Vanguard

Established as California’s first CCA (community choice aggregator), MCE helped pioneer making renewable energy available to everyone. MCE, a non-profit, now serves over 1.5 million residents and businesses across four counties, providing energy options that prioritize sustainability and affordability. At the helm of MCE’s legal affairs is Catalina Murphy, the company’s general counsel, whose expertise and leadership play a vital role in advancing MCE’s mission. “At MCE, we’re all about empowering communities with clean energy and real choices. I’m proud to help navigate the legal side to keep driving sustainability and innovation forward,” Murphy says. #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #sustainability #nonprofit #law #legal **Produced by Jody Robbins

Elisa Nethercott, General Counsel for LA Family Housing, stands at the intersection of legal strategy, compliance, and risk management, working to steer the organization through turbulent times as it strives to address the monumental problem of more than 70,000 unhoused people in LA County. Under Nethercott’s guidance, LAFH has grown exponentially—both in its impact and its operations—responding to an unprecedented influx of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic while preparing for the uncertainties of a changing political landscape. **Produced by Gavin O'Connor

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is a global entertainment giant home to some of the most iconic and beloved brands in media history. David Modzeleski, senior vice president and head of global IP at Warner Bros. Discovery, safeguards the company’s invaluable creations, ensuring the legacy of iconic characters and stories remains secure. “WBD is fortunate to own one of the world’s most iconic and valuable IP portfolios, and to lead the team responsible for stewarding these properties is exciting, dynamic, and so very rewarding,” says Modzeleski. **Produced by Matthew Warner

Chief Legal Officer Margaret Lai drives Relive Health's legal strategy, ensuring the company’s rapid expansion aligns with healthcare and franchising regulations. Her litigation, transactions, and franchising expertise positions her as a vital force behind Relive’s success. Relive Health, a pioneer in personalized health, wellness and anti-aging services, aims to extend lifespans from the inside out. Relive offers a comprehensive range of treatments and emphasizes preventative care, sustainable health plans, and individualized support for clients’ self-care journeys. “Looking to the future, I am committed to remaining in the health and fitness industry, with plans to serve on advisory boards and continue driving innovation in the field,” Lai says. **Produced by Jody Robbins & Andrew Wright

Now the General Counsel at Locus Fermentation Solutions, Michele Smolin was headed toward a PhD in music when, surrounded by sophisticated, intelligent and mission-driven women (the Mercy Congregation/Sisters of Mercy), a law degree from Case Western Reserve University seemed like a career move that would enable her to augment the organization's bent toward social justice. “Some may consider my path uncharacteristic based upon ill-conceived stereotypes of nuns. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Religious women are perhaps the most highly educated, dedicated and accomplished women around the globe,” Smolin says. She now leads a “lean and mighty” legal and regulatory team [at Locus] supported by an excellent group of outside counsel. Her approach is methodical, grounded in her years of experience as a trial lawyer and business partner, as well as her commitment to collaboration and trust-building. **Produced by Calie Rhoads-Green & Nick Randall **Strategic Partner: Saliwanchik, Lloyd & Eisenschenk, Intellectual Property Law

Kristin Lamb and the ŌURA legal team play a pivotal role in the young company's product launches and innovations, protecting and enabling growth. Their proactive involvement safeguards the company’s interests and fosters an environment where creativity and compliance coexist, empowering the business with confidence. A few years ago, ŌURA was the only smart ring on the market, a solitary innovator in a niche yet unproven category. But the landscape soon changed. The arrival of major players like Samsung lent credibility to the space. The number of competitors skyrocketed, and now ŌURA tracks over 120 different smart rings. Lamb had to quickly adapt ŌURA’s IP strategy to address this new reality, balancing the need to protect ideas without prematurely revealing the company’s roadmap. **Produced by Julianna Roche

For Dylan Pollack working as an in-house lawyer and leading the employment law department he built is similar to when he is bowling or teeing it up at one of the New York area golf courses he plays when he gets the chance. “You can bowl a strike or hit a great drive, but you have to immediately get your mind ready for the next frame or shot,” says Pollack. “It is the same as an in-house employment lawyer.” As the managing director, assistant general counsel and lead counsel for the Deloitte employment law department, Pollack has carved out an impressive niche at the intersection of employment law and organizational leadership. **Produced by Andrew Wright & Jody Robbins

Being the general counsel of a growing public company presents unique challenges that require patience, a willingness to learn, strategic foresight, adaptability, and a strong team of legal experts. Matthew Cullen strives to bring precisely that to the table for Porch Group, where he serves as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. **Produced by Matthew Warner

Joining a company as its first general counsel is an exciting yet challenging role that requires strategic thinking, adaptability and leadership. Without an established framework or precedent within the organization, the general counsel often starts with a blank slate. This is what Devin Taylor dealt with when he joined Beyond Risk as its first general counsel in March 2022. Headquartered in Phoenix, Beyond Risk is a forward-thinking risk management firm dedicated to helping organizations identify, assess and mitigate risks in an increasingly complex world. Focusing on proactive solutions, Beyond Risk integrates analytics, technology and experience to help deliver customized strategies tailored to each client’s unique challenges. **Produced by Matthew Warner

Bruce Anders seeks to serve. His legal career—which has spanned the U.S. Army, private law firms, state government, an Alaska Native corporation, a health system and now the senior living industry—is defined by one throughline: service. Whether jumping from a C-141 as an Army paratrooper, defending clients in court, serving on community boards, teaching Boy Scouts, or navigating nonprofit corporations’ complex regulatory and business frameworks, Anders has always prioritized duty. As the chief legal officer of Pacific Retirement Services, a nonprofit senior living provider serving nearly five thousand residents in 40 different senior communities and affordable housing facilities across seven states, Anders continues his commitment to helping others. **Produced by Calie Rhoads-Green & Andrew Wright