Counsel

58. Going in Different Directions Is Not Failure with Nick Brown Jun 10, 2026 0:44:50 Nick Brown is the General Counsel of Airtree Ventures, one of Australia's most prominent venture capital firms, and the first lawyer to set up a legal function inside two separate businesses. He spent 15 years as an M&A lawyer before making the move in-house, and this conversation covers the full arc of how that shift actually happened and what it taught him. We get into the psychology of leaving

57. You Didn't Read the Document with Eric Ries May 27, 2026 0:51:18 Eric Ries changed how a generation of founders think about building companies. Now, with his new book Incorruptible, he is making the case that teaching people how to build something great was only half the job, and the other half, how to protect what they built from the governance structures designed around it, is the part almost everyone skips. This conversation covers why good companies go bad

56. I Called My Boss and Asked to Be Included in the Layoff with Laura Frederick May 13, 2026 0:51:20 Laura Frederick spent her entire career doing one thing: commercial contracts. From propane agreements to uranium trading to deals at Tesla, she said no to every GC role that would have taken her away from the work she loved, and built one of the most recognisable voices in the global contracts community along the way. This conversation covers the moment she called her boss and asked to be includ

55. A Fiery Little Revolution From the Inside with Mollie Tregillis Apr 29, 2026 0:55:11 Mollie Tregillis spent years building a senior consulting practice inside one of Australia's largest law firms. She had the team, the mandate, the support of leadership, and work she had essentially designed herself. She was also burning out, quietly, while performing at the top of her game. This conversation covers the year Mollie spent doing the internal work before she left, the nervous system

54. I Had No Idea I Could Feel This Way About My Work Apr 15, 2026 0:17:52 Nine months out of a 15-year corporate legal career, Mel Storey sits down for an honest solo episode covering what the transition has actually been like, what she has been building, and what she is watching happen across the in-house legal profession right now. She talks about the physiological reality of leaving high-intensity corporate work, what it took to rebuild her sense of productive ident

53. The Golden Donut Trap with Brett Colvin, CEO of Goodlawyer Mar 31, 2026 0:48:56 Brett Colvin, CEO & Cofounder of Goodlawyer, joined me for a conversation about legal careers, in-house work and what it would actually take to make law a more desirable profession to practise in. We got into the gap between how legal success looks from the outside and how it can feel when you are living it day to day. We talked about the early structures that push lawyers toward narrow definitio

52. You Don’t Want to Be a Deal Killer with Nada Alnajafi Mar 18, 2026 0:51:42 Nada Alnajafi joins Mel for a conversation about contracts, in house judgment and the kind of legal work that actually moves a business forward. This is a grounded conversation about what commercial lawyering looks like when you care about relationships, process and doing the work properly. They get into collaborative negotiation, AI redlining, legal ops and the reality of buying legal tech in a

51. From Legal Leader to the Boardroom and building self-confidence with Jen Luther Mar 4, 2026 0:50:07 Jen Luther is an experienced Product Counsel, sits on the boards of the Future of Privacy Forum and AI 2030 and advises early-stage founders on governance and strategy. This conversation starts with the work she does at the intersection of AI, privacy and product development, and quickly moves into the bigger question most in-house lawyers do not hear asked enough: what are you beyond the legal r

50. Future Fit Legal Ops in Practice with Patty Corey Feb 18, 2026 0:53:59 In this conversation, legal operations professional Patty Corey breaks down what legal ops actually is, why so many CLM implementations fail, and what the role needs to look like in an AI-driven world. She challenges the tendency to buy tools before mapping processes, shares a firsthand account of a global CLM rollout that hit the iceberg in slow motion, and makes the case for why legal ops profe

49. Navigating Brand Infringement in the Age of AI: All things IP with Josh Gerben Feb 4, 2026 0:49:12 In this conversation, trademark attorney Josh Gerben discusses the intricacies of trademark law, emphasising the importance of proactive trademark management and the evolving landscape influenced by AI. He highlights common mistakes companies make in managing their trademarks, the need for effective communication between legal and marketing teams, and the significance of understanding both defens

48. From Law School to In-House Success: Irene Kuo's Journey Jan 20, 2026 0:48:10 In this engaging conversation, Irene Kuo shares her unique journey from law school to becoming a successful in-house lawyer. She discusses her early influences, the challenges faced in the legal profession, and her transition to in-house practice. Irene emphasises the importance of community involvement, networking and self-expression in her career. She also reflects on the future of in-house pr

47. Navigating Life After Corporate: A Personal Journey with Mel Jan 7, 2026 0:21:50 In this episode, your host, Mel Storey, reflects on her transition from corporate life to building a new career as a content creator and media company. She shares her experiences, the challenges faced and the lessons learned during this journey so far. Mel discusses the importance of leadership, personal growth, and the need for better support within the legal profession. She also highlights her

46. In-House Outside the Box: Heather Stevenson on leaving BigLaw, Career Pivots and in-house practice in VC land Nov 12, 2025 0:54:13 In this episode, Mel connects with Boston-based lawyer and creator Heather Stevenson for a candid conversation about career reinvention, online visibility, and modern in-house leadership. Heather shares her journey from Big Law litigator at Sullivan & Cromwell to juice-bar founder to General Counsel at Red Cell Partners, a venture firm building companies in healthcare, cybersecurity and national s

45. Next Gen Legend: Chloe Giamadakis on balancing ambition, study and making your mark early Oct 30, 2025 0:40:31 In this episode, Chloe Giamadakis shares her journey in the legal field, discussing her ambition, the importance of a supportive network and how she overcomes "imposter syndrome". She emphasises the value of continuous learning and the significance of working in a meaningful industry to you. Chloe also provides insights into regulatory work and offers advice for aspiring lawyers, highlighting th

44. Leading with Heart: Mel asks Simon Playford all about lawyerin' in the not for profit world Oct 14, 2025 0:41:46 In this episode, Mel sits down with Brisbane-based in-house lawyer and all round good human Simon Playford to explore what it means to bring purpose, agility and humanity to legal work. Simon’s career has spanned private practice, commercial and IP law and now the not-for-profit sector with the Heart Foundation, an organisation that means a great deal to him personally. Together, they talk about

43. Life after Law: from General Counsel to Chief Operations Officer with Anna Tichborne Oct 1, 2025 0:46:14 In this episode of the Counsel Podcast, Mel reunites with long-time friend and former colleague Anna Tichborne for a candid conversation about career evolution, leadership and the courage to step outside the traditional lawyer path. Anna’s career has spanned more than two decades across New Zealand, Australia and the US. From General Counsel to Chief Operations Officer and now building her own co

42. WE ARE BACK! SEASON FIVE! MEL GIVES YOU A BIG LIFE UPDATE AND WHAT IS COMING THIS SEASON Sep 19, 2025 0:09:11 The Counsel Podcast is back for Season 5! In this opening episode, Mel Storey shares a deeply personal update: leaving her role as Head of Legal (APAC) at Pax8 to step into self-employment for the very first time. Mel reflects on: Why she chose to resign after 15 years in the law The breadcrumb trail of signs that told her it was time for a reset What it feels like to de-institutionalise from c

41. Brief it out: Mel asks litigator, law firm founder and social media savant, James D'Apice, how the best in house lawyers work with outside counsel May 1, 2024 0:37:22 James d'Apice is a commercial and litigation lawyer who recently launched a new law firm, Gravamen. James is also passionate about sharing engaging and nuanced legal updates through his video series 'Coffee and a Case Note' which you can find wherever you get your social media fix. Mel gets the inside scoop from James on everything from rap battles to his new law firm and working with external

40. “I get to combine my passion and purpose” - Mel asks General Counsel Elisabeth Flett about Building a Purposeful Legal Career | Interview Mar 25, 2024 0:53:58 About Our Guest: Elisabeth Flett is the General Counsel and Company Secretary of Cancer Council NSW. Elisabeth and Mel discuss finding purpose and passion in your career, including Elisabeth's break from the law to study veterinary science and what drew her back to legal practice. Elisabeth was recently awarded 2023 General Counsel of the Year by the Association of Corporate Counsel. Connect

39. “I’m not here to teach the world a lesson. I’m just here to be me” - Mel asks Legal Counsel Yosr Hamza about working in the Middle East, Legal Careers and Caregiving | Interview Feb 27, 2024 0:44:38 About Our Guest: Yosr Hamza is Head of Legal and Director of Legal and Compliance at Gartner. In addition to her work as a lawyer and business advisor, Yosr is a proud caregiver and advocate for her son, who lives with a rare disease. Connect with Yosr: Blog: https://docket.acc.com/author/yosr-hamza Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosrhamza/ Connect with Mel: LinkedIn: https://www.

38. Having fun and doing good: working in NFP and the public service with Movember's Cate Bennett Dec 9, 2023 0:48:05 Cate Bennett is currently Global General Counsel & Company Secretary for Movember, a Not-For-Profit operating across six jurisdictions with a focus on men's health. Cate also has a background in the public sector, having worked across public transport, justice and health services Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health working across mental health & suicide prevention

37. BONUS: NFT LAND, VEECON, LEGAL TECH CONFERENCE REVIEW & MEL'S FIRST KEYNOTE! May 16, 2022 0:23:36 BONUS EPISODE WHILE MEL DISTRACTS HERSELF FROM PRE-TRAVEL COVID TEST ANXIETY.... (UPDATE: NEGATIVE COVID - OFF TO THE US!) Resources mentioned in this episode: @veecon https://veecon.co/ NFT projects (DYOR, not financial advice) - VeeFriends - EveryDay Sloths - World Of Women - Boss Beauties - Dapper Dinos NFT resources: - OpenSea.io (NFT ebay) Legal Tech conference: - https://www.legalops.fm

36. Legal vs Sales, Mel asks a Sales Manager, David Ball, the questions all in house lawyers wish they could ask May 8, 2022 0:36:09 Dave is currently Founder & CEO of drop-in social audio platform, Longtime, as well as Co-Founder of first-contact messaging tool, Chatclub. Prior to starting Longtime & Chatclub, Dave led the APAC commercial team at Megaport (ASX: MP1) where he and Mel cultivated a collaborative relationship between the sales and legal teams based on mutual respect and trust. He also served as a Founding Board

35. Why starting your career in house makes sense and all things content creation with Emma Lilley Apr 24, 2022 0:40:56 Emma Lilley is the Sole Legal Counsel (UK&I) at SD Worx, the Founder of In-house Potter Blog and Instagram community and a O Shaped Lawyer Future Board member. Mel originally connected with Emma on Instagram. She creates content for aspiring solicitors and shares her unique career journey so that the next generation come into the law with a greater awareness of in house practice and how to forge

34. Mixing passion and profession to create your dream legal life in sports and media with Calli Tsipidis, Foxtel Group Apr 10, 2022 0:50:42 Calli is Legal Counsel at Foxtel Group, working across the FOX SPORTS Australia, Kayo Sports, BINGE, Flash and Foxtel brands. She advises the sports content and production, sales, partnerships, digital product and marketing teams, and was a key stakeholder supporting the build and launch of Flash, BINGE, Kayo Freebies and Pay-Per-View on Kayo. Calli was named the 'Rising Star of the Year - In H

33. We are thinking about legal tech all wrong, working with Barack Obama and how to show your value to the sales team with Chris Young, General Counsel at Ironclad Mar 27, 2022 0:52:34 Chris is General Counsel at Ironclad, Inc., the venture-backed startup that helps in-house lawyers create, understand, and control their contracts—all from one intuitive, powerful platform. He draws on his years of experience as a corporate attorney and public servant to help shape and carry out the strategic vision of the company. As the company’s chief counsel, he is responsible for a broad r

32. Giving the law a second chance and what makes a great in house lawyer with Brittany Leonard Mar 13, 2022 0:38:08 Brittany is an attorney turned experienced corporate counsel and business director. After starting her career in a traditional law firm, she knew with her background in business both by degree and working experience, that she had more to offer. Brittany has directed and collaborated with internal departments from marketing, data analysts, human resources, and finance to lead the teams in busine

31. BONUS: Deep Dive into Time, Inbox & Calendar Management for In House Counsel Mar 6, 2022 0:22:41 My first Deep Dive into a topic selected from submission from my Instagram community. Let me know what you think of this format! Connect with Mel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theinhouselawyer/ Counsel Podcast page on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/counsel-podcast Instagram: @theinhouselawyer

30. Mel Interviews Her Dream Guest and Gary Vee's Lawyer, Marc Yudkin, COO & GC , VaynerX & VaynerMedia Feb 27, 2022 0:43:01 Marc Yudkin is currently the Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel of VaynerX, LLC - the parent company of various international digital marketing and advertising businesses including VaynerMedia, The Gallery Media Group, VaynerProductions and Tracer Labs, LLC. As Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for all of these businesses, Marc is responsible for all of the Company’s global opera

29. An open discussion about sexual harassment and toxic workplace culture in the legal profession with Fiona Thatcher Feb 14, 2022 0:58:52 If this episode has brought up difficult or unsettling feelings for you, please reach out to: - Lifeline on 13 11 14 - Mens Referral Service 1800 Respect

28. Working for a cutting edge tech company and mastering the art of networking with Megan Lutes, Glowforge Jan 30, 2022 0:48:42 Megan is the General Counsel and CHRO at Glowforge, the creator of the iconic at home 3D Laser Printer. As part of the executive team at Glowforge, she leads the legal and HR/people team functions and works with other senior leadership to scale the company during its current period of rapid growth. Connect with Megan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-lutes-fouty-51a8b018/ Website: htt

27. What sets legal teams apart and why continuous improvement is non-negotiable with Anthony Wright Jan 16, 2022 0:42:57 Anthony Wright was previously the Founder and CEO of award-winning Asia Pacific legal services and tech business, Lexvoco, which he successfully exited to LOD/Bowmark Capital in 2019 Since then he's joined various boards with public companies and start-ups whilst also being an early stage investor in various innovative businesses in mining technology, apparel, media, health and wellness. Before

26. BONUS: An update from Mel, 2021 Wins and Lessons plus what's coming in 2022 Jan 3, 2022 0:24:55 Thank you for listening, being a part of this community and giving me so much life when the lawyerin' gets tough. Bring on 2022 and big thanks to Markster and InCounsel for being my first sponsors! Connect with Mel: Website: counselpodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theinhouselawyer/ Counsel Podcast page on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/counsel-podcast Instagram: @the

25. Interview tips and how to secure internship opportunities with law student, Chelsea Hao Sep 26, 2021 0:46:21 ACC In House Clerkship Program: https://www.acc.com/chapters-networks/chapters/australia/careers/in-house-clerkship-program The Learned Crew: https://thelearnedcrew.com/meet-the-crew Connect with Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseahao/ Connect with Mel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theinhouselawyer/ Counsel Podcast page on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/counsel-pod

24. From legal tech counsel to legal tech founder and disrupting the billable hour with Kate McAlister Sep 12, 2021 0:48:32 Kate is an experienced intellectual property lawyer and Co-Founder of Markster. Markster provides dynamic trade mark services to modern in-house legal teams, empowering them to de-risk, optimise, and more easily manage their trade mark portfolios. Kate is passionate about building long-term, trusted relationships with her clients and using creativity and innovation to solve legal problems. Pr

23. Your career is a marathon not a sprint, lessons in law and leadership with Bill Ash Aug 29, 2021 0:38:51 In 2016, Bill Ash moved on from 30+ years as a corporate leader and in house lawyer in Australia and the US to become an executive and life coach. He lives with his partner Margi Brown Ash on acreage in Brisbane, where they raised their four children. Bill's passion is understanding how our conversations affect everything we think, say, and do, deepening his understanding after gaining post gra

22. There are many paths to in house, how to work with recruiters and find your next in house role Aug 15, 2021 0:47:57 Lauren is the Managing Director of Dare, Australia's leading legal recruitment agency. Before co-founding Dare in 2015, Lauren practised as a lawyer in large national firms as well as working in-house in the resource sector. Through the lens of a practitioner, Lauren brings a unique appreciation of the nuances of the practise of law, develops deep and meaningful relationships and has a true passio

20. Cultivating a portfolio career, sports law and being a multipotentialite with Alex Sinatra May 12, 2021 0:49:38 Alex holds a BBA in Marketing and a JD from Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University School of Law, respectively. She has been actively practicing as an in-house counsel since then. Her practice includes sports law, employment and corporate law, along with advising companies on their specific needs. She has been an in-house counsel for a famous sports family, a multinational company, various

19. In house counsel as sustainability leader and creating change with the business with Christine Uri Apr 21, 2021 0:40:55 Christine is a general counsel and sustainability leader. She believes everyone has something to contribute to the most impactful issues of our time including climate change, environment, human rights, social equity and racial justice. Christine studied law at Boston College Law School. She practiced at a major law firm in the Pacific Northwest of the United States for 8 years before accepting an

17. From fashion tech to in house media publisher with Ben White, Founder, Crafty Counsel Mar 10, 2021 0:45:30 Ben is the Founder of Crafty Counsel, a digital media startup helping legal professionals learn, achieve, and share. Ben started his career at Clifford Chance, before joining fashion e-commerce giant Global Fashion Group as its Corporate Counsel in London. GFG is the holding company for e-commerce brands around the world, including The Iconic in Australia. In this episode, we discuss: • Ben’s t

16. Transitioning to a new industry as a senior executive and blending life in house with life as a parent with Jodi Palmer, Volvo Group Australia Feb 17, 2021 0:43:48 Having started her career in building and construction law, litigation and insolvency in large and medium firms, Jodi has been in-house since 2011, becoming General Counsel of a large private construction and engineering entity in 2014. She is now the Vice President, Legal & Compliance for Volvo Group Australia, is a member of the Executive Leadership Team, and also has responsibility for the Saf

15. Meet my boss! Leadership lessons and navigating the unknown with Anna Tichborne, General Counsel, Megaport Jan 27, 2021 0:46:01 Anna is a General Counsel with over 17 years' experience working for large and small-medium sized organisations in NZ, Australia and the USA. Anna has experience across varied practice areas including corporate/ M&A, competition and consumer law, privacy, dispute resolution and employment law across multiple jurisdictions. In this episode, we discuss: - what it’s like to work for entrepreneurs

14. Meet: Lisa K. Lang, General Counsel, Kentucky State University Nov 18, 2020 0:40:09 Lisa K. Lang currently serves as the General Counsel for Kentucky State University, a role she has had for three years. Lisa first began her career as a lawyer working as an associate attorney specialising in insurance defence for a law firm in Louisville, Kentucky. She left that firm in 2008 to work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She first worked in the Office of the Attorney General as an Ass

13. Meet: Krystal Kovac, Head of Legal & Compliance, Oncore Nov 4, 2020 0:37:20 Krystal is the Head of Legal and Compliance at Oncore. With her position on the executive leadership team and reporting into the CEO, Krystal not only provides legal advice to Oncore, but is also involved in a wide breadth of work including legal operations, risk and compliance management, and company strategy, both in the Australian and overseas markets. Krystal approaches her role as a leader an

12. Meet: Kate Sherburn, Legal Beagle, Who Gives A Crap Oct 21, 2020 0:35:58 Kate Sherburn is the sole Legal Beagle (aka legal counsel) at Who Gives A Crap, a social enterprise that donates 50% of its profits to help build toilets for those in need. As Who Gives A Crap’s first in-house lawyer, she is establishing the legal function from the bottom up (pun intended!) and loves the opportunities that a start-up environment provides to think outside of the traditional legal

11. Meet: Kirk Simmons, Head of Legal at Canva Oct 7, 2020 0:27:35 Kirk Simmons is the Head of Legal at Canva. Canva is one of the most exciting Australian companies at the moment and after some awesome experience at eBay and Cricket Australia, Kirk saw an opportunity at Canva and took it. As their first in house lawyer, he has grown the team to nine in under 4 years, as Canva’s growth continues to skyrocket as well. No two days are the same for Kirk at Canva an

10. Meet: Sarah Ouis, Legal Counsel & Law Blogger Sep 23, 2020 0:36:36 Sarah is a French qualified lawyer, who has been developing an in-house legal career in the UK for the past 5 years in the tech and pharmaceutical industries. She hated law school and the lack of practical teaching hence why she now runs a law blog on social media where she demystifies legal concepts and the in-house legal profession by leveraging different formats including visuals, videos and

9. Meet: Chad Burnell, Legal Officer at the NSW Office of Sport Sep 9, 2020 0:31:05 Chad is in his 13th year of a career as an in-house lawyer in the public sector at both the Federal and State levels and across agencies both large and small. His career started out with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) where he spent 5 years primarily advising on major defence procurement contracts and delivering training on contractual risk issues and contract management. Chad then spen

8. Meet: Gregory Seeto, General Counsel of the Year 2020! Governance, Integrity & Legal, Life Saving Victoria Aug 26, 2020 0:37:50 Greg is a lawyer and chartered company secretary with 15+ years’ of top-tier legal, regulatory, corporate and not-for-profit experience, both within Australia and internationally. Greg specialises in corporate governance and general in-house commercial law, having held leadership roles with a ~$7 billion infrastructure management company, an ASX200 multinational tri-listed company, and now a majo

7. Meet: Sterling Miller, 3 x General Counsel, Legal Blogger & Author (Part Two) Aug 19, 2020 0:29:48 ** PART TWO ** Links to the resources discussed in this episode: Ten Things: Help Your Client Get Their Contract Through Legal Quickly https://sterlingmiller2014.wordpress.com/2014/12/23/ten-things-help-your-client-get-their-contract-through-legal-quickly/ Ten Things: How To Read A Contract: https://sterlingmiller2014.wordpress.com/2019/08/28/ten-things-how-to-read-a-contract/ About Sterling:

6. BONUS: #AskMeAnything with Mel Scott Aug 15, 2020 0:21:36 I asked my Instagram followers to #AskMeAnything! A broad question, I know, but I received some fantastic questions. In this bonus long weekend episode, I answer: 1. Which team or department within your organisation do you work best with and why? 2. What would incentivise you to go back working in a law firm? 3. Do you have any advice on approaching firms about potential employment? 4. Do you ha

5. Meet: Sterling Miller, 3 x General Counsel, Legal Blogger & Author (Part One) Aug 5, 2020 0:30:56 ** PART ONE ** Sterling has enjoyed a wide and varied 30-year legal career. He is a three-time general counsel, having served in that role at Silicon Valley-based Marketo, Inc., and at Texas-based travel industry giants Sabre Corporation and Travelocity.com. In January 2019, after leading the legal team that completed the sale of Marketo to Adobe Inc., Sterling returned to the Dallas office of H

4. Meet: Mel Scott, Senior Legal Counsel, Megaport Jul 22, 2020 0:32:37 Mel is the Senior Legal Counsel at Megaport Limited, a global technology company founded in Brisbane. She is a passionate advocate for all things in-house and shares career insights for law students and graduates on Instagram @theinhouselawyer. She serves as a Member of the Queensland Law Society's In-House Committee and as the In-House Advisor to the Women Lawyers Association Queensland. She is e

3. Meet: Jemima Harris, Head of Legal Operations & Tech, LOD Jul 1, 2020 0:39:22 Jemima is senior lawyer and executive who is passionate about helping other lawyers succeed. She has worked in-house for most of her career and really enjoys the combination of lawyering and being a part of the business. Outside of work, Jemima serves on a number of not for profit boards and tries to teach her small humans to be kind, brave and to have fun. Connect with Jemima: LinkedIn: https:/

2. Meet: Anna Lozynski, General Counsel, L'Oreal Jun 17, 2020 0:43:39 Anna Lozynski is an executive general counsel, author and thought-leader. She believes that legal innovation is invigorating, change is energising and efficiency will never go out of fashion. Anna has studied law in Melbourne, Beijing, Utrecht and Boston. Starting out at a major Australian law firm, she has spent the majority of her legal career in-house working in the banking, automotive and cos

1. Meet: Theo Kapodistrias, Lawyer, University of Tasmania Jun 2, 2020 0:50:07 Theo Kapodistrias is a multi-national award-winning lawyer and keynote speaker He has been recognised as a thought-leader in the legal environment, particularly through the achievements in the not-for-profit and voluntary space. He is a corporate lawyer at the University of Tasmania with over 5 years' experience. Theo is a Tasmanian Ambassador and Industry Champion with Business Events Tasmania

Episodes

Recommended

—