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In this instalment of our Lessons Relearned in Law recap series, Scott revisits four past conversations on the theme that came up most often across the archive: being understood. He calls it the most fixable of them all. It’s effectively storytelling, it leads to influence, and nobody is born clear. It’s built from small habits. The episode opens with Pola Karolczyk, General Counsel and Chief People Officer at Cowboy, on the oldest lesson she has learned: non-lawyers aren’t interested in the workings of the law, only the outcome. So be brief and specific, and tell them yes or no and how it helps them. Next, Emilie Mathieu, General Counsel at Checkout.com, on putting the bottom line up front. Executives trust you, so answer in the first line of your next email and put your reasoning underneath. Roel Staes, formerly General Counsel International at FedEx, adds the idea of “pregnant sentences”. If you tell the exec committee the company may be fined, they’ll want to know how much, so give a range. Be accurate, be complete, and talk in business terms rather than legal ones. Scott’s exercise: take the last piece of advice you gave and cut it down to three key messages. The last clip is Steph Lopes, Chief Legal Officer at Volt, on taking people along on a journey rather than announcing a decision, and the buy-in that follows. Scott’s three habits for this week: answer first, distil your message to three things, and take people with you. And remember that nobody in your business cares about the law as much as you do. Once the sting passes, it’s freeing. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61xrrepWuWxNsnXIaYxsj5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitmentConnect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone who wants to be better understood.

Nick Clayson is General Counsel at Rocco Forte Hotels, the family-founded luxury hotel group with around 15 hotels, including The Balmoral in Edinburgh and Brown’s in London. He joined as the company’s first in-house lawyer, after 18 months as interim General Counsel at Maybourne Hotels and around 15 years as a Norton Rose Fulbright partner, first in the Middle East and then London. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Nick talks about the move from partner to in-house, running legal as a business function rather than a gatekeeper, and what luxury hospitality can teach lawyers about client service. His three lessons: first, that the client-law firm relationship is stickier than it looks — steady instructions don’t mean a healthy relationship, so ask your clients about service, communication and how they like to receive work, even something as simple as WhatsApp or email. Second, that law is a service, and the best service is mirroring: the goal is to be remembered, not just memorable. Third, make mindful career choices — choose work you love and build a niche, rather than simply chasing seniority. He also explains his micro-secondments, a few days in-house for mid to senior associates from law firms, so they see what it’s like to consume legal services. Nick calls it a win for the associate, the firm and his team, at zero cost. And on AI, he argues the skill that separates good lawyers from excellent ones is being a reader: it can produce text that looks right but still needs a human to do the thinking. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61xrrepWuWxNsnXIaYxsj5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitmentConnect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.

In this instalment of our Lessons Relearned in Law recap series, Scott revisits four past conversations on a reputation many in-house teams are trying to shake: the Department of No. It isn't a personality transplant, and it doesn't mean changing your approach to risk. It comes down to a few learnable habits in how you answer questions and take answers back to your stakeholders. The episode opens with Alex O'Connell on why "is it legal?" is almost never the right question, and why the better move is to unpack what the business is actually trying to do. Next, Douglas McClure on understanding what you're being asked, why, and what the company's attitude to risk is. Scott's practical step: before saying no, write down the risk you're assessing and find one route that gets the business most of what it wants. Even if the answer stays no, you've tried to get to yes. Daniel Winterfeldt, General Counsel for EMEA and Asia at Jefferies, adds that almost every problem has a solution. Scott pairs it with a simple exercise: find out your stakeholder's number for the quarter, whether revenue, launch date or headcount, and treat it as your North Star. Finally, David Flavell, General Counsel at PepsiCo, on putting commercial solutions on people's desks rather than problems. He prefers four bullet points (the issue, the concern, the proposed solution, can we talk) to a five-page memo, and shows his working afterwards. Scott closes with a reminder to keep a log of the problems you've solved. It becomes your greatest-hits list for the next promotion or interview. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61xrrepWuWxNsnXIaYxsj5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitmentConnect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone who wants to be known for solutions.

Nicki, Group General Counsel at Reach, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from a career spent at the heart of media, publishing and broadcasting law. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Nicki reflects on her role leading legal at Reach, the UK’s largest newspaper publishing group, home to titles including The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, OK Magazine, regional titles, and publications across Ireland and the US. She discusses what it means to be “a newspaper lawyer through and through”, and how her career has taken her from private practice into broadcasting, global media, and ultimately into the Group GC role at Reach. Her first lesson is that the law is only interesting to other lawyers. For the business, law is a tool: a way of getting from A to B quickly, practically and with the least aggravation possible. Nicki explains why in-house lawyers need to avoid getting lost in the weeds and focus instead on translating legal complexity into clear, commercial guidance. Her second lesson is that it’s all about the people. Whether handling litigation, negotiating contracts or advising internal stakeholders, success depends on understanding how people communicate, react and make decisions. Nicki shares why lawyers should be approachable, easy to talk to, and trusted before a problem becomes a crisis. Her final lesson is about being comfortable saying “leave that with me”. Stepping into the GC role meant learning quickly that nobody knows everything — and that guessing is far more dangerous than taking time to find the right answer. She also reflects on returning to work after a ten-year career break, encouraging others not to apologise for the time they’ve taken away from practice. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Network: Eagle ClubReturner support mentioned: Obelisk and the Law SocietyResources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.

In this instalment of our Lessons Relearned in Law recap series, Scott revisits four past conversations that tackle a question raised at nearly every legal conference and within The Lodge community: how do lawyers earn a genuine seat at the top table? The episode opens with Steph Lopes, Chief Legal Officer at Volt, on the idea that you're a business leader as well as a lawyer — the business needs more than just your legal brain. Scott builds on this by noting that a recent report found around 45% of GC and CLO appointments are internal versus 55% external, and that visibility with the people around your immediate stakeholders is often the deciding factor. Next is Emilie Mathieu, General Counsel at Checkout.com, whose episode explored how GC appointments really get made. The practical takeaway: the people most likely to open your next door don't necessarily sit within legal, so mapping your stakeholders, picking two to genuinely help this quarter, and being deliberately visible in your work matters more than traditional networking. The third clip features Anoop Joshi, at the time of recording Chief Trust Officer at Trustpilot and now SVP, Legal at Airalo, on the discipline of "it starts with a table" — mapping the key elements, issues and owners of a project before diving in — and progress over perfection: get work to 80% and ship it rather than waiting for it to feel ready. The final clip is Katja Fenton, General Counsel at Fugro in the Netherlands, recorded shortly after she stepped into the role, on reframing imposter syndrome as a sign of growth rather than something to suppress — a feeling that shows up precisely because you're stretching into something new. Scott closes with the same thread running through all four: nobody lands on the exec table by accident — most had to ask for it, and being visible is what gets you there. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/ Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61xrrepWuWxNsnXIaYxsj5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitment Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode?  Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their case for a seat at the table.

Alistair Day is General Counsel for International at AECOM, the US-headquartered construction and engineering business, leading a team of 65 lawyers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. He joined AECOM seven years ago and stepped into the international GC role three years ago, having started out covering the UK and Ireland before his remit grew to include India, Europe, and beyond. Before AECOM, Alistair trained as a litigator and made partner in private practice, before moving in-house to Bechtel. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Alistair talks about what makes for a genuinely embedded legal function, why the litigator-to-in-house move is often underrated, and how AECOM is putting AI and legal ops to work. His three lessons: first, confidence in having a voice — the best in-house lawyers don't just advise on the legal risk, they engage with what the business is trying to achieve, and that confidence builds over time and repeated exposure to the exec table. Second, flexibility and embracing change — there's never been a more exciting time to be an in-house lawyer, but that means genuinely engaging with AI and technology rather than assuming the job stays the same. Third, have a real passion for the industry you're in — people can tell whether a lawyer actually cares about what the business does, and that interest is what earns trust and buy-in. He also shares due-diligence questions for lawyers considering a move in-house — including whether legal reviews decisions or actually approves them — and reflects on why litigators often make excellent in-house hires. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61xrrepWuWxNsnXIaYxsj5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitmentConnect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.

In this episode of Lessons Relearned in Law, Scott looks back across the Lessons I Learned in Law archive to explore what happens when in-house legal careers move beyond the traditional boundaries of the legal role. This recap episode brings together clips from previous guests, each offering a different perspective on how lawyers can build careers that go beyond legal advice alone. The common thread is that none of these career moves were presented as superhuman or perfectly planned. Instead, they came from deliberate choices, uncomfortable opportunities and a willingness to think more broadly about what lawyers can contribute. Scott reflects on James’s point that meaningful career change often starts with one honest question: are you in your current role because you chose it, or because it was simply the next thing available? From there, the episode turns to Pola’s lesson on choosing discomfort, and why messy, challenging work can teach lawyers more in a few months than years of routine business-as-usual activity. Finally, Jim Reid shares why senior lawyers need to step away from being the expert in every detail and start thinking like the person who runs the room. For aspiring legal leaders, the message is practical: choose deliberately, pick discomfort, and watch how your CEO operates — then try it for yourself. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: [LINK]Apple Podcasts: [LINK]YouTube: [LINK]Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone thinking about what their legal career could become next.

Christie McCluskey is Chief Legal and People Officer at Ooni, the pizza oven and cooking products company, having joined in 2022 as its first in-house lawyer. Before Ooni, she spent almost six years at William Grant & Sons, home to brands including Glenfiddich and Balvenie whisky and Hendrick's Gin, after training and qualifying in Scotland. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Christie talks through building a legal function from scratch at a fast-growing, founder-led business, and the shift in mindset that came with moving from a 130-year-old institution to a younger, more agile one. Her three lessons: first, that legal is only one lens — good in-house lawyers give firm advice while recognising there are other legitimate factors at play, and that the job is to navigate risk rather than eliminate it entirely. Second, that it's okay to say "I don't know yet" — slowing a decision down to get it right is different from blocking it, and confidence and self-doubt can coexist productively. Third, to find your passion within the role — for Christie, that's the relationship-building that comes from sitting across every part of the business — because a sustainable legal career needs more than just the technical work. She also reflects on Ooni's growth from Scotland to Austin, Texas, and the value of building a strong network within Scotland's legal community. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4H4tBzknDSCejrvIqKxKyiApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitmentConnect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/

Umar Aziz, Partner, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at DG Partners, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from a career that nearly took him into shipping brokerage before a major life event brought him back to law. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Umar reflects on how personal circumstances shaped the start of his legal career, including his decision to return to Clifford Chance after initially turning down his training contract. His first lesson is that there is more to life than work. Drawing on his own experiences of loss, family responsibility and high-pressure legal environments, he discusses the importance of building a full life outside the job — and why excellence matters across work, family, friendships and personal pursuits. His second lesson comes from advice he received early in his career: learn from the best bits of the lawyers around you. Umar explains why every lawyer you work with has something worth copying — and something worth leaving behind. His final lesson challenges the idea that lawyers should always try to “win” every point. Whether negotiating with clients, managing internal teams or building long-term business relationships, Umar argues that sustainable success comes from fairness, trust and mutual respect — not squeezing every last drop out of the other side. Along the way, Umar discusses moving from litigation into funds, the transition from private practice into DG Partners, his COO and GC role, and why full-contact karate helps him stay disciplined, present and switched off from work.  This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Sport: Full-contact karate Sauce of choice: Buffalo or curry sauce Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/ Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters:  00:00 Intro – Umar Aziz & DG Partners    03:40 Turning down Clifford Chance twice    09:28 From private practice to GC & COO    16:12 Lesson 1 – There’s more to life than work    24:03 Karate, resilience & switching off    30:08 Lesson 2 – Learn from great lawyers    34:22 Lesson 3 – Winning isn’t everything    39:55 Building long-term relationships    44:31 GC, COO & wearing multiple hats    56:42 Hot or Not, AI & closing thoughts

Selene Brett, Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer at PPRO, joins Scott Brown to share thoughtful lessons on legal leadership, humility, and how lawyers can add real value without hiding behind the mystique of the profession. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Selene reflects on her role at PPRO, a payments platform helping merchants and payment service providers connect to local payment methods around the world. With a broad remit spanning legal, risk, compliance, outsourcing and internal audit, she discusses what drew her to a business where those functions are seen as strategic enablers rather than the “business prevention unit”. Her first lesson is that lawyers are special, but not that special. Selene challenges the idea that legal teams should sit above the business as guardians of all good judgement. Instead, she argues lawyers earn their seat at the table by being approachable, constructive and genuinely useful. Her second lesson is to make it count. Senior legal roles come with influence, access and privilege — and Selene believes that creates a responsibility to use that position well, whether through difficult conversations, mentoring, or helping others find routes into the profession. Finally, she talks about gathering the nuggets: taking something meaningful from every role, every relationship and every experience, even the difficult ones. From rural Norfolk to Harvard, New York and senior in-house leadership, Selene’s story is a reminder that careers rarely move in straight lines — and that empathy, trust and agency matter just as much as technical skill.  This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Sauce of choice for chicken nuggets: Blue cheese Event recommendation: Heriot Brown’s Charity Burns Night Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/ Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.

Jim Shaughnessy, Chief Legal Officer at DocuSign, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from more than 20 years operating at the top of global legal teams. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Jim reflects on his role leading legal at DocuSign, a business best known for e-signature and now expanding into intelligent agreement management. He explains how DocuSign is helping businesses move beyond signing documents into managing agreements more intelligently, using AI, automation and better contract visibility. Jim’s first lesson is that an in-house legal career is not always about the law. For senior lawyers, influence is everything: being in the room when important decisions are made, being sought out when the issue is broader than pure legal advice, and helping the business get important things done. His second lesson is a reminder that influence only works if it is underpinned by technical excellence. Lawyers may contribute to strategy, policy and commercial decision-making, but when the issue is legal, they need to be precise, trusted and properly prepared. Finally, Jim discusses the importance of professional identity. At every stage of a legal career, lawyers need to understand what success looks like in their role, which relationships matter most, and how to build credibility for the next step. He also shares his perspective on AI, why legal teams should embrace change, and how junior lawyers can create real impact by experimenting with new tools. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Song: Talk of the Town – The Pretenders Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/ Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject Listen to the Podcast  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Jim Shaughnessy & DocuSign  03:12 Beyond e-signature – DocuSign IAM  10:52 Lesson 1 – Influence matters most  18:06 Building influence as a junior lawyer  24:38 AI leadership & visibility in legal teams  29:28 Using influence at the right time  36:58 Lesson 2 – Be an excellent lawyer first  44:54 One-way vs two-way door decisions  48:43 Lesson 3 – Professional identity matters  01:01:44 Hot or Not, AI & closing thoughts

James Ryan, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Business Officer at BioNTech, joins Scott Brown to discuss the lessons he’s learned leading through one of the most transformative periods in the biotech industry. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, James reflects on his journey from scientist to lawyer, before eventually stepping into one of the most influential legal leadership roles in biotech. Joining BioNTech before it became globally recognised, he shares what it was like helping scale a fast-growing research-focused company into a world-leading biotechnology business, while navigating the intensity and pressure that came with rapid global growth and strategic partnerships, including BioNTech’s landmark collaboration with Pfizer. James’ first lesson focuses on the importance of curiosity. From scientific research to complex legal negotiations, he explains why asking better questions, understanding the client’s objectives, and genuinely engaging with the business leads to stronger advice and deeper trust. His second lesson is about objectivity. James discusses the challenge lawyers face when businesses want a particular answer — and why legal leaders must remain calm, analytical, and willing to give the advice that needs to be heard, not simply the advice others want. Finally, he talks about remembering that everyone is human. Reflecting on periods of extreme pressure and workload, James explains why approachable legal teams build stronger businesses, why mistakes need to be surfaced early rather than hidden, and why lawyers need downtime and perspective to perform at their best. Along the way, James also shares insights into: Transitioning from Chief Legal Officer into a broader Chief Business Officer role How legal teams earn influence inside high-growth businesses Why biotech companies think differently about risk The importance of relationships, curiosity, and trust in leadership How climbing helps him switch off and solve problems more effectively This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Film: Free Solo Hobby: Climbing Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB ECA: https://www.cpduk.co.uk/courses/heriot-brown-executive-counsel-accelerator-eca-courseWordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown:  At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters: 00:00 Intro – James Ryan & BioNTech  03:22 CLO to Chief Business Officer  05:42 BioNTech before COVID  07:21 From s

Lucy Tyrrell, General Counsel at Wordsmith AI, joins Scott Brown to explore how in-house lawyers can evolve by combining legal expertise with technology, process design, and commercial thinking. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Lucy shares her journey from private practice into high-growth tech environments, culminating in her role at a fast-scaling legal AI startup backed by Index Ventures and General Catalyst. Sitting at the intersection of law and product, she offers a unique perspective on what it means to be an “AI-native” legal function—where lawyers don’t just advise the business, but actively shape how legal work is delivered. Her first lesson centres on thinking like the business. Lucy explains why legal advice cannot exist in isolation and how understanding commercial drivers—often expressed through metrics—allows lawyers to prioritise effectively and deliver more impactful guidance. Her second lesson highlights the power of networks, both internally and externally. Whether navigating uncertainty, making career decisions, or solving unfamiliar problems, she emphasises the importance of knowing who to turn to and building relationships before you need them. Finally, she focuses on curiosity—encouraging lawyers to embrace new technology, experiment with AI tools, and develop “legal engineering” skills. Rather than waiting for perfection, she advocates for a mindset of testing, learning, and iterating—mirroring how modern tech teams operate. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Song: The Chain – Fleetwood Mac Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Legal Engineering Project (Slack Community for in-house lawyers): [APPLICATION FORM LINK] Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters: 00:00 Opening insight – Metrics, AI & modern legal roles  00:48 Scott introduces Lucy Tyrrell, GC at Wordsmith AI  03:39 Inside a legal tech business & AI-native legal teams  09:23 Lesson 1 – Think like the business  16:06 From private practice to in-house & startup life  20:48 Lesson 2 – Your network is everything  29:50 Career opportunities driven by relationships  31:31 Lesson 3 – Stay curious & embrace change  40:53 Hot or Not – KPIs, AI & legal team performance  47:21 Walk-on song, legal engineering & closing reflections

Jonathan Wiseman, General Counsel and Chief People Officer at Ocado Retail, joins Scott Brown to share practical lessons on influence, adaptability, and building a truly commercial legal career. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Jonathan reflects on his dual role leading both legal and people functions within a fast-growing retail joint venture between Ocado and Marks & Spencer. He shares why the most effective in-house lawyers don’t stay confined to their “legal lane,” but instead operate confidently in the grey areas between legal risk, commercial decision-making, and broader business strategy. Jonathan’s second lesson centres on career progression—encouraging lawyers to take opportunities when they arise, even when they don’t perfectly align with a pre-defined plan. He candidly discusses his initial hesitation in stepping into a Chief People Officer role and how that decision ultimately expanded his leadership capability and perspective. His final insight focuses on commercial judgement. Rather than trying to “win” every legal point, he explains why the best long-term outcomes come from building sustainable relationships and balancing legal precision with business reality. It’s a reminder that success in-house is as much about collaboration and trust as it is about technical expertise. Listeners also get a glimpse into Jonathan’s personal side, from navigating music choices on family car journeys to his reflections on how AI is already reshaping both legal and HR functions. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Wordsmith Legal AI Guest Recommendations Song: Waterloo Sunset – The Kinks Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters 00:00 Opening insight – AI, judgment & modern legal roles  00:56 Scott introduces Jonathan Wiseman, GC & CPO Ocado Retail  03:13 The dual role – Legal, HR & executive leadership  07:04 Lesson 1 – Don’t stay in your swim lane  12:57 Developing commercial thinking in lawyers  19:09 Lesson 2 – Take opportunities (even if they don’t fit the plan)  24:22 Leading people, culture & HR at exec level  34:54 Lesson 3 – The best deal isn’t always the right deal  40:32 Hot or Not – AI, legal value & the role of GC  47:24 Walk-on song, music & closing reflections

Episode 100: Perspective, Candour, and Strategic Leadership — Rachel Canham, Rentokil Initial  In the 100th episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Rachel Canham, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at Rentokil Initial, reflects on what it actually takes to operate as a strategic leader at executive level — across a legal function of around 70 lawyers spanning 90 countries.  Rachel stepped into her first "top seat" role after a career that took her from private practice through senior in-house roles, and the shift required more than technical excellence. It required a change in mindset and responsibility that she's still refining.  Three lessons shape the conversation: Perspective. Shaped by personal adversity, Rachel explains why the best lawyers in a crisis aren't the ones who panic, but the ones who can zoom out and make balanced decisions when the stakes are highest. Calm, objective, clear-headed — and aware that most things are less catastrophic than they first appear. Candour. Rachel makes the case that candour is one of the most underrated qualities at senior leadership level — but only works if you've done the groundwork. Building trust, credibility, and human connection first is what earns you the right to be honest later, even when the message isn't well received. Strategic leadership. Rachel pushes back on the familiar "business partner" framing for in-house lawyers. Her view: lawyers shouldn't be partnering from the sidelines. They should be embedded in decision-making, contributing beyond legal advice, and taking an active role in delivering strategy. Rachel was recorded the same day she addressed the haggis at our Charity General Counsel Burns Supper — in a style I'm unlikely to forget. Genuinely grateful she agreed to be the 100th guest. About the guest Rachel Canham is Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at Rentokil Initial, the FTSE-listed pest control and hygiene services business. She leads a global legal function of around 70 lawyers across 90 countries and sits on the company's executive team. Guest recommendation Song: Belter — Gerry Cinnamon Resources mentioned Register your interest in The Lodge, Heriot Brown's in-house legal community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Give us a Follow!  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ About the show Lessons I Learned in Law is the podcast from Heriot Brown, the specialist in-house legal recruitment firm. Host Scott Brown sits down with senior in-house lawyers to hear how they got where they are, what they wish they'd known, and what they're still trying to figure out.  This episode is produced in partnership with Wordsmith — the legal AI platform built for in-house teams.  Find more at heriotbrown.com. 00:00 Opening insight – The courage to be candid  01:13 Scott introduces Rachel Canham, GC Rentokil Initial  04:48 Stepping into the GC role & executive leadership  10:06 Lesson 1 – Perspective shapes better judgment  17:07 Lesson 2 – The power of candour in leadership  24:50 Lesson 3 – From business partner to strategic leader  30:18 Building commercial thinking & executive presence  33:38 Hot or Not – AI, legal leadership & career positioning  43:36 Personal brand, visibility & standing out as a lawyer  44:54 Walk-on so