In this episode of Ivory GC, we sit down with Deonne Cunningham Nauls, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Skylar Capital Management, a Houston-based hedge fund specializing in energy trading. Deonne walks us through her impressive legal career in energy law, spanning traditional oil and gas, clean energy, hedge fund compliance, and private equity.

She shares what it’s like being a solo GC overseeing both regulatory and commercial matters in a fast-paced, derivatives-heavy trading environment. From ISDA agreements and KYC documentation to investor onboarding and project development in battery storage, Deonne offers a real-world view of what it takes to lead legal in high-stakes, highly regulated sectors. She also reflects on how early career experiences shaped her mentorship style, why legal teams must stay nimble, and how to navigate risk in trading environments where time is money.

For anyone working in commodities, infrastructure, or clean energy, this episode is packed with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and legal strategy that empowers—not obstructs—business progress.

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

Connect with Brian Becker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-becker-jd-mba-80bb211a/

Visit the Ivory Law website here: https://www.ivory.law/

Listen to Ivory GC on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LsuryrP5VuthnqO2uVtXZ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivory-gc/id1779481512?uo=4
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b2841956-606a-4d84-b20d-e774185fe610

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation
Ivory GC Podcast is your go‑to channel for in‑depth, expert conversations on balancing legal risk and business innovation. Every week, we bring you candid interviews with general counsel, corporate legal advisors, and business leaders navigating regulatory complexity while driving transformative growth. Ideal for in‑house legal teams, executives, and risk managers, our content delivers strategic insights, practical tips, and real-world stories to help you lead confidently in an ever‑changing legal landscape.

This episode of Ivory GC features Leslie Cornell, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Social Finance, a nonprofit investment advisor pioneering outcomes-based financing for social change. Leslie shares her transition from public finance law to leading legal strategy in the mission-driven world of impact finance, offering a rare look into legal operations that blend philanthropy, government partnerships, and investment rigor.

She discusses how her team structures innovative financial models like the Renew Fund for nursing students while navigating regulatory complexity across tax, securities, and advisor law. From fund formation to compliance for first-of-its-kind projects, Leslie explains how legal functions can become enablers of change, not barriers. This episode is rich in insights for lawyers working at the intersection of finance and social impact and is a must listen for legal professionals looking to build teams that power both innovation and purpose.

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

Connect with Brian Becker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-becker-jd-mba-80bb211a/

Visit the Ivory Law website here: https://www.ivory.law/

Listen to Ivory GC on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LsuryrP5VuthnqO2uVtXZ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivory-gc/id1779481512?uo=4
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b2841956-606a-4d84-b20d-e774185fe610

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation
Ivory GC Podcast is your go‑to channel for in‑depth, expert conversations on balancing legal risk and business innovation. Every week, we bring you candid interviews with general counsel, corporate legal advisors, and business leaders navigating regulatory complexity while driving transformative growth. Ideal for in‑house legal teams, executives, and risk managers, our content delivers strategic insights, practical tips, and real-world stories to help you lead confidently in an ever‑changing legal landscape.

This episode of Ivory GC features Richard Sarhaddi, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Aspen Standard Wealth, a platform investing in independent registered investment advisory firms. Richard brings nearly 20 years of experience across regulatory, legal, and compliance leadership roles, including at Vanguard, Charles Schwab, and OptionsXpress.
In this conversation, Richard shares how he's building a legal and compliance framework from scratch to support a fast-scaling private equity-backed platform. He reflects on lessons learned from building Vanguard’s personalized indexing compliance function, offers insights into onboarding RIAs, and discusses navigating marketing regulations and AI in legal workflows. He also opens up about his career journey—from launching a hedge fund to leading legal across multiple sectors—and the leadership principles that continue to shape his approach.

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

Connect with Brian Becker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-becker-jd-mba-80bb211a/

Visit the Ivory Law website here: https://www.ivory.law/

Listen to Ivory GC on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LsuryrP5VuthnqO2uVtXZ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivory-gc/id1779481512?uo=4
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b2841956-606a-4d84-b20d-e774185fe610

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation
Ivory GC Podcast is your go‑to channel for in‑depth, expert conversations on balancing legal risk and business innovation. Every week, we bring you candid interviews with general counsel, corporate legal advisors, and business leaders navigating regulatory complexity while driving transformative growth. Ideal for in‑house legal teams, executives, and risk managers, our content delivers strategic insights, practical tips, and real-world stories to help you lead confidently in an ever‑changing legal landscape.

In this episode of Ivory GC, we’re joined by Sal Roccaro, Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel at Maximum Quality Foods, a third-generation family-run food distribution company. With a background in engineering, law, and business, Sal’s multidisciplinary expertise has helped him shape strategic growth, manage complex acquisitions, and embed legal foresight across the organization. He shares his journey from environmental litigation and land use law to leading operations, compliance, and legal strategy in a fast-moving industry. Sal discusses how he integrates AI tools into legal work, the compliance challenges of entering food manufacturing, and how he balances legal and strategic decision-making. Whether leading union negotiations or building guardrails for risk in a high-volume environment, Sal brings a sharp, grounded view of how legal can fuel operational innovation.

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

Connect with Brian Becker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-becker-jd-mba-80bb211a/

Visit the Ivory Law website here: https://www.ivory.law/

Listen to Ivory GC on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LsuryrP5VuthnqO2uVtXZ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivory-gc/id1779481512?uo=4
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b2841956-606a-4d84-b20d-e774185fe610

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation
Ivory GC Podcast is your go‑to channel for in‑depth, expert conversations on balancing legal risk and business innovation. Every week, we bring you candid interviews with general counsel, corporate legal advisors, and business leaders navigating regulatory complexity while driving transformative growth. Ideal for in‑house legal teams, executives, and risk managers, our content delivers strategic insights, practical tips, and real-world stories to help you lead confidently in an ever‑changing legal landscape.

In this episode of Ivory GC, we sit down with Nicole Moss, a seasoned legal leader who currently serves as in-house general counsel for multiple companies across sectors like energy, healthcare, and tech. From Geophysical Technology to Assurance Medication Management and BluBridge, Nicole plays a pivotal role advising executive teams, managing legal risk, and building startup legal functions from the ground up.
Nicole shares her non-linear career journey—from litigator to startup recruiter to founding her own business before returning to law and ultimately becoming a trusted advisor to scaling companies. She discusses what it takes to serve multiple high-growth organizations at once, how to adapt your legal approach to the needs of founders and early-stage businesses, and why she believes legal strategy must enable impact, not just protection. It’s a masterclass in practical legal leadership, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurial grit.

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

Connect with Brian Becker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-becker-jd-mba-80bb211a/

Visit the Ivory Law website here: https://www.ivory.law/

Listen to Ivory GC on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LsuryrP5VuthnqO2uVtXZ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivory-gc/id1779481512?uo=4
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b2841956-606a-4d84-b20d-e774185fe610

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation

In this episode of Ivory GC, we sit down with Eric M. Fisher, General Counsel at Homeaglow, a tech-enabled platform that connects households with trusted cleaning professionals. With a legal career spanning Madison Square Garden Entertainment and Gopuff, Eric shares his journey from law firm associate to leading legal strategy for high-growth, consumer-focused businesses.
Eric reflects on the pivotal experiences that shaped his leadership style, including helping MSG through major acquisitions and guiding Gopuff through a dramatic market shift. He dives deep into the legal nuances of operating within the gig economy, building legal functions from the ground up, and why curiosity, judgment, and relationship-building are more valuable than ever in lean legal environments.
This episode is a must-listen for GCs operating in tech-driven industries and young attorneys aspiring to play a meaningful role in business strategy.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-m-fisher/

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation

In this episode of Ivory GC, we sit down with Frank Chou, General Counsel at Rhino and Jetty, an insurtech company transforming the security deposit landscape through innovative insurance products. Frank shares his journey from early roles in government and fintech to leading legal strategy in a heavily regulated industry.
He reflects on his experience advising across teams, balancing compliance with innovation, and why curiosity, communication, and clear ownership are essential for modern legal leaders. Frank also opens up about his transition from public interest to startup life, the influence of mentorship, and how AI is reshaping legal risk in tech-enabled businesses.
For legal professionals navigating cross-functional work, regulatory change, or startup environments, this is a thoughtful and insightful listen.

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation

Please be advised that this episode of Ivory GC was recorded in May 2025. Consequently, some of the information presented may have been subject to changes or updates since that time.

In this episode of Ivory GC, Tatyana Kleyman, General Counsel at Brightcore Energy, shares her fascinating pivot from finance law to leading legal strategy in the clean energy sector. With a background in big law and global investment banking, Tatyana discusses her transition to Brightcore, a company at the forefront of building decarbonization through solutions like LED lighting, solar, and particularly, geothermal heating and cooling. As General Counsel, she navigates complex project contracting, construction law nuances, environmental regulations, and government incentives. Tatyana reflects on her motivation to use law as a tool for societal improvement, the unique legal challenges in geothermal projects (like subsurface rights and urban drilling), and the parallels she sees between the crypto industry and clean energy in terms of regulatory uncertainty. She also offers valuable insights on building an in-house legal function, mentorship, and advice for young attorneys considering a similar path.

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation

In this episode of Ivory GC, Bita Goldman, Global General Counsel at UNiDAYS, shares her journey from advocating for her immigrant family to shaping legal strategy at a global student platform. With early roots in advocating for victims of domestic violence, Bita transitioned to in-house roles, first at a rapidly growing e-tailer and then at UNiDAYS. As Global General Counsel, she oversees legal, privacy, and compliance, navigating the complexities of international expansion and data protection. Bita reflects on the importance of understanding the business, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within her team, and adapting to the fast-paced world of tech. From managing global teams to leveraging AI ethically, Bita shows what legal leadership looks like when you’re building trust with the next generation of consumers. 

We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)
- The Ivory GC team

#InHouseCounsel #LegalStrategy #CorporateLaw #IvoryGC #BusinessLaw #LegalCareers #LawyerLife #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #LegalAdvice #LegalProfessionals #InsideCounsel #LegalLeadership #LegalInnovation

In this episode of Ivory GC, Mark Chavez, General Counsel at Applied Digital Corporation, shares his diverse journey from energy law to the cutting edge of AI and cryptocurrency infrastructure. Starting with environmental law and motor sports at ExxonMobil, Mark transitioned through World Fuel Services and private equity before landing at Applied Digital, where he's building a legal team to support the company's ambitious growth in data centers. Mark reflects on the importance of process and risk management, lessons learned from his military service, and the unique challenges of navigating the fast-paced tech industry compared to the decades-long projects in energy. From setting up contract management systems to managing global teams and providing strategic advice, Mark shows what legal leadership looks like when you’re bridging traditional industries with the innovations of tomorrow.
We hope you enjoyed this episode! :)

- The Ivory GC team