In-House Counsel Chronicles

What does it take to move from being a lawyer to becoming a true business leader? In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles , I sit down with Cary Zimmerman, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at GBX Group, to discuss her 21-year legal career spanning law firms, startups, public companies, and executive leadership. Cary shares insights on transitioning from legal advisor to strategic execut...

In this episode, I sit down with Natasha Bowman , General Counsel of NeilMed Pharmaceuticals to talk through her transition from litigation to leading the legal function of a family-owned business. We discuss: building legal systems from scratch; navigating the realities of being the sole in-house counsel; how AI is actually being used in day to day legal work; practical advice for networking and...

In this episode, Valissa Turner Howard, Chief People Officer & General Counsel at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and I talk about:  • Building a nontraditional path from law school to executive leadership  • Lessons from the Inspector General’s office that still shape her decisions today  • What it really looks like to lead both legal and HR  • Using your legal career as a vehicle for communi...

In this episode, Kristen Nelson, General Counsel at Chase Properties, joins me on In-House Counsel Chronicles to share her path from private practice to leading the legal function in a real estate organization. We talk about what it really means to be in-house:  • Being part of the business, not just advising it  • Building a team that fits your culture  • Navigating change and growth One of my fa...

 In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles , host Shawna Rosner speaks with Jason Hollander, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Diebold Nixdorf, about his journey from business litigation in private practice to leading an in-house legal function. Jason shares insights on the realities of in-house work, the importance of serving as a trusted business partner, and how understanding bo...

In this episode, I sit down with Omair Khan to explore a legal career shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and strategic risk taking. Omair shares how he built a strong foundation at two of the biggest law firms and ultimately transitioned in house at Trusted Health and Iodine now Waystar during a time of unprecedented change. We discuss: What tax training teaches you about business strategy Navigat...

Join me as I dive into Sara Horvath's journey from law school to becoming a powerhouse in-house attorney!  Sara opens up about her journey from law school to becoming a General Counsel and how embracing a non-linear career path shaped her growth along the way. In this episode, Sarah reflects on building her foundation at Sidley Austin, transitioning in-house at Whirlpool, and stepping into a...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles , host Shawna Rosner sits down with Celaena Powder , General Counsel at Seismic , a global leader in revenue enablement software. Celaena shares her journey from private practice to the in-house world, reflecting on the challenges and rewards of building a legal team from scratch and the leadership philosophy that guides her work. She discusses identi...

In this episode, I sit down with Diane Gabl Kratz, JD , Director of IP Strategy & Operations at Dolby. Diane’s journey from studying physics at Cornell to leading an 18-person team at an IP powerhouse. Diane’s insights into leadership, technical expertise, and in-house strategy make this episode a standout.

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner interviews Andrean Horton, an experienced legal professional who shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to Chief Legal Officer at Masterbrand. Andrean discusses her early interest in law, the importance of mentorship, and her transition from private practice to in-house roles. She reflects on the differences between public and pri...

In this episode, Michele Abraham, VP of Global Corporate Compliance and Ethics at Lineage, shares her journey from private practice to impactful in-house leadership. She discusses the importance of taking a proactive, business-aligned approach to compliance, the value of authentic professional relationships, and how to successfully navigate the transition to in-house roles. Michele also explores t...

In this episode, Shawna Rosner sits down with Alisha Cieslak , Chief Legal and Risk Officer at Gordon Food Service, to talk about her journey from law school to the C-suite. Alisha shares powerful insights on leadership, the evolving role of General Counsel, and how AI is transforming the legal landscape. She opens up about the pressures of being a young leader, the importance of mentorship, and w...

In this episode, Shawna sits down with Sarah Thomas, Chief Legal Officer and co-founder of Bridge, a healthcare startup transforming telemedicine access. From her early days in private practice to navigating the regulatory maze of telehealth, Sarah shares the unique challenges and opportunities presented by telehealth, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation delves into c...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner speaks with Christi Braun, Deputy General Counsel of Scion Health. Christi shares her journey into law, her specialization in healthcare law, and her transition from government to in-house counsel. She discusses the operations of Scion Health, the role of a Deputy General Counsel, and the challenges faced in healthcare law. Christi...

In this episode, Shawna Rosner sits down with Todd Pearson, General Counsel and Chief of Public Policy at Vibrant Emotional Health. Todd shares his unique journey from nursing in the Navy to practicing law, highlighting the significant changes in the healthcare industry over the past two decades. He discusses the differences between direct patient care and corporate healthcare, how the healthcare...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles , host Shawna Rosner sits down with Deborah Weisman, Deputy General Counsel at HireVue. Deborah shares her journey from private practice to becoming in-house counsel, offering insights into the transition and the broader role in-house attorneys play. She discusses the importance of adaptability, the shift from specialization to generalization, and wha...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles , Nancy Berardinelli-Krantz, shares her inspiring journey from a small town in Ohio to serving in the military to becoming the Chief Legal Officer at Grainger highlighting how her early life and time in the military helped shape her impressive path in the legal profession. Our discussion explores key themes such as leadership, workplace culture, and t...

In this episode, Shawna Rosner speaks with Jessica Cohen, an in-house counsel attorney at Verizon, who shares her inspiring journey from working in the nonprofit sector to attending law school and ultimately finding her place at Verizon. She delves into her current role in regulatory affairs, where she focuses on emerging issues like AI, privacy, and cybersecurity. The conversation highlights the...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles , Shawna Rosner sits down with Sarah Hamid, in-house attorney with a strong background in technology and regulatory compliance. From her early days at law school in London to her current leadership role at Walmart, Sarah shares the pivotal moments of her legal journey. She offers insight into the complexities of working in fast-paced sectors like tech...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner speaks with Jen Noble, Senior Employee Benefits Counsel at Ford Motor Company. Jen shares her journey from law school to her current role, discussing her experiences in employee benefits law, the challenges of transitioning from a law firm to in-house counsel, and the impact of the pandemic on her career choices. She emphasizes the...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner speaks with Tim Gutwald, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Mentavi, a telehealth company specializing in mental health care. Tim discusses the innovative asynchronous assessment process for diagnosing mental health conditions, the importance of a recent validation study Mentavi conducted, and his journey in healthcare...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner speaks with Joe Schohl, a seasoned General Counsel with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector. Joe shares his journey to becoming a General Counsel before the age of 40, outlining the seven key steps he took to achieve this goal. He discusses the differences between working in public and private companies, the import...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner interviews Arun Kottha, who shares his journey from starting his legal career during the 2008 financial crisis which shaped his approach to job security, to his position as lead attorney for Global Safety at Goodyear, to becoming General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer at Unison Risk Advisors. Arun discusses the evolving landscape o...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner interviews Jonathan Leiken, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary of Dollar Tree, Inc. He's an experienced general counsel with a rich background in both private practice and in-house roles. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of being curious and open-hearted in one's legal career. He shares how Ge...

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner interviews Kelley Barnett, Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Counsel at AmTrust. Kelley shares her journey from a prosecutor to a partner at a law firm and eventually to her current role in-house. She discusses the importance of relationship building including. "I'm a big believer in you don't need a title to...