Legally Vocal

In this episode we speak with Jenny Hacker, Head of Legal Operations at Royal London.

Jenny speaks about the rise and maturity of legal operations, and gives advice for GCs looking to make their first hire in this area. She also discusses the importance of being data-driven, allowing the legal team to be more proactive in identifying the trends, challenges and opportunities for the future.

Nino and Jenny also discuss the selection and impact of technology, particularly recently as the pandemic has been an enabler for new ways of working.

In this episode we speak with Nick Pester, newly appointed GC at Wheely.

Nick speaks about why gaining commercial exposure within a business is essential to the development of being a good lawyer. He also shares his number one tip for any lawyer looking to become more commercially minded.

Nino and Nick also discuss the challenges of the client-law firm relationship today and how firms can be better prepared to support businesses in the future.

In this episode we speak with travel enthusiast Kate Sullivan, Head of Legal at EasyJet and former GC at Lonely Planet.

Kate speaks about what drew her to the role at EasyJet and why she wasn't apprehensive about joining an industry heavily affected by the pandemic.

Nino and Kate also discuss the importance of bringing your 'whole self' to work and how legal can play a part in supporting the world's sustainability issues.

Summer is over, which means Legally Vocal is back! In this episode we speak with the wonderful Sarah Binder, General Counsel at Lime.

Nino and Sarah discuss the importance of understanding cultural differences when completing deals in different regions and how the M&A process has changed as a result of the pandemic.

Sarah also shares why she's got a bee in her bonnet about 'really understanding your business' and her number one tip to ensure in-house counsel are known as the company's trusted advisors.

In this episode of Legally Vocal, Nino is joined by Alexis Alexander, General Counsel at Liberis.

Alexis shares why the ability to "talk the language of the business" and "make friends and influence people" is absolutely key for GC's who want to position themselves and their team as a strategic partner of the business.

Nino and Alexis also discuss the rising emergence of the legal ops role in the UK and why she feels the role is integral to the success of the legal function.

In this episode of Legally Vocal, Nino is joined by Frankie Williams, Group VP Legal at Farfetch.

Having guided two companies through IPO's, Frankie shares the biggest challenges faced through those experiences. She also talks about what innovation looks like for her and her team who aspire to "do what's never been done" every day.

Frankie also shares her excitement of setting up the legal function at Farfetch and how data is helping her demonstrate to the business that the cost of bringing more people in-house is actually really effective.

In this episode of Legally Vocal, Nino is joined by Lisa Gan Tomlins, General Counsel at MADE.COM.

Lisa shares her experience of working in disruptive early stage businesses such as Just Eat and MADE. She also talks about why she founded the Disruptive GC network back in 2016.

Nino and Lisa further discuss whether the legal industry can adapt to the changing expectations of lawyers, and why the winners will be the firms that use the lessons of the pandemic as an opportunity to evolve and innovate.

In this episode of Legally Vocal, Nino is joined by Patrick Duxbury, Partner and Head of Life Sciences at Gowling WLG.

Patrick shares how his team managed the incredible task in getting the landmark agreement for Astra Zeneca to develop and distribute Oxford University's COVID-19 vaccine across the line last year.

Nino & Patrick also discuss the most important factors in building strong relationships with clients, and why the "war for talent" could be a big issue for regional law firms in a post COVID world.

Legally Vocal is back with a new and refreshed format and we're kicking off 2021 with our first guest, Josh Kaye, VP Legal and Business Affairs at A&E Networks & Office of General Counsel at Hearst.

In the first episode of Season 2, Nino and Josh discuss everything from taking up running in lockdown to the key takeaways he took from 2020 on how he runs his team and the legal function more generally.

Looking ahead to the next 12-18 months, Josh also shares his views on the biggest challenges facing the legal sector, and has some sage advice for anyone looking to pursue a path in law.

In the final episode of 2020, Nicholas d' Adhemar looks back at the highlights and key themes discussed in the Legally Vocal podcast series over the last 12 months. From adopting new working practices due to the ongoing global pandemic, to the acceleration of technology and rising importance of diversity and ESG, hear from our guests as they share their experiences of the legal world in 2020, and their predictions for 2021 and beyond.