization hit home as she recovered from a surgery for six weeks. It was the first time in her career that she was completely logged off and wasn’t actively checking her emails.

ERIN YOUNG Senior Litigation Counsel Extended Stay America

Tony Powell

“I hope it will be that I paved the way for those who look like me and who worked hard to practice ethically. If I said I’d do something, I’d do it. I want to be remembered as someone who is true to her word and has never tried to be someone she wasn’t.”

Erin Young Ad.pdf

MODERN COUNSEL

45

You need to realize that you belong in the room and that your perspective matters.

Know that you add value to discussions and to the environments that you’re in.”

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

She describes it as “one of the most

patient support. As a board member

relaxing six weeks I ever had.”

for the organization’s Making Strides

“At that point, I determined that I

Against Breast Cancer movement,

couldn’t let the most relaxing time in

Young has leveraged her network to

my life be cancer treatment,” she says.

spread awareness and raise funds.

“I needed to switch gears. I did enjoy

She’s been inspired by Extended

some aspects of litigation and wanted

Stay’s partnership with the organi-

to keep my irons in the fire, but I

zation to provide critical resources.

needed a different environment.”

C

“Extended Stay has a special part-

The Extended Stay opportunity

nership with the organization, in

was the perfect fit—not only because

which they provide money and rooms

of the shift in her responsibilities

to those traveling for treatment and

but also because of the company’s

who are staying in another location,”

support for organizations like the

she says. “As a breast cancer survivor,

American Cancer Society, which

it’s been impactful to see and be part

aims to improve the lives of people

of a movement that provides a lot of

with cancer and their families

information and resources that many

through advocacy, research, and

people don’t realize are available.”

4

3/13/24

2:59 PM

46

PURPOSE

The

Best

BEDSIDE MANNER Felix Sharpe is an empathetic advocate for Humana’s frontline employees B Y B I L LY Y O S T

47

MODERN COUNSEL

FELIX SHARPE Counsel Humana

I

f you’re a born litigator considering going in-house, you should talk

to Felix Sharpe. Sharpe went to firm Dinsmore & Shohl for one reason and one reason only: he wanted to try cases. Over six years, Sharpe argued brand protection, commercial issues, torts, product liability, and a variety of other cases, billing a few twentyfour-hour days in the process. Sharpe got first-, second-, third-, and fourth-chair jury trial opportunities that he got to push through both state and federal courts.

So why did a natural trial lawyer agree to take on in-house counsel roles for Humana Inc.? The decision wasn’t easy, but Sharpe’s first contact at his firm had moved to Humana. Sharpe knew that if he gave it a chance, he would find a way to thrive in-house—but only if he elected not to take on a partnership at his firm.

“I wasn’t comfortable with that much change, to be honest,” Sharpe says. “I didn’t know what the other side would be like. But after just a little bit of time, I realized that the work would be very similar—just from a different perspective.”

The lawyer says that in a law firm, he

Terrence F. Humphrey

felt like the pilot, where he was singularly responsible for moving his work ahead.

In-house, Sharpe likens himself to an air traffic controller. He’s had to grow a different kind of skill set to align objectives in litigation with the overall objectives at Humana.

48

FINDING A WAY While Felix Sharpe says there are a million mothers who have done the same thing, he still expresses pride that he made it through law school as a single father.

He couldn’t say how he got any studying done while posted up at a trampoline park with his young son, but he found a way. Sharpe says a wonderful babysitter, his grandparents, his mother, and one of his very best friends did everything they could to support him as a young father.

“I’m not sure how I did it, but I didn’t give myself any other choice,” Sharpe says. “There was no other choice but to raise my son.”

PURPOSE

When it comes to brand protection, Sharpe says his job is providing

have simply consolidated the case into a single complaint.

proper “bedside manner” for nurses

“That kind of litigation is much

and care providers who have done

more strategically business-minded,”

their very best in difficult situations.

Sharpe says. “I wanted to be a litigator,

The difference between a litigator

and I get to handle interesting cases

who does their work perfectly and

and issues across the spectrum.”

a litigator who does the same while

And while Sharpe may not be

emotionally supporting their client

arguing as many cases in court these

through one of the hardest periods of

days, he has a long history of provid-

their lives is the difference between a

ing help and support to communities

good lawyer and a great one.

that need all the help they can get.

“I tell those nurses that I have their

For instance, the law yer has

back,” Sharpe explains. “I understand

long been involved with nonprofit

they’re scared, and they’ve never met

legal services provider the Legal Aid

me before. But me, this outside lawyer

Society. He remembers a woman he

I’ve hired, and our little team are there

represented in a domestic violence

for you. I give them my cell phone

case, who ultimately divorced her

number and tell them they can contact

husband of decades. Sharpe didn’t

me at any time. In this world, it seems

want the woman to have to turn to

like no good deed goes unpunished,

another attorney to work through

and I want our people to know that we

divorce proceedings, so he handled

stand behind them and the amazing

them himself.

work that they do.”

Sharpe has also worked exten-

While those cases can be more

sively on behalf of the Ronald McDon-

emotional and, frankly, adversarial at

ald House. It’s an organization he was

times, Sharpe also handles provider

exposed to early in his career, even

litigation that (mostly) seems to keep

before he was a practicing attorney.

the gloves on. The adversarial part of

And while Sharpe’s pro bono

the process is much more procedural,

opportunities may not be as numer-

Sharpe explains. Instead of having a

ous as they were when he was a firm

plaintiff attorney getting confronta-

lawyer, he still regularly takes part in

tional with him in person, he might

events and communications on behalf

be met with fifty individual lawsuits,

of the Legal Aid Society and the Lead-

when the attorneys involved could

ership Council on Legal Diversity.

49

Here’s to healthier days!

Those pro bono opportunities gave Sharpe even more courtroom experience, with the added satisfaction of knowing he was helping people who couldn’t otherwise afford legal representation.

“Young lawyers want to get experience, and you’re just not going to get that as a first-year,” Sharpe says. “I cut my teeth on those domestic violence order cases, getting a file on Friday and having to show up at a hearing on Monday morning. I learned how to prepare witnesses, gather as much

High Stakes.

High Volume.

High Impact.

evidence as I could, and crossexamine witnesses. It’s valuable work that makes you feel good.”

With approximately 900 lawyers across 18 offices, Seyfarth provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide.

Supporting the dedicated work of Felix Sharpe, Fennemore stands proudly by his side as he continues guiding Humana in its mission to offer personalized care and invest in the health and happiness of its members.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP: “It is always a pleasure to work with Felix. He is smart, strategic, and a true collaborator.

In approaching complex legal issues, Felix works hard to understand business goals in guiding Humana’s defense.”

—Amanda L. Genovese, Partner

www.seyfarth.com

FennemoreLaw.com

50

PURPOSE

THE

CHANGE Y

O

U

Angie Nolet creates a supportive work environment at Redfin, where she leads with an emphasis on efficiency, exploration, and empathy

BY NOAH JOHNSON

A

NEED ngie Nolet knew she

Initially, Nolet found the transition

ne e de d a c h a n g e .

from private practice jarring—but in a

While she met great people and honed

good way. In prior roles, her time was

her legal skills in civil litigation and gov-

a commodity. She “measured her life in

ernment work as a deputy prosecutor in

six-minute increments,” so every slight

Washington, and as an associate for two

delay became a stressor, she says. At

Seattle-based firms, maintaining work/

Redfin, she measures the value she pro-

life balance was a persistent issue.

vides by how she supports the organiza-

“After trying around twenty cases to verdict [at the King County prosecuting attorney’s office], that work became

tion and strengthens its products.

The shif t in cult ure was just as significant.

really emotionally draining,” she recalls.

“In private practice, you wouldn’t just

“Moving over to the private sector in

shoot the breeze with someone for half an

construction litigation became unten-

hour, because that’s 0.5 and that’s time

able as well, as I wanted to start a family

you’re going to have to make up later,”

and found myself under a quite a bit of

she says. “Whereas on the corporate side,

personal stress.”

building personal relationships is in the

In 2021, she joined Redfin as corporate counsel. The technology-

best interest of the business because it makes your team stronger.”

powered real estate company helps

Today, as senior corporate counsel

people find homes and offers broker-

of litigation, Nolet still emphasizes

age, rental, lending, title insurance, and

relationship-building. By streamlin-

renovation services.

ing e-discovery processes through

Snappr

Redfin

PURPOSE

ANGIE NOLET Senior Corporate Counsel of Litigation Redfin

technology and software solutions, she has

the space to pursue their interests and

formed strong partnerships with individu-

relevant resources to expand their knowl-

als across the organization.

edge. These themes are prevalent in her

“Jumping into this role, I didn’t realize how far-reaching this work would

conversations with a team member during standing meetings.

be,” she says. “It’s allowed me to work

“We talk through issues we see in

cross-functionally with people from engi-

cases on a macro and micro level, striving

neering, information security, and data

to marry legal and business advice,” Nolet

analytics to build something that now

says. “And when a colleague expressed

functions very efficiently and very well.”

interest in learning more about specific

Nolet cur rent ly r uns t he hig h-

aspects of e-discovery, I took her with me

performing litigation and e-discovery

to industry events and gave her resources

system she created. She and her team

to explore the topic.”

review data from each case to analyze

Past and current supervisors have

where the company litigates most effi-

inspired Nolet’s leadership style, which

ciently and where to deploy improvements

she believes is key to making her team feel

or alternative strategies.

happier and more motivated.

As a leader, Nolet takes pride in devel-

“If someone tells you to be in a box, then

oping others. She gives her colleagues

you might go in, sit there, and be mildly

Snappr

52

MODERN COUNSEL

53

The message I want to convey to those who work in my orbit is that people have things going on. We owe it to everyone to approach them with kindness and grace.” fulfilled. But if someone shows you

I left things where they were. But the

six boxes—and tells you to test them

second this happened, my team gave

out and to build on top of the one you

me the space to focus on my health

like—that makes you more passionate

and my baby. There was no pressure to

and creative,” she says. “I don’t just

pick anything up. My team’s forbear-

want people to thrive because of the

ance allowed me to recover from that

work product they create. I want them

traumatic ordeal.”

to thrive as a person holistically. I matured by leaps and bounds on a per-

Nolet walked away from that experience with an important insight.

sonal and professional level by being

“You never know what’s going

given that support, so I really want to

on in people’s lives,” she says. “The

pay it forward.”

message I want to convey to those who

In part, Nolet’s drive to be flexi-

work in my orbit is that people have

ble and supportive of her team comes

things going on. We owe it to every-

from the support they offered her

one to approach them with kindness

during a tough time. During a chal-

and grace.”

An Innovative and Dynamic Leader Paul, Weiss congratulates Angie Nolet, Redfin Corp.’s Senior Corporate Counsel of Litigation, for her proactive leadership and creative vision; her collaborative approach to problem solving; her dedication to lifelong learning and professional excellence; and her unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation of legal leaders.

lenging pregnancy, she spent hours in the hospital three days a week and even worked from her hospital bed. Then her daughter was born two months prematurely, swiftly putting Nolet out of commission. Her team stepped up.

“It wasn’t a warm handoff to the people who had to cover for me,” she recalls. “It was like walking into the middle of open-heart surgery because

Exterro: "Congratulations, Angie, from your partners at Exterro. Your intelligence, drive, and leadership are blazing a new trail for innovative in-house counsel to manage legal and data risks!"

—Bobby Balachandran, President and CEO

Paul, Weiss, Ri�ind, Wharton & Garrison LLP paulweiss.com

54

PURPOSE

PRUETT

Justin Pruett manages complex claims at HCA Healthcare to shield healthcare providers, ensure the integrity of patient care, and reach fair outcomes when disputes arise

BY ZACH BALIVA

IS

Shanden Delamater

JUSTIN

55

MODERN COUNSEL

T

here are some workplace

to feel like a suffocating small town. He

conversat ions

Just in

headed northeast and crossed into Vir-

Pruett will never forget. He’s counseled

ginia to attend a small liberal arts college

OB-GYNs after newborns have died in

known as Bridgewater, where he became

their care and sat across the table from

the youngest student body vice presi-

parents of children paralyzed in auto-

dent during his sophomore year. It was

mobile accidents. Pruett is the director

quite the accomplishment for a gay Black

of claims at HCA Healthcare, one of the

man from the south who would soon

largest for-profit healthcare systems in

become the first in his family to finish a

the United States. Despite the fact that

four-year degree.

Pruett, a lawyer by trade, is charged

Although he faced obstacles along

with managing claims and risk for

the way, Pruett benefited from a strong

over seventy medical facilities, he’s not

support network. “I knew what I wanted

focused solely on HCA’s financial inter-

to do and how to get there. I just needed

ests; he’s committed to doing right by

open doors,” he explains. Those who

both provider and patient.

recognized Pruett’s passion pushed

Those who best know Pruett use one

him forward.

word to describe him: determined. The

Still, an advanced degree seemed out

Nashville, Tennessee, native confesses

of reach for a young man of modest means.

to driving his mother crazy as a talkative

Pruett applied to law school with recom-

and energetic child. By age thirteen, he

mendations and referrals from Bridge-

wasn’t sure if he had the gift of gab or

water’s professors, deans, and board

if he just couldn’t shut up. Pruett later

members. Months later, an award letter

signed up for his high school’s mock trial

came in the mail. Pruett had been offered a

team to find out. It didn’t take long for his

scholarship to Roger Williams University

teachers and coaches to affirm his talent.

School of Law. He turned it down.

Soon, he was taking advantage of every

Why? The ambitious twenty-one-

opportunity to hone skills related to

year-old needed some time to catch his

writing, public speaking, and the power

breath. He put law school on pause (RWU

of persuasion.

agreed to hold his scholarship), tested the

After Pruett walked across the stage

legal waters as a paralegal, and got into

to receive his diploma, Nashville started

insurance adjusting. When he resumed

56

PURPOSE

I’m driven by service for others and being involved in the communities that I grew up in or identify with. It’s all about lifting people up.”

his academic career, Pruett became a student bar association president and a moot court national champion.

Years as a law clerk, settlement negotiator, and litigation specialist prepared Pruett to join HCA as a senior claims supervisor in 2020. Eleven days after his arrival, COVID19 forced him to learn his job and HCA’s culture remotely.

Pruett says the pandemic also changed the public’s perception of healthcare workers.

“It seems like many frontline care providers went from heroes to something else overnight,” he says. “I push the real narrative: we are here to serve and treat and care for people in need.”

That belief guides all Pruett does to administer the hundreds of high-value medical malpractice claims that come across his desk. As a leader in HCA’s captive risk and insurance department, he manages four colleagues to assist HCA facilities and employees when they are sued or have claims filed against them. He also guides defense counsel and decides whether HCA will pursue litigation or agree to a settlement.

Pruett and many of his family members were born in HCA hospitals. Perhaps that fact is part of what motivates him to find reasonable solutions that work for all parties. “We as an organization are committed to the care “I’m driven by service for others and being involved in the communities that I grew up in or identify with. It’s all about lifting people up.”

Shanden Delamater

and improvement of human life,” he says.

JUSTIN PRUETT Director of Claims, HCA Risk & Insurance HCA Healthcare

57 STEED DUNNILL REYNOLDS BAILEY STEPHENSON LLP Attorneys

&Counselors

Aaron Ryan, a partner at Hall, Prangle and Schoonveld shares, “Justin is a genuine person and a rising star. Professionally, he manages claims with insight

Justin Pruett

and intelligence. Personally, he is involved with his alma mater and within the community. I have wondered how he finds the time, but he does.”

HCA now has facilities in twenty US states and in the UK. Together, its providers deliver

We are a full service, general practice law firm specializing in: Healthcare Liability Defense, General Insurance Defense and Healthcare Administrative Law, including representing Healthcare Providers in investigations and Licensure proceedings before the Texas Medical Board or the Texas Board of Nursing.

care to more than 43 million patients each year, and its firstquarter revenue in 2024 topped $17 billion. HCA is thriving, and Pruett is content to grow along with the organization. He hopes to r un his ow n depar tment, and then, perhaps, an entire insurance company.

For now, Pruett is focused on giving back. “I try to model myself after the people who helped me, so it’s important for me to engage and stay active in my community,” he says. The veteran lawyer and claims professional is a member of the Bridgewater College Board of Trustees. He also serves on the Board of Nashville Launch Pad, the only LGBTQ-affirming shelter for

H EALT HCAR E LI AB I LI T Y DEF ENSE

young adults in the region.

Pruett enjoys talking to young

GENERAL I NSURANC E DEF ENSE

people about topics like financial literacy and his own experience coming out. The latter took him three tries. “Coming out wasn’t easy, but being my most authentic version is the best gift I could

2800 Ponce de Leon Boulevard Suite Suite 800 Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 448-3939

HEALT H CAR E ADMI NI ST RAT I VE LAW

wickersmith.com

www.steedlawfirm.com

have given myself,” he says. “It took a lot to get here, but this is who I am, and nobody will tell me any different.”

58

PURPOSE

Even Thirty Minutes of

Mentoring Can Be

Lisa M. Kpor says serving as a mentor isn’t a choice for her. It’s a way of life at United Airlines and beyond.

BY WILL GRANT

Kinda Arzon Photography @kindaarzonphotography

LISA M. KPOR Litigation Counsel United Airlines

60

PURPOSE

B

y the time Modern Counsel

Services. Her internship was a part of a fed-

spoke with Lisa M. Kpor,

erally funded program under the Workforce

litigation counsel at United Airlines, the

Investment Act. Kpor has fond memories

attorney had already been on two separate

of learning office etiquette, alphabetizing

networking calls that morning, advocat-

disheveled files, and donning fashion-

ing for the professionals she mentors and

able hand-me-downs from a family friend

reaching back to those following in her

during that internship.

footsteps. Such discussions aren’t new to

After graduating from high school,

her. Kpor has been filled with the desire to

Kpor took a leap from the East Coast to

provide guidance, mentorship, and advice

the Midwest by attending Oberlin College,

to the next generation of lawyers since the

where she majored in politics and German.

very beginning of her career.

It was at Oberlin College that she became

“Giv ing back has never seemed

a Sidley Prelaw Scholar, which made LSAT

[optional] to me,” Kpor says. She describes

prep classes and law school applications

how her humble upbringing and uncon-

much more affordable for her. Years later,

ventional path to a rewarding legal career

while studying at the University of Illinois

ignited her spark to give back and mentor

College of Law, Kpor secured a summer

others across the nation. The litigation

associate position at Holland & Knight

expert personally understands the chal-

through the Leadership Council for Legal

lenges that can confront law students and

Diversity’s 1L Scholars program.

young lawyers who are not born into or

Kpor ultimately went on to practice lit-

surrounded by a network of professionals

igation and entertainment law for nearly

at an early age.

nine years at Holland & Knight, repre-

Kpor grew up in Newport News, Vir-

senting Fortune 500 companies, Grammy

ginia, in a part of the city that was plagued

Award-winning musicians, closely held

with poverty, gun violence, and gangs.

businesses, financial institutions, and pro

She was raised by a single mother in low-

bono clients. During her time in private

income housing, and, as a child, she

practice, Kpor was mentored by attorneys

yearned for the chance to become a suc-

from coast to coast, and she currently

cessful attorney. Mentorship, pipeline

has a mentor at United. Although Kpor

programs, her supportive family, and

is confident that she would have been an

unending hard work helped Kpor’s child-

attorney without the benefit of pipeline pro-

hood dream become a reality.

grams and a sea of mentors, she expresses

Her first glimpse into the world of business professionals came when Kpor served

immense gratitude for those who helped her along the way by paying it forward.

as a summer intern during high school at

Kpor is a member of the Chicago Lead-

the Newport News Department of Social

ership Council for The Posse Foundation,

MODERN COUNSEL

61

Kinda Arzon Photography @kindaarzonphotography

LISA M. KPOR Litigation Counsel United Airlines

We are in a unique position to have a transformative impact on the next generation of people who will practice law.”

Kinda Arzon Photography @kindaarzonphotography

62 PURPOSE

MODERN COUNSEL

63

a nonprofit organization that identifies students with extraordinary potential and pairs them with full-tuition leadership scholarships. She also mentors law students and young lawyers through the Federal Bar Association’s Lift Up Leaders Mentorship program, and she previously mentored students through The Posse Foundation and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Mentoring program.

In addition to mentoring people through formal channels, Kpor informally mentors young lawyers and students of all ages who reach out to her seeking insight about career transitions, the practice of law generally, and ways to enhance their job searches.

Kpor says she has provided feedback on so many résumés that she has long lost count. She’s helped mentees prepare for interviews, maximize their usage of LinkedIn, and navigate career transitions from private practice to in-house counsel roles. She even recently signed up to mentor one of United Airlines’ summer interns. Kpor manages to serve as a mentor and role model to an incalculable number of aspiring lawyers, all while overseeing numerous legal disputes for one of the world’s largest airlines.

So, what would she say to encourage other legal practitioners to offer this kind of guidance and mentorship?

Kpor closes her eyes when posed this question, searching deeply for an effective, impactful response.

“Every lawyer in our profession has the privilege to practice law,” Kpor says. “We are in a unique position to have a transformative impact on the next generation of people who will practice law. Whether we take the opportunity or forfeit it is based on decisions we will encounter on a daily basis. We are all busy, but I encourage lawyers to start with thirty minutes a month. Act as a mentor to a law student or young lawyer. Sign up to participate in a mentorship program. Collectively, there is so much we can do to help move our industry forward.”

With such a generous heart and commitment to

With offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, and Washington, D.C., KMA Zuckert has decades of experience solving problems for clients across a broad range of disciplines, including strategically litigating for transportation entities, their insurers and product manufacturers, and providing regulatory, transactional, commercial and tax counsel to a diverse base of clients, including aviation and aerospace businesses, surface transportation companies, shippers and nonprofit organizations. KMA Zuckert's attorneys have a nationally and internationally recognized expertise in the transportation industries and have handled matters in every state as well as in many foreign venues at the investigatory, regulatory, trial and appellate levels.

mentor others, it’s no wonder that Kpor landed at United Airlines, where “Good Leads the Way.” CHICAGO | LOS ANGELES | MIAMI KMA Zuckert LLC: “Lisa brings years of invaluable experience to her role at United Airlines, providing a fresh perspective to complex issues. She is dedicated, thoughtful, and creative in her approach, and our team looks forward to working with her.”

—Telly Andrews, Partner

NEW YORK | NEWARK | WASHINGTON, DC

kmazuckert.com

64

PURPOSE

AND

Valleys Breana Jeter’s first thirty days with Wells Fargo told her everything she needed to know about her employer B Y B I L LY Y O S T

65

MODERN COUNSEL

BREANA JETER Head of Wells Fargo Merchant Services Legal Wells Fargo

and family. “Work will be here, but do what you need to do for yourself,” she recalls him advising. Jeter was determined to keep working, and her employer’s flexibility made that much easier.

She says the distraction of work was vital in helping her make it through the grueling experience of chemotherapy. Work also helped her maintain a strong sense of identity separate from cancer victim.

“I had so many people around me who would stop in my office to share their own stories and motivate me,” the lawyer says. “And with my manager’s support— telling me to do what I needed to do, to be myself, and not worry about extraneous

I

distractions—I knew that if I needed help, I could work with him.”

Although 2017 was brutal, Jeter gained a renewed sense of purpose. n August 2017, Breana Jeter was

things were OK until she had a better

She’d been through cancer, chemo, and

thirty days into her first in-house

idea of what her treatment plan would

surgery—all while managing her job and

role at Wells Fargo. After an expansive

look like. Then she decided to just come

raising two young children with her

private practice career and time as a

out with it and share her news. She’ll

husband. Instead of pausing her career,

public defender, the current lead for the

never forget what happened next.

she began to think much more holisti-

merchant services legal team was ready

“We still laugh about it to this day,

to serve one client and make her life

because after being so sweet and kind, he

“What I realized was that my career

more manageable for her four-year-old

said, ‘This isn’t in the manual. I literally

will have peaks and valleys,” the lawyer

daughter and fifteen-month-old son.

don’t know how we proceed from here,’”

explains. “There are times where I want

Jeter says, laughing.

to stretch and run to the fire, so to speak,

Camille Hughes

But thirty days into her first in-house

cally about her career and her life.

role, Jeter learned she had breast cancer.

Although Jeter may have unknow-

and there will be other times when I just

Now in addition to navigating a complex

ingly added an entirely new protocol to

want to do my job to the best of my ability.

financial institution, a new role, and

managerial practices, the response she

I love being at Wells Fargo because it’s

a young family, she was faced with a

received is the reason she’s still proud to

big enough to allow you to do that.”

myriad of potentially life-altering health-

be on the Wells Fargo team.

In her seven years at Wells Fargo,

care decisions. Days after learning about

Her boss reassured her that how she

Jeter has received four promotions,

her diagnosis, Jeter was in a one-on-one

got her work done was entirely up to her,

including a brief stint in the front line.

with her manager, intent on acting like

but that she should focus on her health

But beyond the promotions, Jeter has had

66

PURPOSE

commends

Breana Jeter on her well-deserved recognition for dedication, leadership, and innovation at Wells Fargo

the opportunity to be what she values

to make sure no crumb of dessert

most: an advocate.

went unused.

For example, in 2021, she created

“That was my own realization

a role for a high-potential legal profes-

that things needed to change,” Jeter

sional who previously reported to her.

says. “I remember a colleague saying

Her workmate didn’t want to go back

the difference between in-house and

to law school to become a lawyer, but

outside counsel is that on Saturday,

she was motivated and capable of far

when he’s at his kid’s baseball game,

more than she was doing. Now, that

he doesn’t have to speed into the

colleague has been promoted in the

office if there’s an issue. That was the

business several times herself, and

balance I was seeking to be a good

while Jeter may not see her friend as

mother, because that’s what comes

much as she’d like, every time she

first in my life.”

does, she’s greeted with a big hug.

Representing with purpose

Inspiring ideas, empowering innovation, and finding solutions.

When Jeter isn’t serving on the

“Having opportunities to make

board of arts education nonprofit

things happen for people you believe

Arts+ or leading her daughter’s Girl

in means so much to me,” the lawyer

Scout troop, she is most excited to talk

says. “Does it mean those people will

about her garden.

eventually leave you? Of course, but I

“I will be in that garden until my

get to help people avoid mistakes I’ve

last moment on earth,” Jeter says

made. I get to be a coach. And I get to

with a smile. “I see the growth, I see

feel the pride of helping incredible

the progress, and I’ve learned that

people do incredible things.”

even in the best conditions, some-

While her docket is always full,

times those plants don’t make it.”

Jeter says going in-house has afforded

Peaks and valleys. Jeter has experi-

her the kind of balance she’s always

enced both, and they’ve made her all

hoped for. In her firm days, she

the stronger.

remembers being on a late video call with a Japanese counsel calling from their home country. Jeter thought a

mvalaw.com

cookie would pacify her nearby young daughter, but she watched in horror as the toddler began grinding the cookie into a white bedspread. There was nothing she could do. Jeter just had to watch it happen in real time, her daughter working diligently

Moore & Van Allen: “Breana is a brilliant and passionate advocate who will stop at nothing to help her clients. We are fortunate to have worked with her throughout her career and are looking forward to what the future brings.”

—Valecia McDowell, Practice cohead, White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations, and Practice Head, Civil Rights & Racial Equity Assessments and Neil Bloomfield, Practice cohead, Financial Regulatory Advice & Response

Lead

Portraits of today’s top legal executives, the remarkable careers they have cultivated,

tktktktktktktktkt

and the management strategies and best practices they employ to succeed both individually and collaboratively

68

Lead

Choosing Adventure at CapSpecialty Suzanne Broadbent and Brittany Pierick share their career journeys and describe what makes CapSpecialty a special place to work

By Noah Johnson

Mo dern Couns el

Jyotika Dietrich

C A P S P E C I A LT Y

IS

A

LEADING

provider of specialty insurance for small to midsize businesses across the US. The company offers casualty, professional liability, surety, and fidelity products in all fifty states and has carriers rated A “Excellent” by AM Best.

A mong t he company’s t hree hundred employees is a tight-knit legal team led by General Counsel (GC) and Chief Privacy Officer Suzanne Broadbent and Deputy GC and Director of Human Resources Brittany Pierick. The legal team, complete with an attorney focused on product drafting and two claims counsels, handles a variety of matters. As such, it’s characterized by

a roll-up-your-sleeves mentality and commitment to supporting one another.

Choosing Your Own Adventure

That culture started at the top with Broadbent and Pierick. While both leaders came to the company from different backgrounds, they stayed for its people.

Broadbent spent several years in private practice when she came to a fork in the road. She was either going to pursue partnership or seek another career path in-house.

“I didn’t enjoy being a litigation attorney, because I didn’t like arguing with people. I am more of a

69

problem-solver, and I also wanted to start a family. I didn’t feel like law firm life and being a partner would be conducive to that,” she shares. “I know a lot of people do it, but it didn’t feel like the right fit for me.”

Around that time, she got a call from a recruiter about an opportunity to move in-house at a Lloyd’s London syndicate. While she hadn’t worked on insurance matters before, she decided to take on the role, working as a claims manager for eight years before moving to compliance as a regulatory attorney.

Then, in 2015, she was drawn to an open associate GC position at CapSpecialty. Taking that role was one

70

Lead

“I was drawn here for the opportunity, but I stayed because of the great set of people we have here.”

—Suzanne Broadbent

of the best career moves she made, Broadbent says.

“I was drawn here for the opportunity, but I stayed because of the great set of people we have here,” Broadbent says. “They make it fun to come to work even in stressful times. We can joke around with one another, but we also get things done.”

Besides the relationships she built by joining the company, Broadbent also appreciates how individuals can “choose their own adventure,” she says. Her and Pierick ’s titles reflect that.

“You just have to let people know what you want to do, align yourselves with the right people, and they’ll make it happen. You can see that with both Brittany and me. We have quite diverse responsibilities between us, and we’re not really siloed into one specific area. If you want exposure, you’re going to get it,” she says.

Broadbent continues to pay those opportunities forward to her team.

“I have an open-door policy and urge my staff to tell me what they want to do. As long as they communicate, I’ll try to get them the kind of experiences they ask for. I’m open and willing to listen,” she emphasizes.

Suzanne Broadbent General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer CapSpecialty

Pierick got a chance to work on the claims team at CapSpecialty after completing her undergraduate studies. The experience not only inspired her to go to law school but to return to the company six years later, after working in private practice on insurance defense litigation matters.

For five years, Pierick worked as a compliance analyst and legal and regulatory counsel for Cap. While she loved the company and its culture,

Jyotika Dietrich

A Small but Mighty Team

Mo dern Couns el

71

Brittany Pierick Deputy General Counsel and Director of HR CapSpecialty

Jyotika Dietrich

“What I love about Cap is that it’s large enough to stay interesting but small enough to know who everyone is. I want to work with great people and have relationships with them.”

—Brittany Pierick

72

Phelps is proud to work with Suzanne Broadbent & Brittany Pierick at CapSpecialty Both Suzanne and Brittany rethink risks and find solutions for small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S. Our collaboration reflects a shared personal approach to business.

Phelps is a firm of over 400 lawyers serving clients from 15 offices across the southern United States and London. The firm is organized under six core practice areas – Business & Real Estate, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Insurance, Health Care and Admiralty.

Marshall Redmon, Partner 365 Canal St. Suite 2000 New Orleans, LA phelps.com

she decided to leave to bolster her résumé. That journey is what allowed her to grow a deeper appreciation for Cap. “I went on to work for a company with over three thousand employees. I worked fully remote, and it made it hard to feel like part of a team. There were always new people contacting me, and it felt like too many employees to really get to know everyone,” Pierick says. “What I love about Cap is that it’s large enough to stay interesting but small enough to know who everyone is. I want to work with great people and have relationships with them.”

In 2023, she returned as associate GC and within a year was promoted to deputy GC. She also took on responsibilities as the director of HR. Fostering a Supportive Environment

Today, Pierick’s proud that she and Broadbent have been able to foster a supportive and agile culture within the legal department.

“We’re a small group, but we’re all willing to put in the work and we don’t ever say, ‘That’s not my job.’ Even if we have to go find the right person, we each will do that. We don’t just push things off to other team members. We’re each willing to step in, figure it out and get it done,” Pierick says.

As a leader, Pierick focuses on leading by example.

“It’s important to show your team through actions—to be the person that gets in, does the work, steps up, and isn’t afraid to get your hands dirty,” she advises.

Phelps Dunbar LLP: “Effective leaders create conditions that maximize the probability of achieving successful outcomes. Suzanne and Brittany understand this. The team they’ve developed reflects it. Those of us who work with them see it. And their clients benefit from it.”

—Marshall Redmon, Chairman

73

Mo dern Couns el

An Investigator’s Dream Team Baker Hughes lured Tim Braley away from a successful government career to build out the energy company’s crack investigation function

tktktktktktktktkt

By Billy Yost

IF TIM BRALEY HADN’T ACCEPTED

an offer from Houston-based energy company Baker Hughes to come in-house as executive counsel of global ethics and investigations, he would have likely become the acting US attorney for the Southern District of Texas. It was a goal Braley had been working toward his entire career, but the new potential position offered intriguing new challenges.

The lawyer spent just over seventeen years in Houston as a federal prosecutor. For a majority of that time, he was facing off against Mexican, Central American, and West African drug cartels, the Russian mob, and other organized crime entities.

At times, Braley found himself working with agents to chase

down threats from the organized crime element. Braley himself was trained to carry a firearm. During his interview, he repeatedly mentions that while those occasions were real, he considers himself very lucky compared to prosecutors in other countries.

“When you work in Mexico and Central America, you meet people who face the very real threat of violence almost every day,” Braley explains. “In the United States, agents work very hard to minimize the threats to fellow agents and prosecutors alike. I met members of law enforcement during international trips who wound up losing their lives, so I don’t want to overdramatize my years as a federal prosecutor.

There are real threats, but they need to be contextualized.”

Tim Braley Executive Counsel of Global Ethics & Investigations Baker Hughes

Lead

It wasn’t those occasional threats that made Braley accept a new job. It wasn’t the long hours or high-profile cases. Rather, Braley found himself deeply intrigued by a chance conversation he didn’t expect to go anywhere.

A new chief compliance officer at Baker Hughes met Braley at a luncheon.

That CCO told Braley he was looking to build a team of individuals with skill sets like Braley’s.

“The goal was to diversify the expertise in-house so the group could handle more internally to enhance the process while decreasing costs associated with sending cases to outside counsel,” Braley recalls.

“The conversation bounced around to a few people and, before I knew it, the chief legal officer was telling me she wanted me in-house by the end of the year. This happened in October.”

Leaving his dream of becoming the US attorney in the rearview mirror, Braley took the plunge. The now-executive counsel said he was motivated by the company’s purpose and the idea of building a crack team from scratch—a team that, if assembled correctly, could provide incredible value for the company.

His first move was centralizing investigations. Braley persuaded his organization to take on some somewhat “nontraditional” talent: a former FBI agent (and FBI profiler), two former Department of Homeland Security agents (one with experience in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the other well-versed in repatriating money from fraud cases), and a forensic accountant from the organization’s internal audit team to complement a seasoned team of human resource professionals.

“Now, every investigation comes through this team,” Braley explains. “We turned a rather expensive and, at times, slow program into one that competently handles most issues internally. That saves

Courtesy of Timothy Braley

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“We turned a rather expensive and, at times, slow program into one that competently handles most issues internally. That saves the company a lot of money each year and has cut the time to close those cases in half.” the company a lot of money each year and has cut the time to close those cases in half.”

The team built benchmarking credibility and minimized risk, but also made Baker Hughes a better place to work, Braley says. If an issue arises, his team strives to prevent its recurrence. Ultimately, the team’s goal is that employees feel safe and supported.

Outside Baker Hughes, Braley acts as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston’s Law Center.

It’s a position he’s held since 2010.

His classes have included criminal procedure and even an advanced course on HBO’s The Wire.

Braley comes from a family of schoolteachers and he’s clearly got the skills in his genes. He is a great admirer of educators, who seem to be taking on more responsibility each year. During his time as a prosecutor, the lawyer walked the scene of a school shooting—a stark reminder of the risk that educators endure every day.

It’s easy to understand why Braley is a good teacher: he says he

gets as much from his students as they do from him. He doesn’t want to be the old guy at the front of the room telling a bunch of students how hard it used to be “back in the day.”

He wants to inspire them to pursue their own lives and tackle interesting and diverse subject matter.

Braley is tackling equally challenging subject matter off the clock.

The father of three (and former college athlete) regularly coaches soccer, f lag football, baseball, and basketball. This past season, he jokes, he watched a series of YouTube videos so he could pass for a volleyball coach. The lawyer says he is a father first and foremost, and there is no job title he takes more seriously.

Calibrate Risk Globally Whether dealing with high-stakes investigations, defending against government enforcement actions or pursuing growth opportunities, success depends on calibrating risk.

With highly skilled lawyers on the ground around the world, we understand the regulatory, business and cultural landscape, wherever you are.

And by connecting investigations and rapid crisis response with effective risk management solutions, our integrated approach helps you safeguard your business and protect corporate reputation.

Baker McKenzie— providing solutions for a connected world.

Baker McKenzie: “Tim is the consummate professional with unmatched experience and judgment. More importantly, Tim is a terrific person and a pleasure to work with in every way.”

—Widge Devaney, Partner

INVESTIGATIONS, COMPLIANCE & ETHICS

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Bringing the Skill From small business transactions to corporate legal matters, Matt Royack’s varied experiences and leadership philosophy have prepared him to excel as Cision’s general counsel

By Noah Johnson

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Meghan Meeker

Matt Royack General Counsel Cision

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BEFORE BECOMING GENERAL COUNSEL

at Cision, Matt Royack gained valuable experience as a business lawyer at small and midsize firms in Maryland. These experiences were instrumental in shaping the leader he is today.

“It was great working for smaller firms because you got to deal with whatever comes in the door,” Royack says. “Starting off, I mostly focused on business transactions for a lot of small businesses, including restaurants and bars. But if a client’s kid got picked up over the weekend, I got the phone call, so I had to head down to the courthouse to sort it out. I was front facing with clients, had personal responsibility for the matters I was given, and got a chance to do a lot of different things for the client and for the business.”

As he honed his business transaction skills and learned to think on his feet, he represented clients from myriad industries, including in software development and coding. Royack, who had dabbled in programming in college, was immediately drawn to the work. It inspired him to move in-house at MICROS Systems Inc., which Oracle acquired in 2014. The in-house environment aligned well with the broad skill set he had gained during his decade as external counsel.

“Handling the diversity of work at smaller law firms really prepared me. As an in-house lawyer, we deal with HR issues, real estate issues, corporate issues, negotiating with vendors, and litigation,” he says.

“There’s a whole host of things that come up, so you need that broad-based skill set

to handle those issues or know when you need more expertise.”

After nearly two years at Oracle and one year at Inovalon, Royack joined Cision as associate general counsel in 2016. At that time, he and his boss were a two-person team, handling everything from customer contracting to corporate filings and litigation deadlines. Since then, the legal department has grown to a global team of twenty. As general counsel, Royack has become more of a people manager, which is a highlight of his tenure at Cision.

“I’ve overseen nearly every distinct group in the department, and I’ve enjoyed building those relationships,” Royack says.

“That’s why I like being in-house—the ability to consistently work with the same people instead of moving from project to project as external counsel. Here, we get to develop that camaraderie and rapport with people.”

Currently, Royack and his colleague are focused on positioning themselves for the future. With that goal in mind, data protection and privacy are paramount. So is the adoption of AI tools and other technology that will allow Cision to grow faster. He believes AI has “enormous potential for the legal industry,” but that doesn’t mean it will replace people.

“You’re always going to need people involved to check the output because [AI is] only as good as what you put into it.

It’s only as good as the people around it.

It’s just a machine, and someone’s going to have to punch the keys to tell it what to do,” he says.

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“On the front end and back end, there needs to be some level of quality control, some knowledge of what works legally, what’s likely to work with a customer or vendor, and goals for entering into a particular contract,” he elaborates. “We’ll always need a human touch, but I believe AI can help speed things up for us.”

Royack prides himself on being a solutions-oriented servant leader who constantly asks the question: “How can I help you?”

And he doesn’t stop there. He follows up with, “What skills do you want to build? What areas of law do you want exposure to?” He explains, “My style is to talk with my staff through these things and to align on them. I want to hear from everyone, especially the people leaders.”

Leaders trying to get the most out of their teams should start by acknowledging a critical reality.

“It’s not about you. It’s about the team,” Royack says. “Your team will become high performing organically if you set the blueprint. You need to act and behave in ways that you want others to emulate. That can be your responsiveness, how you ask questions, or how you come up with solutions. Your team will pay it forward.”

We get you across the finish line.

ArentFox Schiff is proud to partner with Matt Royack and Cision Ltd. Matt’s strategic vision and judgment are part of what makes Cision a global leader in corporate communications.

Smart In Your World

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Wearer of

Many Hats Bob Ward shares his journey to his position at DBS Bank and his many roles beyond the company

By Navpreet Dhillon

ROBERT (BOB) WARD, SENIOR VICE

president and general counsel of DBS Bank, wears many hats. As a lawyer, a former judge, and an adjunct law professor, he has had the ability to shape not only his company’s future in both Asia and the US, but also the careers of future lawyers. His combination of different experiences and meaningful prior work prepared him for his current position as general counsel and has provided a guide for how he handles his responsibilities as the sole in-house attorney for the US operations for DBS Bank.

He shares his journey to his role at DBS Bank, how he handles his caseload, and his experience working for a global company.

Can you elaborate on your approach to day-to-day oversight of the legal function?

About 80 percent of my legal work is related to loan transactions for

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Bob Ward SVP and General Counsel DBS Bank

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the various business units covering financial products for domestic and international corporations. The focus on syndicated or bilateral loan transactions sets the priority of whether I focus on review, negotiation, or some other aspect of the documentation process.

As general counsel, it is critical to be available to provide advice, assistance, and counsel to senior officers on any number of initiatives.

I provide leadership, mentoring, and training to staff on important legal developments and industry trends. I host a series of “Lunch and Learn” sessions with external counsel, and in-house learning and training opportunities for junior officers each quarter. The goal is to provide periodic review of current trends in the banking industry and to enhance junior officers’ understanding of legal terminology and concepts.

Without an internal team of

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As general counsel in a small office, how are you able to shift and adapt to the changing needs of

While attorneys are located at a particular geographic location, we remain a part of the larger global legal team.

the business?

It requires flexibility and knowing how to use your unique set of skills. I have experience practicing law in-house at various corporations. I know how to quickly assess what is important and requires immediate attention and what does not. I also know when I need to ask for assistance because of a heavy workload. The truth is this requires experience working with different businesses and managers.

I think the key is knowing how to discern the difference between something that carries high priority and something that is merely important.

With experience and knowledge of the industry and an ongoing relationship with other business leaders, I have been able to develop skills to help me make the right decision with the proper frame of reference and perspective.

attorneys to assist you, how

How do you support the headquarters or global staff in your work?

I provide subject-matter expertise on US law for members of the legal and compliance department, not just in Singapore but for DBS colleagues around the world. I provide assistance on USA laws with special emphasis on California, New York, and Delaware. Where subsidiaries of global companies are incorporated in Delaware, I assist with a review of constitutional agreements based on local Delaware law and assist in hiring the appropriate law firm where external counsel is needed. Over the years, I have assisted colleagues in Singapore, China, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

What is it like working at the

do you use external counsel to

How do you handle larger

intersection of Asia and USA

provide legal support?

strategic projects inside a small

finance markets?

The bulk of what’s required on a dayto-day basis can be covered by myself.

When there is a need for special counsel, we have two external law firms to assist us. For the most part this involves areas such as real estate, bankruptcy, employment and human relations, securities law, or areas that might require special expertise.

As for my internal caseload, I am part of a team of global attorneys.

Depending on the subject matter, I can request assistance from DBS Group legal team of attorneys. I have internal legal support as well as external law firms.

legal department?

Singapore is recognized as a global finance center. Asia continues to be a key global player in the finance space by virtue of its innovative role in global finance markets. On the finance side of the intersection of USA and Asia, there are many exciting developments. Companies are finding new ways to finance their projects and are looking for financial institutions to deliver the right finance solution in an efficient manner.

There’s increased connection of the business world to greater Asia. For the DBS Bank Los Angeles business, each transaction must have a connection

Large strategic projects will usually involve the entire organization, so many of these projects are global in nature. I am not acting alone on larger strategic projects but part of a team. The global DBS legal and compliance team consists of over 750 professionals worldwide. In some cases, a special project, such as a regulatory matter, will require the expertise of both internal staff as well as the use of a specialist at a law firm.

Most strategic projects are rolled out across the bank. Local strategic initiatives are coordinated with the senior management team and stakeholders.

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to Asia and with corporate and customer ties to Asia. Because of the growth in global companies doing business in Asia, the growth in the DBS Bank business has been steady.

Can you elaborate on how your leadership style developed or changed throughout your career?

From the inception of my career, there has been a great deal of training around leadership, teamwork, and effective communication. It was clear early on that without a collaborative teamwork approach, my effectiveness in delivering timely legal support would suffer. I had to quickly learn that most business leaders want their lawyer to get to the bottom line as clearly and efficiently as possible.

With the development of new techniques and different ways of providing legal advice and support, I learned to be f lexible and willing to adapt to change in order to provide meaningful, efficient, and effective legal support.

SIDLEY CONGRATULATES

BOB WARD Senior Vice President & General Counsel for DBS Bank

on being recognized

by Modern Counsel for his professional accomplishments.

We are honored to support DBS to

BRAVO! Mayer Brown is honored to work with Bob Ward, senior vice president and general counsel at DBS, and congratulates him on this well-deserved recognition by Modern Counsel.

We’re proud to call Bob our client.

achieve their global business goals.

sidley.com Mayer Brown: “As general counsel, Bob Ward has been a

AMERICAS | ASIA | EMEA

pillar of professionalism at DBS Bank. His meticulous attention to detail and dedication to upholding the highest legal standards have been instrumental in the bank’s success and reputation for corporate governance.”

—Maria Alevras-Chen, Partner

Attorney Advertising - Sidley Austin LLP is a global law firm. Our addresses and contact information can be found at www.sidley.com/en/locations/offices. MN-23421

mayerbrown.com

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Elena Stein shares her journey to law, her leadership philosophy, and her proudest moments from her tenure as general counsel

BY NOAH JOHNSON

PHOTOS BY CASS DAVIS

DySON at

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efore becoming an attorney with more than a decade of expertise, Elena Stein was drawn to peoplefocused jobs. In her formative years, she was a track coach and worked as a bartender and waitress. She would later go on to volunteer for mentorship programs and sit on several mission-centered boards.

Today, Stein serves as general counsel for the Americas at Dyson, where she prides herself on being a leader who puts people first.

“When you work in-house, your role is to support the business. You have to understand that there are going to be a lot of different personalities across your leadership teams—you’re going to have to work in a manner that’s efficient for these individuals, for yourself, and for your team,” she says. “My experiences in previous roles helped me broaden my horizon to different personality types and hone my ability to talk to different people.”

Now, Stein serves not only as a strategic partner for all legal services in the Americas but also as a legal advisor for the senior leadership team and a manager of the legal team members in her purview. With each hat she wears, she places the needs of others at the forefront, a trait she credits to the growth of her team.

“When you understand your business clients, who they are, how they work, and what they need from you, it allows you to clearly assess what they need from their legal team to be successful,” she explains.

“From that point, it makes it very easy to understand how to upskill, mentor, and develop.”

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ELENA STEIN

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General Counsel, Americas Dyson

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We pride ourselves on the ability to change gears swiftly, accurately, and efficiently. My experience has taught

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me how to do that.”

Recently, the professional growth of Stein’s team has coincided with the company’s geographical expansion in Latin America, including in Brazil and Colombia. Being part of the expansion has been not only fun, informative, and fast-paced, but also one of the GC’s proudest moments at the company, Stein shares.

“Anyone that knows Dyson knows that we’re always looking to solve the problems others ignore; we’re always on the horizon of something new and exciting. Being part of that culture and knowing the work we put in fosters this type of engineering excellence is very exciting,” Stein says.

Stein was born and raised in the Midwest to a father who worked in corporate real estate and a mom who worked as a nurse. While her earliest interests were in science and medical fields, Stein was drawn to the law.

“Maybe it was the complexity of it.

There’s an intended clear line of what to do and what not to do, but my interests

were in the complexity around understanding and interpretating the gray areas,” she says.

Inspired by a dare from her father, Stein went on to sit for the LSAT and to attend the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. After graduating, she spent the early parts of her career advising on legal issues relating to startups at Cayova before touching a wide array of legal matters as an associate attorney at Heiderscheidt Law Offices and Plante Moran. From there, she worked in-house at Claim Toolkit, where she advised claims professionals.

When reflecting on that journey, Stein believes nothing could have prepared her more for the fast-paced role she holds today.

“Working with startups isn’t too dissimilar than the role I’m in now in terms of the day-to-day expectation to adhere to a quick pace and be able to shift directions quickly,” Stein says. “We pride ourselves on the ability to change gears swiftly, accurately, and efficiently.

My experience has taught me how to do that.”

After joining Dyson in August 2021 as senior legal counsel, Stein rose through the ranks quickly. She was promoted to associate general counsel of the Americas in December 2022, and by April 2023, she was interim general counsel. By October that year, she stepped into her current role. She credits her ascension to an ability to build key relationships.

“As smart as she is, I’ve always been struck by Elena’s leadership and charisma,” says Ross Weisman, partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. “People gravitate to Elena, and it makes her easy to follow. She’s calm, cool, and collected, and she inspires immediate confidence.

I’m not surprised by her ascension at Dyson, a company that searches for young talent.”

“Depending on the nature of the company’s legal team, you should have solid relationships with each member of the leadership team. This environment

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Congratulations to our friend and colleague

Elena Stein,

General Counsel, Americas of Dyson, Inc., on Modern Counsel’s recognition of her leadership, vision and exceptional achievements – Well-deserved, Elena!

creates an open-door policy,” Stein says. “That way, you’re more likely to be brought in on strategy conversations, and it’s easier to give high level guidance that allows us to plan effectively.”

Stein’s advice to young professionals is to focus on building and maintaining strong business relationships.

“You don’t know how your business clients’ impression of you will impact you, for the good or bad, further down the line,” Stein explains.

“When you maintain a positive and lasting impression, you’re speaking to your dedication to work product and ease of workability; every interaction is an opportunity to advance your career goals.”

bakermckenzie.com

Baker McKenzie: “Elena is enabling Dyson’s Americas growth by building a talented, cohesive team and by bringing a mindset of commercial pragmatism and legal compliance to everything she does. She’s also a pleasure to work with!”

—Michael Wagner, Partner

We are proud to join in recognizing our friend and client

Elena Stein of Dyson —Your friends at Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 300 North LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60654 | +1 312 862 2000 | www.kirkland.com

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Endless With a curious and driven mindset, Precious Murchison Gittens finds opportunities to be a better version of herself and make an impact at Google and beyond

By Billy Yost

Evolution

Katarina Price

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PRECIOUS

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MURCHISON

GITTENS

began her legal career as a federal criminal prosecutor in the nation’s capital.

“Cross-examination was my favorite part of trial,” Gittens says, laughing. “You need to establish your goals, actively listen, and calmly execute your strategy—not just in court. What is your business focused on? How does the business operate? What are the priorities, opportunities, and risks? You can’t offer a balanced view and strong judgment if you don’t understand these things.”

Today, Gittens brings trial skills and compliance expertise to her role as senior counsel in regulatory affairs at Google.

An Endless Pursuit of Knowledge

Detailing the exploits of Gittens’s career is a no-win scenario. There is too much to detail, her experience too wide-ranging to capture, because the attorney refuses to stop evolving.

Gittens was recognized in 2014 by the National Law Journal and Legal Times as a Washington, DC, Rising Star. Gittens was Hooper, Lundy & Bookman’s first board-certified compliance professional.

In college, her Howard University mock trial team was the first team in American Mock Trial Association history to win both the Silver and Gold national competitions in the same year.

She was winning awards for her trial skills in undergraduate and law school. Yet,

while most of her peers were working their first legal position, Gittens was working as a sales associate at a jewelry store. She had turned down a law firm associate job that didn’t feel right, and many other legal jobs were spoken for.

But Gittens turned her brief time in sales into an opportunity. “I focused on customer service,” the senior counsel explains. “I worked to understand their needs and deliver excellent customer experiences. That still sticks with me.”

This customer-focused mindset would serve Gittens well as she embarked on her legal career, starting as a federal criminal prosecutor in Washington, DC. Every time the senior counsel has gotten comfortable, she’s moved on. Not job-hopping. Just learning something new.

Criminal prosecutions on behalf of the United States would give way to law firm practice. As a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, she handled business litigation and defended clients facing government investigations and enforcement proceedings.

While there, one of Gittens’s most impactful roles was serving as secretary and general counsel for the Pan American Development Foundation.

“I was helping drive sustainable economic development across the Western Hemisphere,” Gittens explains. “There were leaders from banks, oil and gas, cruise ships, global textile manufacturing— all of us were in a room trying to create

Katarina Price

Precious Murchison Gittens Senior Counsel of Regulatory Affairs Google

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something impactful. It was a rich learning experience.”

From Greenberg Traurig she moved to a boutique firm to pursue compliance work; she saw the field growing and wanted to get in on the ground floor.

The Next Big Challenge

Gittens has worked for state and federal governments, law firms, and a nongovernmental organization, and advised clients in specialized industries like financial services, transportation, and healthcare.

Additionally, she’s worked with people all over the globe.

When COVID-19 hit, Gittens watched her family hard at work on their Chromebooks and video calls. As a result, she decided the tech world was her next move.

“I was working in a compliance role for a healthcare company and had been dealing with heavily regulated industries for years. I recognized that as technology evolved, the regulation of technology would need to evolve,” Gittens reflects.

“The idea of helping a company innovate responsibly and comply with emerging laws and regulations felt fresh.” Fresh, certainly, but no less heavy. The senior counsel handles high-risk investigations and regulatory matters for one of the most famous companies on earth.

Despite Gittens’s experience and drive, you won’t find the senior counsel competing hard against you. It’s never been her way. Gittens says her only competitor is herself.

“Every day, I want to do be a better version of me than I was yesterday,” Gittens

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“I’m going to approach whatever I do with intellectual curiosity, excellence, and adaptability. I care about what I do and how I impact others.” says. “I’m going to approach whatever I do with intellectual curiosity, excellence, and adaptability. I care about what I do and how I impact others.”

Gittens speaks of at least a dozen mentors who have aided her own growth and development. For those that she mentors now, Gittens stresses a commitment to lifelong learning and growth. That’s about the only hard advice she’ll give, because she says no two experiences are going to ever be the same. But nurturing curiosity is never going to be a bad career or life move.

Today, the senior counsel says her best work is still ahead of her. “I may be saying that when I’m ninety,” Gittens says with a laugh.

Her journey in business and law has been nonlinear and dynamic. So, you should probably believe her when she says the best is yet to come.

A Dedicated Leader in the Law Paul, Weiss commends Precious Murchison Gittens, Google, Inc.’s Senior Counsel for Alphabet Regulatory Response, Investigations & Strategy, for her leadership in global compliance and investigations; her dedication to excellence in the law; her deep industry knowledge; and her commitment to mentorship and teaching the next generation of lawyers.

Paul, Weiss, Ri�ind, Wharton & Garrison LLP paulweiss.com

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Ronnie Brandes Practices with Integrity at Mercer Ronnie Brandes shares her leadership philosophy and her role and responsibilities at Mercer

By Noah Johnson

AS SENIOR ASSISTANT GENER AL

counsel at Marsh & McLennan Companies for Mercer, Ronnie Brandes is a counselor in every sense of the word.

She leads the management of over 250 legal matters across the US, Canada, and Latin America for Mercer and Oliver Wyman, focusing on errors and omissions.

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In that capacity, she not only provides legal advice for actuarial, consulting, and administrative service professionals who have made a mistake but also offers a compassionate shoulder to lean on.

“These are often anxious people coming to me because they don’t like to make mistakes in their work life, and that anxiety magnifies when they have to tell me what happened and relive the situation,” says Brandes, who has been with the company for over a decade. “I try to guide them through it and take the tension out of the situation. It’s about letting the person know this isn’t life or death and being empathetic enough to act in their interests and the company’s.

“I set the tone by telling them our discussions are just about gathering facts and all facts are important—whether good, bad, or irrelevant,” she adds.

Brandes’s ability to be both logical and compassionate has cemented her place as a critical member of the legal team at Marsh McLennan. Her career progression at the company is a testament to that.

She started in the company as a litigation counsel in 2011 and was solely responsible for matters within the US. Over the years, her responsibilities grew, allowing her to advise on bankruptcy, data privacy, and cybersecurity matters, while expanding her purview to both Canada and Latin America as well as the Oliver Wyman, and most recently, Marsh businesses.

While her evolution at Marsh McLennan has been a highlight of her career, Brandes is most proud to have carried herself with integrity in each role.

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“I always aim to do what I think is fair or right, which gets hard sometimes.

There’s legally right and there’s morally right, and everyone has a different moral compass, which makes it difficult to reconcile the two.”

“Integrity is a core belief at our company that really resonates with me.

I always aim to do what I think is fair or right, which gets hard sometimes.

There’s legally right and there’s morally right, and everyone has a different moral compass, which makes it difficult to reconcile the two,” Brandes says.

“But I’m lucky to work for a company that makes it easy and to have spent my career doing what’s in the best interests of my clients in an ethical way.”

Brandes, who’s originally from Long Island, can’t exactly pinpoint what drew her to the law. However, she knows the

career has always been at the forefront of her mind, especially after she got to visit a courthouse in elementary school.

“We went to see arguments, and afterward, I came home and told my mom that it was what I wanted to do,” she recalls. “From then on, I made up my mind and never looked back.”

Later, Brandes came to find that the career played to her strengths, namely being logical and being curious.

“I’m almost logical to a fault,” she says. “You need logic to form an argument and to develop solid positions. When a claim comes in, you

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need to figure out what happened, know the business, and know where to go for answers.”

After getting a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Lehigh University, Brandes went to law school at Georgetown. There, she got a chance to serve as a summer intern at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, where she’d go on to work for several years as an associate. From there, she worked as senior director of legal affairs at EMI Universal Music Group North America before moving to Marsh McLennan.

Brandes also serves as a judge in the annual New York State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition. Sitting on the bench while evaluating the students as they present opening statements, examine witnesses, and closing arguments, Brandes is always impressed by the level of talent displayed. “The students are so well-prepared.

It’s fun when instinct kicks in. They stand up and object because they know the question is wrong, but don’t necessarily know why.

As a judge, I have to rule on the objection, but I usually give them a minute to get the right answer.”

Brandes’s advice for up-and-coming lawyers is to never stop learning.

“Say yes to every opportunity. You don’t want to have ‘what ifs,’” she says. “Don’t be afraid of taking on new responsibilities or opportunities. You can always decide you don’t like something once you try it, but don’t judge before you even give it a chance.”

Goodwin: “I have known Ronnie longer than she would care to acknowledge, and every day working with her has been a pleasure.”

—Jamie Fleckner, Partner

Goodwin congratulates Ronnie Brandes, Senior Assistant General Counsel We are proud to work with Ronnie and achieve successful outcomes together. at Mercer, on her recognition by Modern Counsel We are proud to work with Ronnie and achieve successful outcomes together.

goodwinlaw.com

Erik Carlson

Melissa James Senior Legal Director and Senior Counsel of Litigation & Regulatory Goldman Sachs

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Balancing Melissa James shares how she juggles her workload with motherhood at Goldman Sachs

By Noah Johnson

MELISSA JAMES GREW UP SAYING

that she’d be the first female president of the United States. That evolved into interests into politics and the law.

“Law school was a very natural choice for me,” says James, whose father was a lawyer. “I took philosophy classes and was very fascinated by the concepts of right and wrong, good and evil, and morality. So law school was very enjoyable and a natural fit.”

After graduating, she started her legal career as a commercial litigator

at Vinson & Elkins LLP (V&E), where she tried her hand in a wide variety of matters including oil and gas litigation, professional liability defense, and general commercial disputes. The sheer breadth of that work forced her to continuously learn new industries, businesses, and different areas of the law. After eight years at V&E, James was promoted to counsel.

“For the entirety of my ten years at the law firm, I constantly felt like I had all the work that I could manage at any

Act given time, and learning how to prioritize competing deadlines for important clients taught me critical time management skills,” she says. “Not to mention trying to figure out how to have a personal life while constantly being busy at work. I learned how to juggle a number of different priorities—both professional and personal—cases, and clients, all at the same time.”

That skill has served her well at Goldman Sachs, where James serves as senior legal director and senior

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“I’m a better mom because I have a job that I love, and I’m better at my job because I approach it with a full heart and a smile on my face.”

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counsel of the litigation and regulatory group. As a legal professional at one of the leading financial services companies in the world, James is taking on more cases and competing deadlines than ever before, now all for the same client. And she continues to be fulfilled by and passionate about her work.

She primarily works on cases involving the firm’s investment banking division, which includes M&A-related lawsuits, stockholder challenges, and securities cases. She also works on regulatory investigations and matters involving other business lines within the firm.

For James, “living and dying” by her Outlook calendar and her daily lists are essential to staying on top of her caseload. James also relies heavily on her outside counsel, though she refers to herself as a “highly active client.”

“I have a wonderful rapport with the outside counsel I work with most regularly,” she says. “That means not only that I enjoy working with them, but that they understand how I work most efficiently and effectively, and they enable me to do that.”

Working with such outstanding lawyers is one of James’s favorite parts of her job. She enjoys seeing the different ways lawyers approach their work and how each one brings unique strengths to the table. Ultimately, James’s greatest strength is her ability to connect and form meaningful relationships with people.

“Melissa is an exceptional lawyer who brings keen intellect and drive to her incredibly large docket of complex cases. Her focus on partnership, integrity, and excellence

precisely ref lect the core values of Goldman Sachs,” says David Hennes, litigation and enforcement partner at Ropes & Gray LLP. “Ropes & Gray is thrilled to work with Melissa and her team on a daily basis.”

As a leader, James also believes in the power of both having mentors and being a mentor. “It’s important to have people you trust to help guide you through the difficult decisions and crossroads you’ll inevitably face,” she says. “On the other hand, it’s also important to pay it forward by being a mentor.

Sometimes, simply having a sounding board to bounce ideas off of can help someone crystallize their own thoughts and make sense of what’s right for them.”

Even outside of work, James, a working mom, is no stranger to juggling priorities. She admits that work/life balance has been a constant struggle, but the fulfillment that she gets from raising her two sons and from her career as an attorney at Goldman Sachs is well worth it. “I’m a better mom because I have a job that I love, and I’m better at my job because I approach it with a full heart and a smile on my face.”

James’s advice to young people who want to go to law school is that they shouldn’t neglect their first semester grades. “These days, law students receive summer jobs based on those. If that job goes well, you’ll get invited back. You can do anything for one semester.

Do your very best, and after that, try to have more of a work/life balance, trusting the relationships you built over the summer to help you move forward in your career.”

Ropes & Gray congratulates Melissa James on this well-deserved recognition, and looks forward to continuing to partner with her and Goldman Sachs in the future.

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We are honored to partner with Melissa James and the stellar Goldman Sachs legal team.

Melissa, you are an exceptional lawyer with excellent judgment and litigation instincts – and you make everyone around you better.

Your friends at Orrick

Defining Leadership Vinson & Elkins is proud to recognize Melissa James for her contributions as Senior Legal Director and Senior Counsel – Litigation and Regulatory at Goldman Sachs.

We are proud to work alongside her to craft effective, strategic legal solutions that help drive the legal profession and the industry forward.

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Once those young attorneys graduate, James also believes they should get experience at a big law firm. “There’s not any replacement for it. The amount of different cases you see, the volume of work, the talent of senior lawyers you learn from all become an important part of your journey and better equip you to go in-house, if that’s your goal, with a diverse set of skills,” James says.

She also encourages younger women lawyers not to be deterred by the disproportionate number of senior women attorneys at the highest levels. “Find your mentors in people you click with and look up to, whether they look like you or not. I’ve always pushed myself to embrace who I am and what makes me feel most comfortable and confident—which often means wearing high heels and sparkles in a room that happens to be full of men.”

Vinson & Elkins LLP: “Melissa was a talented and tenacious trial and appellate lawyer during her years at Vinson & Elkins—superb judgment, detail-oriented, and a zealous advocate. She continues to apply those same skills in her role with Goldman Sachs.”

—Matthew Moran and George Kryder, Partners

Pivot

Showcasing prominent in-house attorneys who capably adapt to change changesinintheir their

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companies, industries, and personal and professional lives to carve out new paths through imagination and reinvention

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Starting from

Scratch Riddhi Shah overcame the challenge of being an immigrant attorney with no US law degree to land her ideal corporate role at Pinterest

RIDDHI SHAH IMMIGRATED TO THE

United States to live out a storybook romance; she married her now husband after years of friendship that began when the two were in preschool.

The move’s implications for her legal career, on the other hand, were hardly fairytale material.

“I had to restart my career because my five years of practice in India were

pretty much discounted here,” says Shah, who specialized in securities and mergers and acquisitions at one of India’s largest law firms. “I didn’t know a single lawyer when I moved to California. I was so lost, not even knowing where to start.”

With patience, persistence, and a lot of networking, Shah finally found her footing stateside. Her efforts have

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By Natalie Kochanov

Klodjana Dervishi

Riddhi Shah Director of Corporate Governance & Securities Pinterest

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“I’ve started mentoring young attorneys, especially immigrant attorneys, and my advice to them is to network, network, network. It’s important to know what you want and how you want your network to help you.” culminated in a coveted role at Pinterest, the visual search and discovery platform where users find inspiration, curate ideas, and shop. As the company’s director of corporate governance and securities, Shah keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes by getting in front of any challenges she sees on the horizon.

Shah is no stranger to challenges, having faced more than her share to get to where she is today. “Being from outside the US, you’re constantly trying to convince yourself that you’re good enough, in addition to having to convince others that you’re good enough,” she says. “I did a ton of networking— which, as an introvert, wasn’t easy at all.

But I learned the skill of networking, and I started forming personal relationships with the people I met.”

One of those connections led to a position at a securities litigation firm, while a later one—with an attorney originally from Brazil—brought Shah into the corporate world at financial software company Intuit. The move in-house gave her a chance to prove her worth and ultimately opened the door to her current role.

“Pinterest had just gone public, and they needed somebody with my skill set,” Shah explains. “It was exactly what I was looking for, because it was

a smaller team and there were more responsibilities, which meant more learning opportunities for me.”

Indeed, Shah leads all things securities and corporate governance at Pinterest. “I partner with several cross-functional teams and counsel them on various matters that fall under my expertise,” she says. “One minute I’m practicing securities law, the next I’m taking minutes at a board meeting, and after that I’m advising somebody on how to donate furniture in France.”

To ensure the success of her cross-functional partnerships, Shah took the time early on in her tenure to develop strong relationships throughout the company. “I truly invest in getting to know my internal clients as people. I genuinely want to know them and their work, and I build a mutual relationship that goes a long way,” she says. “Today, if I need something urgently from any of my cross-functional partners, one ping is all it takes. I don’t have to wait a day to hear back from them. I hear back in seconds.”

Those relationships have been essential to Shah as she has encountered new areas—including ones outside the legal realm—during her time at Pinterest.

“When the SEC came out with its new cybersecurity rules, before the rules were even final, I was already working

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with our chief security officer to understand his processes,” she offers as an example.

“Cybersecurity was completely unknown to me, so it was about educating myself on that topic while at the same time educating others on the rules.”

Staying a step ahead is the name of the game for Shah. “As soon as the SEC releases a proposal, I start getting my act together internally so that when the rule does become final, I know what I’m doing,” she says. “The only piece left then is putting the disclosure together, which is honestly the easier part.”

Easier though the disclosure might be, Shah notes that a tremendous amount of backend coordination enables its drafting. Likewise, she needed to apply some serious elbow grease to get the company’s newly minted ESG program off the ground. “ESG has been one of my passion projects. When I joined Pinterest, we were sort of still a startup, and we didn’t have an ESG team, program, report, or anything,” she elaborates. “I was one of the initial proponents, and now we have a full-blown ESG team.”

Shah is proud of Pinterest’s progress on ESG, and just as proud of her professional growth since she first arrived in the US. “I’ve started mentoring young attorneys, especially immigrant attorneys, and my advice to them is to network, network, network. It’s important to know what you want and how you want your network to help you,” she says, reflecting on her own experiences. “Be patient, be persistent, and don’t give up.”

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP: “As outside counsel, we have partnered with Ridi on many projects. Collaborating with her has been a wonderful and seamless experience! She has shepherded numerous important projects for the company in a thoughtful but pragmatic manner, and we always truly enjoy working with her.”

—Aaron Briggs, Partner

Gibson Dunn is proud to support our friend and client Riddhi Shah of Pinterest.

Congrats, Ridi! www.gibsondunn.com

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a leading international law firm.

Chambers USA (2023) Gibson Dunn was ranked Tier 1 nationally for Securities Regulation

Best Law Firms (2024) Gibson Dunn has been recognized for Securities Regulation, National Tier 1, by Best Law Firms®.

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“One-Stop Shop” Solutions Since Solenis acquired Diversey in 2023, the company has made several strides in capitalizing on its increased scale and broader global reach

Kalyakan/AdobeStock.com

By Joseph Stark

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SOLENIS IS A LEADING GLOBAL

producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries. To continue serving its customers, the company acquired Diversey Holdings, a leading provider of hygiene, infection prevention, and cleaning products and technology.

The July 2023 acquisition allowed Solenis to grow to an enterprise that operates in over 130 countries with 71 manufacturing facilities.

Additionally, the acquisition brought fifteen thousand into the ranks. That includes leaders like Terilyn Dumas, who served as deputy general counsel and assistant secretary at Diversey before stepping into her current role as vice president and assistant general counsel.

In a video announcement, Solenis CEO John Panichella said the merger makes Solenis “a more diversified company with significantly increased scale, broader global reach, and the ability to offer ‘a one-stop shop’ suite of solutions that meet customer demand and address water management, cleaning, and hygiene issues on a global basis.”

Since the acquisition, Solenis and Diversey have made several strategic moves to capitalize on that.

Investment in India

During a press meeting with global and regional management teams, Diversey announced its growth

plans for India’s water treatment and hygiene sectors. The plan is to achieve double-digit growth in the next three to five years, achieved through investments in research and development, new manufacturing plants, and key acquisitions.

“Amongst the emerging markets, India is one of the important markets for us where we have a differentiated market position,” said Somer Gundogdu, president of emerging markets and Taski in a statement.

“Adding to the growth trajectory is the expanding Indian economy, which will pave the way for us to scale the business significantly.”

June 2024 Acquisitions

On June 10, Solenis announced that it had acquired Aqua ChemPacs, a leading manufacturer of preportioned, concentrated liquid chemical packs that leverages low-carbon-footprint packaging. The company’s product dissolves easily in water, allowing customers to produce a variety of high-quality cleaning and disinfection products on-site. Aqua ChemPacs adds another eco-friendly cleaning and disinfection solutions to the Diversey portfolio.

Two days after that announcement, Solenis announced that it had acquired 100 percent of Lilleborg shares from Orkla. Lilleborg, which supplies professional cleaning solutions, is one of the leading companies in the Norwegian commercial

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Duane Morris congratulates

market. Now, Diversey can expand into the Norwegian water treatment market through a direct channel, providing an extended portfolio of solutions for food and beverage customers.

TERILYN DUMAS on her outstanding

International Centers of Excellence

contributions and accomplishments as

Vice President & Assistant General Counsel at

Solenis.

Duane Morris LLP, a law firm with more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally, is asked by a broad array of clients to provide innovative solutions to today’s legal and business challenges.

For more information, please contact: Sean S. Zabaneh Partner 215.979.1149 sszabaneh@duanemorris.com www.duanemorris.com Duane Morris LLP – A Delaware limited liability partnership

Donnelly & Harris, LLC is a civil defense firm representing utilities, product makers and contractors in northern Illinois and nationally. It handles complex litigation involving explosions and fires, personal injuries, and construction projects.

Downtown Office 53 W. Jackson Suite 818 Chicago, IL 60604

Southwest Office 19250 Everett Lane Suite 104 Mokena, IL 60448

In November 2022, Solenis opened two international centers of excellence—one virtual and one physical—to drive more sustainable solutions for the consumer paper packaging industry.

The virtual center allows customers to participate remotely in lab experiments with Solenis experts and offers more than seventy paper and food and beverage packaging characteristics across a variety of categories.

The physical center is a facility in Germany that includes application and testing equipment in addition to repulping and recycling capabilities.

Both aim to stimulate and test customer processes, treatment programs, and paper/paperboard properties to optimize performance efficiency, costs, and sustainability.

Donnelly & Harris: “The attorneys at Donnelly & Harris (Chicago) prize every opportunity to work on Terilyn Dumas-led cases. She leads by example and puts in the time to master every case detail.

Her approach to litigation is both principled

www.donnellyharris.com

and driven by the law, and practical, with emphasis on understanding the business and personal impacts involved. Terilyn sets the bar high and challenges us to meet it.”

—Patrick Donnelly, Partner

Mo dern Couns el

Embracing Every JLL’s Judith Dever talks taking her first role in-house after nearly three decades in public service

Aan/AdobeStock.com

By Natalie Kochanov

Opportunity

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JUDITH DE VER’S TOP PIECE OF

advice for law students is to take advantage of internship and externship opportunities, even if those opportunities fall outside their practice areas of interest. After all, as Dever learned in the early stages of her own career, those areas of interest can be a moving target.

“I wanted to be a health law attorney when I graduated from law school,” Dever says. “I never knew that I would become a labor and employment lawyer. But I followed a certain trajectory that led me to that path, and I ended up never working in the health law field at all.”

Unexpected as her direction may have been, Dever has found no shortage of fulfillment in her thirty years of practice. She spent much of that time in public service before accepting her first in-house role in 2021. Today, as director of legal counsel, litigation, and employment at global real estate company JLL, she leverages many of the same skills that she honed while working in government—with a corporate twist.

Just a few years after graduating from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Dever joined the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. The position afforded her a chance to hit the ground running in a way that may not have been possible in a law firm setting.

“The great thing about government work is that you get a lot of hands-on experience,” Dever says. “My first day, I watched a trial. My second day, I handled a trial myself.”

Dever followed up her stint as an assistant state’s attorney with a position in the labor and employment division of the Chicago Board of Education’s law department and the drug and gang house division of the City of

“If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from my thirty years of being a lawyer, it’s the truth of the saying, ‘Humans plan, and God laughs.’ I try to keep my plans loose and be open to new opportunities.”

Chicago Department of Law. Upon her subsequent promotion to deputy of the labor division, she began overseeing a team of twenty-five attorneys and support staff, who handled a wide range of employment and labor matters for the city.

Then, Dever made the bold decision to move in-house. Even though her public service days are now behind her, she looks back on what she accomplished in government with pride. “I was one of several lawyers who helped the City of Chicago navigate the very beginning of the COVID crisis. I was also on the advisory committee for the Chicago Police Department’s consent decree in federal court,” she says.

“Those are two areas where I really feel that I made an impact, hopefully for the better.”

Furthermore, Dever carried those experiences with her to JLL. In her current role as director, she continues to manage diverse employment cases, whether they be lawsuits and charges that require her to bring in outside counsel or threat letters that the company can investigate internally.

Despite the similarities in case types and legal processes, Dever has needed to make a major adjustment to her perspective since moving in-house.

“The biggest difference for me is that I used to deal with only Illinois state laws. At JLL, a Fortune 200 company that is global, we have to consider all the laws throughout the United States, as well as international laws,” she explains. “That was—and is—a major learning curve.”

What’s more? Dever has dedicated time to learning the business and getting to know her colleagues across the various business lines too. She and her two direct colleagues partner

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closely with both the business lines and HR to ensure that JLL is positioned for success.

“We get questions all over the board about federal and state laws on many different kinds of issues,” she says. “You name it, and we’ve probably seen it in the employment realm.”

To answer those questions, Dever and her colleagues often conduct research into the latest rules and laws in relevant jurisdictions. The acts of gaining knowledge and deepening her understanding of the law and the business alike will remain constants for Dever in years to come. Another one is her commitment to sharing the lessons that she has already learned with the next generation of attorneys.

In fact, Dever encourages aspiring lawyers to join bar associations and attend events to build their networks. She also emphasizes the value of mentorship, which can come in the form of supervisors or other attorneys who might be in a position to foster career growth.

Dever offers a final lesson that encapsulates her professional experiences up to this point, from her initial foray into the labor and employment field to her recent and rewarding pivot in-house: “If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from my thirty years of being a lawyer, it’s the truth of the saying, ‘Humans plan, and God laughs,’” she says, laughing herself. “I try to keep my plans loose and be open to new opportunities.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FRIEND

Judy Dever

Greenberg Traurig applauds the leadership and accomplishments of Judy Dever, Director and Legal Counsel of Employment Litigation at JLL. We are proud of our collaboration with JLL, and we look forward to continuing our work with Judy and JLL.

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She has also managed numerous major cases and always

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manages to exude a sense of calm and control. During her tenure at JLL, Judy’s impact has been substantial and invaluable. We are grateful for our successful, long-standing partnership with Judy and JLL.” —Tiffany Fordyce, Shareholder

Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2024 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Attorney advertising.

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Generations of

Service Tom Brown is an IP leader at Dell Technologies with service in his heart

By Billy Yost

BEFORE

TOM

BROWN

EVEN

considered pursuing the law, he had a large reputation to live up to. Brown, who heads IP litigation at Dell Technologies, is the grandson of the late legal East Coast powerhouse couple of Justice Rose Luttan Rubin and her husband, six-decade litigator and firm founder of Herzfeld & Rubin, Herbert Rubin.

Brown’s grandmother became one of the first female New York Supreme Court trial judges. Her husband, unable to get a role at a firm because of his Jewish heritage, built his own business that became an incredibly successful international law firm, on the way arguing the pivotal Supreme Court case World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v.

Woodson.

“For both of them, it was so much more than a job,” Brown remembers.

“They were passionate about the notion of justice and the law—and also about philanthropy. They emphasized the need to serve people who are in constituen-

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cies where no one else is standing up for them.”

Learning to Let Go

Brown has been a part of Dell since 2016, when it merged with Massachusettsbased storage company EMC. The Harvard Law School grad left his firm work in 2010 after becoming a principal at firm Fish & Richardson. For Brown, it was a chance to do more of what he loved and much less of what didn’t.

“I didn’t have to do doc review anymore or argue about specific deadlines—not to mention the whole world of billable hours,” Brown says.

“I love to get into the weeds and the details. When I had the opportunity to

lead the IP litigation team, I’ve had to let some of that go in order to let my team do what they do.”

“Tom is a dream client. In all of our cases, he functions at the level of a valued senior partner on the litigation team, where he contributes deeply and substantively,” say partners Brian Rosenthal and Paul Torchia of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. “At the same time, he is always mindful of the balance between aggressively litigating the particular case with Dell’s longer-term objectives.”

Brown says that as he’s evolved and risen in his career, he’s had to intentionally focus on his leadership. The senior managing director says he’s most effective as a sounding board and

Just ZipIt Both Tom Brown and his wife left careers in engineering to pursue very different worlds in law and veterinary medicine. But Brown still made a substantive mark on the software world.

Barely an adult, Brown created a Macintosh application called ZipIt,

Nicole Connolly

a file compression and

Tom Brown Senior Managing Legal Director and Head of IP Litigation Dell Technologies

extraction tool that anyone downloading or sending large files in the late ’90s may have used.

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“I have my own cases and still get to go deep on certain cases, but I want to make sure that my team is seen for the great work that they do every day.”

brainstorming partner for his team. At the same time, Brown says he’s valued the opportunity to advocate upward for those under him.

“I want to make sure my team’s contributions are visible outside of our organization,” Brown says. “We’re in a very specialized area, and it’s very different from what other lawyers at Dell do. I have my own cases and still get to go deep on certain cases, but I want to make sure that my team is seen for the great work that they do every day.”

The Best of Both Worlds

When it comes to the highly technical, highly specialized world of IP, Brown says he’s enjoyed delving into the world of postgrant review and inter partes review (IPRs). When Brown was leaving his firm, some of his colleagues tried to lure him back because they thought he would be the perfect person to tackle an entirely new practice area.

Postgrant review work lies somewhere between traditional litigation and the technical world of patent law.

“You always have to tell the story and create a compelling narrative, but these are patent judges; you don’t have to

distill down as much as you would for a jury trial,” Brown says. “The best IPR practitioners recognize that they still need to treat the decision-maker as a human being, to paint that picture.

But it doesn’t have to be filled with those thematic elements [the portrayal of a disputing party as a “bad actor,” for example] that tend to dominate a jury trial.”

But, like so much of his broader work, Brown can’t afford to delve too deep in cases whose technicalities and specificities could fill volumes. Instead, he and his team partner closely with outside counsel, trusting them to ensure the details are right. That leaves Brown and his team free to focus more on ensuring that high-level arguments are persuasive and that technical arguments are synthesized so as to obtain a favorable ruling.

Service as Subject Matter

Beyond his core work, service has always been a bedrock of Brown’s practice. At firm Fish & Richardson, Brown led several pro bono initiatives, including one that involved showing up at housing courts in his local town of Lynn, Massachusetts,

to represent tenants in danger of being evicted. Tenants didn’t know they would have representation until they arrived at court, and Brown and his cohorts were often able to negotiate agreements with landlords to avoid the clients being removed from their homes.

Typically, once a law yer goes in-house, chances for pro bono opportunities are less frequent. But at Dell Technologies, the legal department created a formal pro bono committee.

One of Brown’s prouder accomplishments is the Business Leader in Human Rights award given to his team by immigration services and asylum representation nonprofit PAIR Project.

“This is a pretty unique situation and is rare to find an internal group that’s been this supportive,” Brown says. “Dell values giving back, and our general counsel makes it a priority.

Service is important to me, and I’m glad I get to continue finding ways to give back.”

Through his service, his leadership, and his continued efforts to evolve as a leader, Brown is making the kind of impact that would make his grandparents proud.

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A Lucky Love for Labor Law Cheryl Luce Fuga shares her passion for labor and employment and her winding career journey

By Noah Johnson

BEFORE BECOMING AN ATTORNEY,

Cheryl Luce Fuga studied English at the University of Chicago and aspired to become a literature professor. That was until she graduated in 2009 amid one of the worst recessions in US history.

With her literature dreams in limbo, she decided to do what a record number of people did at the time.

“I chose to go to law school to ride things out since it wasn’t a good job economy for new grads,” she reflects. “It turned out to be a great decision and a perfect fit for me. Now I’m proud to say that I’m actually one of the lucky ones who loves being a lawyer.”

Genevieve True

Cheryl Luce Fuga Senior Counsel of Labor & Employment Hyatt Hotels Corporation

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“Now I’m proud to say that I’m actually one of the lucky ones who loves being a lawyer.”

Pivot

That’s because she found the right practice area. Whenever she met with lawyers to ask them about their jobs, it was a mixed bag. Some of them loved their work, others didn’t, and many fell somewhere in between. However, she found that employment lawyers seemed to have the highest satisfaction. As she began her career at Vedder Price as a labor and employment associate, she quickly understood why.

“Labor and employment deals with people issues and allows you to see things from the human side,” Fuga says. “It allows you to understand how companies connect their overall branding and strategy to things employees expect. It also allows lawyers to leverage emotional intelligence skills to find that connection between people and the business.

“I became really passionate about helping companies see the value of being fair and making the business case for treating people well. That’s where my personal fulfillment come in,” she adds.

From her role at Vedder Price to her tenure at Seyfarth Shaw, she had no shortage of opportunities to help companies navigate those issues as an extension of in-house counsel teams. While she had planned to one day become a law firm partner, her collaboration with her business clients and their legal teams made her rethink where her career was headed.

“I realized that I no longer wanted to be outside counsel and that I wanted to continue doing what I loved in-house. Being an employment counsel gets you out of the mindset of litigation and makes you

focus on solutions and strategies to mitigate concerns before they result in a lawsuit. I really wanted to do that,” Fuga says.

And so she did. In 2020, she became an employment and benefits attorney at Argonne National Laboratory, where she worked closely with senior- and executive-level leaders.

Fuga learned how to provide them with the best legal advice in addition to the importance of being proactive and building credibility.

“You have to make sure you’ve got accurate and well-thoughtthrough information. You’ve got to understand the organization’s larger goals—understand how to communicate things clearly and concisely and to explain risk in an objective way that helps everyone get on the same page,” she says.

From there, Fuga moved to Hyatt Hotels Corporation. She was drawn to the company’s values and strong legal team. As senior counsel of labor and employment, she’s been focused on bringing the Hyatt’s labor and employment practices “to the next level.”

“This role has been a great fit,” she says. “It’s given [me] an opportunity to help the organization become well poised to be the employer of choice going forward. It’s also a chance to be a subject-matter expert and to be someone the company trusts to give sound and reasoned advice.”

Since stepping into her role in 2023, Fuga has helped create internal investigation training to ensure the company is investigating all workplace concerns in a fair and consistent way. She and her colleagues have created an investigations toolkit with template summaries,

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working with HR teams to align on what its contents should be.

Additionally, Fuga is helping the company respond to increased labor organizing activity, which has involved “going back to the basics.”

“Focus on positive employee relations,” she advises. “Make employees feel like they work for a company that cares about them and that they can trust. Our ethos is to care for people so they can be their best. So creating that culture of care is central to connecting with our colleagues and making sure they understand our commitment.”

Fuga believes her success has hinged on a powerful perspective—viewing her career as a marathon, not a sprint. She advises new attorneys to do the same if they wish to enjoy a successful career.

“Try to handle each issue consistently, show up, and give the best advice you can. That pays off because it allows you to build credibility over time,” she says.

That statement ties into another piece of advice she offers.

“Your reputation is earned,” Fuga says. “It’s not something people will give you automatically. You need to have the mindset of showing people who you are.”

Seyfarth Shaw LLP: “Cheryl is a true asset to Hyatt. She’s whip smart, unafraid to learn new things, and takes a practical bent to managing employment, labor, and benefits matters—and all with a sense of humor.”

—Noah Finkel, Partner

Congratulations

Cheryl Luce Fuga,

for this well-deserved recognition of your exceptional leadership.

Focused on labor and employment law since 1958, our 1,000+ attorneys located in major cities nationwide consistently identify and respond to new ways workplace law intersects business.

David R. Golder | Principal 90 State House Square, 8th Floor Hartford, CT 06103 860-522-0404 David.Golder@jacksonlewis.com

©2024 Jackson Lewis P.C. Attorney Advertising jacksonlewis.com

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How Cathy Landman makes an impact by combining legal expertise and business acumen

By Zach Baliva

Is All Business

master1305/AdobeStock.com

Cathy Landman

Mo dern Couns el

“ YOU’RE NOT LIKE ANY OF THE

lawyers I’ve worked with before.”

It’s a statement Cathy Landman has heard many times. At first, the phrase caught her off guard—but not anymore. Over the course of a long in-house career spent at iconic retail companies, she’s learned how to accurately interpret the oft-repeated words.

“I’ve developed a reputation for understanding each business I work in,” Landman explains. “I think people are struck when I act more like a businessperson than a lawyer, and I take that as a compliment.”

Landman didn’t enroll at the University of Wisconsin Law School to become a litigator or pursue a niche practice area. She chose to study law after earning an undergraduate degree in economics because she knew a JD would open many different doors.

“One can apply the law in so many different ways, and I wanted to have many opportunities to choose from,” she says.

Her first job was as an associate at the Minneapolis firm Dorsey and Whitney. One standard assignment at the firm changed the course of her entire career. Landman was managing litigation for the general counsel responsible for one division of a large company. Hearing the GC articulate how aspects of litigation were tied to business strategy opened Landman’s eyes. In that moment, she decided to

prepare to take on an in-house role of her own.

It didn’t take long for Landman to find a position at National Car Rental.

Then she joined Mary Kay and started handling more complex litigation matters. Over her three-year tenure, she was given the opportunity to oversee the company’s domestic intellectual property portfolio while managing legal issues for South American and Western European subsidiaries.

Landman embraced the opportunities. “I’m curious, I love learning new things, and I’m always hungry for more,” she says.

Upon leaving Mary Kay, Landman logged twelve years at Pampered Chef.

Stepping in as the family business’ first general counsel gave her the chance to broaden her skills and expertise. And initially reporting to the CFO instead of the CEO helped Landman build business acumen. When the opportunity arose, she spent time managing human resources and even a sales and marketing team.

Doris Christopher famously started the company in 1980 out of her Chicagoarea basement by borrowing $3,000 from an insurance policy. Later, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway acquired Pampered Chef for an undisclosed sum rumored to be near $1 billion in 2002.

The events helped Landman solidify her approach of merging expertise in

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business and law. “I have this business toolbox that I carry with me at all times, but I also carry a legal toolbox that helps me manage risk. That’s what I do day in and day out,” she says.

After Pampered Chef, Landman returned to Minneapolis to join Jostens, where Landman revamped the legal, risk management, and licensing functions, helping her teammates develop their own legal and business toolboxes.

In 2018, Landman took a job with a houseware company then known as Corelle Brands. The global business with a significant Asia-Pacific presence gave her another opportunity to learn something new. This time, in addition to reenergizing the legal team, she would lead an HR team managing 2,400 people in different parts of the world, including China and South Korea.

Shortly after Landman joined, Corelle Brands acquired Instant Brands. At that time, Instant Brands was growing on the strength of its popular Instant Pot multicooker. Landman was a key leader in the integration efforts of the combined company. Unfortunately, the supply chain crisis harmed the business. Four years after the merger, in 2023, Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Landman was integral to the company exiting the Chapter 11 process by selling its appliance and housewares divisions in just eight months.

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The curious lawyer and lifelong learner says the challenging ordeal was a valuable one. “There are opportunities for learning in every situation,” she says. For Landman, working through a bankruptcy underscored the importance of both trust and relationships in guiding the Instant Brands leadership team through the process.

With the exit from Chapter 11, Landman is looking to start the next chapter in her career.

While she doesn’t know exactly where she will land, she has some ideas. She likes middle-market companies, founder-led organizations, and fast-moving environments. Those, she has found, are the types of organizations that give her energy and embrace her passion for learning. One thing is certain—whichever company Landman chooses will benefit from her mixture of legal and business expertise.

Landman encourages young lawyers looking to build a similar in-house career to be bold and daring. “Raise your hand to try something new,” she says. “We may manage risk as lawyers, but don’t just manage risk. Take a risk in your career, as it will propel you to new opportunities.”

Crowell & Moring: “We’ve enjoyed working with Cathy as outside counsel and are impressed by her legal knowledge, business acumen, and pragmatism. A team builder who sets high standards, she remarkably manages and accomplishes multiple tasks efficiently.”

—Bill Frankel, Partner

Mo dern Couns el

A Legacy to Shahista/AdobeStock.com

Follow Ken Strick leads with the mindset that success comes from developing strong relationships at Growve

By Noah Johnson

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AT THE START OF HIS CAREER ,

“Once I got to see the inner workings of the court, it was eye-opening to realize the difference between law school and how the sausage gets made, so to speak.”

people,” Strick advises. “Use your time at the company to network, to set up lunch with the heads from another department—nudge your way into meetings. Make them part of your career development. We want to get embedded in the business and the departments we work with regularly, and that’s how you do it.”

As a result, those relationships have helped the company stay strong in the face of turmoil and an ever-evolving market. After successfully buying thirteen businesses in twelve months, the business contended with financial pressures amid changes in interest rates. That pressure led to three divestitures and a hiring freeze for Strick’s team. Now, as the company gets back to growing, the GC is focused on finding and developing talent.

“It’s key to find people that want to be in-house but understand that it’s a much different role than being an outside lawyer. You’re not the top dog,” Strick says. “You’re part of a larger organization that requires more collaboration than you’d normally see in private practice. When you interview, you just have to explain the differences between both environments . . . and it’ll be easier.”

Taking a look at the leader’s roots, Strick was born in Philadelphia and grew up in a Florida beach town in the 1970s and ’80s. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, he obtained his law degree from the University of Miami. From there, he spent a year as a judicial law clerk to John P. Vukasin Jr. in a US district court, an

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Ken Strick was a competitive commercial litigator who had an appetite and a knack for solving problems. As he progressed along his decades-long career, his motivation never changed, but his need to win did.

“As I got older, moved in-house, and started solving problems for teams, I became more driven by the impact I had on people, especially through the development of young lawyers and professionals,” Strick says. “When you’re with a company, you develop relationships because success only comes based on your people. It’s not about just one case or another contract you’re negotiating. As a leader, my legacy lies in the people I’ve impacted.”

Today, Strick serves as general counsel and corporate secretary at Growve, a health and wellness brand accelerator specializing in acquiring, operating, and growing world-class brands in the nutrition, dietary supplement, and beauty verticals. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, the company’s portfolio includes over twenty brands and thousands of unique products.

In his time there, Strick leveraged his people-first philosophy to build the legal department from the ground up and develop a strong culture among its team of five. Through candid conversations and continuous open dialogue with his team, Strick encourages his people to build long-lasting relationships with their internal clients, a practice that results in more than one benefit.

“I tell them not to just view themselves as someone sitting in your office and doing whatever project you’re on.

You’re part of a broader organization.

Walk down and have meetings with

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GREENBERG TRAURIG CONGRATULATES

KEN STRICK

General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Growve

“

For almost 30 years, Greenberg Traurig has admired Ken Strick’s leadership and mentorship as he has developed legal departments and guided global businesses with vision and purpose.

“

experience that exposed him to the nuances of the legal system.

“Once I got to see the inner workings of the court, it was eye-opening to realize the difference between law school and how the sausage gets made, so to speak,” Strick says. “Coming in, you have these lofty ideas but realize the law is a bit messy and interpretive. That had a big impact on me.”

He went on to work for various firms on commercial litigation and employment law before taking his first in-house role at Group Danone-Royal Numico-Rexall Sundown. For eleven years, he served in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in his position as vice president and general counsel for North America. Consequently, that paved the way to a nine-year stint at Glanbia Performance Nutrition, where Strick served as senior vice president and general counsel. Afterward, he was drawn to Growve when his position was eliminated.

What’s more? He wanted a new challenge.

“I wanted to do something like take an entrepreneurial company public,” Strick says.

Looking forward, the GC is excited about helping Growve continue its growth journey and realize the benefits of its acquisitions.

“We acquired so rapidly that we didn’t have the ability to integrate those businesses and unlock that shared knowledge base and savings that we can take advantage of. Now that we’re back to a growth pace, we have that ability to move more things in-house and, for me, to continue building up my team,” Strick says.

As Strick looks ahead, he remains driven by the impact he can have on the next generation of legal professionals. By fostering an environment of open communication, collaboration, and continuous learning, the GC hopes to leave a lasting legacy that extends far beyond the boardroom.

With his people-first mindset and commitment to developing talent, Strick is paving the way for a future where legal teams are not just advisors, but true partners in driving business success.

Bridget A. Berry, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig

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Pivot

Be the Go-To Person Rick Hansen reflects on spending decades in the public company space and sustainable strategy at HP Inc.

THROW A DART AT RICK HANSEN’S

résumé, and you’ll recognize the employer names: Perkins Coie, Amazon, Chevron, General Motors, and most recently, HP Inc. Hansen is HP’s senior vice president, deputy general counsel of corporate, and corporate secretary. He takes inspiration from work that is at the crossroads of law, business, and public policy and requires operating on a global stage.

Another source of inspiration for the SVP is advice from one of the many wellknown CEOs he’s worked with. What she told him informed his career journey, and he abides by her guidance to this day.

“This amazing person told me that she didn’t necessarily have a clearly plotted or defined career path but that she got to the CEO chair because she never said no to an opportunity, regardless of how difficult it

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By Will Grant

Mo dern Couns el

Adam J Clark

Rick Hansen SVP, Deputy General Counsel of Corporate, and Corporate Secretary HP Inc.

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Five Pieces of Wisdom from a Legal Veteran For those at the beginning of their legal careers, Rick Hansen has advice drawn from decades of experience in private practice and in-house at Amazon, Chevron, General Motors, and HP Inc. 1. Do what you love.

“Make sure you’re spending time on something that engages, challenges, and renews you—and gives you a sense of fulfillment.”

2. Grow where you’re planted.

“Whatever you’re asked to do, however you’re asked to serve, give it your best.

People will notice.”

3. Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself.

“Challenge yourself to explore new things and get out of your own silo or swim lane. Sometimes you’ll need to fake it till you make it, but that kind of variety has brought me a lot of satisfaction in my career.”

4. Be patient.

“You don’t need to be in a hurry. If you’re good at what you do, success— however you may define it—will come in due course. I wish I had been a little more patient early in my own career.”

5. Invest in yourself.

“Your career is just that: your career.

Don’t sit by and expect others to do for you what you can do for yourself.

Take charge of your own growth and development.”

Pivot

may have seemed,” Hansen recalls.

“By doing so, she earned a reputation as a go-to person and an indispensable part of the team— someone who should be at the table when critical decisions are being made. I’ve modeled much of what I do based on that advice.”

Hansen’s portfolio at HP is broad. He and his team of thirty cover board of directors operations, securities regulation, capital markets, corporation finance, M&A, corporate and corporate governance, executive compensation, and employment matters.

What Hansen himself is working on is often dictated by where he’s needed most at any given moment.

He enjoys special projects that take him out of his historical comfort zone.

“Rick is not only a great lawyer but also a true business leader, whose curiosity and dedication to doing the right things inspire his team and other leaders around him,” says Ashok Parmar, partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP. “I learn something new from Rick every time I interact with him, thanks to his broader perspectives and insightful leadership.”

At his core, Hansen is a public company lawyer. No day is like the last, but that’s exactly why the SVP loves what he does. At the time of speaking, Hansen was prepping his CEO and CFO for a quarterly earnings call, signing off on quarterly reports, facilitating board committee meetings, advising on a handful of critical

M&A and strategic initiatives, and engaging with several large institutional investors.

“I’m never bored because I’m always stimulated and stretched,” Hansen explains. “I’m always pushed to think about things in a different way. The benefit of having so many years of experience is that I have a large reservoir to draw on, which helps navigate issues as they arise. But rarely do I have a day where I haven’t been asked a new question that requires fresh thinking.”

That fresh thinking includes redefining exactly what environmental, social, and governance (ESG) means to a company that wants to do more than check a box. Hansen echoes BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s abandonment of the now politically charged term.

“The term ESG has outlived its time and usefulness. Sadly, the term has now been weaponized in such a way as to eclipse its intended meaning,” Hansen says.

“I prefer the term sustainable strategy because it connotes what sustainability was intended to be and what it ought to be: an integral part of a company’s strategy.

“Too many organizations have treated sustainability as a side dish,” Hansen continues, “rather than treating it as an essential ingredient of the main course.”

To Hansen, it’s clear that companies that have made sustainability an integral part of their strategy have a differentiating

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Ropes & Gray congratulates Rick Hansen on his outstanding legal career and his recognition in Modern Counsel.

Gibson Dunn is proud to support our friend and client Rick Hansen of HP Inc. Congrats, Rick! www.gibsondunn.com

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a leading international law firm.

Chambers USA (2024) Gibson Dunn was ranked Tier 1 nationally for Securities Regulation

edge on their competitors and with their customers.

Reid Pearson, who heads the advisory team at Alliance Advisors and often collaborates with Rick on shareholder topics, says, “Rick has a unique ability to connect with shareholders and understand what is important to them.

He sees the value in sustainability and governance best practices.”

Hansen’s life is not just about the law. He and his wife will soon celebrate thirty years of marriage.

His four children (ages twentyseven, twenty-four, twentythree, and eleven) keep him young. And his faith drives most of what matters to him in his and his family’s lives.

That’s not to say there haven’t been some wrinkles. Like when Hansen entered law school with a baby girl, followed by the birth of a second baby in his third year and then, just fifteen months later, yet another baby. Or the “little miracle” who joined Hansen’s family unexpectedly twelve years later. Hansen wouldn’t suggest that route for law students today, but these new experiences kept him on his toes every step of the way. Just the way he likes it.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP: “Rick is a consummate professional. He is a leader in the corporate governance space, and his thoughtful and pragmatic approach is an asset to HP. We always truly enjoy working with him.”

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Best Law Firms (2024) Gibson Dunn has been recognized for Securities Regulation, National Tier 1, by Best Law Firms®.

—Lori Zyskowski, Partner Ropes & Gray: “It is our privilege to work with Rick Hansen and his entire team at HP. Rick’s strategic and visionary leadership benefits HP and the teams of talent that surround him.”

–Sarah Young, M&A Partner

Alliance Advisors is pleased to congratulate Rick Hansen on this well-deserved recognition.

It is a privilege to work alongside Rick and his team, providing Corporate Governance and Shareholder Advisory to HP Inc. Alliance Advisors is an independent advisory firm focused on Shareholder Meeting Advisory, Shareholder Engagement, Compensation, Governance & Sustainability Advisory, M&A - Activism, Institutional Ownership Intelligence, Proxy Logistics and Retail Outreach strategies.

We work around the world for public companies from a range of industries and market capitalization size. We are headquartered in the US, working together as one team, in multiple locations.

Contact: rpearson@allianceadvisorsllc.com

allianceadvisors.com

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Pivot

Researcher and IP enthusiast Paul Burnett shares his career journey, leadership philosophy, and more

By Joseph Stark

PA U L

BURNETT

S TA R T E D

HIS

career as a research scientist at Johnson & Johnson (J&J), where he evaluated drug-screening technologies and filed a patent application on an assay using an automated high-content microscope.

That experience hooked him on IP, so much so that he became a patent agent at J&J and pursued a law degree in the evenings. After passing the bar, he spent several years in private practice before going in-house.

Today, he serves as chief IP counsel at FMC Corporation, a company that

harnesses the power of science to solve agriculture’s biggest challenges and to support growers with innovative crop protection products. In that capacity, Burnett is proud to be part of a diverse team that’s leveraging its unique skills to assist the company’s growth as it continues to launch novel sustainable crop protection technology.

“We’re becoming more than a chemical company. FMC’s products encompass biologicals, novel delivery systems, and data-driven technology, all aimed at addressing growers’

oticki/AdobeStock.com

The IP Protector

Mo dern Couns el

needs,” says Burnett, who leads a team of professionals who have experience outside of FMC’s industry. “We’ve been building out a team with a variety of expertise, and it’s good to have individuals who can apply learnings from different industries to cross-pollinate and bring insight into how to chart our future.”

Though he had only been in the role for a year at time of speaking, the FMC IP team was voted as the top in-house IP team in the US in 2024 by Lexology.

Burnett says he’s so proud of being

part of such a creative, talented, and dedicated team.

One of the most rewarding and challenging aspect of the job is enforcing FMC’s IP globally.

“Laws are different from country to country. I can understand the strengths and weaknesses of a case in the US, but that doesn’t apply to other countries where the standard of law is often different,” Burnett says. “We’ve focused on bringing in the experts to train us while also conveying our knowledge on how we’d like to enforce our

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patents. In that way, we’re all teachers and also students.”

Burnett, a UK native, obtained a biochemistry degree from the University of Manchester and his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Bristol. After serving as a postdoctoral research fellow and building microscopes to conduct research, Burnett joined J&J, where he wrote his first patent application, left research, and moved into legal. As a patent agent, he prepared and prosecuted US patent applications related to cell-based

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“I’ve always been interested in pushing, testing, and picking things apart to see how to make them better, and that’s how I approach the law too.”

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therapies and biotechnology. He also managed the patent estates for internal venture companies, performed due diligence reviews, facilitated the efficient protection of inventions, and more.

While he traded the lab for the law, he brought along a similar mindset to his new profession. “I’ve always been interested in pushing, testing, and picking things apart to see how to make them better, and that’s how I approach the law too,” Burnett says.

Burnett’s nine years at J&J inspired him to continue his career in private practice as an associate at Scully, Scott, Murphy, & Presser; Greenberg Traurig, LLP; and as a partner of his own firm. While that journey taught him the ins and outs of the law and exposed him to leadership positions, he knew that he needed a change.

“It was a lot of learning from the ground up, often with little to no supervision and guidance, which has continued to stick with me today. But from a work/life balance perspective, I realized that in-house was where I wanted to be,” he explains. “In-house environments also seemed to be filled with highly creative people and could allow me to continue learning about cutting-edge technology and how to protect it.”

In 2017, he joined Firmenich as senior patent counsel and was later promoted to director of the function. When a role model from the company left to work for FMC, he was inspired to follow.

“She was the smartest person I knew, was a gifted patent practitioner, and has a keen eye for business,” Burnett says. “I wanted to learn as much as I could from her, and she inspired me to be that kind of mentor to others at FMC.” As a leader, Burnett is transparent and straightforward. What you see is what you get. “Let’s just have a conversation and navigate through whatever it is,” he says of his leadership approach.

For Burnett, being straightforward also translates to asking for help when he needs it. “I only know so much,” he says. “I make many decisions, but everyone on my team has a voice. I like to ask, ‘What could I have done better?’ Every day is a learning experience.”

GEN Law Firm: “As FMC’s chief IP counsel, Paul has unparalleled legal expertise and business sense that make him a strategic player in his industry. He is very hardworking, thoughtful, but also very practical in terms of bringing the most cost-effective results for the company. We as outside counsel have been so fortunate to partner with Paul, and thanks to his leadership and guidance, we have achieved many remarkable successes together.”

—Jerry Xia, Partner

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MODERN COUNSEL

FOCUS

Food &

Beverage Four legal tastemakers seek opportunities to empower their teams, grow their companies, and give back to their communities

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DAN LETT

RUSSELL KING

Bunzl North America

McDonald’s Corporation

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S U K R AT B A B E R

CHRISTOPHER COTTRELL

Ferrara Candy Company

Chick-fil-A

F O O D I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y D I V I A R T S /A D O B E S T O C K . C O M

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DAN LETT LEADS BUNZL

Distribution THROUGH

Growth Dan

Lett

through

a

has

solidified

culture

of

his

legal

collaboration

team and

as

a

togetherness

BY NOAH JOHNSON

high-performing at

Bunzl

department

North

America

MODERN COUNSEL

or the past twenty-six years, Dan Lett has prided himself on building an agile legal department at Bunzl North America that has kept pace with rapid growth.

He became the company’s sole in-house attorney in 1998 as the company expanded. By the time he spoke to Modern Counsel in 2017, the company had nearly quadrupled its annual revenue and developed a legal department of four attorneys. Over the past seven years, the business has continued to grow, has diversified its products and services, and has entered new markets. Meanwhile, the legal team has added two more attorneys to its ranks and has overseen the completion of twenty-five acquisitions representing approximately $1.5 billion of acquired sales.

While playing a significant role in that growth has been gratifying, Lett believes the department’s most important accomplishment is related to its culture.

“Our team has a culture of collaboration and togetherness,” says the general counsel and executive vice

president of corporate development.

“We care for each other personally, celebrate successes, and share challenges both in and out of the office.

We’ve created something that’s well-respected in the organization and [we] are looked at as partners that can help solve problems. As a result, we’ve become more embedded in the business.”

As the business has grown, so has the volume of legal work and the kinds of challenges Lett and his team have taken on. The company has contended with increased regulation activity, more compliance, and technical requirements in core sectors in addition to evolving consumer expectations. While Lett’s primary focus has been on meeting acquisition targets, cultivating those relationships, and bringing new businesses to the organization, he says these factors necessitate a shift in how he prioritizes his work.

“Because our business has grown so much, I’ll be redirecting more efforts back to the legal side of things and we will add team members to our corporate development group to handle negotiations and transactions,” he explains. “Our talented and growing

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Dan Lett

EVP of Corporate Development and General Counsel

team accepts these challenges, and that affords me the time to balance my work on strategic issues with our corporate development initiatives.”

Lett prioritizes “fit” when finding the right people for his high-performing legal team, a trait that isn’t always reflected by a lawyer’s pedigree.

“Bunzl is a ‘roll up your sleeves,’ hardworking, results-oriented business, and legal needs to know how to work in that environment and how to address the dynamic commercial team’s wants and needs in a way that’s collaborative,” he says. “Lawyers can be a lot of things, and very good lawyers might be more experienced or accomplished than my team, but if they

don’t fit, that’s not the most optimal situation. By and large, it comes down to personality, fit, and demeanor.”

Teasing out whether a candidate fits the mold is a group effort, Lett says. Members of his team conduct multiple interviews with viable candidates. Afterwards, the team comes to a decision together. That process is reflective of Lett’s collaborative and hands-off approach to leading. He trusts in his people, and he’s a firm believer in giving them accountability and autonomy.

“If they have a project, it’s their project,” he says. “I’m always there to support, but they’re professionals and I let them run, let them make deci-

sions, and move things out of their way in order for them to do it. They don’t need me looking over their shoulder.

I believe having that accountability and autonomy gives people confidence in what they’re doing and leads to better performances.”

Nick Lamb, partner at Thompson Coburn LLP, recognizes Lett’s leadership and his ability to build a strong team. “As Dan’s outside counsel and good friend for almost twenty-five years, I have been fortunate to have a front-row seat watching him build a collaborative legal team that is thriving,” Lamb says. “Bunzl has been the direct beneficiary of the hard work of that team in its continued growth.”

Laura Stansberry

Bunzl North America

Trailblazing Legal Leadership Husch Blackwell is a different kind of law firm, built on a culture of selfless service. Our attorneys collaborate nationwide to provide inventive approaches that guide clients like Bunzl Distribution through their most complex challenges.

huschblackwell.com

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Bunzl’s commitment to creating a long-term sustainable and equitable world is also Dentons’ Our global mission aligns with Bunzl’s vision of client-centric growth and strategic market expansion, fostering sustainability and continuous improvement.

Our passion is to deliver excellence in the legal industry so that our valued clients’ businesses are protected and poised to grow.

Grow | Protect | Operate | Finance

Another important part of Lett’s approach is giving his team space to develop and grow in the company.

“If someone has a passion for a topic, experience, or an interest in something, we do all we can to let them take that on,” Lett emphasizes.

“I encourage people to go to different areas or business units and don’t hold them back.” By giving his team the ability to explore, he makes their world more interesting and makes them more dedicated employees.

Looking forward, Lett is excited to continue to help guide the business during its “growth mode.” His corporate development team is identifying acquisition targets in its core sectors and in new ones while maintaining “a robust pipeline of quality targets,” he says.

“We’re growing through both acquisition— which has always been a key pillar of ours—but also by organic growth,” Lett says. “Our team has really been focused on both, but on the organic side, we’re working really closely with the businesses, understanding what they’re trying to accomplish, how they’re trying to grow, if they’re making changes in their business, and how we can support them.”

Dentons, the law firm of the future is here. dentons.com © 2024 Dentons. Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates.

Please see dentons.com for Legal Notices.

Dentons Canada LLP: “While working with General Counsel Dan Lett and the Bunzl legal team, I have witnessed their unwavering commitment to compliance, ethical conduct, and sustainable success.

Their collaborative approach ensures the best outcomes for all stakeholders.”

—Neil Rabinovitch, Partner

Congratulations to Dan Lett on his success at Bunzl

Thompson Coburn and Nick Lamb are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Dan

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THE

World Live In YOU WANT TO

Russell

King

reflects

on

his

family,

the

fight

rights,

and

opportunities

for

diverse

talent

at

for

equal

McDonald’s

Emil/AdobeStock.com

B Y B I L LY YO S T

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MODERN COUNSEL

Russell King

Senior Counsel for Commercial Litigation

Mariya Byelikova

McDonald’s Corporation

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ussell King spoke with Modern Counsel two days shy of his tenth anniversary with his husband, Bryan.

The couple has been together for two decades, and their son, Wesley, had just finished first grade. King says the occasion was a moment to reflect on the fact that, in many ways, his family is a small miracle.

“I think about my family, about how when I was growing up, families like mine couldn’t legally exist,” says King, who is the senior counsel for commercial litigation at McDonald’s Corporation. “There was no right for two men to marry. We couldn’t have had Wesley via a surrogate and an egg donor or had certainty that he legally belonged to us.

“I try to remember every day how blessed we are to live in this time and place. So many legal advocates and pioneers fought in courts and in the court of public opinion so that I could enjoy these rights. That’s why I feel like I need to pay it forward. The fight goes on, and I know I need to be part of it,

because I’m a beneficiary of how far that fight has come.”

At McDonald’s, King serves on the legal department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee and also chairs its inclusion subcommittee. In this capacity, King creates and strengthens relationships with outside counsel.

He says finding lawyers of differing experience and background is just good business. The company is working to overcome the familiarity bias. Knowingly or not, people can keep sourcing the same kind of talent from the same schools and backgrounds.

“When it comes time to staff a new case, it’s easiest to call that attorney who comes to mind—that you’ve worked with a dozen times before,” King says. “We’re trying to find ways to disrupt those patterns and cast a wider net so that when that time comes, you’re thinking about a broader selection of talented attorneys.”

King works regularly with the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), including speaking on panels, networking at conferences, and, most importantly, sourcing new talent.

MODERN COUNSEL

“SO M A NY LEG A L A DVOCATES A N D PION EERS FOUGHT IN COU RTS A ND IN THE COU R T OF PU B LIC OPINION SO TH AT I COU LD EN J OY TH ES E R IGHTS .

TH AT ’S WHY I FEEL LIK E I N EED TO PAY IT FORWA R D. THE FIGHT GOES ON , A ND I K NOW I NEED TO B E PA RT OF IT, B ECAUS E I ’M A B ENEFICI A RY OF HOW FA R TH AT FIGHT H AS COM E .”

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A Wild Wild Sabbatical Remember that six-part documentary you binged on Netflix about a cult that takes over a small town in Oregon? When Wild Wild

Country debuted on the streaming service in 2018, Russell King was so interested in the definitive book on the subject. There was just one problem: there wasn’t one.

Accounts were either highly subjective, biased, or a healthy mix of both.

King, on a sabbatical of sorts before deciding to go in-house at McDonald’s, decided to put his time off to use. He secured a literary agent and publishing contract to write Rajneeshpuram: Inside the

Cult of Bhagwan and Its Failed American Utopia. The directors of Wild Wild Country call King’s work the “most definitive account of this grand American saga.”

The lawyer says he’s happy to talk about the time he took off between his private practice days and going in-house. He wasn’t entirely sure that in-house life made sense for him, but after writing the book, he found the right organization for him at McDonald’s.

Big decisions can take time, and that is OK.

When looking for an existing resource that identified LGBTQ+ legal talent, King soon realized he’d need to start from scratch. Over the past two years, he’s partnered with the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association to develop a directory.

“That list didn’t exist before,” King says.

“It does now. And I’m really glad we partnered together to create it.”

King says an organization as large as McDonald’s is especially aware of its capacity for using its scale and influence to create impact in the legal community. The lawyer says McDonald’s is thoughtful about increasing its engagement and relationship building with diverse-owned suppliers and diverse partners.

Outside of driving change in the legal community, King has a well-established history of trying to make life better for those

Mariya Byelikova

the whole story that he tried to track down

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2750 AT TO R N E Y S who need it most. The lawyer has done pro bono immigration work on behalf of the National Immigrant Justice Center. That work has included representing detained asylum seekers and acting as counsel for those who have nowhere else to turn.

All this work, King says, is passing on the legacy of the mock trial coaches who took time away from their law careers to mentor King and the rest of his high school team.

They were lawyers with cases and careers who still showed up every Monday night to help King discover his own passion for litigation. In so many ways, King understands that he’s part of a broader community, one that is strengthened through mentorship and advocacy. He is the change he wants to see in the world.

Greenberg Traurig:

47 LO C AT I O N S˚

Inclusive Leadership.

Greenberg Traurig extends its congratulations to Russell King for this well-earned recognition and commends his dedication to providing

Holland & Knight is proud and honored to be a partner to Russell King and McDonald’s Corporation.

We commend Russell’s leadership, creativity and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal industry.

exceptional legal expertise and support in his role as Senior Counsel for McDonald’s

www.hklaw.com Nipun J. Patel, Partner Philadelphia, PA 215.252.9600

Corporation.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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“Rusty is an exceptional lawyer. He has an excellent grasp of complex issues and communicates solutions effectively. We always look forward to working with him.”

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—Paul Ferak, Shareholder Holland & Knight: “Russell is the kind of lawyer that makes our profession better. He promotes partnership, encourages creativity from his team and outside counsel providers, and celebrates collective success. Working with Russell is truly an honor.”

—Nipun Patel, Partner

Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2024 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Attorney advertising. Contact: Paul Ferak, 77 West Wacker Drive | Suite 3100 | Chicago, IL 60601 | 312.456.8400. °These numbers are subject to fluctuation.

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Leadership Clarity Integrity THROUGH

Sukrat and

the

Baber

shares

his

impact

he

at

has

leadership Ferrara

BY NOAH JOHNSON

Candy

AND

philosophy Company

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Courtesy of Sukrat Baber

MODERN COUNSEL

s senior legal counsel of employment and compliance at Ferrara C a n d y C o m p a n y, Sukrat Baber wears several hats. Not only does he oversee litigation, employment, and global compliance matters, but he is also responsible for data privacy and crisis management. In each capacity, he prides himself on being a risk advisor who values clear communication and integrity.

“You can have the most well-thoughtout and thorough analysis, but if you don’t communicate it clearly, the people you work with won’t pick it up,” says Baber, who spent nearly a decade in private practice before joining Ferrara in

2022. “You have to know the appropriate level of detail to get into, making it easy for your partners to understand. That requires you to put yourself in the shoes of a businessperson.”

His approach has helped support the goals of Ferrara, one of the fastest growing confections companies in the country that has a portfolio of more than thirty brands.

As the company continues to acquire other organizations, Baber works closely with various stakeholders to integrate them.

In 2023, Ferrara acquired the Jelly Belly Candy Company, which combined more than one hundred flavors of Jelly Belly jellybeans and gourmet specialty confections with Ferrara’s portfolio of sugar candies. It also added nearly eight hundred employees

Sukrat Baber

Senior Legal Counsel of Employment & Compliance Ferrara Candy Company

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“ YOU CA N H AVE TH E MOST WELL-THOUGHT- OUT A N D THOROUGH A N A LYS IS , B UT IF YOU DON ’ T COM MU NICATE IT CLE A R LY, TH E PEOPLE YOU WOR K WITH WON ’ T PICK IT U P.”

and three manufacturing facilities to Ferrara’s ranks.

Earlier in 2023, Ferrara acquired Dori Alimentos, one of Brazil’s leading manufacturers and distributors of snacks. Dori’s over 3,100 employees joined Ferrara’s 4,600 team members to advance a shared vision. When faced with the task of integrating a company like Dori, it’s important to recognize that each acquisition has a different culture, Baber says. That has implications on how policies and procedures are communicated to employees.

“It’s recognizing that our points of risk won’t always be the same as theirs,” he shares. “The market and business places are going to be different, so we just can’t make assumptions about what their pressure points are.”

As a leader, Baber values the golden rule: treat others as you’d want to be treated. Another staple of his philosophy is the ability to motivate and inspire teams, even if that just means showing up to work

with an infectious, positive attitude.

But above all, he values doing the right thing.

“When you’re a litigator at a law firm and you’re in a high-stakes environment, part of the game is testing out the ethical boundaries to get the best result for your client. But, in-house, I’m proud to be empowered to always do the right thing, which is motivating,” Baber says.

“During law school, I wanted to work in human rights, but come to find out, you can do that while working for a candy company,” he continues. “Even though I need to defend the company when there’s a claim against it, we still have the power to make employees whole if we’ve wronged them, whether that’s strengthening our whistleblower policy, having serious conversations with leaders who need to be held accountable, or implementing things that make for a safer workplace for factory workers.”

Baber was born in Pakistan and immigrated to Canada, where he

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spent most of his formative years. He went on to study philosophy and criminology in undergrad and to get his law degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law. From there, he worked as an attorney at Schiller Law Offices, O’Hagan Meyer, and Taft Stettinius & Hollister, sequentially. That journey shaped him into the leader he is today.

“It gave me a sense of risk and advising on risk,” he says. “One broad role I currently have is as a risk advisor, and in that role, it’s vital that you know how to communicate. Communication is definitely a skill you need as a lawyer—both written and verbal.”

In 2022, he was ready for a change and was drawn to Ferrara after a friend informed him of the opportunity. The transition from law firm practice to in-house was a challenge, he admits.

“It’s part of the job that you don’t always spend the amount of time on things as you would as outside counsel. You have to assess how much time something demands, whether it’s employee risk or a financial issue. You need to prioritize,” Baber emphasizes. “But I’ve navigated that by watching my colleagues and getting advice from my colleagues and other leaders. I also like to read literature on how to be a good in-house attorney to guide ways that I can manage my time.”

Baber believes the legal profession is in “a critical environment of change” because of artificial intelligence (AI).

His advice for young lawyers who want to succeed in it: “Don’t rely on the things that I did to break into the field. Be ready to adapt.

Think about jobs AI can’t do,” Baber says.

“For example, criminal lawyers and employment lawyers are going to be better protected because their work has more of a human element. Maybe consider AI law. Regardless, be prepared for the change.”

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GO FOR

Growth Christopher at

Cottrell

Chick-fil-A

is

shares

really

like,

how

he

clicked

and

why

“just

with say

real

yes”

BY NOAH JOHNSON

are

estate career

law,

what

words

to

working live

by

MODERN COUNSEL

t w a s n’t u nt i l Christopher Cottrell worked on la nd lord-tena nt dispute matters for a healthcare client with a large real estate portfolio that he began to find his true passion. While he had spent the beginning of his legal career litigating cases in healthcare, entertainment, and business, it was the real estate cases that really flipped a switch.

“That’s when I found my niche,” he says when describing his shift from litigating to a transactional real estate practice. “Unlike other areas of the law, in real estate, you can work on a project and then go see it. You see the fruits of your labor, and it’s more tangible.”

Cottrell honed his real estate chops through approximately seven years of private practice at the law firms of McKenna, Long & Aldridge and Baker & Hostetler before eventually going in-house at Aaron’s Inc., as the company’s divisional lead counsel and lead real estate counsel. It was at Aaron’s, Cottrell says, where he “really learned how to be more than just a lawyer,

but a true partner and advisor to [his] business colleagues.”

While Cottrell cherished his time at Aaron’s and credits that time for a major portion of his development, when the opportunity to join Chickfil-A arose, he couldn’t pass it up. He joined the popular chicken restaurant chain as senior counsel of real estate in 2021.

“I always held [Chick-fil-A] in high regard because of what it stands for and its commitment to excellence, care, customer service, and doing business the right way,” Cottrell says.

“I’m happy to say that once I entered these four walls, I quickly learned that all the positive things you read about Chick-f il-A are true—and even undersold.”

At Chick-fil-A, Cottrell is part of the new restaurant real estate team and has supported the northeast, southeast, and midwest regions. In his role, Cottrell provides legal counsel through the entirety of the deal process, from the letter of intent through permitting, construction, and grand opening. Cottrell is revered by his business counterparts as a true partner because he provides solution-oriented, practi-

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cal advice to influence Chick-fil-A’s decision-making and facilitate the company’s continued growth.

Cottrell’s problem-solving mindset and thoughtful approach to decisionmaking date to his college days.

A metro Atlanta native, Cottrell attended Johns Hopkins University for college and originally intended to become a doctor. However, fate had different designs. Cottrell recalls, “After my first year of undergrad, I realized that I didn’t want to be a doctor and also had no way of paying for school.”

In response to these challenges, Cottrell joined Army ROTC and subsequently became a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserves. While the Army served to get Cottrell through school, that was not his ultimate purpose, and he found himself relying on the well-timed words of someone he trusted to choose a new path.

“As I was figuring out what I wanted to do, a mentor suggested law,” he recalls. “It’s a versatile degree. It didn’t mean I had to be a lawyer, my major didn’t matter, and it didn’t conflict with my Army obligations.”

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“WE TRY TO PL A N OUT OU R ENTIR E CA R EERS , B UT SAYING YES A ND B EING OPEN TO WH ER E TH INGS A Friend Indeed Outside of work, Christopher Cottrell helps

CA N TA K E YOU H AS B EEN A

organizations throughout metro Atlanta achieve their goals and bolster their services through the Chick-fil-A Pro Bono service

M A NTR A TH AT

committee. One of those organizations is the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, which connects lawyers with nonprofits that

I ’ VE LIVED BY,

need assistance with legal matters. The committee also works with Kids In Need of Defense, which provides free legal services to migrant children in the United States by themselves.

These efforts have taken up a special place in Cottrell’s heart.

“A lot of these kids are running from gang violence, sexual abuse—it runs the gamut,” he says. “Advocating for them is a lot different than my day-to-day work, but oftentimes it’s the most rewarding.”

A N D IT ’S M A DE TH E DIFFER ENCE .”

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Redefining the Art of Law Christopher Cottrell

Senior Counsel of Real Estate

Courtesy of Christopher Cotrell tktktktktktktktkt

Chick-fil-A

Taking his mentor’s advice, Cottrell pursued a law degree at the University of Pennsylvania while serving in the Army Reserves, which has turned into a fruitful legal career. Today, he advises young people to understand the importance of relationships.

“Be as connected as you can to as many folks as you can, developing meaningful connections with people before you ever need something,” he says.

“So many times, I’ve had to ask for something, and the relationships I built made the difference. I ended up in my current role not primarily because of my skills or education, but because I made a connection with a person who then had me top of mind when this opportunity became available.”

Cottrell’s most meaningful connections are his family relationships. He’s the father of two: a sixyear-old daughter and a four-year-old son who is on

With offices in Nashville & Franklin, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, Thompson Burton redefines legal practice through employing creativity, technology, and innovation to provide exceptional legal services.

www.thompsonburton.com

1 62

Congratulations, Chris, on your outstanding and well-deserved recognition!

Chris Cottrell Senior Counsel,

Real Estate Legal, Chick-fil-A

ADVOCACY. INSIGHTS. SOLUTIONS.

The Nelson Mullins Real Estate Team is proud to work with Chris and Chick-fil-A. Chris’ professionalism and dedication to pro bono work has made him an ideal partner

Providing legal solutions to the business community for more than 100 years.

the autism spectrum. The Cottrell family’s journey with their son has transformed their lives.

In ref lection, Cottrell noted that his experience with his son has taught him to “appreciate the little things.” He implores everyone to embrace difference and reserve judgment because you never know someone’s story.

Another piece of advice Cottrell likes to give specifically to young attorneys is “just say yes.”

“Sometimes, it’s easy to say, ‘I don’t know if I’m qualified for this’ or ‘I don’t have the time,’” he says. “But I’ve been able to do meaningful things and connect with people I wouldn’t have had access to just because I said yes. We try to plan out our entire careers, but saying yes and being open to where things can take you has been a mantra that I’ve lived by, and it’s made the difference.”

to work with. Congratulations on this recognition!

Andy Litvak, Partner Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Attorneys and Counselors at Law Atlantic Station 201 17th Street NW | Suite 1700 Atlanta, GA 30363 404.322.6000 | nelsonmullins.com

Lewis Rice LLC: “Chris’s unique perspective and forwardthinking approach make him a pleasure to work with. His sharp intellect and broad range of experiences allow him to quickly grasp complex matters and find solutions aligned with the company's goals.”

—Apollo Carey, Member Thompson Burton PLLC: “Chris and I have developed a great working relationship. We both approach complicated real estate issues from a practical, solution-

based framework that has contributed to great results for Chick-fil-A over the last few years. We look forward to a continued and lasting relationship.”

—Walt Burton, Managing Partner

Evaluate

A look at the logistical challenges, evolving regulations, industry shifts, and cultural concerns outside the office that lawyers must analyze and navigate to manage their impact inside the office

Evaluate

Orbit to

Underground Austin Gaddis navigates complex carriage agreements for DIRECTV while acting as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community

By Billy Yost

wisaad/AdobeStock.com

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Mo dern Couns el

CARRIAGE AGRE E ME NT S ARE A

mainstay of legal professionals working in television, and Austin Gaddis has been managing those complex transactions since 2015. The associate vice president of legal at American entertainment distributor DIRECTV is well accustomed to working with stakeholders, both externally and internally, particularly when it comes to local broadcast deals with network affiliates like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. Gaddis and his team are tasked with securing rights that span multiple regulations, jurisdictions, and platforms to transmit content to DIRECTV’s satellites—or through a streaming platform into the homes and businesses of its millions of customers. It’s not just satellites, though.

“We have to secure rights to transmit via our satellites in orbit, via the cables that run to our U-Verse customers and the fiber optic cables for our internet service,” Gaddis explains.

“Those all have their own sets of rights, and you need a multitude of consents from the owners of those rights.”

Different Kinds of Rights

The complexity of this work, Gaddis admits, can be the bane of lawyers with deep television and broadcasting experience. But it’s his bread and butter.

He got his start working carriage deals at startup Layer 3 TV in 2015. He was the third person hired for the fledgling legal team, and the startup environment meant he worked across far more

of a broad spectrum than he might have experienced going in-house at a larger organization.

Navigating complex broadcasting rights wasn’t Gaddis’s plan coming out of law school. The Alabama native was initially intrigued with pursuing law, growing up in a state with a rich history of civil rights activism. Gaddis assumed his law practice would ultimately reflect this fascination and appreciation for people who spent decades, if not lifetimes, fighting for equal representation under the law.

Gaddis interned at the United States Senate under now-retired Senator Jay Rockefeller (D, West Virginia). There, he was able to work on behalf of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.

“Senator Rockefeller was such a big champion for equal access to the internet, ensuring that schools and public libraries could provide those services and help close ‘the homework gap,’” Gaddis explains. “I also had a great boss on the committee staff who took me under his wing and allowed me in rooms with people from all different walks of life, discussing their positions on pending bills and different pieces of legislation. I absolutely loved it.”

To Be That Person

The young lawyer’s interest in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) matters ultimately pushed him toward

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“You need to know what’s happening in real time. What you see on Squawk Box in the morning can very easily inform what you’re doing at work today. Learn your industry and stay in touch.”

television. However, Gaddis stayed close to issues that got him into law in the first place.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Gaddis says he knows the struggle for marginalized communities persists. He came out during his undergrad and, at the time, he didn’t find opportunities to connect with the broader community. He wants a different world for members of the LGBTQ+ community who are now pursuing their education at the University of Alabama.

Gaddis is the current vice president for LGBTQ+ matters on the University of Alabama’s National Alumni Association, where he also sits on the association’s board of directors.

“I’m the person at the table making sure that, from an alumni perspective, we’re considering individuals that might be forgotten about,” the lawyer explains. “In Alabama, there is a lot of current and proposed legislation that aims to restrict the rights of trans students, and I want to be visible for them.

I want to make sure that their voices are heard, and their rights are empowered.

I wish I could have seen a leader like that when I was going to school, and I’m trying to be that person now.”

The Future of Entertainment

Back at Gaddis’s day job, the environment has never been more complex.

After the initial so-called cord-cutting revolution of the mid-2010s, things have circled back around in a way that Gaddis says is somewhat common in the industry.

“We’re now seeing streaming services rebundling, like the recent Disney+, Hulu, and Max deal,” Gaddis explains. “It’s interesting to see how the market has changed so quickly, but it’s equally as interesting how so much of this feels the same. I think there’s a unique opportunity that cable and satellite identified several decades ago that unifies content under a central platform. I think people are once again realizing the value of utilizing that central platform to access all your content.”

Gaddis is especially intrigued by the influx of high-profile streaming services going after the sports world. Netflix just

announced it will be the home of the NFL’s Christmas Day football games, not to mention the securing of cable mainstay WWE Monday Night RAW to its platform.

While the future continues to get interesting, Gaddis says his role of working out the thorny details of local broadcast deals will probably get even thornier. But if that kind of work seems appealing, he strongly recommends signing up for as many newsletters that cover the space.

“You need to know what’s happening in real time,” Gaddis explains.

“What you see on Squawk Box in the morning can very easily inform what you’re doing at work today. Learn your industry and stay in touch.”

Crowell & Moring LLP: “We have worked with Austin and countless projects.

He has an excellent grasp of complex issues and excels at communicating them effectively. He is also excellent at interacting and managing large business and legal teams. He is a great strategic thinker.”

—Olivier N. Antoine, Partner

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Bill Childs Blends Passions for Education and Law at Solventum

AFTER STARTING HIS LEGAL CAREER

Assistant General Counsel and Head of Litigation Bill Childs shares his legal journey and work at Solventum

tktktktktktktktkt

By Noah Johnson

at Williams & Connolly doing a range of litigation and more, Bill Childs traded the courtroom for the classroom. For eight years, he went on to teach legal courses and dove into litigation scholarship as a member of the Western New England University faculty. He believes that experience has shaped him into the leader he is today.

“I really loved the time in the classroom, and I believe some of the skills I developed there have been helpful in-house,” says Childs, who currently serves as assistant general counsel and head of litigation at Solventum, an American healthcare company spun off from 3M. “I think I’m better at explaining complex legal topics to nonlawyers because I did it for so many years. I also really like writing and getting to have a voice on things in the public sphere,” he says. “The people who do litigation the best are those with curiosity and want to dive down every little rabbit hole, and I liked how teaching afforded me those opportunities.”

Childs took those learnings back into private practice at Bowman and Brooke

Bill Childs Assistant General Counsel and Head of Litigation Solventum

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in Austin, Texas, where he covered all aspects of a fast-paced national litigation practice as a senior counsel and partner. By 2019, he was ready for a new challenge.

“I had experienced most things in the litigation world,” he says. “I thought it would be interesting to take on the challenge of being an interface between outside lawyers and inside business partners.”

And so, he started looking around. That’s when an opportunity to work at 3M arose. Childs, whose parents had worked for the company for eighteen years, was immediately drawn to it.

“The company had great products and overall was just an interesting organization,” he says. “I thought it would be a fun challenge to learn how the business operates, how they think about risk, and to use the opportunity to explain topics to nonlawyers.”

Solventum spun off from 3M in April 2024, and it now develops, manufactures, and commercializes a broad portfolio of solutions that leverages deep material science, data science, and digital capabilities to address customer and patient needs. Those solutions assist healthcare clients with areas like IV site management, advanced wound care, surgical patient management, sterilization assurance, and more.

“The spin-off was to make it so we had strong leaders focused on this business. We fit well at 3M, but a healthcare company is a bit different from the other things 3M does,” says Childs, who is the company’s first head of litigation. “We have been fortunate to inherit a lot of knowledge from our parent company and at the same time, start from scratch like a startup. It’s been exciting.”

Childs has focused his time on helping the spinoff establish policies and procedures and improving legal through diversity, inclusion, and engagement initiatives. That has included forming strong partnerships with outside firms and making sure they are recruiting and retaining diverse individuals.

The leader and his team have also been deliberating on ways to leverage technology to improve legal services. Childs describes their approach as being “cautious and intentional,” especially as they consider emerging technology like artificial intelligence.

“I’m old enough to have heard about different technologies that were supposed to revolutionize the

Courtesy of Bill Childs

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practice of law like blockchain, bitcoin, and the like. Most have not while some of them have,” he explains. “As far as AI goes, there’s a lot of things people say it can do that haven’t been tested, and some AI-generated content that isn’t that impressive. However, I’ve seen promising ways to use it in arenas like deposition analysis.

I’m open to seeing how it can be used and right now, I’m optimistically skeptical about it.”

Outside of his in-house work, Childs hosts a radio show, is a record label owner, an adjunct professor at two law schools, and has written a book called Recreation and Risk, which explores the law through recreational businesses like amusement parks, water parks, haunted houses, and more. It’s hard to imagine how the leader balances all those roles with his day job. For him, it’s pretty simple.

“I don’t sleep as much as I should,” Childs jokes. “I love deep dives, I don’t like sitting around, and when I do, I get bored. So, I create a class, or I write books.”

Bradley is proud to partner with Solventum and applauds the accomplishments of Bill Childs.

ON POINT. Relentless.

Efficient.

Effective.

Congratulations to our friend Bill Childs, for his recognition in Modern Counsel.

www.bradley.com

Our boutique firm has deep trial experience and an unswerving focus on client objectives.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP: “Bill thinks strategically and creatively, leads generously, and sweats the small stuff that matters—like finding a particularly persuasive exhibit or perfect phrase to illuminate a brief. We look forward to working with him at Solventum!”

—Margaret Oertling Cupples, Partner Larson King, LLP: “Beyond his extraordinary legal acumen and leadership, Bill has sharp awareness of current events; deep appreciation of music, literature, and arts; a keen sense of humor; and incredible communication skills—all traits that set him apart.”

—Dan Adams, Partner

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: David Roth, Esq., 205.521.8428, droth@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 1819 Fifth Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203. ©2024

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to the

Future

See Less/AdobeStock.com

Toyota Motor North America’s Todd Croftchik is in the thick of evolving automotive industry regulations as computers take over cars

Mo dern Couns el

B E F O R E M OV I N G I N - H O U S E AT

Toyota Motor North America in 2017, Todd Croftchik spent fifteen years trying automotive product liability cases across the US. Croftchik credits much of his success to the ability to try cases early in his career.

“The ability to get into trial within six months of starting as an attorney was transformational,” Croftchik explains. “If you’ve had significant trial experience, you know what’s important and what’s likely to be effective.

However, when you’re just starting out, you don’t really know. Getting a chance to see a couple of trials and be a part of them early on evolves your skills rapidly. Trial experience also fast-tracks your ability to properly analyze and handle new cases.”

That’s why Croftchik encourages aspiring trial attorneys to take it upon themselves to find trial opportunities, including through pro bono work. “Do not wait for them to present themselves,” he urges. “You must get in court and get in front of a jury as soon as you possibly can. The information you generate in the litigation stage is presented at trial, but the presentation

aspect is a unique skill that needs to be developed separately.”

Another benefit to Croftchik ’s trial work was that he got a front-row seat to the evolution of the automotive industry. As cars have become “as much digital as mechanical,” he says, he has not only become a subject-matter expert on the vehicles themselves but on the legal considerations that accompany them. He applies that expertise at Toyota, where he serves as managing counsel of product liability.

“There was not much on a vehicle ten years ago that made driving decisions for you. Now, the vehicle’s computers are making decisions that alter vehicle performance under various circumstances,” Croftchik says. “The technology is impressive, but there is potential risk involved. With new technology comes new theories in litigation. So a huge part of what I do is learn about those technologies, understand their limitations, and help the company manage any risk associated with them.”

He adds: “As far as the driving experience goes, the car has probably changed or advanced more in the last

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ten years than the fifty years before that, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. I’m really excited to be in the industry now and see what happens as these technologies get more and more advanced.”

“Todd’s extensive experience, attention to the important details, and strong focus on the technology takes many issues off table on the front end for the client,” says Cary A. Slobin, a partner at Nelson Mullins. “Those same qualities give trial counsel an advantage, making Todd an exceptional partner for cases that need to be tried.”

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Croftchik works closely with Toyota’s engineers and R&D teams to understand what they are developing and to help them navigate legal questions that accompany that development. When he first came to the company, he didn’t anticipate that responsibility taking up so much of his time. But it’s a role that the Michigan native proudly embraces.

“I never expected being back in my home state and being able to help a great company like Toyota manage risk on the front end,” he says. “When you have a product liability case, your primarily focus is reactionary—effectively

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We salute our friend, client and trailblazer

Todd Croftchik for his insight, leadership and strategically guiding Toyota Motor North America’s Legal Department.

Michael Mallow Co-Chair, Class Action & Appellate Litigation Practice Group mmallow@shb.com

Amir Nassihi Co-Chair, Class Action & Appellate Litigation Practice Group anassihi@shb.com

ATLANTA | BOSTON | CHICAGO | DENVER | HARTFORD HOUSTON | JERSEY CITY | KANSAS CITY | LONDON LOS ANGELES | MIAMI | NEW YORK | ORANGE COUNTY PHILADELPHIA | SAN FRANCISCO | SEATTLE ST. LOUIS | TAMPA | WASHINGTON, D.C. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

“It’s not a coincidence that all the things I now defend as a lawyer, I was playing with as a kid.” managing a piece of litigation after an event has transpired.

“But with front-end involvement, you have the opportunity to evaluate issues before they ever manifest,” he continues. “You get to give advice to the business units early on, and in real time, which allows them to consider the advice and move on with their project as efficiently as possible. Occasionally, I have a chance to offer a different point of view that impacts projects, and I find that to be a very rewarding part of my job.”

Croftchik grew up in Williamsburg, Michigan, which, at the time, had a population of one hundred fifty people. The town where he attended school was only a bit larger. But what those environments lacked in people, they made up for in tinkering opportunities, Croftchik says.

“I grew up in the sticks with snowmobiles, four-wheelers, motorcycles, boats. I built things, and as early as I can remember, I was down in my dad’s shop with wood and hand tools, killing time because it was ten degrees outside,” he says. “It’s not a coincidence that all the things I now defend as a lawyer, I was playing with as a kid.”

Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP: “What distinguishes Todd is his holistic approach that combines the highest levels of legal strategy, technical acumen, practicality, and a focus on advancing the company’s interests. He’s achieved extraordinary results at every stage of his impressive career.”

—Amir Nassihi, Partner

Congratulations, Todd, on your outstanding and well-deserved recognition!

The Nelson Mullins Automotive Practice Group is proud to partner with Todd Croftchik and his colleagues at Toyota in their continuous pursuit of excellence in the automotive industry.

Innovative Legal Solutions for Innovative Clients As industry leaders with decades of experience, Nelson Mullins’ automotive group is trusted by the world’s largest automotive and motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors to represent them in legal matters that affect their business, ranging from strategic business counseling to high-stakes litigation. Our multidisciplinary platform ensures our clients receive trusted advice for diverse business needs, while our culture encourages our team members to thrive and cultivate strong relationships, collaboration, innovation, and leadership.

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Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Attorneys and Counselors at Law 5830 Granite Parkway | Suite 1000 | Plano, TX 75024 469.484.6100 | nelsonmullins.com Cary A. Slobin, Partner David Stone, Partner Steven A. McKelvey, Jr., Partner

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Data Is Only the Beginning

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Jeff Nass bridges data and the law to manage an e-discovery program with a global reach for Société Générale

By Natalie Kochanov

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WHEN JEFF NASS STARTED L AW

school, he didn’t yet know how his interest in technology and data risk would fit into his legal career. Then, a classmate introduced him to Alon Israely and Brian Schrader of Business Intelligence Associates. “They were helping large companies organize themselves so that when complex litigation hit, they would know where the data that could be potentially responsive to that litigation was stored,” Nass explains.

Initially, Nass drew an immediate connection to his previous work as a technologist, which had likewise involved the management of information assets. Soon, he found himself immersed in the dynamic world of electronic discovery (e-discovery), where he remains to this day. Amidst the discipline’s evolution, Nass continues to thrive on the challenges that arise when data intersects law, including in the context of his current role as director and counsel for e-discovery at Société Générale, a multinational French bank in the US. Before landing at Société Générale (SG), Nass built his experience through a series of in-house roles in the pharmaceutical and financial services industries. “I was second-in-command around the creation and management of the e-discovery program at Forest

Laboratories, then head of the global e-discovery program at Boehringer Ingelheim,” Nass says. “At Deutsche Bank, I helped to extend the existing e-discovery program in a variety of ways. My role at Société Générale is quite like the one I had at Boehringer, except that my role here is focused entirely on litigation risk in connection with the Americas.”

Nass may have a regional scope when it comes to litigation, but his role requires him to think about data on a global scale. “One of the primary objectives for my role was to advance the e-discovery effort focused on litigations facing the Americas—and to work closely with our colleagues at [the] head office in Paris to leverage my knowledge and experience to help the rest of the SG world.”

Consistency has been the name of the game for Nass, who credits his collaborators and predecessors within the Bank with laying the foundation for him to further streamline operational processes. Facilitating his efforts, Nass has a counterpart in Europe who advises on litigation practices abroad, as well as a dedicated e-discovery operations team that oversees daily tasks.

“Jeff has always had an intuitive understanding of data and technology,

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“My hope for the future is to leverage technology that will bring the workflows used by various teams into one so that we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet.”

Evaluate

and their interplay with case needs and risk,” says Sirisha Gummaregula, chief operating officer at QuisLex. “His ability to quickly and efficiently streamline ediscovery and mitigate risk overall is unique and hugely impressive.”

The director notes that an industry-wide focus has been on striking the right balance between data retention and data disposal.

“A common practice among regulated firms has been to establish records management programs focused on retaining data for a minimum amount of time,” Nass says.

“Over time however, this focus on retention can sometimes create a bias to over-retain data,” he adds. “But as the wider market has been moving closer to actively managing the life cycle of data and to responsibly destroy data because of the demands of cyberrisk management and data privacy, among other reasons, e-discovery programs in the market are evolving as well.”

“Given these competing pressures, e-discovery practitioners are taking additional affirmative steps upfront to protect potentially relevant data, which can be a challenge at the beginning of a case,” Nass says. “You work to close the gap between casting such a broad net that you’re effectively retaining everything and deferring the application of a legal hold entirely until you know enough to specify what dataset is in fact relevant. Kicking the can down the road may no longer be a viable option, however, because there may be data here today that could be gone tomorrow.”

In the interest of balancing these pressures, Nass coordinates with records management, privacy, information security, IT infrastructure, and other teams at Société Générale to grow his understanding of where sensitive data lives. Using this knowledge, e-discovery practitioners like Nass have

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Vaibhav Bang

Jeffrey Nass Director and Counsel of E-discovery Société Générale

started to consider the implications of emerging data privacy and cybersecurity concerns.

“The evolution of e-discovery up to this point has been about leveraging data analytics to the reduce the amount of data to be reviewed,” Nass notes. “The upcoming evolution is to think about ways to reduce the amount of data companies are sending to outside service providers in an effort to help minimize cyberrisk.”

To navigate that next evolution, Nass will continue to join forces with his colleagues across the Bank.

“My hope for the future is to leverage technology that will bring the workflows used by various teams into

one so that we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet,” he says. “It’s a team effort to make these things happen, and I’m very thankful that the organization has not only trusted me to lead the e-discovery charge, but also given me the support that I’ve needed to be successful.”

Consilio: “Jeff combined his background as an attorney with his e-discovery knowledge before the e-discovery attorney role became popular. Jeff has brought this unique expertise to the SocGen legal team, allowing him to help develop and implement solutions for a wide variety of challenging matters. In particular, Jeff’s vast knowledge of international laws and data privacy considerations is a key component to his success at the bank.

Above all, Jeff has always been a pleasure to work with.”

—Todd Adelstein, Senior Director

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IP 101 at

Fluence Energy To protect Fluence and its competitiveness in the industry, Chinenye Okafor is thinking ten years ahead

StockStyle/AdobeStock.com

By Frank DiMaria

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IN THE OK AFOR HOUSEHOLD, IF

something broke, Chinenye Okafor would fix it. “I would wire things and weld things together and get a lot of our technology devices back up and running,” she says. With exceptional math and science grades in high school, it was an easy conclusion she would become an engineer. After all, her father has a PhD in engineering and is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Although fascinated with engineering from a young age, the subject was not her only interest. Through the mother of one of her youth basketball teammates, Okafor was introduced to a program called Teen Court. “Everybody knew I was good at arguing and stating a case, and I was a stellar student,” says Okafor, global head of intellectual property (IP) and patents at Fluence Energy.

The Teen Court program rigorously trained high school honor students in the court system, offering a glimpse into the legal profession, and then allowing them to try misdemeanor juvenile cases. “They could go the regular court system route, or they could go the Teen Court route where they’re tried and represented by their own peers,” Okafor says.

Okafor’s glimpse into the legal system solidified something she’d suspected. “I loved everything about it. I loved representing people, I loved defending people, I loved stating my case. I really loved representing clients,” she says.

She first learned about patent law from her father. As she was boarding a plane for a campus tour of Yale,

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he handed her printed articles on patent law. “This was the first time I heard about patent law,” Okafor says.

The articles called patent law a new, fast-growing career.

“It explained that you had to have a science and engineering background to practice this type of law,” she says.

“I can eventually connect engineering with law and do something called patent law,” Okafor remembers thinking.

She was accepted by Yale where she majored in electrical engineering, minored in computer engineering, and captained the basketball team. “I could have done political science, but engineering was applicable with the way I think,” Okafor says. “I loved it.

I’m very detailed-oriented and solutionoriented. I break things down.”

After earning an engineering degree from Yale, she considered a professional basketball career, although her parents disapproved. Ivy League athletes don’t fly very high on the radar screens of pro basketball scouts. Determined to persevere despite breaking a toe senior year, Okafor, who has a Nigerian background, tried out for the Nigerian National Team wearing a semi-cast.

“Limping and on crutches before the tryout. Then back on crutches after the tryout. Really crazy,” Okafor remembers. She did not make the cut and moved to her backup plan, accepting an engineering position in the defense industry. Soon after, she had surgery that dashed her dreams of playing professional basketball. With hopes of merging her love of engineering with her love of law, she enrolled at George Mason Law where she earned her JD.

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PROUD TO RECOGNIZE

Chinenye Okafor’s many career accomplishments and continue to support her ongoing goals.

CONGRATULATIONS,

CHINENYE! Legal and Government Relations Services Alexandria, VA 16 Offices Nationwide

BIPC.com

She came to Fluence in 2021 as its first in-house IP attorney. “They needed somebody to manage the patent portfolio and start the IP program,” she says. Fluence has fifteen offices globally, and Okafor handles the company’s wide scope by implementing the appropriate processes. “If there’s no process, that breeds chaos. And chaos is never a good thing in the IP world.”

Upon arriving at Fluence, she implemented an IP policy and an IP management software that allows her team to store invention disclosures, applications, and annuities. She designed a policy that educates Fluence engineers on IP, patents, trade secrets, and the Fluence portfolio. “Many outside the IP world do not know anything about IP; they don’t understand it and don’t think that what they are working on warrants a patent or trade secret,” she says.

Okafor travels the globe training engineers on “IP 101” and discussing the differences between patents and trade secrets. “If we want to protect the company and our competitiveness and leading position in the industry, we have to think five or ten years down the line. If you don’t protect things now, then five or ten years down the line when you pick your head up out of the sand, everybody would have grabbed protection. There’s no more market share and that’s when people will start suing,” Okafor says. She has more than tripled the Fluence patent portfolio.

Before coming on board at Fluence, Okafor had stops at Spencer Fane and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton. Now, her team at Fluence comprises a patent agent and a paralegal, and she’s assembled an IP committee with individuals from the C-suite and chief engineers. She advises young attorneys to soak up as much information and experience as they can. “It’s easy to move senior, but it’s hard to get that time back. If you go in-house, it’s too late to get that information. If there are holes in your foundation, they can be expounded upon,” Okafor says.

Buchanan: “Chinenye has accomplished a great deal at Fluence. Buchanan is thrilled to play a role in Fluence’s IP strategies as they lead the energy storage industry.”

—Sunjeev Sikand, Shareholder

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The McGriff Maverick: At McGriff, Kieran Hughes uses his legal and finance expertise to enhance customer service and mentor the next generation of risk advisors

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By Zach Baliva

Redefining Client Service

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KIERAN HUGHES WAS NOT LOOKING

Kieran Hughes EVP and Senior Claims Counsel McGriff Insurance

“Many in the business world understand that they’re eventually going to be sued,” Hughes says. “It’s not a matter of if, but when.”

As a result, Hughes stands ready to advise clients who are sued by individual plaintiffs, investigated by regulatory bodies, or hit with a class-action lawsuit. When these high-stress events occur, he helps corporate leaders understand what to expect regarding timing, cost, impact, and outcomes.

“I have important conversations with really smart people to help them understand things they aren’t always able to appreciate when they’re busy running a business,” the EVP says.

While other organizations focus on sales and push claims to the back

room, Hughes focuses on relationship building and developing excellent client service. “If you can manage the expectations of clients, you can build relationships, earn respect and trust, preserve financial resources, and help to put a client’s company in the most favorable position possible for a desired outcome,” he explains.

Today, Hughes not only advocates for McGriff clients but also invites plaintiff and defense attorneys, mediators, and others in his network to share their knowledge via McGriff-sponsored lectures and seminars.

What’s more? Hughes is also committed to the professional development of more junior colleagues. He serves as a volunteer mentor for industry groups

Nicole Tyler

to leave multinational finance and insurance corporation AIG when the offer came for him to join McGriff Insurance. He had just helped resolve a significant dispute for a mutual client when the call came from a leader at McGriff asking for just ten minutes of his time. Hughes knew he had to listen.

Still, Hughes was reluctant to leave AIG, where he managed the financial lines claims unit for national accounts. His team was an advocate for some of the country’s leading companies when it came to securities complaints and regulatory actions from an insurance perspective.

Listening to the McGriff executive, Hughes learned the full-service insurance brokerage was creating a new hybrid position that would play to his strengths as a legal, financial, and securities expert in unique and exciting ways. Nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds later, he was ready to accept the offer.

As such, Hughes joined McGriff’s sixty-member Executive Risk Advisory unit in summer 2020. And he was presented with new challenges from the get-go. The leadership team at McGriff needed someone to advise prospects and clients regarding coverages, claims issues, and financial trends.

Furthermore, it needed someone to help it navigate ongoing complex mediation and litigation issues. Indeed, Hughes’s deep experience in law and insurance combined with his leadership skills and industry relationships made him the right person for the job.

In an era of increased filings, whistleblowers, and investigations, companies and executives are more susceptible to unwanted legal outcomes than ever before.

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“If you can manage the expectations of clients, you can build relationships, earn respect and trust, preserve financial resources, and help to put a client’s company in the most favorable position possible for a desired outcome.”

where he learns as much as he instructs. Moreover, he appreciates the opportunity to invest in others the way others have over the years.

So, Hughes often invites colleagues to key meetings. That way, they can widen their professional networks and take on new responsibilities and experiences.

The senior claims counsel also believes in serving as an ally to the underrepresented. Firmly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), he embraces those around him for who they are and believes a diversity of thought and perspective will only enhance a company’s performance.

In May 2023, Truist Financial Corporation completed its sale of Truist Insurance Holdings, which included McGriff, to a group of private equity investors. Now, under the leadership of David Sellars and Dusty Cahill in the

McGriff Executive Risk Advisory Group, Hughes and his colleagues can chart their own course, pursue additional grow th opportunities, and help improve McGriff ’s operating strategy.

Hughes is excited about what lies ahead for McGriff, as part of the nation’s fifth largest insurance broker. “Our goal as a team and as a company is to provide the best client service in the industry,” he says. “In fact, we believe that no one should ever settle for less. That requires everyone here—including me—to be at our very best, so we can reach our goals together.”

Sidley Austin LLP: “Kieran is a fierce advocate for his clients, extremely knowledgeable about insurance issues, and a terrific guy. I have enjoyed working with him and appreciate his strong commitment to championing women rising in their professions.”

—Hille R. Sheppard, Partner and Global Cochair, Securities and Shareholder Litigation Practice

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Index

People & Companies Sukrat Baber P154 Ferrara Candy Company

Christopher Cottrell P158 Chick-fil-A

Precious Murchison Gittens P92 Google

Ian Bolden P40 Akima

Todd Croftchik P170 Toyota Motor North America

Andrew Gratz P30 LyondellBasell

Tim Braley P73 Baker Hughes

Judith Dever P115 JLL

Rick Hansen P132 HP Inc.

Ronnie Brandes P98 Mercer

Terilyn Dumas P112 Solenis

Anat Holtzman P24 Carlyle

Kevin Brenner P14 Cigna

Ashianna Esmail P10 Flexport

Kieran Hughes P181 McGriff Insurance

Suzanne Broadbent P68 CapSpecialty

Andrea Flanagan P20 LeadVenture

Melissa James P102 Goldman Sachs

Tom Brown P118 Dell Technologies

Cheryl Luce Fuga P122 Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Breana Jeter P64 Wells Fargo

Paul Burnett P138 FMC Corporation

Austin Gaddis P164 DIRECTV

Lauren (Bever) King P36 Cboe Global Markets

Bill Childs P167 Solventum

Sandra Gallini P27 Shell USA

Russell King P148 McDonald’s Corporation

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Lisa M. Kpor P58 United Airlines

Riddhi Shah P108 Pinterest

Cathy Landman P126 Instant Brands

Swati Sharma P17 Pluralsight

Dan Lett P142 Bunzl North America

Felix Sharpe P46 Humana

Jeff Nass P174 Société Générale

Elena Stein P84 Dyson

Angie Nolet P50 Redfin

Ken Strick P129 Growve

Chinenye Okafor P178 Fluence Energy

Bob Ward P80 DBS Bank

Brittany Pierick P68 CapSpecialty

Erin Young P43 Extended Stay America

Justin Pruett P54 HCA Healthcare Matt Royack P76 Cision

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Bits of lore behind four major corporations featured in this issue

Don’t Blow It James Dyson, founder of the eponymously named manufacturing company, developed 5,126 failed prototypes of the world’s first bagless vacuum cleaner before the first successful model: the G-Force, which won an award at the 1991 International Design Fair.

Corporate Shellout The namesake of Shell USA comes from the seashells that its founder, Marcus Samuel, collected and sold from East Asia in the late nineteenth century. His collection also inspired company product names, such as the Helix Ultra car oil, named after the Helix lucorum snail shell.

Picture Perfect We have a Versace dress to thank for the launch of Google Image Search.

The first woman to serve as a

Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammy

flight attendant, Ellen Church,

Awards, resulted in the most popular

did so in May 1930 on a Boeing

search query Google had ever seen, in

Air Transport flight from

a time when that was limited to text.

Oakland, California, to Chicago;

The incident highlighted the demand

Boeing would later become part

for visual content, prompting the

of United Airlines.

rollout of Image Search in 2001.

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The iconic green garment, worn by

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