How does the nature of an organization change the design of its legal operations program? How can leaders of all types embrace innovations that legal ops professionals are bringing to legal ops departments? What are the most important things legal ops leaders need to know about the business?Susan Packal, Head of Global Legal Operations at Atlassian, learned the most important aspects of legal ops leadership serving in director and chief of staff positions at dynamic start-ups and legacy brands like Hilton, eBay, Uber, and Twilio, in addition to running her own legal ops consultancy. Along the way, she’s developed methods for building legal ops teams that leverage their proficiency to serve the needs of the core business.Hear from Susan as she sits down with Tyler at CLOC to discuss ways to establish a strong culture in your legal team, elevating the GC role, and recognizing the importance of tough feedback to help guide your career.Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-42Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Building the first legal ops teams at Hilton: 3:06 Contemplating the chief of staff role in legal departments: 9:51 Running legal operations as director and chief of staff at Twilio: 12:49 Setting a strong culture in the legal department at Atlassian: 15:58 Comparing and contrasting Hilton, Uber, and Atlassian: 19:36 Considering past career missteps: 22:10 Book Recommendations: 29:00 What you wish you had known as a young lawyer: 32:07Connect with us: Susan Packal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanpackal/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraftSpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

How has the legal ops profession evolved over the years? What was it like to be there at the birth of legal ops? And how can you break into the field now?  DeAnna Papedis, head of legal contract & product program management & operations at Google, has been with the tech giant for eighteen years, building up their massive legal ops departments from a team of legal assistants. Stepping into legal operations from a contract management role before the field even had a name, DeAnna has watched legal ops grow into an indispensable part of the organization.  Hear DeAnna as she takes a break from CLOC to discuss building and leading one of tech’s biggest and most venerable legal ops teams, expanding the legal ops community, and predicting the future of legal ops.  Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-41     Topics: Introduction: 0:00Transitioning from contracts manager into legal ops: 4:55Growing legal ops within Google: 8:56Managing a legal ops team: 11:44Attending CLOC from the beginning: 13:40Imagining the future of legal ops: 16:24Book recommendations: 19:11What you wish you’d known as a young lawyer: 20:00Connect with us: DeAnna Papedis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-papedis/  Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft  SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

Can you leverage a joke-filled social media brand to build your own business? How will the practice of law evolve in the age of AI? Is the billable hour going away?Matt Margolis, Partner at Margolis PLLC, went from a single funny and relatable LinkedIn post about frustrations at work to growing a massive brand as @ItsMattsLaw across platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram. Beyond expanding his network, it aided him as he made the leap from in-house to partner at his own law firm, Margolis PLLC.Hear Matt discuss how he balances social content creation with legal work, starting his own law firm, serving as legal advisor to multiple companies, and how he thinks AI is shaping the future of legal work.Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-40Topics:Introduction: 0:00Building a major social media presence: 3:01Managing the demands of content production: 8:59Leveraging your persona profile to build brand awareness at LawTrades: 12:48Starting your own legal firm: 14:45Tracking the evolution of in-house legal roles: 18:17Leveraging AI at your law firm: 20:47Advising on community and partnerships at Justice HQ and Attorney Share: 24:11Recommendations: 26:14What you wish you had known as a young lawyer: 29:02Connect with us:Matt Margolis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsmattslaw/Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinnSpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraftSpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

What is the role of tech in making legal and business teams work better together? How can process orchestration improve your intake process and seamlessly connect silos in your organization? And what is it like to build a tech company that serves legal professionals?  Sagi Eliyahu, CEO and co-founder of Tonkean, didn’t set out to make a platform that automates and streamlines processes for lawyers. But focusing his startup’s point of view on elevating people over data allowed him to identify the issues that legal teams—some of the most people-centric and complex teams in an organization—need to resolve to do their work better, faster, and with more time to focus on solving problems.  Hear Sagi discuss the meaning of process orchestration, his experience immigrating to the US and starting a tech-company, and where he thinks AI and machine learning are headed. And for the first time ever, Spotdraft COO Akshay Verma joins Tyler as co-host and draws upon his background in legal ops at Coinbase and Meta to contribute keen insights into the conversation.  Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-39   Topics: Introduction: 0:00Understanding how the immigrant experience shapes your business acumen: 6:16Founding Tonkean and focusing your sales efforts on legal: 15:13Defining process orchestration and contrasting it with automation: 21:13Working with customers to orchestrate processes: 26:26Taking a pragmatic approach to using AI and machine learning: 36:44Contemplating when data sets will be strong enough to give AI reliable judgment: 45:15Book recommendations: 58:12What you wish you had known as a young founder: 1:00:55 Connect with us: Sagi Eliyahu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliyahusagi/  Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn Akshay Verma - https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-verma-esq/  SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft  SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

How do you step into and thrive in the role of product counselor? How does the work of a product counselor change from organization to organization? And how can you recalibrate your legal career to focus on environmental issues and climate change?  Vineet Shahani, General Counsel, Policy and Corporate Development at Mill, gained his product knowledge working on the iPhone at Apple and guiding the groundbreaking internet-of-things product Nest through acquisition and integration at Google. Now he applies those learnings to his legal leadership at Mill, a mission-based environmental product that combats a major climate issue.  Hear Vineet explain the challenges and rewards of jumping from a big organizations to an adaptable startup, lending your legal skills to a political campaign, breaking into environmental work, and more.  Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-38  Annual Compensation Report: https://salary-report.spotdraft.com/Topics: Introduction: 0:00Explaining Mill and its environmentalist mission-oriented concept: 2:22Considering work in an ESG (environmental social governance)-related company: 8:01Advice for lawyers who want to work on climate issues: 10:18Beginning your path to a full-time counsel role as an outside advisor: 14:41Unpacking the phrase “hitting a single:” 18:16Defining the responsibilities of a product counselor: 22:25Lessons about product counseling from Apple: 25:39Transitioning from Apple to Nest: 27:36Leading legal at Nest through an acquisition by Google: 31:37Assisting on a political campaign: 37:42What you wish you’d known as a young lawyer: 41:28   Connect with us: Vineet Shahani - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetshahani  Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft  SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

How can legal leaders thrive while navigating major M&A and capital market transactions? How do you expand the GC or CLO title and take on broader executive roles? And how do you leverage your experience into a board seat?Nithya Das, Chief Legal and Chief Administrative Officer at Diligent, has taken on each of these challenges and used the lessons she gained from them to advance her career exactly where she wants it to go. Formerly the chief legal and people officer of the so-called “AppNexus mafia” during the startup’s historic sale to AT&T, Nithya has led counsel, operations, and more in the ad tech, food tech, and reg tech spaces. She also brings her expertise to her seat on the board of directors at Outbrain.Hear Nithya as she shares tips about leading in-house counsel through IPO and acquisitions, serving on a board of directors, dealing with personal tragedy during career triumphs, the importance of transparency for establishing trust and loyalty with your team, and more.Diligent is the leading GRC SaaS company, empowering more than 1 million users and 700,000 board members and leaders to make better decisions, faster. The Diligent One Platform helps organizations connect their entire GRC practice — including governance, risk, compliance, audit and ESG — to bring clarity to complex risk, stay ahead of regulatory changes and deliver impactful insights, in one consolidated view.Diligent will be at CLOC global institute next month! Be sure to catch their speaking session 'Elevating Entity Management' on the 7th and stop by booth 104 to discuss the ways Diligent can help streamline and automate your entity management at scale.Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-37Annual Compensation Report: https://salary-report.spotdraft.com/Topics:Introduction: 0:00Planting the seeds of your legal career: 3:36Moving into your first in-house role at AppNexus: 4:47Running the IPO and acquisition process as GC at AppNexus: 8:29Choosing to move on from AT&T after acquisition: 10:43Taking time off before joining Olo as COO and CLO: 16:02Running operations at Olo: 20:12Offering practical advice to lawyers trying to take on business roles: 25:10Working with private equity versus working in a public company: 27:47Leading legal at Diligent: 29:58Finding your way onto the board at Outbrain: 31:53What you wish you had known as a young lawyer: 35:52Connect with us:Nithya Das - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nithyadas/Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinnSpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraftSpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

How do you transition into a legal ops role? What are the new and exciting opportunities for legal professionals without a law degree? How will the legal operations community trailblaze a path for in-house counsels and law firms into the future of business?Tommie Tavares-Ferreira, Head of Legal Ops at Cedar and Tom Stephenson, Vice President of Community and Legal Ops at Legal.io, have an expert understanding of both the legal ops industry and the diverse channels that professionals can take to arrive in the field. Not only are they the hosts of the Dear Legal Ops podcast, but they have arrived via their own journeys from big law firm paralegals and HBO contract manager to running legal ops at major businesses like Credit Karma, Rakuten, and Peloton.Hear Tommie and Tom as they discuss the benefits for ambitious professionals to transition into a legal ops role, how to balance your business skill set with a strategic legal mindset, career paths beyond legal ops, and much more.Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-36Topics:Introduction: 0:00Transitioning from paralegal to legal ops: 2:30Coming into legal ops from a contract management background: 5:22Shifting your mindset from legal specialization to business strategy: 8:38Debating whether legal ops is the right career path for everyone: 12:38Establishing trust with stakeholders across the broader business: 15:50Managing a legal ops department: 19:10Maintaining a strong relationship with your general counsel: 23:59Balancing your business expertise with your GC’s legal strategy: 31:01The importance of placing the head of legal ops on the GC’s leadership team: 36:04Considering career moves beyond legal ops: 38:48Transitioning from legal ops to executive roles: 43:15Presenting at CLOC 2024: 49:11Connect with us:Tommie Tavares-Ferreira - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommie/Tom Stephenson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tstephenson1/Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinnSpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraftSpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

How do you build a personal brand on LinkedIn that strengthens your ties to the legal community, grows your network, and even helps other lawyers? And how do you convert that brand into a successful and rewarding consulting business with an impressive client base?Brittany Leonard, General Counsel at Civix, started her journey to LinkedIn legal community influencer at the beginning of the pandemic, and went from a single post with minor engagement to an in-house advice powerhouse with more than 26,000 followers. Now she runs a successful consulting business where she trains GCs and businesses to understand the power of a personal brand to get new clients and grow revenue.Hear Brittany as she shares tips for growing your own presence on LinkedIn, starting a consulting business, breaking out of the networking-event malaise, dealing with abusive workplaces, and more.Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-35 Topics:Introduction: 0:00Starting your career in local government before entering law school: 2:24Finding a path to your first general counsel role: 3:54Approaching the GC role with a business mindset: 10:03Rebuilding your confidence after working under an abusive boss: 11:43Building a personal brand on LinkedIn: 16:34Advice to lawyers who have never posted on LinkedIn before: 19:39Launching a consulting business on the back of your social presence: 24:54Tips for creating your own business: 28:22Book recommendations: 29:36What you wish you had known as a young lawyer: 32:08Annual Compensation Report: https://salary-report.spotdraft.com/Connect with us:Brittany Leonard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-leonard-b3a7b2a4/Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinnSpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraftSpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

How do you approach, accept, and move on from career transitions, both planned and unexpected? What does it take to transition from decades in public service to roles leading legal at tech startups and law firms? And how can you leverage your network to bounce back after an unexpected layoff?S. Michael Lee, General Counsel and COO at Engaging.ai, has conquered many of these tense moments. Starting his career as the first Korean-American prosecutor in the Santa Clara County DA’s Office, he brought lessons learned from his experience as a trial attorney to his second chapter as an in-house counsel and—eventually—legal and business leader.Hear Michael as he discusses why your network is essential to finding your next role, why you shouldn’t limit yourself or your job prospects, and the importance of honoring your roots in your professional life,Annual Compensation Report: https://salary-report.spotdraft.com/Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-34 Topics:Introduction: 0:00Honouring your connection to the Korean American community: 2:40Finding inspiration in your community to work in public service as a prosecutor: 5:36Applying lessons learned as a prosecutor to the private sector: 11:36Finding an in-house role after building your career in public service: 12:57Advice to lawyers in government service trying to move into the private sector: 14:37Networking to advance your career: 16:57Dealing with layoffs at Blind: 20:40Taking on a new GC and COO role at Engaging.ai: 25:04Advice to lawyers looking for new positions: 26:52Book recommendation: 28:19What you wish you’d known as a young lawyer: 29:02Connect with us:S. Michael Lee - https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-michael-lee-27ab86/Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinnSpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraftSpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.

How do you leverage your legal career to launch your own consultancy? What are the winning tactics to be an effective in-house lawyer? Is it possible to merge your love of science with your passion for law?Lisa Taylor Ash, General Counsel at Shape Therapeutics, has the answer to all of your questions. After leading two different legal teams through major acquisitions, starting her own consulting firm, and returning to the GC role, Lisa created effectiveinhouse.com, a website that features legal tactics, samples, and interviews with top in-house counsels across a variety of industries.Hear Lisa as she explains how she was able to position her career at the forefront of cutting-edge biotech, offers practical advice for lawyers hoping to start a company, shares lessons she wishes were taught in law school, and more.Check out some of Lisa’s favorite posts from effectiveinhouse.com below:Minimize Legal Riskhttps://effectiveinhouse.com/minimize-legal-riskInterview with Brett Pletcher, Former GC of Gileadhttps://effectiveinhouse.com/interview-brett-pletcherInterview with Brandon Etheridge, GC of the Baltimore Ravenshttps://effectiveinhouse.com/interview-brandon-etheridgeRead detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-33Topics:Introduction: 0:00Leading legal through two major acquisitions: 2:48Developing personalized medicines: 8:56Lessons for lawyers dealing with M&A: 12:11Leaving large companies after an acquisition: 14 :06Launching an independent consulting firm: 15:51Offering practical advice for starting a consulting business: 19:39Returning to an in-house role at Shape Therapeutics: 24:37Legal issues related to gene editing: 30:47Building public trust in gene therapy companies: 32:57The future of AI and gene editing: 35:41Creating an essential legal resource at effectiveinhouse.com: 36:51Book recommendations: 41:35What you wish you had known as a young lawyer: 44:03Connect with us:Lisa Taylor Ash - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-taylor-ash-17b1b611/Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinnSpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraftSpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.