In-House Outliers
In-House Outliers shares the stories and secrets of people who have taken unconventional paths in corporate legal departments. The podcast challenges conventional notions of how legal teams should operate, offering insights from those who think differently. Each episode explores alternative approaches and career journeys within the in-house legal world. It aims to inspire and inform listeners interested in reshaping legal department practices.
Episodes
The System Behind the Legal Tech Stack with BlackLine's Mandy Savoca
In this episode of the In House Outliers podcast, Anna Richards interviews Mandy Savoca, Senior Director of Legal Operations at BlackLine, about the intersection of process and technology. Savoca shares insights from her engineering background to discuss how legal operations professionals can manage rapidly changing technology stacks. Key topics include the importance of building strong business c
Turning Legal Into a Revenue Engine with The Planet Group's Steve Jorgensen
In this episode, Steve Jorgensen shares the philosophy that's guided his approach to compliance since early in his career: start every process by asking what the business is actually trying to achieve, not by defaulting to how it's always been done, and treat business risk, like the loss of a client's trust, as seriously as legal risk, like the threat of a lawsuit.Steve also offers car
Connecting the Dots in the AI Era with Legal Operations Leader Matt Jezierski
In this episode, legal ops leader Matt Jezierski walks through the pyramid framework he uses to organize a legal department, with regulatory change flowing down through matters, e-billing, and knowledge management, and makes the case that it's time to stop using AI for one-off, discrete tasks and start using it to connect the dots across the whole thing.Matt also breaks down the AI-driven outs
Leaving People Happier as a Leader with Flock Safety's Dan Haley
In this episode, Flock Safety's Dan Haley shares the leadership philosophy that's guided him since a former CEO handed it to him on his first day: make every person you interact with a little happier for having had the interaction with you or your team.Dan also offers career advice on maintaining peripheral vision, cautioning against tunnel vision on a single target role and encouraging li
The Case for a JD in Legal Ops with Sonnedix's Heather Torres
In this episode, Sonnedix's Heather Torres argues that legal training isn't required for legal ops , but it's an unlock, and she's got eight and a half years of experience to back it up.Heather explains why legal background changes how lawyers trust you, and how it's shaped her ability to communicate, build credibility, and think strategically inside her legal department. The c
The Human Side of Legal Technology Adoption with Legal Operations Professional Joe Lewis
In this episode, Legal Operations Professional Joe Lewis shares why getting lawyers to adopt new technology has nothing to do with the technology itself.Drawing on experiences that stretch from teaching seniors how to use YouTube at a public library to building change management infrastructure inside a fast-moving legal department, Joe makes the case that the real work of adoption happens in casua
What E-Billing Implementation Actually Takes with Agiloft's Frances Dupree
In this episode of the In-House Outliers podcast, Anna Richards speaks with Frances Dupree, Principal Customer Success Manager at Agiloft, about what e-billing implementation actually takes from someone who learned it the hard way.Frances spent over a decade moving through legal operations without knowing it had a name, working as a paralegal, procurement specialist, contract manager, and e-billin
Progress Over Perfection: Building Legal Ops from Scratch with LUMA Energy's Federico Vicente
In this episode of the In-House Outliers podcast, Anna Richards speaks with Federico Vicente, Legal Operations Specialist at LUMA Energy in Puerto Rico, about building a legal department from nothing.Federico joined LUMA three years ago to find a department running on email with no intake, no spend tracking, and no formal processes. His first move was implementing a legal service request system in
Scaling Legal Operations Across a Global Team with ABF's Dan Wate
In this episode of the In-House Outliers podcast, host Anna Richards speaks with Dan Wate, Legal Operations Manager at Associated British Foods, about managing legal operations solo across a global team of 150 lawyers in 14 countries.Dan shares his journey from joining ABF before legal ops had a name, to building a function that spans a complex, multinational business. He covers two core strategie
From Buyer to Partner: Building Better Legal Tech Relationships with Novartis's Michael Francony
In this episode, Michael Francony, Senior Legal Project and Operations Manager at Novartis, shares what it really takes to transition from buyer to true partner when working with legal technology vendors. Drawing on experience from both sides of the table he offers a grounded perspective on what makes implementations succeed or fail.The conversation covers how to define the "why" before
Bridging Legal Ops and Finance with Generate's Michelle Garza
In this episode, Michelle Garza, Legal Operations Manager at Generate, discusses how she built a deep and productive partnership between her legal ops and finance teams. She shares her journey from executive assistant to legal ops, and how she transformed a chaotic, email-driven accrual process into a streamlined, centralized system using Brightflag.The conversation covers practical strategies for
The Rise of the Legal Engineer with Wordsmith.AI's Elly Meenan
On this episode Elly Meenan (Legal Engineering Evangelist at Wordsmith.AI) discusses the rise of the Legal Engineer role and what it means for the future of legal work. The conversation focuses on how legal engineers use technology to automate legal work and build scalable systems, bridging the gap between legal expertise and technical execution.Elly also shares insights on breaking into the field
The Expanding Role of the Modern GC with OTC Markets Group's Daniel Zinn
On this episode Daniel Zinn (General Counsel, Chief of Staff, and Corporate Secretary at OTC Markets Group) discusses the expanding role of the modern general counsel. Dan shares how his role has evolved organically from pure legal counsel to encompass strategic business partnership, operational leadership, and business development. The conversation explores how Dan's multi-faceted role allows
The Future of Legal Ops with Legal Operations Leader Mary O'Carroll
On this episode, legal operations leader and industry icon Mary O'Carroll joined Brightflag's Anna Richards to discuss the evolution of legal ops roles, the differences between in-house and law firm AI adoption, and the importance of community. Mary also shared practical advice for CLOs looking to build a legal operations function.
Building a Durable Legal Ops Function with Sanofi's Dimitri Lucas
On this episode, Dimitri Lucas (Legal Operations & Digital Transformation Manager at Sanofi) discusses his approach to developing an effective legal ops function in high-pressure corporate legal environments.Dimitri also shared tips for navigating change management, thoughts on the benefits of building upon small wins, and insights into the customer success principles he's found to be effe
Outside Counsel Management at Scale with John Deere's Lindsay Schuyler
On this episode, Lindsay Schuyler (Outside Counsel Strategy & Spend Manager at John Deere) joined the show for an in-depth discussion about how to effectively select, manage, and evaluate outside counsel at scale.Lindsay also shared her insights into how to demonstrate the value of the legal department to the broader business, and how legal ops can position themselves at the forefront of techn
New Beginnings with Brightflag's Anna Richards
In his final interview as host of the In-House Outliers podcast, Alex Kelly sat down for a candid conversation with Brightflag's Head of Community Anna Richards, who will be leading the show going forward.During their discussion, they touched on the value of community for legal ops professionals, how legal teams are balancing "efficiency vs. effectiveness" when evaluating AI tools, a
Surveying the Legal Landscape with Cockroach Labs' Adam Becker
On this episode, Adam Becker (Director of Legal Operations at Cockroach Labs) joined the show to discuss the current legal technology landscape, how generative AI will impact outside counsel partnerships, and the unique challenges of building out a legal ops function.
2026 Predictions with Brightflag's Kevin Cohn
On this special episode of In-House Outliers, Brightflag's Kevin Cohn returns to share his annual legal operations and legal technology predictions for 2026.
Enhancing Communication with Ericsson's Alexander de Nerée
On this episode, Alexander de Nerée (External Firm Relationship Counsel at Ericsson) joined Alex Kelly to discuss:-Alexander's philosophy when it comes to managing outside counsel relationships-Ways to set expectations with law firms regarding AI use, and develop more open dialogues-Alexander's fascinating career journey and his best advice for aspiring in-house legal professionals
Pushing the Envelope with DoorDash's Ryan Black
On this episode, Ryan Black (Chief of Staff, Legal at DoorDash) joined the podcast recently to share his expert insights into:-Common pitfalls legal ops can encounter during legal technology evaluations—and how to avoid them-The skills he cultivated on his journey from Paralegal to Legal Operations Manager to Legal Chief of Staff-His experience building out a legal operations function, and how he
Embracing Innovation with CyberArk's Stephanie Palmieri
On this episode, Stephanie Palmieri (Head of Legal Operations at CyberArk) joined Alex Kelly to discuss:-The keys to effective change management—including how to measure the success and necessity of legal technology implementations-How the size and maturity of an organization's legal function dictate what its priorities will be from an operations standpoint-The takeaways from her own incredibl
Emerging Legal Ops: A Conversation with Rocket Companies’ Vice President
On this episode, Nicole Weidenhamer reflects on her eight-year journey at Rocket Companies, where she has risen from intern to VP of Legal Operations.During her conversation with Brightflag's Kevin Cohn, they discuss:How to build and scale a legal operations functionThe value of networking with other legal ops professionals and finding a communityThe evolving legal ops landscape, and the keys
Staying Agile with Etsy's Jennifer Smith
On this episode, Jennifer Smith (Legal Operations Manager at Etsy) joined the show to discuss the key skillsets legal ops professionals need to be successful, and Jennifer's own fascinating journey into the world of legal operations.Jennifer also discussed some projects she's most proud of having spearheaded, and the impacts she sees AI having on the legal field.
Legal Transformation in the Fortune 500: A Brightflag x Harbor Fireside Chat
Join Kevin Cohn and Stacie Neeter as they delve into the evolving landscape of enterprise legal management, and the challenges faced by modern legal departments.During their conversation, they discuss:The shift from siloed initiatives to a holistic approach to legal technology integrations, and the role AI is playing in that progressionHow legal departments can establish themselves as valuable bus
Being Data-Drive with SharkNinja's Daniel Young
On this episode, Daniel Young (Chief of Staff, Senior Director of Legal Operations at SharkNinja) joined Alex Kelly to discuss how data serves as the foundation for impactful legal operations initiatives.Daniel also discussed his fascinating career journey from being a veterinary technician to working in legal ops, and shared insights into his approach to legal technology evaluations.
Deloitte Legal AI Predictions: A Discussion with Brightflag
Mathew Steer (Associate Director of Legal Management Consulting at Deloitte Legal) joins Brightflag’s Kevin Cohn for a special podcast episode about AI’s role in corporate legal departments, including discussions around:Moving from AI proof-of-concepts to rolling out true AI programsMeasuring the ROI of AILeveraging learnings and applying them to deliver valueDeveloping a true vision for AI within
Navigating Change with Generate's Sarah Starr
On this episode, Sarah Starr (Director of Legal Operations at Generate) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her approach to change management and legal technology evaluations.Sarah also shared insights into her career journey, and offered advice to those who are just starting out in legal operations.
Discovering New Efficiencies with Zurich Insurance's Suha Gehrer
On this episode, Suha Gehrer (Group Head of Legal Operations at Zuhrich Insurance) joined Alex Kelly to discuss the most common challenges and inefficiencies Suha has observed when it comes to implementing legal technology.Suha also shared insights into the career path that led her to legal operations, and how her previous experiences working in procurement informed her perspective on the function
Embracing New Challenges with Kimberly-Clark's Darek Kochman
On this episode, Darek Kochman (Director of Global Legal Operations at Kimberly-Clark) joined the show to discuss how he approaches legal ops initiatives, and the importance of leaning on high-quality data when making decisions.Darek also discussed his fascinating career journey, which led him from the US Army to financial accounting to legal operations.
Valuing Understanding with Momentive Technologies' Jeff Barlow
On this episode, Jeff Barlow (SVP, GC and Corporate Secretary at Momentive Technologies) joined Alex Kelly for an insightful discussion about the key role legal department metrics play in formulating a strategic plan around how legal work is managed, the value of clear communication with outside counsel.Jeff also reflected on his journey to becoming an in-house legal leader, and his advice for tho
Thinking Holistically with Vinted's Charles Stanley
On this episode, Charles Stanley (Senior Manager of Legal Operations and Technology at Vinted) discussed his career transition from CLO to legal operations, and his strategic approach to legal ops initiatives.Charles also shared his thoughts on the growing role of AI and technology within legal departments, and the projects he's most proud of having implemented.
Designing Solutions with FanDuel's Laura Revie
On this episode, Laura Revie (Legal Operations Senior Manager at FanDuel) joined the show to discuss the importance of change management when implementing new processes or technology as a legal operations professional.Laura also shared insights into her fascinating career journey from costume designer to legal ops, and discussed how AI is impacting in-house legal teams.
Rising to the Challenge with Brightflag's Laura Gleeson
On this episode, Laura Gleeson (GC and VP of Legal & Compliance at Brightflag) joined the show to discuss:
The benefits and challenges of transitioning from her role as a partner at a major law firm to working as an in-house legal leader
How data transforms what a General Counsel and their in-house team of capable of achieving in terms of legal service delivery
The ways in which in-
Drawing Connections with Leaf Home's Bridget Franklin
On this episode, Bridget Franklin (VP of Legal & Compliance at Leaf Home) joined the show to discuss her experience navigating the transition from working at a firm to working in-house, how she's leveraged technology to gain greater visibility into legal spend, and her feelings on the growing role of AI within legal departments.
2025 Predictions with Brightflag's Kevin Cohn
Brightflag's Kevin Cohn returns to the show for an in-depth conversation about his legal ops and legal technology predictions for 2025, touching on topics including AI regulations, the evolving CLO-legal ops relationship, and CLM consolidation.
Leveraging Your Expertise with Legal Ops Leader Nicole Arbiv
On this episode, legal operations leader Nicole Arbiv joined the show to discuss how her accounting background helped facilitate her move into legal ops, and the projects she was most proud of spearheading in her legal operations roles.
Nicole also shared insights from her career journey, and how she's applied legal ops skillsets to her work in Customer Success.
Strength Through Partnership with Cox Media Group's Eric Greenberg
On this episode, Eric Greenberg (EVP, GC, and Corporate Secretary at Cox Media Group) joined Alex Kelly to share his thoughts on legal operations, strategic partnerships with outside counsel, and the career journey that led him to working in-house.
Eric also discussed how legal technology is shaping legal strategy, and his legal team's recognition by The American Lawyer's Corporate Counsel Awards.
Building Upwards with ITGC's Sarah Irwin
On this episode, Sarah Irwin (CEO and Founder of ITGC) joined Alex Kelly for a discussion about her fascinating journey from private practice, to GC of a high-growth SaaS company, to Founder and CEO of her own business.
Sarah also shared insights into what to prioritize when building a legal function from the ground up, and discussed her thoughts on how legal teams should approach technologies lik
Forward-Thinking with DHL's Tiffani Huynh
On this episode, Tiffani Huynh (Director of Legal Innovation, Technology, and Analytics at DHL) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her approach to process optimization, how she assesses legal tech providers, and how working for an organization that's known for efficiency informed her approach to legal ops initiatives.
Tiffani also shared her thoughts on the value AI can bring to in-house legal teams, an
Process Innovation with Legal Ops Leader Reeta Sharma
On this episode, Legal Operations Leader Reeta Sharma joined Alex Kelly for a discussion about how pairing thoughtful process improvements with innovation legal technology can multiply the value that in-house legal teams can deliver to their organization.
Reeta also shared her thoughts on the use of AI tools for legal departments, offered advice to those starting out in the legal ops field, and ta
Strategic Thinking with Tala's Damier Xandrine
On this episode, Damier Xandrine (Chief Legal Officer at Tala) joined Alex Kelly to discuss the value that understanding an organization's financial situation can bring to an in-house legal team's ability to do its best work.
Damier also discussed her thoughts on the importance of the legal operations function, and shared insights from her career journey.
A Thoughtful Approach with Legal Operations Leader David Krebs
On this episode, Legal Operations Leader David Krebs joined Alex Kelly for an insightful discussion about the challenges of navigating legal ops initiatives, and how he has approached major projects throughout his career.
David also reflected on his career journey, and shared his thoughts on the impact legal tech and AI is having on in-house legal teams.
Finding Your Voice with Saint-Gobain North America's La-Toya Hackney
On this episode, La-Toya Hackney (SVP, General Counsel & Secretary at Saint-Gobain North America) joined Alex Kelly for a candid discussion about her amazing career journey, the importance of valuing diversity in the legal field, and her general philosophy when it comes to managing an in-house legal department.
La-Toya also shared her thoughts on the value that legal operations provides to a l
Learning to Prioritize with Keurig Dr. Pepper's Brandy Musick
On this episode, Brandy Musick (Senior Manager of Legal Operations at Keurig Dr. Pepper) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her approach to implementing legal technology.
Brandy also shared insights from her career journey, and talked about the importance of e-billing for modern legal departments.
Looking to the Future with Brightflag's Alex Kelly
On this special episode, Brightflag Co-Founder and COO Alex Kelly goes from host of the podcast to guest as he joins Brightflag Chief Customer Officer Kevin Cohn for a candid interview.
During his conversation with Kevin, Alex discusses his own career journey, Brightflag's early beginnings, his thoughts on the growth of AI and legal operations, and much more.
Embracing Community with One Medical's Louisa Toy
On this episode, Louisa Toy (Legal Operations Manager at One Medical) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her legal operations journey.
Louisa also shared insights into the most valuable skillsets for legal ops professionals to have, and the importance of embracing the legal operations community.
Looking Upstream with Enfusion's Matthew Campobasso
On this episode, Matthew Campobasso (General Counsel at Enfusion) joined Alex Kelly for an insightful discussion about embracing a proactive mindset as a GC.
Matthew also shared his thoughts on the power of the legal operations function, and discussed his move in-house after over a decade working as an Associate and Partner with Chicago-based law firms.
Making Big Impacts with Trend Micro's Brent Dyer
On this episode, Brent Dyer (Director of Legal Operations, Employment Law, and Litigation at Trend Micro) joined Alex Kelly to discuss how to identify the initiatives that will have the greatest impacts on your in-house team.
Brent also discussed how e-billing transformed his legal team's spend management capabilities, and shared insights from his journey into legal operations.
Pushing the Envelope with Splunk's Chris Beahn
On this episode, Chris Beahn (Director, Legal & Global Affairs Operations at Splunk) joined Alex Kelly to discuss the consulting and project management principles that have had the greatest impact on his legal operations career.
Chris also shared his thoughts on how the legal industry has pushed technological innovation forward over the years, and the value that networking and being a part of
Bridging the Gaps with Legal Leader Samara Abrams
On this episode, Legal Leader Samara Abrams joined Alex Kelly for a discussion about how to navigate the legal ops function, and the importance of combining good data with trusted relationships to affect change.
Samara also shared insights into how her work in Business Development informs her legal ops strategies, and shared her top tips for facilitating communication and eliminating silos.
Live from CGI 2024 with Timothy Melchior (Trane Technologies) and Tom Rice (TravelPerk)
Recorded live at 2024's CLOC Global Institute, this episode features Timothy Melchior (Trane Technologies) and Tom Rice (TravelPerk).
Timothy dove into the key pillars he prioritizes when executing legal ops initiatives, including how he works to create a lean legal function. And Tom shared his insights on the rise of AI tools and how they're transforming legal work.
Live from CGI 2024 with Stéphanie Hamon (Norton Rose Fulbright) and Kshitij Dua (HashiCorp)
Recorded live at 2024's CLOC Global Institute, this episode features Stéphanie Hamon (Head of Legal Operations Consulting at Norton Rose Fulbright) and Kshitij Dua (Head of Legal Operations at HashiCorp).
Stéphanie discussed the path that led her to legal operations and her key takeaways from CGI 2024, and Kshitij talked about the benefits of embracing new learning opportunities in legal ops a
Live from CGI 2024 with Jason Winmill (Buying Legal Council) and Katrina Gowans (IFM Investors)
Recorded live at CLOC Global Institute, this episode features legal leaders Jason Winmill (Argopoint, Buying Legal Council) and Katrina Gowans (IFM Investors).
Jason underscored the importance of engaging with the community as a legal ops professional, and talked about how to navigate obtaining resources for your legal team.
Katrina discussed her approach to finding the right pace when implementin
Live from CGI 2024 with Heather Torres (Sonnedix) and Denise Doyle (Extreme Networks)
Our 2024 "Live from CLOC Global Institute" podcast series kicks off with Heather Torres (Assistant General Counsel at Sonnedix) and Denise Doyle (Extreme Networks).
Heather stopped by to reflect on her first year at CGI, and how data changes the way legal work gets done.
Denise discussed the value of prioritizing legal spend management, the progress that is left to be made when it comes
Redefining Efficiency with Legal Leader Kaylyn Nichols
On this episode, legal leader Kaylyn Nichols joined Alex Kelly to discuss her approach to process optimization, as well as what she views as the central pillars of an effective legal operations strategy.
Kaylyn also shared insights from her career journey, and discussed the transformative impacts AI will likely have on legal teams in the coming years.
Developing a Plan with Stripe's Chad Hallberg
On this episode, Chad Hallberg (Legal Operations Lead at Stripe) joined Alex Kelly to discuss the central pillars of the legal operations function, and Chad's approach to launching initiatives related to each pillar.
Chad also underscored the importance of leveraging spend management as a launching pad for other legal ops projects, and discussed his career journey.
Spearheading Innovation with Legal OS's Lorna Khemraz
Lorna Khemraz (Lead AI Counsel at Legal OS) joined Alex Kelly on the podcast this week to discuss the ways that AI is poised to improve all facets of legal work.
Lorna also shared her thoughts on the major differences between working in-house vs. private practice, and shared insights from her fascinating career journey.
Owning the Process with Zendesk's Martinique Aguero
On this episode, Martinique Aguero (Legal Operations Specialist at Zendesk) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her approach to improving legal department processes.
Martinique also shared her top resources for developing her professional skillsets, and discussed the skills from her time working as a paralegal that she has carried over into her legal ops role.
Always Improving with Motive's Savannah Ramsey
On this episode, Savannah Ramsey (Senior Legal Operations Manager & Chief of Staff at Motive) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her "less but better" mindset and how it guides her legal ops strategies.
Savannah also shared insights into how her mentors influenced her professional journey, and discussed how legal tech solutions have increased the functionality of her organization's leg
New Ways of Thinking with Legal Operations Leader Sol Brody
On this episode, Legal Operations Leader Sol Brody joined Alex Kelly for an in-depth discussion about the strategic initiatives that all legal ops professionals should implement when stepping into their roles.
Sol also shared his advice for those new to the legal operations field, and talked about his own professional journey from the world of global trade to legal ops.
Embracing the Power of A.I. with Michael Dineen
On this episode, Michael Dineen (VP of Data Science at Brightflag) joins Alex Kelly to discuss the recent rise in the functionality of A.I. tools, and how legal teams are contending with it.
Michael also shares his thoughts on ChatGPT, how A.I. models work, and where generative A.I. might take the legal departments in the years ahead.
Gaining New Insights with FanDuel's Jessica Williams
On this episode, Jessica Williams (Director of Legal Team Strategy and Operations at FanDuel) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her experience building out a legal ops function at FanDuel, and why she chose to prioritize e-billing.
Jessica also discussed her fascinating career journey, and the knowledge-building initiatives she's leading for the Buying Legal Council.
Managing Strategically with FARFETCH's André Barrow
On this episode, André Barrow (Head of Legal Operations at FARFETCH) joined Alex Kelly to discuss how he applies project management principles to his work in the field of legal operations to change how legal work gets delivered.
André also shared his thoughts on the key priorities to focus on in a legal ops role, and discussed the importance of being part of a community while working in this indus
Reflecting and Looking Ahead with Brightflag's Ian Nolan
On this special episode, Ian Nolan (Brightflag CEO and Co-Founder) joins Alex Kelly to reflect on Brightflag's incredible journey in celebration of the company's 10-year anniversary.
Ian also discusses the rise of legal ops, the value that A.I. brings to legal departments' functionality, and what's on the horizon for Brightflag.
Diving into the Data with Temple Health's Lindsey Marandola
On this episode, Lindsey Marandola (Director of Legal Operations at Temple Health) joined Alex Kelly for an in-depth conversation about the challenges of building out a legal ops function from the ground up.
Lindsey also shared insights into how she leverages data to make her in-house team more efficient, and discussed her fascinating journey to legal ops.
Enabling Efficiency with Syngenta's Stano Gejdos
On this episode, Stano Gejdos (Global Category Manager at Syngenta) joined Alex Kelly for a discussion about the key learnings Stano has applied to legal operations from his experience working in procurement.
Stano also shared tips for implementing alternative fee arrangements, and discussed the importance of evaluating the ROI of all the legal department's processes to improve cost savings an
Striking a Balance with Compass Legal Operations and Wellness' Ashlee Best
On this episode, Ashlee Best (Founder of Compass Legal Operations and Wellness) joins Alex Kelly to discuss how her IT background led her on a very unique journey to the field of legal operations.
Ashlee also shares her thoughts on how legal tech can transform the legal ops function, and her goal of making health, wellness, and balance a focus for those working in the industry.
Remaining Agile with Vantage Risk Companies' Kristen Hart
On this episode, Kristen Hart (Senior Paralegal, Corporate and Legal Operations at Vantage Risk Companies) joins Alex Kelly to discuss the challenges of establishing new processes within legal departments, and how strong communication between legal ops professionals and the General Counsel can help.
Kristen also shares insights from her own legal ops career journey, and how others in the industry
2024 Predictions with Brightflag's Kevin Cohn
On this episode, Brightflag's Chief Customer Officer Kevin Cohn returns to share his annual legal ops and legal tech predictions for 2024.
Kevin also recaps his 2023 predictions, and offers insights into the role of A.I. within legal departments in the year ahead, what the future holds for legal operations hiring and compensation, and more.
Streamlining Change with Rimini Street’s Alisa De Dominicis
On this episode, Alisa De Dominicis (VP Global, Legal, and E&C Operations at Rimini Street) joined Alex Kelly to discuss the various skill sets—from project management to technology integration—that go into being an effective legal operations leader.
Alisa also shared insights into her career journey, and underscored some of the data that CEOs seek out from legal teams, as well as how that dat
Creating Opportunities with Legal Operations Leader Laurie David-Henric
On this episode, Legal Operations Leader Laurie David-Henric joined Alex Kelly for a discussion about the importance of creating your own career opportunities by seeking out professional challenges, and how that mindset helped her build out the legal operations functions in the various roles she has held.
Laurie also shared insights into how she has helped legal teams maximize limited resources th
Following Your Own Path with SMBC Group’s Kimberly Williams
On this episode, Kimberly Williams (Head of Legal Operations at SMBC Group) joined Alex Kelly for a conversation about her professional journey, and how it led her from working as an Associate to leading the legal operations function at her organization.
Kimberly also discussed the keys to making legal technology implementations work, and how gathering the right data makes effective resourcing pos
Evolving Your Mindset with Glowmind's Victoria Swedjemark
On this episode, Victoria Swedjemark (Founder of Glowmind) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her professional experiences working in both business and legal roles—and how each function ultimately inspired her interest in exploring the legal operations and consulting field.
Victoria also shared her thoughts on how the legal ops mindset can evolve, and stressed the importance of legal leaders pushing the
Staying Ahead of the Curve with Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ Curt McDaniel
On this episode, Curt McDaniel (Chief Legal Officer at Ferring Pharmaceuticals) joined Alex Kelly for an in-depth discussion about how he went about implementing his organization's first legal operations role, and the importance of embracing new technological advancements in the field of legal work.
Curt also discussed the impacts of using data to spot inefficiencies, his career journey, and
Creative Problem-Solving with Zillow’s Mark Allen
On this episode, Mark Allen (Director of Legal & Compliance Operations and Strategy at Zillow) joined Alex Kelly to discuss how legal ops professionals can tactfully implement change within a legal department—even when it might initially seem uncomfortable.
Mark also shared insights into some strategies he's used to negotiate with outside counsel, discussed his remarkable career journey, a
Developing a Continuous Growth Mindset with The New York Times' Lyndsey Cain
On this week's episode, Lyndsey Cain (Director of Legal Operations at The New York Times) joined Alex Kelly to discuss the holistic approach she takes when undertaking change management initiatives, and the importance of building trust and fostering open communication with the in-house legal team when working in a legal operations role.
Lyndsey also shared insights from her own professional jo
Building Confidence in Change with TotalEnergies’ Eric O’Donnell
On this week's episode, Eric O'Donnell (Head of Legal Operations at TotalEnergies) joined Alex Kelly to discuss how data provides the foundation upon which legal spend management initiatives are built, and the role of change management in tackling legal operations projects.
Eric also shared insights into his globe-spanning career journey, and how always striving to expand his knowledge and
Paving the Way with LegalOps.com's Connie Brenton
On this week's episode, Connie Brenton (Founder of LegalOps.com, CLOC Founder and Founding CEO) joined Alex Kelly to discuss her remarkable career journey, the industry-wide impacts she's had on the field of legal operations, and the advice she would offer to those who are just starting out.
Connie also underscored the importance of using data to inform strategy, her approach to change man
Leveraging Solutions with LinkSquares' Ashlyn Donohue
On this week's episode, Ashlyn Donohue (Director of Legal at LinkSquares) joined Alex Kelly to discuss how she leverages data to help develop processes and guidelines that make her legal team more efficient.
Ashlyn also shared her thoughts on how to optimize the use of legal technology, and underscored the importance of establishing processes and communication in the era of hybrid work.
