Big Law Life #40: Navigating BigLaw to General Counsel and Beyond with Shauna Barnes
In today’s episode, I am joined by Shauna Barnes, founding partner of the Barnes Beverage Group and former general counsel of Dogfish Head. With 15 years of legal experience in the beverage industry, Shauna shares her journey from BigLaw to in-house counsel, her pivot to founding her own firm, and how she navigated the challenges of balancing a legal career with family life. For lawyers in large law firms, Shauna’s story offers valuable lessons on how to shape a career path that aligns with personal goals and professional fulfillment.
At a Glance:
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00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Shauna Barnes' background
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00:50 – Shauna's early career aspirations and decision to leave litigation behind
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02:59 – Transition from BigLaw to Dogfish Head
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05:09 – Decisions about work and personal life
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10:50 – Securing the role of general counsel at Dogfish Head
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15:19 – Culture at Dogfish Head and building the legal department from scratch
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20:00 – Learning to manage and lead a team without formal training
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28:54 – Founding Barnes Beverage Group and the transition to running her own firm
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35:00 – Key challenges in running a virtual legal team and maintaining work-life balance
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39:42 – Final thoughts on growth and leadership in a boutique law firm
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How to reach Shauna Barnes
SBarnes@DrinksLaw.com www.drinkslaw.com
Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? - here are ways to reach out to her:
laura@lauraterrell.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/
Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast