Tricia Montalvo Timm rose to the top of her game in The Legal Department, hiding her true identity as a Latina and mother of two. For years, she led legal teams and served on the executive teams of several companies "passing" as white, but not realizing the impact this would have on her. All that changed when she interviewed for a general counsel position at data analytics company, Looker, and allowed her true identity to shine through. A natural leader, Tricia started the company's diversity and inclusion program, serving as its executive sponsor. After leading a $2.6 billion transaction to sell the company to Google, Tricia wrote "Embrace the Power of You, Owning Your Identity at Work," to help others live their true identity and flourish in their careers in life.

In this episode, Tricia shares advice for:

• How to create an environment that supports all employees and builds a cohesive team;
• How to be a sponsor and help others reach their career aspirations; and
• How the General Counsel can address inappropriate comments and navigate uncomfortable situations

Now a board member at top SaaS company, Salsify, Tricia shares how lawyers can overcome the identity of "lawyer" and land a corporate board seat. She also answers a sticky Office Hours question about how to deal with friction between a GC and their C-suite peer.

Do you ever feel like you're speaking another language when you're talking to your sales team? Why can't they see the risks? How did they get this far into the deal without involving Legal?

In this episode, Alex Su helps us understand the sales team and how to talk the talk and improve our company's results. Alex left a career in litigation to join the sales team of a legal tech start-up and has since been in sales for more than 14 years. A rare breed who understands what drives sales people and what makes lawyers tick, Alex helps us understand how to serve this important part of the business.

Bonus: Alex answers an Office Hours question for a law firm partner trying to build their book of business.

AI and legal tech vendors are selling a new world where lawyers' work will be streamlined, more efficient, and more productive while also cutting down on legal fees. Most tools for in-house lawyers focus on improving workflows, contract review, and other transactional tasks.

In litigation, news reports highlight the latest embarrassments—or even sanctions—of lawyers who relied on AI bots to write briefs with hallucinated, made-up cases. In this episode, Alex Alben, a two-time tech GC and the former Chief Privacy Officer of the state of Washington, helps us understand how AI tools can be used responsibly in litigation. He also shares how in-house counsel can ensure law firms are using them appropriately and provides clues for identifying AI-generated content before it's filed.

Alex also discusses how law firms can use their own data to evaluate performance in different courts, assess the effectiveness of arguments, and more. He suggests firms "mine their own data" and consider hiring a data scientist to access this untapped resource.

Tune in to hear about the potential for AI to improve litigation outcomes.

Do you avoid tough conversations? Frustrated when your team doesn't deliver the work product you expected? Or did someone tell you to work on "executive presence" and you don't know how? In this episode, executive coach and Forbes contributor, Hanna Hart is in The Legal Department with a framework for giving and receiving feedback. Lawyers avoid feedback because they're busy, uncomfortable, or want people to like them. This is counterproductive. This episode provides concrete suggestions for making a feedback conversation something that helps both parties improve and build a better relationship.

S is for soft skills—but what do they really mean for in-house counsel? In this episode, Inside Counsel Academy founder Joe Schohl joins Stacy Bratcher in The Legal Department to unpack executive presence—what it is, why it matters, and how to develop it for leadership success.

Plus, in this special Office Hours segment, Joe tackles a tricky listener question: What should you do if your boss gives the board incorrect advice?

Get expert insights and practical strategies from Inside Counsel Academy to strengthen your in-house legal career.

You've been a deputy general counsel, served at the right hand of the GC, and know the business—are you ready to take the next rung of the in-house career ladder? In this episode of The Legal Department, Candace Jackson dives into her journey from deputy general counsel to general counsel of a newly public company. She discusses how deputies can position themselves for GC roles, from optimizing LinkedIn profiles to showcasing relevant industry expertise. In the Office Hours segment, Candace offers actionable advice for navigating career development roadblocks, especially when working under a boss who may be holding you back. Whether you’re a deputy looking to grow or an in-house counsel aspiring for the top, this episode is packed with insights tailored to your journey.

The CEO is the General Counsel's most important client, but do we truly understand what they need from their lawyer? In this episode of the C-Suite Series, Evan Wong, CEO of legal tech firm Checkbox, joins The Legal Department to help lawyers understand what CEOs want. Evan shares insights on how lawyers can deliver value during "wartime" and "peacetime," how to provide advice that supports the business, and why asking questions is crucial to demonstrating a genuine interest in the business. We also discuss what CEOs look for in prospective board members. This is a must-listen conversation you won't want to miss.

Overwhelmed by how to organize your company’s litigation portfolio? Unsure how to strike the right balance in your board’s legal reports? Or are you a law firm lawyer struggling to craft the perfect pitch to a corporate client?

In this episode of The Legal Department, veteran litigator Adwoa Ghartey-Tagoe Seymour, VP of Litigation at Albertsons Companies, shares actionable advice to tackle all these challenges and more.

Whether your company is large or small, your budget is limited, or your legal technology is basic, this episode delivers practical tips to streamline litigation management and boost efficiency. Don’t miss it!

Kick off the New Year with a bonus episode of The Legal Department! This episode features a lively discussion with Allison Freedman and Hallie Ritzu, the hosts of the popular legal podcast, Personal Jurisdiction. They interview Stacy Bratcher, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Cottage Health, to get her insights on succeeding as in-house counsel.

Stacy shares her unique career journey, from her early days in government to her current leadership role. She offers advice on cultivating curiosity, the importance of building strong relationships in the legal field, and why your first job doesn't have to define your career path. Tune in for valuable perspectives and inspiration for lawyers at all stages of their careers.

Defending litigation is a core function of The Legal Department, but class action cases are different. The stakes are higher, the risks are greater, and all eyes are on the General Counsel to steer the ship through what can be the highest litigation exposure a company can face. Not to worry, Chris Chorba, an expert class action defense lawyer at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is here to help steady your nerves. Intelligent, creative, and passionate, Chris shares his insights on how to best position your company to defend class action lawsuits and how an arbitration agreement can be your best shakedown repellent. From choosing defense counsel to selecting a claims administrator, Chris shares what you need to know to steady the ship.