2024 Year In Review

In this episode of Meeting of the Minds, hosts Hal Marcus and Memme Onwudiwe wind down as they reflect on a year of insightful conversations with great leaders in legal technology - Jen McCarron, Mike Haven, Scott Westfahl, Connie Brenton, Carol Hopperton, Harold Wu, Emily LaCroix and Debbie Reynolds.

Join in as they take another listen to evergreen insights from each thought leader, including:

The evolution of legal operations featuring insights from Jen McCarron.
The importance of data privacy regulations featuring insights from Connie Brenton.
The transformative impact of AI on the legal profession featuring insights from Mike Haven.
The role of empathy and Business Acumen in law featuring Scott Westfahl.
The importance of data governance and the risk associated with AI featuring Emily LaCroix.
The link between procurement and legal terms featuring Harold Wu.
The need for data cleansing for effective AI use as shared by Debbie Reynolds

Let’s take a walk down memory lane as the year comes to an end, shall we?

Guests Bio

Jen McCarron is the president of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) and a seasoned leader in legal operations, having previously led legal operations at Netflix. With a focus on the evolving landscape of legal operations, she emphasizes the importance of storytelling and data management in driving business outcomes. Jen’s leadership at CLOC underscores her commitment to advancing the profession and fostering innovation.

Mike Haven is a prominent legal operations leader and the former Global Head Legal Operations at Intel, recently transitioning into a similar role at Meta. As a past president of CLOC, Mike has been instrumental in shaping the legal operations field, particularly through his work on the Sense Collective.

Scott Westfahl serves as a Professor of Practice and the Faculty Director of Executive Education at Harvard Law School. His experience lies on the intersection of legal education and technology. Scott advocates for the development of human skills which are essential for lawyers to thrive alongside advancing technologies.

Connie Brenton is a trailblazer in the legal operations field, known for her leadership roles at major corporations, including NetApp, and as a co-founder of LegalOps.com. Connie’s extensive experience and community-building efforts within the legal operations space have been pivotal in fostering innovation.

Carol Hopperton is a seasoned legal operations professional with a diverse career that includes leading legal operations at Vonage and navigating the complexities of the legal landscape through various roles. Her insights into the practical aspects of legal operations, particularly in maintaining and optimizing implemented technologies, highlight the importance of continuous improvement in legal service delivery.

Harold Wu is the Chief Procurement Officer at T.Rowe Price, where he has successfully saved the company millions annually through strategic procurement practices. His insights into the changing dynamics of procurement, particularly the balance between cost savings and operational efficiency provide a fresh perspective on the interconnectedness of legal and procurement functions.

Emily LaCroix is the Global Data Protection Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, where she focuses on the intersection of data privacy and legal operations. With a background that blends traditional legal roles with a focus on product and data governance, Emily offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.

Debbie Reynolds, known as the Data Diva is a consultant and advisor specializing in data privacy and governance. With extensive experience working with major law firms. Debbie’s insights into the complexities of data privacy laws and the importance of data cleansing are invaluable to organizations navigating the regulatory landscape. Her expertise in connecting data privacy strategies with practical implementation makes a sought-after voice in discussions about the implications of AI and data management in the legal field.

Episode Highlights

The Power of Storytelling in Legal Operations (06:25)

Jen McCarron emphasizes the role of storytelling in crafting data in legal operations and how that improves the communication of value, making it easier to collaborate and achieve the goals in an organization.

Embracing Human Skills in a Tech-Driven World (12:48)

Scott Westfahl shares why the ability to merge legal and soft skills is the evolution of work. His perspective on legal education reminds us that those who are able to blend technical skills with strong interpersonal abilities will be better positioned to succeed.

The Evolving Role of Procurement in the Legal Industry (20:32)

Harold Wu teaches that the legal industry must adapt to a new reality that allows for a closely knit collaboration with procurement in order to ultimately drive better business outcomes.

Balancing AI Enthusiasm with Governance (24:12)

Emily LaCroix’s insights balances the need for ensuring that the adoption of AI is properly explored while also safeguarding organizations from substantial risks.

The Importance of Data Cleansing for AI Success (27:56)

Debbie Reynolds emphasizes the need for data cleansing and warns against the danger of using unstructured data. She advises that the data fed into the AI systems must be quality and structured data to avoid ineffectiveness and potential AI pitfalls.

A New Chapter for Evisort (30:35)

The hosts reveal that Evisort has been acquired by Workday and that this acquisition aligns with the long-term vision of enhancing the value of contracts and legal documents across organizations. They express excitement as this development sets the stage for innovative advancements and shows the importance of integrating legal data with broader business functions.