Nicola Hobeiche and Shereen El Domeiri: Inside the Mind of In-House Counsel: What Outside Lawyers Must Know

Mar 3, 2025

Nicola Hobeiche, an experienced in-house counsel and co-host of Counsel Brew, teams up with Shereen El Domeiri, a creative legal professional with diverse experience, to dive into the dynamics between in-house and outside counsel. They discuss the vital need for concise legal guidance amid rapid decision-making. Understanding business acumen is crucial for lawyers to align legal advice with corporate goals. With effective communication preferences highlighted, they emphasize building genuine relationships and adding value beyond mere work requests.

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ADVICE

Quick Advice

Understand in-house counsel's fast-paced environment and limited research time.
Provide concise advice and focus on actionable solutions, not lengthy memos.

INSIGHT

In-House Counsel Role

In-house counsel often handle diverse legal issues, acting as generalists.
They quickly assess situations, make informed decisions, and offer guidance with minimal time.

ADVICE

Speak Business

Learn the business language and understand the company's operations.
Bridge the gap between legal advice and business goals, showing awareness of industry-specific terms.

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In this episode, Steve, Nicola, and Shereen discuss:

Building strong relationships between in-house and outside counsel
The importance of business acumen in legal practice
Networking and business development for lawyers
Adapting to the evolving legal industry

Key Takeaways:

Outside counsel should recognize that in-house lawyers often make rapid decisions with limited information and need concise, actionable legal guidance rather than long memos.
Many lawyers lack business literacy, making it harder for them to align legal advice with corporate goals; in-house counsel appreciate those who can bridge the legal-business gap.
Instead of just asking for work, outside counsel should offer value by staying informed about the company’s initiatives, supporting their causes, and engaging in genuine conversations.
In-house counsel prefer different modes of communication (text over email, early breakfast over lunch), and outside counsel should adapt to their client’s preferences to strengthen relationships.

"A lot of times, I took for granted that outside counsel understood how in-house counsel worked, and then one day I realized, ‘Oh, that’s really not the case.’ If they did, it could really elevate not only the relationship but how they connect and how they maintain those relationships." — Nicola Hobeiche

"If you can’t ask your friends, how are you going to ask strangers?" — Shereen El Domeiri

Got a challenge growing your law practice? Email me at steve@fretzin.com with your toughest question, and I'll answer it live on the show—anonymously, just using your first name!

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Episode References:

Lawyers Behaving Badly by Karen Delaney and Jennifer Judge: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lawyers-behaving-badly/id1654960102

About Nicola Hobeiche and Shereen El Domeiri: Nicola Hobeiche and Shereen El Domeiri are the co-hosts of the Counsel Brew podcast, where they explore the journeys of legal professionals and beyond. Shereen spent much of her career as government and in-house counsel before transitioning into private practice, bringing a sharp, creative approach to problem-solving. Nicola has spent her entire legal career in-house across various industries, leveraging her global upbringing and big-picture thinking to navigate complex challenges.

Connect with Nicola and Shereen:

Website: https://counselbrew.com/

Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/counsel-brew/id1746634154

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/counsel-brew/

Nicola’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-hobeiche-84699960/

Shereen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shereeneldomeiri/

Connect with Steve Fretzin:

LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin

Twitter: @stevefretzin

Instagram: @fretzinsteve

Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.

Website: Fretzin.com

Email: Steve@Fretzin.com

Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!

YouTube: Steve Fretzin

Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911

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