Lessons I Learned in Law

Heriot Brown
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Scott Brown is a 'recovering lawyer'. Following years working in international law firms, Scott now runs Heriot Brown, a Legal Recruitment business. His extensive discussions with people across the legal profession have given him insight into what makes lawyers tick. Now, Scott shares those insights with you - to help you in your career. On each episode Scott invites guests to leave their egos at their door, share their professional successes and challenges, as well as the lessons they've learned in law. Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment. Follow Heriot Brown:Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

  1. 7h ago

    Confidence, Curiosity and Why In-House Lawyers Need a Seat at the Table: Alistair Day at AECOM

    Alistair Day is General Counsel for International at AECOM, the US-headquartered construction and engineering business, leading a team of 65 lawyers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. He joined AECOM seven years ago and stepped into the international GC role three years ago, having started out covering the UK and Ireland before his remit grew to include India, Europe, and beyond. Before AECOM, Alistair trained as a litigator and made partner in private practice, before moving in-house to Bechtel. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Alistair talks about what makes for a genuinely embedded legal function, why the litigator-to-in-house move is often underrated, and how AECOM is putting AI and legal ops to work. His three lessons: first, confidence in having a voice — the best in-house lawyers don't just advise on the legal risk, they engage with what the business is trying to achieve, and that confidence builds over time and repeated exposure to the exec table. Second, flexibility and embracing change — there's never been a more exciting time to be an in-house lawyer, but that means genuinely engaging with AI and technology rather than assuming the job stays the same. Third, have a real passion for the industry you're in — people can tell whether a lawyer actually cares about what the business does, and that interest is what earns trust and buy-in. He also shares due-diligence questions for lawyers considering a move in-house — including whether legal reviews decisions or actually approves them — and reflects on why litigators often make excellent in-house hires. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61xrrepWuWxNsnXIaYxsj5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitmentConnect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.

    Confidence, Curiosity and Why In-House Lawyers Need a Seat at the Table: Alistair Day at AECOM

  2. Sep 10

    Beyond the Legal Job Title: Lessons Relearned in Law on Career Choices, Discomfort and Executive Thinking

    In this episode of Lessons Relearned in Law, Scott looks back across the Lessons I Learned in Law archive to explore what happens when in-house legal careers move beyond the traditional boundaries of the legal role. This recap episode brings together clips from previous guests, each offering a different perspective on how lawyers can build careers that go beyond legal advice alone. The common thread is that none of these career moves were presented as superhuman or perfectly planned. Instead, they came from deliberate choices, uncomfortable opportunities and a willingness to think more broadly about what lawyers can contribute. Scott reflects on James’s point that meaningful career change often starts with one honest question: are you in your current role because you chose it, or because it was simply the next thing available? From there, the episode turns to Pola’s lesson on choosing discomfort, and why messy, challenging work can teach lawyers more in a few months than years of routine business-as-usual activity. Finally, Jim Reid shares why senior lawyers need to step away from being the expert in every detail and start thinking like the person who runs the room. For aspiring legal leaders, the message is practical: choose deliberately, pick discomfort, and watch how your CEO operates — then try it for yourself. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: [LINK]Apple Podcasts: [LINK]YouTube: [LINK]Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone thinking about what their legal career could become next.

  3. Sep 3

    Legal Is Only One Lens: Christie McCluskey at Ooni on Confidence, Curiosity and Finding Your Passion In-House

    Christie McCluskey is Chief Legal and People Officer at Ooni, the pizza oven and cooking products company, having joined in 2022 as its first in-house lawyer. Before Ooni, she spent almost six years at William Grant & Sons, home to brands including Glenfiddich and Balvenie whisky and Hendrick's Gin, after training and qualifying in Scotland. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Christie talks through building a legal function from scratch at a fast-growing, founder-led business, and the shift in mindset that came with moving from a 130-year-old institution to a younger, more agile one. Her three lessons: first, that legal is only one lens — good in-house lawyers give firm advice while recognising there are other legitimate factors at play, and that the job is to navigate risk rather than eliminate it entirely. Second, that it's okay to say "I don't know yet" — slowing a decision down to get it right is different from blocking it, and confidence and self-doubt can coexist productively. Third, to find your passion within the role — for Christie, that's the relationship-building that comes from sitting across every part of the business — because a sustainable legal career needs more than just the technical work. She also reflects on Ooni's growth from Scotland to Austin, Texas, and the value of building a strong network within Scotland's legal community. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHBHeriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengprojectListen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4H4tBzknDSCejrvIqKxKyiApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-i-learned-in-law/id1563397804YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HeriotBrownInHouseRecruitmentConnect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/

    Legal Is Only One Lens: Christie McCluskey at Ooni on Confidence, Curiosity and Finding Your Passion In-House

  4. Jun 11

    Umar Aziz at DG Partners on Balance, Integrity and Building Long-Term Relationships

    Umar Aziz, Partner, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at DG Partners, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from a career that nearly took him into shipping brokerage before a major life event brought him back to law. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Umar reflects on how personal circumstances shaped the start of his legal career, including his decision to return to Clifford Chance after initially turning down his training contract. His first lesson is that there is more to life than work. Drawing on his own experiences of loss, family responsibility and high-pressure legal environments, he discusses the importance of building a full life outside the job — and why excellence matters across work, family, friendships and personal pursuits. His second lesson comes from advice he received early in his career: learn from the best bits of the lawyers around you. Umar explains why every lawyer you work with has something worth copying — and something worth leaving behind. His final lesson challenges the idea that lawyers should always try to “win” every point. Whether negotiating with clients, managing internal teams or building long-term business relationships, Umar argues that sustainable success comes from fairness, trust and mutual respect — not squeezing every last drop out of the other side. Along the way, Umar discusses moving from litigation into funds, the transition from private practice into DG Partners, his COO and GC role, and why full-contact karate helps him stay disciplined, present and switched off from work.  This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Sport: Full-contact karate Sauce of choice: Buffalo or curry sauce Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/ Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters:  00:00 Intro – Umar Aziz & DG Partners    03:40 Turning down Clifford Chance twice    09:28 From private practice to GC & COO    16:12 Lesson 1 – There’s more to life than work    24:03 Karate, resilience & switching off    30:08 Lesson 2 – Learn from great lawyers    34:22 Lesson 3 – Winning isn’t everything    39:55 Building long-term relationships    44:31 GC, COO & wearing multiple hats    56:42 Hot or Not, AI & closing thoughts

    Umar Aziz at DG Partners on Balance, Integrity and Building Long-Term Relationships

  5. May 28

    Lawyers Are Special, But Not That Special: Selene Brett at PPRO on Influence, Empathy and Making It Count

    Selene Brett, Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer at PPRO, joins Scott Brown to share thoughtful lessons on legal leadership, humility, and how lawyers can add real value without hiding behind the mystique of the profession. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Selene reflects on her role at PPRO, a payments platform helping merchants and payment service providers connect to local payment methods around the world. With a broad remit spanning legal, risk, compliance, outsourcing and internal audit, she discusses what drew her to a business where those functions are seen as strategic enablers rather than the “business prevention unit”. Her first lesson is that lawyers are special, but not that special. Selene challenges the idea that legal teams should sit above the business as guardians of all good judgement. Instead, she argues lawyers earn their seat at the table by being approachable, constructive and genuinely useful. Her second lesson is to make it count. Senior legal roles come with influence, access and privilege — and Selene believes that creates a responsibility to use that position well, whether through difficult conversations, mentoring, or helping others find routes into the profession. Finally, she talks about gathering the nuggets: taking something meaningful from every role, every relationship and every experience, even the difficult ones. From rural Norfolk to Harvard, New York and senior in-house leadership, Selene’s story is a reminder that careers rarely move in straight lines — and that empathy, trust and agency matter just as much as technical skill.  This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Sauce of choice for chicken nuggets: Blue cheese Event recommendation: Heriot Brown’s Charity Burns Night Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/ Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.

    Lawyers Are Special, But Not That Special: Selene Brett at PPRO on Influence, Empathy and Making It Count

  6. May 14

    🎙️ Influence, Excellence and Professional Identity: Jim Shaughnessy at DocuSign

    Jim Shaughnessy, Chief Legal Officer at DocuSign, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from more than 20 years operating at the top of global legal teams. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Jim reflects on his role leading legal at DocuSign, a business best known for e-signature and now expanding into intelligent agreement management. He explains how DocuSign is helping businesses move beyond signing documents into managing agreements more intelligently, using AI, automation and better contract visibility. Jim’s first lesson is that an in-house legal career is not always about the law. For senior lawyers, influence is everything: being in the room when important decisions are made, being sought out when the issue is broader than pure legal advice, and helping the business get important things done. His second lesson is a reminder that influence only works if it is underpinned by technical excellence. Lawyers may contribute to strategy, policy and commercial decision-making, but when the issue is legal, they need to be precise, trusted and properly prepared. Finally, Jim discusses the importance of professional identity. At every stage of a legal career, lawyers need to understand what success looks like in their role, which relationships matter most, and how to build credibility for the next step. He also shares his perspective on AI, why legal teams should embrace change, and how junior lawyers can create real impact by experimenting with new tools. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Song: Talk of the Town – The Pretenders Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Heriot Brown: https://heriotbrown.com/ Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Legal Engineering Project Application form: https://wordsmith.fillout.com/legalengproject Listen to the Podcast  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Jim Shaughnessy & DocuSign  03:12 Beyond e-signature – DocuSign IAM  10:52 Lesson 1 – Influence matters most  18:06 Building influence as a junior lawyer  24:38 AI leadership & visibility in legal teams  29:28 Using influence at the right time  36:58 Lesson 2 – Be an excellent lawyer first  44:54 One-way vs two-way door decisions  48:43 Lesson 3 – Professional identity matters  01:01:44 Hot or Not, AI & closing thoughts

    🎙️ Influence, Excellence and Professional Identity: Jim Shaughnessy at DocuSign

  7. May 7

    Curiosity, Objectivity & Leadership Under Pressure: James Ryan at BioNTech

    James Ryan, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Business Officer at BioNTech, joins Scott Brown to discuss the lessons he’s learned leading through one of the most transformative periods in the biotech industry. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, James reflects on his journey from scientist to lawyer, before eventually stepping into one of the most influential legal leadership roles in biotech. Joining BioNTech before it became globally recognised, he shares what it was like helping scale a fast-growing research-focused company into a world-leading biotechnology business, while navigating the intensity and pressure that came with rapid global growth and strategic partnerships, including BioNTech’s landmark collaboration with Pfizer. James’ first lesson focuses on the importance of curiosity. From scientific research to complex legal negotiations, he explains why asking better questions, understanding the client’s objectives, and genuinely engaging with the business leads to stronger advice and deeper trust. His second lesson is about objectivity. James discusses the challenge lawyers face when businesses want a particular answer — and why legal leaders must remain calm, analytical, and willing to give the advice that needs to be heard, not simply the advice others want. Finally, he talks about remembering that everyone is human. Reflecting on periods of extreme pressure and workload, James explains why approachable legal teams build stronger businesses, why mistakes need to be surfaced early rather than hidden, and why lawyers need downtime and perspective to perform at their best. Along the way, James also shares insights into: Transitioning from Chief Legal Officer into a broader Chief Business Officer role How legal teams earn influence inside high-growth businesses Why biotech companies think differently about risk The importance of relationships, curiosity, and trust in leadership How climbing helps him switch off and solve problems more effectively This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Film: Free Solo Hobby: Climbing Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB ECA: https://www.cpduk.co.uk/courses/heriot-brown-executive-counsel-accelerator-eca-courseWordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown:  At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters: 00:00 Intro – James Ryan & BioNTech  03:22 CLO to Chief Business Officer  05:42 BioNTech before COVID  07:21 From s

    Curiosity, Objectivity & Leadership Under Pressure: James Ryan at BioNTech

  8. Apr 30

    Think Like the Business: Lucy Tyrrell at Wordsmith AI on Legal Engineering, AI and Smarter In-House Teams

    Lucy Tyrrell, General Counsel at Wordsmith AI, joins Scott Brown to explore how in-house lawyers can evolve by combining legal expertise with technology, process design, and commercial thinking. In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Lucy shares her journey from private practice into high-growth tech environments, culminating in her role at a fast-scaling legal AI startup backed by Index Ventures and General Catalyst. Sitting at the intersection of law and product, she offers a unique perspective on what it means to be an “AI-native” legal function—where lawyers don’t just advise the business, but actively shape how legal work is delivered. Her first lesson centres on thinking like the business. Lucy explains why legal advice cannot exist in isolation and how understanding commercial drivers—often expressed through metrics—allows lawyers to prioritise effectively and deliver more impactful guidance. Her second lesson highlights the power of networks, both internally and externally. Whether navigating uncertainty, making career decisions, or solving unfamiliar problems, she emphasises the importance of knowing who to turn to and building relationships before you need them. Finally, she focuses on curiosity—encouraging lawyers to embrace new technology, experiment with AI tools, and develop “legal engineering” skills. Rather than waiting for perfection, she advocates for a mindset of testing, learning, and iterating—mirroring how modern tech teams operate. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams. Guest Recommendations Song: The Chain – Fleetwood Mac Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB Legal Engineering Project (Slack Community for in-house lawyers): [APPLICATION FORM LINK] Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/ Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/ About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership. Chapters: 00:00 Opening insight – Metrics, AI & modern legal roles  00:48 Scott introduces Lucy Tyrrell, GC at Wordsmith AI  03:39 Inside a legal tech business & AI-native legal teams  09:23 Lesson 1 – Think like the business  16:06 From private practice to in-house & startup life  20:48 Lesson 2 – Your network is everything  29:50 Career opportunities driven by relationships  31:31 Lesson 3 – Stay curious & embrace change  40:53 Hot or Not – KPIs, AI & legal team performance  47:21 Walk-on song, legal engineering & closing reflections

    Think Like the Business: Lucy Tyrrell at Wordsmith AI on Legal Engineering, AI and Smarter In-House Teams
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About

Scott Brown is a 'recovering lawyer'. Following years working in international law firms, Scott now runs Heriot Brown, a Legal Recruitment business. His extensive discussions with people across the legal profession have given him insight into what makes lawyers tick. Now, Scott shares those insights with you - to help you in your career. On each episode Scott invites guests to leave their egos at their door, share their professional successes and challenges, as well as the lessons they've learned in law. Presented by Scott Brown of Heriot Brown Legal Recruitment. Follow Heriot Brown:Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Information

  • Creator
    Heriot Brown
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Heriot Brown
  • Show Website
    Lessons I Learned in Law

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