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In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Adam Becker, Director of Legal Operations at Cockroach Labs, about the evolution of legal operations, the rise of legal engineering, and how AI is reshaping the way legal teams support the business. They discuss: Why legal operations have matured beyond simply adopting technologyHow AI is changing the way legal teams design workflows and collaborate across the businessThe mindset and skills future legal operations leaders need to thrive Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on the future of legal operations, AI-enabled innovation, and building legal functions that continuously adapt to change. Links: Connect with Adam Becker on ⁠⁠LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leaders community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Tommaso Pace, General Counsel at Tabby, about leading legal in the rapidly evolving fintech sector across the Middle East, building high-performing legal teams, and navigating regulation in one of the world's fastest-growing markets. They discuss: What makes the UAE and Saudi Arabian regulatory landscape unique for fintech companiesHow to attract, retain, and develop legal talent in a highly competitive marketWhy operational thinking, legal technology, and legal ops are becoming essential for modern legal leadership Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on fintech regulation, legal leadership in emerging markets, and building legal teams that can scale alongside high-growth businesses. Links: Connect with Tommaso Pace on ⁠⁠LinkedInFollow the Legal Leader community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Join the Legal Leader community

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Ona Alston Dosunmu, President and CEO at NACUA (the National Association of College and University Attorneys), about running the home of higher education law, the surprising breadth of campus counsel work, and why higher ed matters more than ever to the American economy and democracy. They discuss: What NACUA is and why it's celebrating 65 years as the home of higher education lawThe wide range of issues campus counsel handles, from Title IX to NIL to campus operationsOna's path from private practice to Brookings to leading NACUA Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on the value (and cost) of higher education, why campus lawyers are strategic business leaders in disguise, and how NACUA is navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Links: Connect with Ona on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Follow the Legal Leader community on LinkedIn.Join the Legal Leader community.

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Benjamin White, Founder of Crafty Counsel, about building one of the world's most influential in-house legal communities, creating meaningful connections for legal professionals, and why the future of legal leadership depends on trust, vulnerability, and shared learning. They discuss: How Crafty Counsel grew from solving the isolation of in-house lawyers into a global communityWhy memorable events are built around human stories, not just legal topicsThe leadership lessons every in-house lawyer can take from the UK Post Office scandal and the importance of speaking up when something isn't right Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on community, modern legal leadership, and creating meaningful experiences that help in-house lawyers thrive. Links: Connect with Benjamin White on ⁠⁠LinkedInFollow the Legal Leader community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠Join the Legal Leader community

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Matt Pentz, Deputy Town Attorney at the Town of Cary, North Carolina, about what it actually looks like to be in-house counsel for a local government – one of the largest, least-talked-about areas of in-house legal practice in the country. They discuss: Serving as corporate counsel for a "municipal corporation" spanning 14 departmentsSunshine laws, public meetings, and public records requests are issues that private-sector counsel never faceFinding his way into municipal law through IMLA and a non-traditional career path Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on running a legal department for a town of 190,000 people, navigating sunshine laws and public records in the age of AI and wearables, and how a "non-traditional" law school path led to more than a decade in municipal government practice. Links: Connect with Matthew Pentz on LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leader community on LinkedIn.

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Adrian Moffatt, Executive General Manager – Legal and Corporate at Ausco Modular, about how in-house lawyers can build influence, earn trust, and grow beyond the legal function. They discuss: Building a personal brand on LinkedInThe "bypass" – enabling the business instead of saying noMoving from legal expert to legal executiveUsing AI to free up time for career growth Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on personal branding for in-house lawyers, becoming a trusted general counsel, and stepping into a true business-leader role. Links: Connect with Adrian Moffatt on ⁠⁠LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leader community on LinkedIn.Join the Legal Leader community.

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Dennis Garcia, VP and General Counsel at Litera, about building a career that bridges the practice and business of law, and what decades in tech legal have taught him about staying sharp under pressure. They discuss: How Litera unifies the practice of law and the business of law under one roofDennis's path from an IBM legal internship to 22-plus years at Microsoft to General Counsel at LiteraHis "Three Strikes" video series and the dry-run habit behind every big talk Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on legal tech's evolution, the long arc of an in-house legal career, and the practice habits that separate good speakers from great ones. Links: Connect with Dennis Garcia on LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leader community on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Sterling Miller, CEO and Chief Counsel at Hilgers Graben and former General Counsel at Sabre and Travelocity, about how in-house lawyers can market themselves and build influence within the business. They discuss: Why in-house lawyers must actively promote their value and contributionsHow to build strong relationships and credibility across the businessThe mindset shift from legal expert to strategic business partner Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on self-promotion, business alignment, and what it takes to stand out and succeed as an in-house legal leader. Links: Connect with Sterling Miller on LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leader community⁠.

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Jawwad Irshad, General Counsel and Company Secretary at Tokyo Electron Europe, about building a modern legal function from the ground up, using technology to reduce legal spend, and proving legal's value to the business through measurable outcomes. They discuss: How Jawwad built Tokyo Electron Europe's legal, compliance, and risk function from scratch while supporting a lean team across nine European countries. Why investing in legal technology and knowledge management dramatically reduced outside counsel spend while helping the legal team scale alongside a rapidly growing business. How legal leaders can communicate value in the language of the business by focusing on operational excellence, measurable outcomes, and strategic leadership. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on building high-performing legal teams, leveraging technology to drive efficiency, and redefining legal as a business enabler rather than a cost center. Links: Connect with Jawwad Irshad on ⁠⁠LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leaders community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠.⁠Join the Legal Leaders community.

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Chip Gentry, Chief Legal Officer at Quaker Windows & Doors, about his unconventional journey from longtime trial lawyer to business leader, the modernization of legal operations in manufacturing, and the role legal plays in driving organizational transformation. They discuss: How Chip transitioned from nearly 30 years in private practice to leading legal inside a 77-year-old manufacturing companyWhy legal teams must move from reactive support functions to proactive business partnersThe intersection of legal leadership, operational excellence, and industry advocacy in a rapidly changing manufacturing landscape Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on legal transformation, leadership through change, and the evolving role of the modern chief legal officer. Links: Connect with Chip Gentry on ⁠⁠LinkedInFollow the Legal Leader community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠Join the Legal Leader community⁠

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Sterling Miller, COO and General Counsel at Hilgers and former General Counsel at Marketo and Travelocity, about the practical use of generative AI in in-house legal teams. They discuss: How in-house legal teams can use AIReal-world use cases for AI in contract drafting, review, and productivityThe evolving role of legal in an AI-driven organization Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on how legal teams can harness AI and prepare for the next wave of innovation in legal operations. Links: Connect with Sterling Miller on LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leader community⁠.

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Charles Jake, General Counsel, and Blake Billings, Deputy General Counsel, at Kansas State University (KSU) about what it takes to lead legal at a modern land-grant university. From supporting a statewide public mission to building a strategic and scalable legal function, Charles and Blake share how KSU's legal team navigates institutional complexity while staying focused on trust, operational excellence, and long-term impact. They discuss the unique challenges of higher education law, the role of strategic planning in shaping a legal department, and how a strong General Counsel–Deputy General Counsel partnership helps drive efficiency and effectiveness across the institution. They discuss: What makes legal leadership at a land-grant university uniquely complexHow KSU built a strategic roadmap for its legal departmentThe importance of trust, operational discipline, and team structure in modern legal functions Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on legal leadership, higher education, and building a legal team designed to support an institution for generations to come. Connect with Charles Jake on LinkedInConnect with Blake Billings on LinkedInSign up and join the Legal Leaders community

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Danette Joslyn-Gaul, General Counsel and Vice President of Ethics, Compliance, and Legal Affairs at Georgia Tech, about building effective legal teams, navigating organizational change, and leading legal functions within complex higher education institutions. They discuss: Danette's career journey across government, litigation, corporate legal, compliance, and higher educationThe unique challenges and opportunities of legal leadership in a public research universityBuilding stronger partnerships across the institution and shifting legal from reactive support to a strategic advisorTune in for an unfiltered conversation on legal leadership, organizational transformation, and the evolving role of in-house counsel in higher education. Links: Connect with Danette Joslyn-Gaul on ⁠⁠LinkedInSign up and ⁠join the Legal Leaders community⁠

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Russ Philpott, Director, Legal Operations & Corporate Counsel at Okta, about the evolution of legal operations, the rise of knowledge management, and how AI is reshaping in-house legal teams. They discuss: Russ’s journey from commercial attorney to leading legal operations at scaleWhy knowledge management has become the foundation of modern legal teamsHow AI is transforming legal service delivery and what comes nextTune in for an unfiltered conversation on legal ops transformation, the future of knowledge management, and the shift from reactive legal support to strategic legal services. Links: Connect with Russ Philpott on ⁠⁠LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leader community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠.Join the Legal Leader community.⁠

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Robyn Diaz, EVP and Chief Legal Officer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, about leading a purpose-driven legal function in one of the world’s most mission-focused institutions. They discuss: Building and scaling a modern legal function in a nonprofit healthcare environmentNavigating complex regulatory, global, and geopolitical challengesUsing data, legal operations, and cross-functional alignment to support institutional growthRobyn shares her journey from healthcare consulting to leading legal at St. Jude, and how purpose, innovation, and adaptability shape her approach to leadership. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on modern legal leadership, global healthcare challenges, and the evolving role of in-house counsel in mission-led organizations. Links: Connect with Robyn Diaz on ⁠⁠LinkedIn.Follow the Legal Leader community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠.Join the Legal Leader community.⁠