What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have recently been involved in?

We have conducted multimillion dollar lawsuits in varied issues and complexity, (copyright and breach of contract) while simultaneously overseeing M&A and the challenge of integrating diverse entities in new areas of business.

Everything that our company does revolves around connecting people and building a more sustainable future, and we remain focused on supporting growth, both organic and acquisitive, toward our enterprise’s long-term goals. Some of our most significant recent transactions involve controlled-environment agriculture and digital news. We are also focused on resolving matters associated with our communications business.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

Alignment to our company’s values is a vitally important criterion when we select external counsel. We have strong bench strength in-house, and when we do need to supplement our talent with outside counsel, a law firm’s ability to understand us, our business, and our principles will place it far ahead of others when we consider our options.

In general, what would you like to see change about the external law firms you use?

We would like our firms to be even more proactive in recommending alternative fee arrangements. Part of why we engage outside counsel is for the market intelligence and experience with other clients that they bring. A good firm will have needed expertise and resolve our matters successfully; a great firm will, almost clairvoyantly, recognise our needs, draw upon their experience with similar clients, and offer a mutually beneficial solution. It should also be noted that law firms must remain committed to advancing diversity in the legal profession. To us, diversity in the profession is not only a moral imperative, but it is also a wellspring of commercial advantage – we make our best business decisions with the input of a variety of perspectives, including those that challenge us.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

Invest the time: Immerse yourself to learn the business, cultivate your network within the organisation, learn the stakeholders, their coverages, and their priorities.

Learn the language: Become fluent in how your stakeholders think, their vocabulary, learn what “keeps them up at night.” It will make you a more effective advisor.

Seek diverse perspectives: Challenge yourself to see issues from every angle. Walk a metaphorical mile in your stakeholders’ shoes.