Lessons I Learned in Law

• 🎙️ Healthy Laziness & Win-Win Lawyering: Roel Staes on 22 Years at FedEx

  Roel Staes, until recently General Counsel International at FedEx, joins Scott to reflect on a 22-year in-house legal career that scaled from Benelux counsel to overseeing a 500-strong international legal, regulatory, security, and government affairs team.In this wide-ranging episode, Roel shares candid lessons from the top—on everything from managing complexity in global organisations to learning how to communicate with clarity, brevity, and precision. A strong believer in over-communication and having your “memory card” ready, Roel explains why lawyers need to proactively articulate their value, insert themselves into business conversations, and take ownership beyond the job description.He also makes a compelling case for win-win lawyering, drawing from hard-earned lessons negotiating contracts and managing sensitive relationships. Plus, Roel introduces us to the concept of healthy laziness—why challenging processes, improving systems, and questioning the status quo is a key trait of high-performing in-house lawyers.Whether you're aiming for GC, growing a legal team, or just trying to become a sharper operator in-house, this episode is packed with sharp, actionable takeaways from someone who’s walked the walk across global legal leadership.Guest Recommendations:Emotional Intelligence Habits by Dr. Travis BradberryWhat Every BODY Is Saying by Joe Navarro (FBI body language specialist)La Voix du RAID by Laurent Combalbert (on hostage negotiation and business decision-making)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 us a review, or share it with someone thinking about long-term growth in-house.

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• 🎙️ No Jobs for Life: Emma Moloney on Crisis Leadership, Career Pivots, and Speaking Human

  Emma Moloney, experienced General Counsel and in-house leader across media and tech, joins Scott to reflect on a career that has spanned continents, contracts, and crises. From early GC roles at National Geographic Channel and News UK, to launching crisis management workshops and mentoring lawyers, Emma’s journey blends legal leadership with creative problem-solving.In this episode, Emma unpacks the lessons that have shaped her approach. She shares why mastering difficult conversations is a non-negotiable skill for leadership, why least-worst decisions are sometimes the hallmark of senior roles, and how embracing no jobs for life can foster resilience and career longevity. Along the way, she discusses the value of contracting roles to build diverse experiences, her work in crisis preparedness (with a few juicy anecdotes), and why getting comfortable in the grey areas is key to thriving in-house.This one’s packed with practical advice and candid reflections for any lawyer navigating leadership, transitions, or the uncertainties of modern work.Guest Recommendations:Brené Brown on leadership and vulnerability (particularly her work on clear communication)The Rest is History podcast — for a fresh, engaging take on historical narrativesAbout 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.🎧 Found this episode valuable? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave us a review, or share it with a colleague who’s plotting their next career move.

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• From M&A to Merlot: Jane Hyde on Embracing Career Detours and Speaking Human

  Jane Hyde, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at RWS Group PLC, shares a refreshingly non-linear legal career that took her from City law to investment banking, via a sabbatical in wine tasting — all the way to the executive team of a global AI-enabled language services business.In this unfiltered episode, Jane reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership journey. From leaving Freshfields for the trading floor at JP Morgan, to taking a career break and topping the global wine diploma charts, Jane’s path is anything but typical. Her lessons emphasise the value of learning outside law, the importance of clear, human communication (especially in a tech-heavy world), and why ownership and accountability matter more than ever for in-house lawyers.Listeners will take away practical insight on integrating legal with the wider business, contributing meaningfully to executive discussions, and building credibility through sound judgement—not just technical skill. Jane also shares how side roads, like compliance and PSL roles, helped refine her leadership approach, and why your next move doesn’t always need to be part of a five-year plan.Guest Recommendations:The Rest is History — A wide-ranging, witty take on historical moments with Tom Holland and Dominic SandbrookThe Rest is Entertainment — A pop culture spin by Marina Hyde and Richard OsmanAbout 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 their next legal career move.

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• People First, Always: Daniel Winterfeldt on Leading with Purpose at Jefferies and Beyond

  Daniel Winterfeldt, General Counsel for EMEA and Asia at Jefferies, shares his powerful journey from Wall Street to London and from capital markets partner to in-house legal leader and diversity champion.In this candid conversation, Daniel opens up about his early experiences as an openly gay lawyer navigating the stark culture shock of moving from New York to London in the early 2000s — a time when being out in the legal profession was far from the norm. This culture gap eventually led him to found the Interlaw Diversity Forum, a not-for-profit organisation driving inclusion, equity, and culture change in the legal sector for the past 17 years.Daniel’s lessons are deeply human and widely applicable: the importance of putting people first in any legal function; how knowing what you don’t know is just as important as what you do; and why every problem has a solution — even if it’s not the one you expected.This episode is packed with insight for anyone navigating leadership, career growth, or the structural challenges of the legal industry. Daniel also shares details of Interlaw’s Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit — a free, open-source guide every hiring manager should read — and some great podcast recommendations to expand your thinking.Guest Recommendations:The Rest is Politics: US — Behind-the-scenes takes on US politics with Anthony Scaramucci & Katty KayBlow Up — A behind-the-scenes deep dive into 90s fashion magazine cultureRevisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell — Thought-provoking takes on overlooked stories and misunderstood momentsAbout 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 on your favourite podcast platform, leave us a review, or share it with a colleague.

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• Trust Your Instincts: Amos Carrington on Finding Fulfilment at Low Carbon

  Lessons I Learned in Law with Amos Carrington, General Counsel & Company Secretary at Low Carbon Amos Carrington, General Counsel at Low Carbon, talks to Scott Brown about making the leap from private practice to leading a mission-driven renewable energy legal team. In this episode, Scott catches up with Amos Carrington, General Counsel at Low Carbon, a fast-growing renewable energy company. Amos shares practical, candid lessons about trusting your instincts, prioritising workplace culture, and seeing feedback as a gift.He reflects openly on his transition from Herbert Smith Freehills—including his pivotal secondment in Tokyo—to leading an expanding in-house legal team through Low Carbon’s scale-up journey. Amos highlights why culture and mission alignment have been essential to his career fulfilment and shares personal insights from his time abroad and his passion for music.A great listen for anyone at a career crossroads looking for genuine insights into in-house leadership.Amos’s Recommendations:Podcast: The Age of Longevity – Music industry insights from artists who've stood the test of time.Book: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss – An entertaining, timeless cautionary tale on environmental responsibility.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.

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