The Abstract

SpotDraft
The Abstract

Savvy and strong legal leadership is only becoming more critical in a complex world. On The Abstract, we'll be interviewing leading legal executives about how they’ve nurtured their careers, grown in their roles, and become true operators within their businesses. At some points, we’ll deal with the pressure of leadership. We care deeply about helping in-house counsel grow alongside each other. Join us for insightful and interesting conversations with legal leaders.

  1. Ep 72: Lobbying for Better Telehealth Regulations with GC Adam Greenberg

    3 DAYS AGO

    Ep 72: Lobbying for Better Telehealth Regulations with GC Adam Greenberg

    What do you need to know about managing government affairs for heavily regulated, high growth brands? Is it perhaps the most interesting part of a GC's job? And will it actually lead you to Washington D.C. or maybe other slightly less glamorous cities? Join Adam Greenberg, Advisor and Fractional General Counsel at APG Advising, as he shares lessons from years as top in-house counsel at healthcare start-ups Warby Parker and Ro about lobbying state legislatures to make telehealth more accessible to customers across the United States. Listen as Adam discusses the legal needs of direct-to-consumer businesses, working with lobbyists and legislators at a state level, sharing notes with your closest competitors to change regulations, destigmatizing embarrassing medical topics, and much more. Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-72 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Deciding to become a start-up lawyer: 2:56 Dealing with government affairs issues at Warby Parker: 7:15 Lobbying state legislatures: 10:35 Going state to state with a small budget: 19:16 Becoming the first legal hire at Ro: 26:30 Building out the legal team at Ro: 30:08 Talking with legislators about erectile dysfunction medication: 37:10 Lobbying for direct-to-consumer brands: 42:51 Does the CEO need to be involved in state lobbying?: 45:21 What Adam is up to now: 47:39 Rapid-fire questions: 48:54 Book recommendations: 52:29 What Adam wishes he'd known as a young lawyer: 53:47 Connect with us: Adam Greenberg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgreenberg3/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    55 min
  2. Ep 71: Privacy, Facial Recognition, and Semi-Pro Football with DPO Paul Collier

    DEC 9

    Ep 71: Privacy, Facial Recognition, and Semi-Pro Football with DPO Paul Collier

    What does a Data Protection Officer do? How is it different from your privacy counsel? And how might a DPO help your company with cutting-edge issues like regulations around facial recognition or biometrics? Join Paul Collier, data protection officer at The DPO Centre, as he shares how the skills he gained as a front-line police officer have helped him counsel clients on how to balance complex privacy regulations with business goals. Listen as Paul discusses how companies can use facial recognition technology while safeguarding privacy, how in-house legal departments can work best with DPOs, his side hustle as a part-time semi-professional football referee, and much more. Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-71 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Working as a front-line police officer: 2:00 What does a Data Protection Officer do?: 6:06 Considerations when hiring a DPO: 9:26 Counseling companies on facial recognition: 11:33 Should governments regulate facial recognition technology?: 16:00 How DPOs manage expectations with resistant clients: 20:36 How DPOs can work effectively with legal departments: 23:49 Becoming a semi-professional football referee: 25:23 Rapid-fire questions: 30:06 Book recommendations: 32:13 What Paul wishes he'd known as a young lawyer: 33:33 Connect with us: Paul Collier - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-collier-a2121056/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    35 min
  3. Ep 70: Why GCs need to care about ESG with Christine Uri, Founder ESG for In-house Counsel

    DEC 5

    Ep 70: Why GCs need to care about ESG with Christine Uri, Founder ESG for In-house Counsel

    If you're in the C-Suite, what do you really need to know about ESG? Is ESG the new privacy? And should ESG really be so controversial? Join Christine Uri, founder of ESG for In-house Counsel, as she explains the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) to both public and private companies in today's global regulatory climate. Listen as Christine draws on more than a decade offering sustainability solutions to her corporate clients to explain how GCs can advocate for ESG to fellow executives, why ESG is great for the bottom line, and why, as she puts it, "ESG is the new privacy." Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-70 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 What are sustainability solutions?: 4:03 The difference between Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental, Social, and Governance: 7:36 Why she decided to launch a consulting company?: 10:09 Why should ESG matter to in-house counsels?: 11:59 Explaining why "ESG is the new privacy:" 15:28 How general counsels can advocate for adopting ESG practices: 20:11 Is ESG relevant at the board level?: 24:40 Why ESG has become politicized in the United States: 26:52 What ESG for In-house Counsel offers: 30:43 How to advocate for ESG at your company: 33:50 Rapid-fire questions: 36:50 Book recommendations: 38:29 What Christine wishes she'd known as a young lawyer: 40:02 Connect with us: Christine Uri - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineuri/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    42 min
  4. Ep 69: Leading Teams Across Borders with Manuel Martinez-Herrera, BetterCloud GM

    NOV 26

    Ep 69: Leading Teams Across Borders with Manuel Martinez-Herrera, BetterCloud GM

    What does a general manager role involve? How do you establish your company's first international office? And what skills from lawyering can you draw on to do it well? Join Manuel Martinez-Herrera, General Manager and General Counsel at BetterCloud, as he shares his journey from law school in Spain to offices in Argentina and the U.S., to earning an LL.M at Harvard, jumping from big law to in-house counsel, moving beyond the GC role, and opening his company's first office in Mexico City. Listen as Manuel offers tips for lawyers who want to move into business roles, why it's important to explore new and different opportunities, the traits that lawyers and software engineers share in common, and more. Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-69 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Why did you decide to practice law in United States?: 2:18 Gravitating towards in-house legal: 5:10 Feeling ready to lead a legal team: 7:32 Becoming General Manager at BetterCloud: 11:35 Shifting your mindset from legal to business: 13:43 Working with software engineers: 15:23 Transitioning from advisor to doer: 18:31 How has working as GM changed your relationship with the executive team?: 21:57 Leading a team through its maturation process: 24:19 Investing in company culture: 26:50 Tips for listeners thinking of taking a job abroad: 30:07 What's next for Manuel: 32:12 Rapid-fire questions: 33:15 Book recommendations: 36:23 What Manuel wishes he'd known as a young lawyer: 38:50 Connect with us: Manuel Martinez-Herrera - https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-martinez-herrera-71a2a763/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    40 min
  5. Ep 68: From Litigator to Spin Instructor to Chief Legal Officer with Jasmine Singh

    NOV 21

    Ep 68: From Litigator to Spin Instructor to Chief Legal Officer with Jasmine Singh

    Have you ever considered quitting your job outright because you felt like you were being pulled farther and farther away from your calling? And then finding your way back through a career change that's very different? Join Jasmine Singh, former Chief Legal and People Officer at Binti, as she shares lessons she learned after taking time away from the legal profession about how to recalibrate your career to align with your principles and passions, and how a year instructing a spin class landed her the in-house role that led her all the way to the executive suite. Listen as Jasmine discusses knowing when it's the right time to quit, how to rely on your network and give back back to your community, realigning your career to match your values, getting your foot in the door as in-house counsel, and much more. Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-67 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Why Jasmine chose to become a lawyer: 2:36 Knowing when to take a break: 5:50 Teaching spin classes: 14:06 Getting your first in-house role at 24 Hour Fitness: 18:26 How to position yourself during an in-house job interview: 21:36 Transitioning into tech counsel: 25:29 Explaining Binti and it's mission: 30:59 Fulfilling a philanthropic mission with Dincert Movement: 36:22 Tips for people who feel stuck at work: 40:29 Rapid-fire questions: 42:54 Book recommendations: 44:19 What Jasmine wishes she'd known as a young lawyer: 47:35 Connect with us: Jasmine Singh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-singh-b4a25274/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    50 min
  6. Ep 67: The Future of Crypto Regulation with Heath Tarbert, Circle CLO and Former CFTC Chair

    NOV 19

    Ep 67: The Future of Crypto Regulation with Heath Tarbert, Circle CLO and Former CFTC Chair

    What is the transition like from government service to a C-suite leadership role at a cutting edge tech company? How are regulators thinking about crypto and other financial innovations? And is public service something that's still inspiring or something that we ought to aspire to? Join Heath Tarbert, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs at Circle, as he draws on his extensive and prodigious career in public service–serving as Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commision, associate White House counsel, Supreme Court clerk, special counsel to the Senate Banking Committee, and more–to break down the legal side and wide-ranging impacts of financial markets around the globe. Listen as Heath discusses the intersection between law, finance, and public policy, the future of cryptocurrency, the value of humility, and much more. Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-67 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Building a career around banking and financial markets: 8:53 Being picked to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission: 16:50 Advice to young people considering careers in politics and public service: 22:13 Breaking down CFTC regulation of cryptocurrencies: 30:17 Why the CFTC chose to engage with cryptocurrencies: 37:26 Why Heath joined Circle as Chief Legal Officer: 41:40 Should lawyers move beyond legal into business operator roles?: 47:15 Rapid-fire questions: 49:16 Book recommendations: 53:31 What Heath wishes he'd known as a young lawyer: 55:21 Connect with us: Heath Tarbert - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath-tarbert-b2140a15/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    58 min
  7. Ep 66: Tennis & Media Law with Peter Steckelman, SVP, Tennis Channel

    NOV 14

    Ep 66: Tennis & Media Law with Peter Steckelman, SVP, Tennis Channel

    What lessons from tennis can you apply to your day-to-day life? How do you build a career as a dealmaker working with high-profile talent? How has the entertainment industry, and what it needs from its lawyers, changed over the years? Join Peter Steckelman, Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at the Tennis Channel, as he shares stories from his uniquely wide-ranging career in entertainment law, including working in-house work at Disney, Fox Entertainment, Warner Brothers, Mattel, and Konami. Listen as Peter serves up stories about his lifelong love for tennis, negotiating with celebrity athletes, and the joys of working in film, television, video games, streaming, and more. Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-66 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Starting his career in-house at Disney: 9:59 How to work with creative people: 20:45 What role does creativity play in the legal field?: 24:31 Working as a studio executive at video game developer Konami: 28:44 Putting together talent agreements with celebrity athletes: 30:51 Leading legal at the Tennis Channel: 39:45 What playing tennis has taught Peter about being a lawyer: 44:49 Rapid-fire questions: 47:30 Book recommendations: 49:10 What Peter wishes he'd known as a young lawyer: 49:50 Connect with us: Peter Steckelman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-steckelman-entertainment-sports-professional/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    51 min
  8. Ep 65: Why GCs Need to Understand Geopolitics with Sean West

    NOV 7

    Ep 65: Why GCs Need to Understand Geopolitics with Sean West

    Do general counsels need to care about geopolitics? Is now the right time to start a legal tech company? And should you consider growing your team in a place other than Silicon Valley, like Rwanda? Join Sean West, Co-Founder at Hence Technologies and writer at Geolegal.substack.com, as he explains how he became a geopolitical forecaster for corporations and hedge funds at Eurasia Group, then chose to co-found a tech company that brings geopolitical insights to general counsels and executives at a time of rising international volatility. Listen as Sean explains why CEOs are becoming chief geopolitical officers, why government affairs teams are increasingly falling under the purview of the general counsel, how he develops his predictions in a constantly changing world, and more. Read detailed summary:  https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-65 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Tyler asks about the Eurasia Group: 3:51 Tyler asks how Sean learned to trust his gut: 8:18 Tyler asks why general counsels should care about geopolitics: 10:49 Tyler asks how general counsels can get better at handling political risks: 15:59 Tyler asks whether CEOs have to be politicians: 22:10 Tyler asks about building Hence Technologies in Rwanda: 31:46 Tyler asks about starting your own business: 35:03 Tyler asks about the future of Hence Technologies: 41:41 Tyler asks rapid-fire questions: 43:23 Book recommendations: 45:19 Tyler asks what Sean wishes he'd known as a young researcher: 47:25 Connect with us: Sean West - https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanpwest1/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com [https://www.spotdraft.com/] to learn more.

    50 min
4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Savvy and strong legal leadership is only becoming more critical in a complex world. On The Abstract, we'll be interviewing leading legal executives about how they’ve nurtured their careers, grown in their roles, and become true operators within their businesses. At some points, we’ll deal with the pressure of leadership. We care deeply about helping in-house counsel grow alongside each other. Join us for insightful and interesting conversations with legal leaders.

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