In-House

The legal industry is currently reeling from what markets are calling the "SaaSpocalypse." On January 30, 2026, Anthropic released its Claude CoWork platform with open-source legal plugins. This wasn't just another product launch; it wiped nearly $285 billion off software and legal tech stocks in a single session. Heavyweights like Thomson Reuters (TR), RELX, and LegalZoom saw double-digit crashes...

Jessica and Hemma of DocuSign speak with Nada Alnajafi , founder of Contract Nerds. They all emphasize how important community is to building support and connections in the legal world. Nada shares the origin story of Contract Nerds and the impact that online platforms had on scaling her business. The three also discuss the acquisition of Contract Nerds by DocuSign and the value of community-drive...

Jessica and Natalia of DocuSign interview Laura Belmont, General Counsel at Civis Analytics. They discuss the complexities of commercial contracts, as well as data breaches, liability, indemnification, and how AI is impacting legal agreements. Laura describes defining and negotiating data breach clauses, standardizing security terms, and the risks posed by AI tools. As GC of Civis Analytics, Laura...

Jessica, Jim and Victoria Harvey, Chief Legal Officer at Smile Brands, Inc., dive into the complexities of reporting structures for General Counsels (GCs), discussing the pros and cons of reporting to CEOs versus CFOs, and the broader impacts on a legal department's influence within an organization. --------- Key Quotes:   Once when you're reporting to the CEO, you're setting the tone that you're...

Ken, Jessica, and Jenny Hamilton, CLO of Exterro, discuss AI’s potential in the legal profession. They dive into their favorite tools and how to apply them, as well as the importance of human oversight to ensure accuracy and compliance. Jenny also shares strategies for driving adoption within her team and making sure new tech meets the needs of her team. Tune in to hear personal experiences, pract...

Sandy MacDonnell, Head of Legal Ops at DocuSign, and Krysta Johnson, Senior Legal Ops Evangelist at DocuSign, highlight the importance of metrics, data, and AI in transforming the legal profession from cost center to strategic, growth-oriented role. Sandy and Krysta both stress the need for adaptability at a time of rapid tech changes, as well as best practices for implementing new legal technolog...

Todd Smithline, CEO of Bonterms, describes the importance of developing skills that go beyond your legal expertise. Salesmanship, project management, and information synthesis all lend themselves to adaptability in both legal and non-legal roles. He describes the value of feedback, how to offer value to your clients, and how to stay positive.  Bonterms is the two-sided negotiation platform built o...

Our hosts and Erin Abrams, Chief Legal Officer at Via, discuss the role of in-house counsel in business decision-making. Erin emphasizes collaboration, early involvement, and building a culture of trust and safety within legal teams.  Via builds innovative software to enable our customers — cities, transit agencies, transport operators, school districts, universities, and corporations — to transfo...

Aaron Kornblum, head of legal at Oleria, discusses why security functions are increasingly important for legal departments. Aaron covers the evolution of security threats (from hacking to phishing to smishing), and describes the importance of identity management. Listen for insights on integrating security practices, fostering accountability, and leveraging legal frameworks to enhance both securit...

In legal leadership, credibility is key. In this episode, we’ll discuss the importance of earning and maintaining influence. Lisa Keith, General Counsel for Steve Madden, emphasizes aligning legal counsel with your business’ goals, and how legal professionals can effectively take part in business decisions. Tune in to gain practical advice on enhancing influence within your  organization, balancin...

The best in-house legal teams aren’t just legal. They help their organizations solve complex issues, make the right decisions, and even grow their businesses. That’s right, legal isn’t just a cost center.  In-House is a podcast featuring top leaders in the legal industry. Tune in as Jessica Nguyen, award-winning Deputy General Counsel of AI Innovation and Trust at Docusign and former Chief Legal O...