The Legal Leaders Podcast

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Catherine Kemnitz, Chief Strategy & Development Officer at Axiom, about how in-house law is evolving. They discuss: The shift from prestige law firms to empowered in-house careers AI’s impact: from research to judgment, strategy, and creativity Why law schools must teach adaptability and people skills Legal ops and co...

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, David Lancelot sits down with Scott Brown, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Heriot Brown to explore how legal professionals can take control of their career paths. They discuss: Why job hunting should never start only when you need a role How consistent networking and profile building create long-term opportunities Practical steps for using Linke...

In this episode of the Legal Leaders Podcast, Peter Connor, founder of T-Shaped Legal, shares how in-house lawyers can transform from “just lawyers” into true business partners. Drawing on his career at Sun Microsystems, Citrix, and beyond, Peter explains: the T-Shaped Lawyer model why adopting a business person mindset is essential how AI and technology are reshaping the legal profession. Tune in...

In this episode of the Legal Leaders Podcast, Mark Smolik, CLO at DHL Supply Chain Americas joins host, David Lancelot for a deep dive into the evolution of in-house legal leadership. Mark shares his journey from rebuilding legal teams to spearheading innovation at DHL, highlighting the qualities of a modern legal leader—curiosity, trust, business acumen, and integrity. Together they exploreL how...

In this special episode, host David Lancelot is joined by Cory Sumsion (Head of Commercial Legal at Signifyd) and Greg Lorenzon (Associate General Counsel at Clearlink) to explore what it takes to build a scalable “engine room” for the legal function. Together, they share lessons learned from their careers at organizations like eBay, Zions Bank, and beyon, highlighting how intake processes, risk-b...

In this episode of The Legal Leaders podcast, host Emma Coxhead sits down with Dr Maria Pozza, Director of Gravity Lawyers and New Zealand’s pioneering space law expert. Maria shares her remarkable journey from the UK bar to shaping New Zealand’s space legislation, revealing the pivotal moments, challenges, and mindset shifts that have defined her career. Listeners will discover: How Maria carved...

In this episode, Emma Coxhead is joined by Megan Gray to share Megan’s career journey and how her identity has evolved through life events throughout her career. Megan is a Knowledge Development Lawyer in London and has spent the vast majority of her career specialising in capital markets. Megan explains to us what the motherhood penalty is and how Megan is using her position as a legal leader to...

In this episode of the Legal Leaders Podcast, Adam Becker, the Director of Legal Operations at Cockroach Labs shares his journey from practicing law in a New York firm to transitioning into legal operations. He discusses the challenges he faced, the skills he had to unlearn, and the new ones he acquired. From managing teams to implementing technology and aligning legal objectives with business str...

In this episode, dive into the compelling story of legal operations pioneer Jeffrey Franke as he joins David Lancelot to share invaluable insights on enhancing the impact of legal departments. Key Highlights: Explore Jeffrey’s dynamic career, from his early start at Fry's Electronics to driving innovation at Sun Microsystems. Learn about the creation of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortiu...

In this episode, Efftichia (Effie) Dower, VP of Legal at M42 joins your host, Emma Coxhead to share her inspiring career story and her insights on the foundational role of mentorship in the legal profession. From her “squiggly” career path that saw her leave and return to the law, to her impactful move from the UK to the UAE, Effie dives deep into the lessons she’s learned about adapting, leading,...

In this episode, David Lancelot, CLO & EVP of Advocacy at LawVu is joined by Craig Segal, CLO and Global Procurement Officer at Hootsuite. Craig shares compelling insights into modern legal leadership and integrating legal expertise with procurement strategies. Craig shares valuable takeaways on aligning legal with corporate objectives, building relationships, and navigating today’s complex bu...

On this episode, David Lancelot, CLO & EVP of Advocacy at LawVu sits down with Elaine Darr, VP of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at DHL. Elaine shares her inspiring career path from private practice to leading legal innovation in a global logistics giant. Discover how her business acumen and passion for innovation transformed the legal function at DHL, where predictive intelligence, structured d...

In this episode, join David Lancelot, CLO and EVP Advocacy at LawVu, in an engaging conversation with Brian Martin, CLO of Nutanix, as they explore the evolution of in-house legal teams, leadership, and strategy. Brian shares his career path from starting in law firms to becoming a seasoned general counsel, leading legal teams at Sun Microsystems, Juniper Networks, KLA, and Nutanix, alongside teac...

In this episode, join host Join David Lancelot, CLO and EVP Advocacy at LawVu, in an enlightening conversation with Erwin Caban, Deputy General Counsel of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. Key topics include: Erwin shares his fascinating career journey—from restaurant management to legal practice. He highlights his transition from private practice to in-house roles and offers valuable lessons on leaders...

In this episode, host David Lancelot chats with Caryn Sandler, Partner and Chief Knowledge & Innovation Officer at Gilbert + Tobin in Sydney about reshaping the legal profession. Caryn shares her inspiring career shift from corporate law to leading innovation, touching on how AI, technology, and multidisciplinary collaboration are revolutionizing legal services. Discover why fostering a growth...

In this episode, David Lancelot, CLO & EVP of Advocacy at LawVu is joined by Steven Miles, General Counsel Asia Pacificand South Africa & Global Head of Legal Operations at McCain Foods as he shares his incredible career story, insights on leading globally diverse legal teams, and how innovation is shaping the future of legal operations. Key topics include: The role of technology and innov...

In this episode, David Lancelot, CLO & EVP of Advocacy at LawVu is joined by Ron Bell, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Collective Health. Ron takes us through his career journey, from his early days at Apple and Yahoo to his current role at Collective Health. Key topics include: Learn the qualities that define impactful legal leadership Explore how legal operations and...

In this episode, host David Lancelot chats with Eric Sedwick, Senior Director of Legal Operations at TIAA, about his impressive career trajectory—from law school to e-discovery pioneer, and ultimately, a leader in legal operations. Eric shares TIAA's mission-driven culture, managing over a trillion in assets, and how their legal ops team drives efficiency and innovation for a Fortune 100 compa...

In this episode, Adelyn Koh, Head of Legal Asia Pacific at Fresenius Medical Care shares her legal career journey, including her transition from private practice in Malaysia to in-house roles in Australia. Adelyn shares insights on handling the cultural shift, challenges faced, and the importance of empathetic leadership in the legal profession. Additionally, Adelyn opens up about her experience w...

In this episode, Kate Tyers, Global Director of Legal for Operations at Ricardo plc, discusses her impressive career in the legal industry. From her involvement in DEIB initiatives, her passion for legal technology and leadership, Kate shares how she mentors junior lawyers, promotes social mobility and leverages technology to disrupt and improve the legal profession. Links: Connect with Kate Tyers...

In this episode of the Legal Leaders Podcast, Adam Becker, the Director of Legal Operations at Cockroach Labs shares his journey from practicing law in a New York firm to transitioning into legal operations. He discusses the challenges he faced, the skills he had to unlearn, and the new ones he acquired. From managing teams to implementing technology and aligning legal objectives with business str...

In this episode, your host David Lancelot, CLO & EVP of Advocacy at LawVu speaks with Mark Cohen, a trailblazer in legal innovation and transformation. As the CEO and Founder of Legalmosaic, and a distinguished thought leader, Mark's journey from law school to becoming a global keynote speaker is nothing short of inspiring. Key Topics Covered: Career Journey : Mark shares his career path,...

In this episode, host David Lancelot chats with Sterling Miller, CEO and Senior Counsel at Hilgers Graben PLLC. Sterling shares insights from his "10 Things" blog, offering valuable advice for in-house legal professionals. Key topics include: The transformation of the in-house legal profession from a siloed function to a strategic business partner The crucial role of technology, such as...

In this episode, your host David Lancelot, CLO & EVP of Advocacy at LawVu is joined by Guilherme Costa, Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Bentley University to discuss the world of higher education law. Here's what you can expect: Guilherme's career journey; From the University of Florida to Notre Dame Law School, and key roles at Ithaca College and Syracuse University....

In this episode, your host David Lancelot, CLO & EVP of Advocacy at LawVu is joined by Craig Burgess, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at Morehouse College. In this conversation, Craig lifts the curtain on the world of higher education and his journey to his current role. Here's what you can expect: Morehouse College Legacy: Discover the rich history of Morehouse College, hom...