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

Recently, CapSpecialty’s Suzanne Broadbent and Brittany Pierick were featured in the magazine, Modern Counsel. The article focused on their accomplishments and careers at Cap! Be sure to read their feature here: https://bit.ly/3VNbWam

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focuses on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries. In July 2023, Solenis expanded its capabilities by acquiring Diversey Holdings, a top provider of hygiene, infection prevention, and cleaning products and technology. This acquisition allowed Solenis to operate in over 130 countries with 71 manufacturing facilities, making it a more diversified company with a significantly increased scale and global reach. The acquisition also added fifteen thousand new employees, including leaders like Terilyn Dumas, formerly deputy general counsel and assistant secretary at Diversey, now serving as vice president and assistant general counsel at Solenis. Solenis CEO John Panichella highlighted the merger's benefits, stating it enables Solenis to offer “a one-stop shop of solutions that meet customer demand and address water management, cleaning, and hygiene issues on a global basis.” Read more about the strategic moves Solenis and Diversey are making post-acquisition: https://hubs.la/Q02FJyzL0 #Solenis #Diversey #SustainableSolutions #GlobalReach #WaterManagement #Cleaning #Hygiene #OneStopShop

Veronica Young Davis's legal career has been a journey of empowerment and growth. Starting as an early career associate at Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw, she honed her skills across various litigation matters. Transitioning to SBC Communications later provided her with opportunities to expand her horizons as a corporate generalist and legal advisor for Cingular Wireless and AT&T, navigating the evolving telecommunications landscape. Now, as assistant general counsel at Southwire Company, Davis champions a proactive approach to legal support, emphasizing empowerment and collaboration with the business teams. Leading a team of legal professionals, she ensures that legal advice enables, rather than inhibits, business objectives. Discover more about Veronica Davis's journey and her insights on empowerment: https://hubs.la/Q02FJlhf0 Don't miss out on other inspiring stories in the Mentorshi´Issue: https://hubs.la/Q02FJlhf0 #ModernCounsel #LegalLeadership #CareerGrowth #Empowerment #BusinessPartnership #Mentorship

Thanks to Modern Counsel for inviting me to discuss my career path and my very modern family. I'm delighted that the article focuses on my DEI work, since it's so important to me both professionally and personally. I've been intentional about expanding my network of talented outside counsel since arriving at McDonald's, and I try to help other in-house counsel do the same by collaborating with organizations like the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. #dei #everydaypride And if you don't already know about the quirky project I tackled during my mid-career sabbatical, you have another incentive to click this link. (Teaser: It involves a notorious cult...)

Jaron Brown's journey to a legal career is a testament to how initial motivations can evolve into unexpected and fulfilling paths. As captain of his basketball team at the University of Hartford, Brown aspired to stay connected to the sport by becoming an agent like David Falk, the legendary representative of stars like Michael Jordan. However, financial constraints led him to Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where a pivotal moment reshaped his career ambitions. While attending a sports entertainment law club event, Brown listened to an agent describe the less glamorous side of the profession, which included mundane tasks like doing players' laundry. Realizing that wasn't the career he envisioned, Brown pivoted. Today, as the head of legal and compliance for the Americas at Outokumpu, he leverages his law degree in a way he hadn’t originally planned. Learn more about Jaron Brown's career journey: https://hubs.la/Q02Ft6qV0 And other inspiring stories in our Mentorship Issue: https://hubs.la/Q02FtjhR0 #ModernCounsel #MentorshipIssue #LegalLeadership #CareerDevelopment #InHouseCounsel

Modern Counsel spotlights elite legal leaders who share their perspectives, ideas, experiences, and expertise via the rich editorial content in our print magazine, website, newsletter, and events. We offer insight into every facet of legal leaders’ professional lives by telling their stories—from department structure and team management to intellectual property and emerging technology. Our broad network of attorneys includes today’s most influential legal minds, who actively shape the future of law.  #ModernCounsel #QOTW #LegalLeaders

Reading Modern Counsel's article on Precious Murchison Gittens brought a smile to my face. I was lucky enough to work side-by-side with Precious, both in trial and otherwise. And the way she describes her approach to cross examination was a magnificent understatement. The fabulous smile we see in the article is how she begins... calm ... so everyone in the courtroom, including the judge, knows that the courtroom is hers. She knows where she is going, even if the witness does not. The evidence comes in effortlessly and understandably. And if the witness struggles, that smile disappears in flash, a stone-cold look that could wither the fortitude of the most brave takes its place and, when the evidence flows again, that smile returns. While I have been blessed to work with some truly talented lawyers, I have seen no one better at cross examination than Precious. So, after developing that skill, what did she do? She taught others, and moved on to learn something new. Rainmaker, check. Healthcare compliance, check. Cutting edge technology, check. But what truly sets Precious apart is that she always is the same grounded, practical, good and wise person, who does the right thing. The world needs more people like Precious. I'm glad I had the chance to work with her. And I cannot wait to see what she accomplishes next.

After six years at prestigious Washington, DC-based law firms, Charles Webb found himself scanning the wanted ads in The Economist. In 2005, he found it an entertaining routine, with a variety of intriguing roles in far-off locations. Webb, a US Air Force brat used to adapting to new places, had always been interested in gaining direct experience in European competition law. He spotted an ad for the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority, a government agency seeking a legal advisor to help implement the English Channel island’s first-ever competition law. “This wasn’t Springsteen’s Jersey,” Webb jokes. “This was Jersey in the Channel Islands.” The 45-square-mile, self-governing British Crown Dependency was about to welcome Webb, his wife, and their young children to its 2005 population of around 88,000. Webb’s journey to Jersey ultimately included a promotion to executive director and five-and-a-half years of service. Learn more about Chuck Webb’s journey and impact at FedEx Corporation: https://hubs.la/Q02Fn-Xb0 #LegalLeadership #CompetitionLaw #CareerJourney #FedEx #GlobalExperience

In 2015, the Ferrero Group embarked on a significant era of acquisitions, transforming from a small family bakery in Alba, Italy, into a North American market force. Beth Kotran, area general counsel at Ferrero North America, has been instrumental in navigating this journey, supporting the company’s expansion across the US and Canada. Kotran’s team has managed the integration of various brands, from Fannie May Confections to Nestle’s Butterfinger and Crunch, all while handling day-to-day legal affairs. “We were a small legal team, and the challenge was immense,” Kotran reflects. Despite the pandemic, Ferrero’s growth continued with acquisitions like Keebler and Famous Amos, pushing Kotran’s team to adapt and expand to meet the increasing demands. Don't miss out on Beth Kotran's story at: https://hubs.ly/Q02FhSkl0 And other inspiring stories in our Mentorship Issue: https://hubs.ly/Q02FhHW_0 #ModernCounsel #MentorshipIssue #LegalLeadership #CareerDevelopment #InHouseCounsel