Lessons I Learned in Law

• 🎙️ Be Bold, Build Your Network: Frankie Williams on Leading Legal in AI at DeepL

  Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal AI platform built for in-house teams.This week, Scott Brown is joined by Frankie Williams, Chief Legal Officer at DeepL, an AI-powered language platform transforming how people and businesses communicate across borders. Frankie shares insights from leading a global legal team through rapid growth, reflecting on lessons learned from an in-house career that’s taken her through IPOs, acquisitions, and advisory roles across the London tech scene.Her three Lessons in Law are simple but powerful: no one knows all the answers, your network is everything, and be bold enough to back yourself. Frankie talks about the importance of honesty and humility in leadership, how to build genuine professional relationships without feeling “salesy,” and why every opportunity she’s had has come through her network.She also shares personal reflections on motherhood, travel, and how seeing the world through her daughter’s eyes keeps her grounded even as she leads legal at one of Europe’s fastest-growing AI companies.Guest Recommendation🎧 When It Hits the Fan – A podcast dissecting real-world crisis communications and leadership lessons from those in the room.About Heriot Brown:Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with your network.

  --------  

  39:08

  --------

  39:08
• Multiple Truths Can Be True: Emilie Mathieu on Leading at Checkout.com

  Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law kicks off in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal AI platform built for in-house teams.Emilie Mathieu, General Counsel at Checkout.com, joins Scott Brown to share her journey from Amazon and eBay into the fast-paced world of fintech, where she now leads legal, compliance, and enterprise risk across a global team of 110.In this conversation, Emilie reflects on stepping up from managing 14 people to an executive role in one of the world’s most dynamic payments companies. She shares candid lessons about people leadership, decision-making under pressure, and why strong opinions—weakly held—are vital in today’s in-house environment.Her three Lessons in Law are both practical and thought-provoking. From embracing the idea that multiple truths can coexist, to the discipline of bottom-line-up-front communication with executives, Emilie highlights the skills that differentiate effective legal leaders. Along the way, she talks about building trust, sending the elevator back down for the next generation, and why internal networks are often the most powerful career accelerators.This episode is packed with insights for anyone considering how to make the leap into senior leadership or simply wanting to become a more impactful in-house lawyer.Guest RecommendationsAftermath by Harald Jähner – A gripping account of Germany’s transformation in the decade after 1945.50 States – A French-language exploration of each US state’s unique culture.Wild Things – The rise and fall of Siegfried and Roy.About Heriot Brown:Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, and share it with your network.

  --------  

  38:12

  --------

  38:12
• Over-Communicate and Find a Way: Doug McClure on Legal Leadership in Defence at Northrop Grumman

  Doug McClure, Senior Counsel at Northrop Grumman, shares lessons learned from more than two decades of in-house practice across heavy industry, infrastructure, and now one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence contractors.Doug reflects on his eight years supporting Northrop Grumman’s European operations—navigating a highly regulated, high-stakes sector that demands clarity, trust, and creativity. He begins with the cornerstone of his approach: communication. Doug explains why over-communicating, building personal credibility, and managing expectations are non-negotiable for in-house lawyers, particularly when working across global teams and cultural contexts.His second lesson is all about solutions. Saying “no” is sometimes necessary, but more often than not, Doug argues, the real skill is finding a way forward—even if it means finding a “third way” that balances business ambition with risk.Finally, Doug talks about the importance of managing expectations: balancing competing priorities, under-promising and over-delivering, and ensuring stakeholders feel heard—especially in the high-pressure, fast-changing world of defence procurement.Guest Recommendations: • Podcast: The Rest is History – Doug particularly enjoyed the episode on Hannibal and the Battle of Cannae • Book: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – An engrossing exploration of how humans have adapted and shaped the worldAbout Heriot Brown: Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone curious about building an in-house career in a complex, regulated industry.

  --------  

  30:43

  --------

  30:43
• 🎙️ Make Your Boss Look Good: Nick Havers on Leadership, Curiosity and Visibility at Lockton

  Nick Havers, General Counsel for Europe and now also Managing Principal at Lockton, the world’s largest privately owned insurance brokers, shares three sharp, experience-driven lessons shaped across more than a decade in the insurance broking sector. Nick’s recent promotion to Managing Principal, an honour usually reserved for client-facing, revenue-generating leaders, is a milestone not just for him, but for how lawyers are recognised as true business partners at Lockton. His elevation sends a powerful message: in-house legal leaders can and should have a seat at the table, valued alongside commercial leadership. Now sitting on the European Executive Committee of Lockton, Nick reflects on what it means to be a lawyer trusted by the business. He shares how his first in-house GC taught him the power of “making your boss look good”, a mindset rooted in empathy, clarity, and teamwork that has stayed with him ever since. Nick also unpacks the value of curiosity: why asking more questions than you answer leads to better outcomes, how to build relationships across a complex organisation, and how his team uses internal branding and training to market legal’s value across the business. In a standout final lesson, Nick reminds us that not everything valuable is visible. Some of legal’s best work is in the crises that never materialise. His advice on combining hard work with strategic messaging, and showing how your team contributes to long-term growth, is a masterclass in modern in-house leadership.Guest Recommendation: • Book: Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman – A toolkit for optimism, self-awareness, and signature strengthsAbout Heriot Brown: Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth. 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone growing their legal career in a complex, fast-moving business.

  --------  

  46:07

  --------

  46:07
• Focus on the stuff that matter: Law is Only Interesting to Lawyers: Pola Karolczyk on Communication, Courage and Career Shifts

   Pola Karolczyk, General Counsel and Chief People Officer at Cowboy, joins Scott to share her dynamic legal journey: from competition law in Poland and US law firms, to regulatory work at Apple, and now building the legal and people functions at a fast-moving e-bike scaleup. Pola reflects on three powerful lessons, beginning with the need to ditch legal jargon and speak human. She learned early on that most people, especially in business, aren’t interested in the mechanics of the law, just the outcome. This mindset has shaped her ability to communicate clearly, deliver pragmatic advice, and influence senior stakeholders across borders. She also highlights the importance of developing leadership and commercial skills outside the comfort zone of technical legal work, drawing on her experiences in Big Law, Apple, and now Cowboy. Pola’s final lesson is one for ambitious lawyers: if you want to lead, don’t wait for calm conditions. Join a scaleup, stretch yourself, and learn on the edge. Now wearing dual hats in legal and HR, Pola offers rare insight into what it means to shape culture and governance in parallel, and why reporting directly to the CEO matters. Guest Recommendation: • Podcast: Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu - Practical strategies for personal and professional growth 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, or share it with someone navigating the leap into leadership.🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, or share it with someone navigating the leap into leadership.

  --------  

  40:13

  --------

  40:13

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Lessons I Learned in Law