Modern Counsel

Mentors are invaluable to legal executives throughout their careers. In our upcoming Mentorship Issue, we'll delve into the profound impact of mentorship on featured in-house counsel. These leaders will share personal stories of how mentors have shaped their professional journeys, offering insights into pivotal moments and career decisions influenced by mentorship. Explore how mentoring enriches the lives and careers of legal professionals. It's a rewarding experience that drives personal growth and industry leadership. Our issue will spotlight impactful mentor/mentee relationships in the legal landscape, showcasing the transformative power of mentorship in nurturing talent and fostering a supportive professional community. Highlighted in our Mentorship Issue are the stories and insights shared by: Lisa Gok, Beth Kotran, Austin Ericson, Jaron Brown, Ki Hoon Kim, Veronica Young Davis, Tonya Wittenmyer, Erika Nelson Sylvester, H. Alan Rosenberg, Esq. and Joel Roy. Discover their journeys and the invaluable lessons they impart on mentorship and leadership. Stay tuned as we celebrate the significance of mentorship in the legal industry and learn from the experiences of those who have benefited from and contributed to this vital practice. Don't miss out on the cover story: https://hubs.la/Q02DTsh20 Explore the full Mentorship Issue here: https://hubs.la/Q02DTxF00 #LegalExecutives #Mentorship #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #ModernCounsel

I spoke to Modern Counsel about how I effectively partner with HR at Cboe Global Markets and the great opportunities to development my career working in the Cboe Legal Department! https://lnkd.in/geKseH3U

In August 2017, Breana Smith Jeter started her first in-house role at Wells Fargo, transitioning from an expansive private practice career and time as a public defender. She looked forward to serving one client and creating a more manageable life for her four-year-old daughter and fifteen-month-old son. Just thirty days in, Jeter received a breast cancer diagnosis. Suddenly, she had to navigate a complex financial institution, a new role, and a young family while facing potentially life-altering healthcare decisions. Days after her diagnosis, she decided to share the news with her manager. She’ll never forget his response. Although Jeter may have unknowingly added a new protocol to managerial practices, the support she received is why she remains proud to be part of the Wells Fargo team. Learn more about Breana Jeter’s journey and her role at Wells Fargo: https://hubs.la/Q02KmyqH0 #Leadership #CareerJourney #WellsFargo #Inspiration #Resilience

Rick E. Hansen’s career is marked by impressive names: Perkins Coie, Amazon, Chevron, General Motors, and now HP, where he serves as senior vice president, deputy general counsel – corporate, and corporate secretary. Hansen thrives at the intersection of law, business, and public policy on a global stage. He draws inspiration from advice given by a notable CEO he once worked with. “This amazing person told me she didn’t have a clearly plotted career path but got to the CEO chair by never saying no to an opportunity, regardless of how difficult it seemed,” Hansen recalls. “By doing so, she became indispensable and always had a seat at the table for critical decisions. I’ve modeled much of my career based on that advice.” At HP, Hansen oversees a diverse portfolio, including board operations, securities regulation, capital markets, M&A, corporate governance, and more. His role is dynamic, often taking on special projects that push him beyond his comfort zone. Learn more about Rick Hansen’s journey and his role at HP Inc.: https://hubs.la/Q02Kgtn60 #LegalLeadership #CareerJourney #HPInc #CorporateCounsel #Inspiration

Angie Nolet, Esq., CEDS knew she needed a change. Despite meeting great people and honing her legal skills in civil litigation and government work, maintaining work/life balance remained a persistent issue. After trying around twenty cases to verdict as a deputy prosecutor in Washington and working as an associate for two Seattle-based firms, she found the work emotionally draining and stressful, especially as she wanted to start a family. In 2021, Nolet joined Redfin as corporate counsel. The technology-powered real estate company helps people find homes and offers brokerage, rental, lending, title insurance, and renovation services. Initially, the transition from private practice to Redfin was jarring—but in a good way. In her prior roles, time was a commodity measured in six-minute increments, making every delay a stressor. At Redfin, Nolet measures her value by how she supports the organization and strengthens its products. Learn more about Angie Nolet’s journey and role at Redfin: https://hubs.la/Q02JYxCL0 #LegalCareer #WorkLifeBalance #Redfin #CorporateCounsel #RealEstate

If Tim Braley hadn’t accepted an offer from Houston-based energy company Baker Hughes to come in-house as Executive Counsel of Global Ethics and Investigations, he would have likely become the acting US attorney for the Southern District of Texas. It was a goal Braley had been working toward his entire career, but the new role offered intriguing challenges. Braley spent over seventeen years in Houston as a federal prosecutor, primarily facing off against Mexican, Central American, and West African drug cartels, the Russian mob, and other organized crime entities. At times, he found himself working with agents to chase down threats from organized crime elements and was even trained to carry a firearm. Despite these experiences, Braley considers himself fortunate compared to prosecutors in other countries. Learn more about his journey and role at Baker Hughes: https://hubs.la/Q02Jtdmm0 #LegalCareer #BakerHughes #TimBraley #GlobalEthics #Investigations

Melissa James always dreamed big, once envisioning herself as the first female president of the United States. Her passion for politics and law led her to pursue a legal career, inspired by her lawyer father. Starting as a commercial litigator at Vinson & Elkins LLP (V&E), she worked on diverse matters, from oil and gas litigation to professional liability defense and general commercial disputes. This diverse work experience honed her ability to quickly adapt to new industries and areas of law. After eight years, she was promoted to counsel. “For the entirety of my ten years at the law firm, I constantly felt like I had all the work that I could manage at any given time,” she shares. “I learned critical time management skills and how to juggle professional and personal priorities.” Discover more about her journey and role at Goldman Sachs: https://hubs.la/Q02Jth9T0 #LegalCareer #LawSchool #CommercialLitigation #ModernCounsel

I'm honored to be included in the latest edition of Modern Counsel! https://lnkd.in/g8tysNe9.

Thank you to Modern Counsel for doing this spotlight on me and allowing me to share a little bit of my story. https://lnkd.in/eUmK-wKN Also want to give a special thanks to Apollo Carey and Walt Burton for the kind words you shared in the article.....I am incredibly fortunate to have such great partners at Lewis Rice LLC, Thompson Burton PLLC, Troutman Pepper, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, BakerHostetler, Holland & Knight LLP and so many others. We wouldn't be able to do the work we do without your tremendous counsel and client service!

Amanda Evanson thrives on creating and executing concrete plans. Despite initially dismissing law as a career, her journey led her to become the Senior Corporate Counsel of e-discovery at Delta Air Lines. After earning a fine arts degree and working in public relations, Evanson sought new challenges. “I never really wanted to be a lawyer but fell into it and ended up loving it,” she says. Graduating from Pace University in 2010 during the Great Recession, she quickly found work reviewing documents and joined Troutman Sanders’ eMerge subsidiary, where she discovered her passion for e-discovery. Learn more about Amanda Evanson's journey and her role at Delta Air Lines: https://hubs.la/Q02Jt10s0 #LegalJourney #EDiscovery #DeltaAirLines #CareerGrowth #ModernCounsel