This Legal Life: Lessons Learned from a Life in Legal

Join our host, Ben Chiriboga, Chief Growth Officer at Nexl, and Mari Cruz Taboada, Partner and Head of Client Management & Legal Innovation LEXINGTON CONSULTANTS, for an engaging conversation where they delve into the world of event networking and explore how to transform connections into valuable clients. Ben and Mari Cruz unravel the secrets of event networking, helping you navigate the art and science of building authentic connections, mastering effective communication, and converting connections into valuable clients. Get ready to unlock the potential of your networking endeavors and take your business to new heights.

Connect with Mari Cruz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mctaboada/

Mari Cruz Taboada is the Partner and Head of Client Management & Legal Innovation at Lexington Consultants, where she advises law firms on modernization, growth, client relations, and market expansion. With a background in law, she has been an Associate Professor at IE Business School for over a decade, teaching MBA and executive education programs and focusing on influencing and negotiation skills for lawyers and compliance officers. Mari Cruz is also a faculty member at the Financial Times IE Corporate Learning Alliance, contributing to programs for clients such as Axa Insurance, BBVA, Santander, Mahou San Miguel, Mapfre, Melia Hotels, and Pepsico. She is an experienced lawyer and accredited mediator, having assisted in over 300 mediations across employment, civil, and commercial disputes. Additionally, she co-founded Iberian Legal Group and supports start-up projects with IE Law School and Sabadell Venture Network. Mari Cruz is a member of the Advisory Board of LAwIT Legal Summit and a coach at LawWithoutWalls, a community focused on innovation in the business of law.

In this episode of This Legal Life, our host, Ben Chiriboga (Chief Growth Officer at Nexl), sits down with William M. Washington III, Global Chief Financial Officer at Baker McKenzie, about what it's like being an introvert in the legal and business world.

Take a moment to read William's recent article with FORTUNE: https://fortune.com/2023/08/21/baker-mckenzie-cfo-william-m-washington-iii-embracing-introverts-in-the-workplace/?kbl582

About William:

William M. Washington, III is Baker McKenzie's Global Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As CFO, he is responsible for the firm's financial operations, which totals over $3 billion in revenue across 76 offices in 45 countries. He is responsible for over 1,400 finance professionals and serves on the Executive Committee, Financial Committee, and many other strategic committees related to the Firm's operations. William has also served as the CFO – Americas for Hogan Lovells, where he worked closely with firm leadership to formulate a vision for the firm's future and provide an understanding of the firm’s financial picture to help drive profitability.

Before joining Hogan Lovells, William worked at two other AmLaw 100 law firms and has served in leadership positions in other diverse industries, including Consulting (Accenture) and Financial Services (Fannie Mae). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Mississippi State University, an MBA from the University of Maryland University College, and a Master’s in Law Firm Management from George Washington University, in addition to being a Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence. and is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. William is married to Tracy Washington, retired - International Finance Corporation (World Bank) and Adjunct Professor - Georgetown University. They have four wonderful children and reside in Bethesda, MD.

Connect with William: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamwashingtoniii

In the kick-off to season two, our host, Chief Growth Officer at Nexl, Ben Chiriboga, is bringing you with him into the heart of #ILTACON2023. Ben connects with Ana Reyes, Assistant Director of Practice Group Management at Mayer Brown, Jack Davidson, Director, End User Services at Jackson Walker, Olga Mack, Vice President & CEO of CounselLink CLM at LexisNexis, Steven Lerner, Senior Reporter at Law360, and Jorn Vanysacker, Co-CEO & Founder at Henchman.

In this episode, our host Ben Chiriboga is joined by Ben Paul, CEO of The BD Ladder to explore how in order to grow and do business development successfully lawyers need to start embracing change.

Have you ever wondered why sales seem to be taboo in the legal world? In this episode, our host Ben Chiriboga is joined by Steve Freztin, President of FRETZIN, INC., to explore why many lawyers and law firms view sales as unethical.

Mohib Qidwai, Senior Manager of Business Development, Intellectual Property and Technology Disputes at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP joins host Ben Chiriboga for an insightful conversation on creating impactful content.---This Legal Life explores the human side of law, focusing on the dynamics between people. Host Ben Chiriboga, Chief Growth Officer at Nexl, invites guests to dive deep into various relationship topics often overlooked in legal circles. The show tackles various issues affecting the legal profession, from overcoming silos and fostering collaboration to battling toxic work environments and building strong client relationships. With expert guests from the legal field, This Legal Life leaves no stone unturned and no taboo topic untouched.