Team size: Sole practitioner

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

My role as General Counsel continues to require a comprehensive understanding of social media and our business operations, alongside proactive management of legal, compliance, and privacy concerns. As a member of the Executive Team, I influence the direction of the business while providing strategic legal counsel. The most significant project over the past 12 months has been through my membership on the AI Council (previously the AI Risk Council). Our expanded mandate now includes not only risk assessment and mitigation, but also driving responsible AI adoption across the organisation. This dual focus has required developing governance frameworks that balance innovation with compliance, educating stakeholders on emerging AI regulations, and collaborating with technical teams to implement ethical AI practices. This work has positioned Storyful at the forefront of responsible AI use in social media news and intelligence while protecting our company’s reputation in this rapidly evolving space.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

Two experiences in my legal career stand out in particular. The first was during my previous role, where I assisted our General Counsel on the legal implications of Danish footballer Nicklas Bendtner revealing Paddy Power-branded underwear during the 2012 European Championships. This guerrilla marketing incident required rapid legal analysis of sports and gambling advertising regulations, potential sanctions, and contractual obligations – a memorable intersection of sports law, marketing regulations, and crisis management.

The second experience involved advising on a delicate conflict between journalistic privilege and criminal investigations. This case required balancing the fundamental principle of protecting journalistic sources against legitimate law enforcement needs.

Though vastly different scenarios, both situations called upon the same core legal, analytical and strategic skills, demonstrating how versatile legal expertise can be applied across seemingly disparate challenges to achieve successful outcomes.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

I think there are a few different headings that apply here.

Firstly, strategic risk management. Effective counsel anticipates potential legal and regulatory challenges before they materialise, developing mitigation strategies that protect the business without impeding growth. I learned a lot about this from my first boss in the in-house world.

Business acumen and commercial awareness are also essential. In-house counsel must think like business partners first, and then put on their lawyer’s hat. This means translating legal concepts into business impact and aligning legal strategy with company objectives. It’s very different to my experience of private practice.

Cross-functional collaboration is key. Success requires breaking down silos between legal and other departments, fostering partnerships with Finance, HR, Sales & Marketing, and Product & Technology teams. This collaborative approach ensures legal considerations are integrated early in business processes rather than becoming roadblocks.

In-house counsel also must have technological fluency and digital adaptation. Very much in vogue, but modern inhouse counsel must understand emerging technologies affecting their business and leverage legal tech tools to drive efficiency.