Modern Counsel

08/07/2024

In August 2017, Breana Jeter began her first in-house role at Wells Fargo, transitioning from private practice and public defense to create a more manageable life for her young children.

Just thirty days in, Breana received a breast cancer diagnosis. Now, she had to navigate a new job, a complex financial institution, and a young family while facing critical healthcare decisions. Days after learning about her diagnosis, she shared the news with her manager. His response was unforgettable.

Although Breana may have unknowingly added a new protocol to managerial practices, the support she received is why she’s proud to be part of the Wells Fargo team.

Discover more about Breana Jeter’s journey and her role at Wells Fargo: https://hubs.la/Q02KmBw_0

Breana Jeter nurtures support, mentorship, balance, and experience at Wells Fargo

08/06/2024

Rick Hansen’s career includes impressive names like Perkins Coie, Amazon, Chevron, General Motors, and now HP, where he serves as Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel – Corporate, and Corporate Secretary. He thrives at the intersection of law, business, and public policy on a global stage.

Hansen takes inspiration from advice given by a notable CEO he once worked with. “This amazing person told me she didn’t have a clearly plotted career path but got to the CEO chair by never saying no to an opportunity, regardless of how difficult it seemed,” Hansen recalls. “By doing so, she became indispensable and always had a seat at the table for critical decisions. I’ve modeled much of my career based on that advice.”

At HP, Hansen oversees a broad portfolio, including board operations, securities regulation, capital markets, M&A, corporate governance, and more. His role is dynamic, often taking on special projects that push him beyond his comfort zone.

Discover more about Rick Hansen’s journey and his role at HP Inc.: https://hubs.la/Q02KgknZ0

Rick Hansen never experiences the same day twice at HP Inc., which is just how he likes it

08/05/2024

Angie Nolet knew she needed a change. Despite meeting great people and honing her legal skills in civil litigation and government work, maintaining work/life balance was a persistent issue. Trying around twenty cases to verdict as a deputy prosecutor in Washington and working as an associate for two Seattle-based firms took an emotional toll, especially as she wanted to start a family.

In 2021, Nolet joined Redfin as corporate counsel. Redfin, a technology-powered real estate company, helps people find homes and offers brokerage, rental, lending, title insurance, and renovation services. Initially, the transition from private practice to Redfin was jarring—but in a good way. Previously, time was a commodity measured in six-minute increments, making every delay a stressor. At Redfin, Nolet measures her value by how she supports the organization and strengthens its products.

Discover more about Angie Nolet’s journey and role at Redfin: https://hubs.la/Q02JYCWX0

Angie Nolet creates a supportive work environment at Redfin, where she leads with an emphasis on efficiency, exploration, and empathy

08/02/2024

If Tim Braley hadn’t taken the offer from Baker Hughes to become Executive Counsel of Global Ethics and Investigations, he would likely have become the acting US attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Although this was a career goal, the new role at Baker Hughes presented exciting challenges.

Braley spent over seventeen years as a federal prosecutor in Houston, tackling Mexican, Central American, and West African drug cartels, the Russian mob, and other organized crime entities. He even trained to carry a firearm while working closely with agents to chase down these threats. Despite these intense experiences, Braley feels fortunate compared to prosecutors in other countries.

Learn more about his journey and role at Baker Hughes: https://hubs.la/Q02JtbpX0

Tim Braley of Baker Hughes talks differences from government life, Homeland Security Agents, and learning to coach volleyball via YouTube

08/01/2024

Melissa James always dreamed big, once envisioning herself as the first female president of the United States. Her passion for politics and law led her to pursue a legal career, inspired by her lawyer father.

Starting as a commercial litigator at Vinson & Elkins LLP (V&E), she worked on diverse matters, from oil and gas litigation to professional liability defense and general commercial disputes. This diverse work experience honed her ability to quickly adapt to new industries and areas of law. After eight years, she was promoted to counsel.

“For the entirety of my ten years at the law firm, I constantly felt like I had all the work that I could manage at any given time,” she shares. “I learned critical time management skills and how to juggle professional and personal priorities.”

Learn more about her journey and role at Goldman Sachs: https://hubs.la/Q02Jt9WV0

Melissa James is no stranger to managing her time as a working mom and a legal professional for one of the leading financial services companies in the world

07/31/2024

Amanda Evanson thrives on creating and executing concrete plans. Despite initially dismissing law as a career, her journey led her to become the Senior Corporate Counsel of e-discovery at Delta Air Lines.

After earning a fine arts degree and working in public relations, Evanson sought new challenges. “I never really wanted to be a lawyer but fell into it and ended up loving it,” she says. Graduating from Pace University in 2010 during the Great Recession, she quickly found work reviewing documents and joined Troutman Sanders’ eMerge subsidiary, where she discovered her passion for e-discovery.

Learn more about Amanda Evanson's journey and her role at Delta Air Lines: https://hubs.la/Q02Js_yN0

Using a hands-on leadership approach, Senior Counsel of E-Discovery Amanda Evanson keeps her finger on the pulse of her department at Delta Air Lines

07/30/2024

In 2021, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made history by winning the Super Bowl on their home field. For Michael Buchwald, VP and legal counsel for the NFL, the event was unforgettable for different reasons.

“It was a surreal moment because it was the Super Bowl, but a Super Bowl like no other,” Buchwald explains. “With limited capacity due to COVID, there were restrictions on fan attendance and interactions. We essentially operated from our positions during the game and then returned to our rooms.”

Since 2019, Buchwald has taken on a more direct role in the NFL's operations, especially during the pandemic.

Learn more about Michael Buchwald's journey and his contributions to the NFL: https://hubs.la/Q02Jqcxf0

He may be a drummer in his downtime, but Michael Buchwald helps keep the tempo at the NFL through one of the more challenging periods of modern history

07/29/2024

Dawn Staggs isn't concerned about her cosmetology career not panning out. Instead, she has dedicated almost twelve years to serving as senior counsel at Phillips 66, a prominent global energy company.

After marrying an Army soldier, Staggs moved to Germany, where she worked within the US European Command’s Wargaming & Analysis division. She quickly rose to become executive assistant to a three-star general, earning top-secret security clearance at just twenty-two.

Discover more about Dawn Staggs's incredible path and her impact at Phillips 66: https://hubs.la/Q02Jfz9J0

Dawn Staggs on leaving cosmetology, top secret clearances, and her role as senior counsel of litigation at Phillips 66

07/26/2024

As technology and AI become more ingrained in our daily lives, Edmund Burke's words ring true: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Google's initial motto, "Don't Be Evil," aimed to embody high ethical standards. However, by 2018, the company faced challenges maintaining this standard due to changes in technology, strategy, and scale, leading to the motto's abandonment.

The legal industry is encountering similar issues. For example, in 2023, U.S. lawyers faced penalties for using ChatGPT without proper verification, leading to fictitious cases being cited in legal documents.

Discover how the intersection of technology and ethics is reshaping the legal and tech landscapes, by Forbes: https://hubs.la/Q02Ht9fh0

Guarding against automation bias and complacency is imperative with AI. Otherwise we will hand the responsibility of ethics to AI.

07/25/2024

On May 27, 2021, FIGS reached a historic milestone by becoming the first company led by two female cofounders to go public. This online retailer of healthcare apparel not only achieved unicorn status but also set a powerful example for female entrepreneurs everywhere.

Danielle Warner, General Counsel at FIGS, was there to witness founders Heather Hasson and Trina Spear ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, alongside a group of dedicated healthcare workers. Despite the excitement of the IPO, FIGS remained true to its mission of supporting the medical community during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As Warner puts it, “We wanted to shine a spotlight on the real stars—the healthcare providers who were working tirelessly. It was crucial for us to honor them and share their stories as part of our IPO celebration.”

Learn more about Danielle Warner’s journey and FIGS’ dedication to healthcare heroes: https://hubs.la/Q02Ht9Nc0

General Counsel Danielle Warner brings years of private practice experience and passion for female entrepreneurship to help FIGS scale and best serve the healthcare community

07/24/2024

The fantasy sports industry is booming! According to the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association, 23% of American adults participated in sports betting and 19% engaged in fantasy sports in 2022. The growth trend is clear.

Underdog Sports, a platform for fantasy sports, sports content, and betting, has been riding this wave of success since its founding in 2020. Nicholas Green joined the company as its first General Counsel in 2022 and has been instrumental in its rapid expansion, helping to grow the team from 75 to over 300 employees in just a year and a half.

With a background as a litigator, appellate lawyer, and former law clerk on the US Court of Appeals and US District Court, Nicholas brings a wealth of experience to his role. His journey from private practice to leading the legal department at Underdog Sports showcases his impressive career shift and the dynamic growth of the company.

Learn more about Nicholas Green’s role in Underdog Fantasy' success story: https://hubs.la/Q02Ht1050

General Counsel Nicholas Green talks the “second-mover advantage” as Underdog Sports continues its exponential expansion

07/23/2024

Steffany Cunningham, General Counsel at National Express, embodies the true meaning of earning one’s success through hard work and determination. Unlike those who might take their advantages for granted, Cunningham’s journey has been shaped by perseverance and resilience.

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, in the same South Shore neighborhood as Michele Obama, Cunningham faced early challenges when her birth parents lost custody. With the support of family friends and her church community, she learned the values of faith, family, and education, which guided her path to success.

Read more about her story and impactful role: https://hubs.la/Q02HsPV30

A difficult childhood often limits professional growth, but through determination and grit, Steffany Cunningham emerged as GC at National Express

07/22/2024

Eighteen years is a long time, and Jerry Swindell's tenure at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) showcases his dedication. When he joined J&J in the early 2000s as chief antitrust counsel, his son had just been born. As his son grew, so did J&J's legal organization.

“When I got here, there were probably 150 lawyers throughout the company who were primarily stateside, and 70 percent of those lawyers were in one building in New Brunswick, New Jersey,” Swindell says. “Now, we’ve got three hundred lawyers in nearly every country where our products are sold. To paraphrase an old saying, ‘the sun never sets on the J&J legal organization.’”

Initially, Swindell was concerned he might get bored after gaining antitrust and white-collar criminal experience at Vinson & Elkins and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). However, the dynamic nature of J&J's legal landscape kept him engaged.

Read more about Jerry Swindell’s journey: https://hubs.la/Q02HsRvK0

Chief Antitrust Counsel Jerry Swindell shares how the ever-evolving, interesting antitrust work has kept him at Johnson & Johnson for almost two decades

07/22/2024

Modern Counsel spotlights elite legal leaders who share their perspectives, ideas, experiences, and expertise via the rich editorial content in our print magazine, website, newsletter, and events. We offer insight into every facet of legal leaders’ professional lives by telling their stories—from department structure and team management to intellectual property and emerging technology. Our broad network of attorneys includes today’s most influential legal minds, who actively shape the future of law.

07/20/2024

Counsel's Corner is officially live! Counsel’s Corner is the op-ed platform for leaders within the Modern Counsel network to share their thought leadership and insights on the most pressing matters in the legal community

Visit Counsel's Corner: https://hubs.la/Q02H030l0

To submit your ideas and be featured in Counsel’s Corner, please visit Modern Counsel’s contact page here: https://hubs.la/Q02H0h7p0 and under “Inquiry Type,” please select “Counsel’s Corner."

07/19/2024

A thought-provoking debate is underway in the legal operations community: Should professionals aim to be generalists or specialists? As the marketplace consolidates and companies manage limited resources, this discussion sheds light on the evolving landscape of legal operations and its practitioners' changing roles.

Join the conversation and explore the implications for legal operations, by Above the Law: https://hubs.la/Q02H9Hwq0

This ongoing conversation highlights the changing demands on legal ops practitioners.

07/18/2024

Considering a shift from litigation to in-house counsel? Felix Sharpe’s journey from Dinsmore & Shohl to Humana Inc. offers compelling insights. At Dinsmore, he tackled diverse cases across state and federal courts, from brand protection to product liability, gaining invaluable trial experience along the way.

Sharpe’s decision to join Humana wasn’t straightforward, but a trusted contact’s move to the company sparked his interest. Despite initial hesitation about change, he embraced the challenge, realizing the similarities in legal work from a different perspective.

“In a law firm, I felt like the pilot driving my cases forward. In-house at Humana, I see myself more as an air traffic controller, aligning litigation goals with broader company objectives,” says Sharpe.

Explore Felix Sharpe’s transition and insights into in-house counsel at Humana: https://hubs.la/Q02H0Wtm0

Felix Sharpe reflects on the “bedside manner” that only the best lawyers possess

07/17/2024

As Medicare's drug price negotiations progress this summer, the pharmaceutical industry's challenges continue. Another lawsuit has been dismissed.

Boehringer Ingelheim's case against the constitutionality of the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) Medicare price negotiations was rejected by the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on July 3.

Boehringer Ingelheim argued that the IRA violates several parts of the U.S. Constitution, including the First Amendment, and claimed that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) didn't meet legal requirements in implementing the law.

Chief District Judge Michael P. Shea granted the government's motion for summary judgment, addressing and dismissing each of BI's claims after careful review.

Learn more about the ruling and its impact, by Bar and Bench: https://hubs.la/Q02GSj1M0

As the process surrounding Medicare's drug price negotiations rolls on this summer—and as the pharmaceutical industry continues to loudly voice its complaints—another lawsuit contesting the legal v | Boehringer Ingelheim joins AstraZeneca, J&J and Bristol Myers Squibb in having a case challengin...